Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

ASHER

Chapter 23 Her sorrow

“You don’t understand!” Ca ssandra shouted, and then suddenly, she broke into a fit of heavy s obs. The healer’s knees buckled slightly as she cried, and her chest heaved as she fought to breathe. Her copper hair fell into her face and her cheeks flushed pink.

I stood there, completely stunned and unsure of what to do.

For the briefest of seconds, she reminded me of Cora.

Cora had once said the exact same phrase to me once many years ago when she thought I’d lost a pendant she once gave me.

It had been the first time I’d been allowed to join the Crescent Pack’s hunting group, and furthermore, the first time I’d been allowed to enter the hunting zone of the forest in Anemond. I’d admittedly been a little nervous, but Cora was absolutely terrified. She was always looking out for my well-being and cared so deeply for me

which meant the world.

I remembered putting on a brave face, but that wasn’t enough for Cora. So, one day, she came over to my house and presented me with a pendant. It was a gorgeous thing- white gold with a moonstone at its center, ringed by tiny, sparkling diamonds. The necklace was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen.

“What is this?” I’d asked.

“It was my mother’s,” Cora explained, and her lips curled into a sad smile. She never spoke about her mother, but I knew the memory brought her pain.

“It’s lovely,” I said, and then my brow furrowed. “Why did you bring it?” “It’s for you to wear,” she said, and before I could protest, she leaned in close and wrapped the chain around my neck. I was still confused, but I let her do it anyway. When the clasp was fastened, the moonstone settled against my skin. It was cold,

but the sensation had been pleasant, comforting somehow.

“I don’t understand,” I said. “Why do you want me to wear your mother’s necklace.”

“It’s a good luck charm,” Cora insisted, and this time, her smile was brilliant. “Wear it with you into the forest. My mother will protect you just as she did me.”

a moment, the entire world faded away. Coral had that effect. She was so

My own mother died right after I was born. I hadn’t gotten a chance to know her, so something about the idea of having a maternal presence with me

worn the necklace under my shirt, and something about it helped my bravery. My nerves faded away almost instantly, despite the darkness of the forest, and when I howled along

began to wonder if the necklace had really helped or if it was just in my head. It didn’t matter, but

doubt.

my upbringing, there was a little mischief in my mind. I couldn’t help but be co

at the door when I arrived.

I pretended to be sad.

and tucked it behind her ear, just as she

her eyebrows

necklace,” I said, and Cora gasped.

she demanded, and her eyes fell to

as her chest heaved with heavy s obs, and I regretted the joke immediately. I’d never seen her cry so hard,

I insisted, and I reached into my pocket and pulled out the necklace.

stop crying, but she didn’t. She sn atched the necklace from me and

Cora,” I pleaded. “Please don’t cry. It was a stu pid joke. I’m so so sorry, please stop

into mine, and she glared at me. “You don’t -understand, Asher! You

was a dryness in my throat, and a strange sadness that overcame me

something to soothe her, just as I’d done with Corá, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. She wasn’t

Cora was gone.

help the healer

to Lancel, who’d appeared just

I demanded, and Lancel nodded immediately.

and then he turned to his men. “Let’s

Once they were all gone, I tuned my attention back to Ca ssandra.

either.

reached out and touched her arm, and when that didn’t work, I gently pulled her hand from her face. Her large