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 sweet and so kind that

comfort in knowing that Cora’s mother could be watching me. My own mother died right after I was born. I hadn’t gotten a chance to know her, so something about the idea

for the festival. I’d 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

helped or if it was just in my head. It didn’t matter, but for some reason, my brain couldn’t let

doubt.

man back then, and despite my upbringing, there was a little mischief in my mind. I couldn’t help but be co cky and a little tricksy. So, on the way there, I decided to play a joke

me at the door when

fine,” I said, and then I pretended to be sad. “But something

widened. She brushed her blonde hair away from her face and tucked

she asked, and her eyebrows creased together in concern.

necklace,” I said,

it?” she demanded, and her eyes fell to

I said, and immediately, Cora burst into tears. Her knees had buckled as her chest heaved with heavy s obs, and I regretted the joke immediately.

my pocket and pulled out the necklace. “I was just kidding,

held it out to her and expected her to stop crying, but she didn’t. She sn atched the

It was a stu pid joke. I’m so so sorry, please

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

Keller, I was reminded of Cora’s pain, and the feeling. tugged at my heartstrings. There was a dryness in my throat, and a strange sadness that overcame me as I watched the healer finally fall to the ground. She covered her beautiful face with her hands and continued to

say something to soothe her, just as I’d done with Corá, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. She wasn’t Cora, she was just one of my

Cora was

help the healer anyway.

Lancel, who’d appeared just as Ca ssandra had started crying.

demanded, and Lancel nodded

replied, and then he

from the garden. Once they were all gone, I tuned my attention back to Ca ssandra. Just beyond us, Gareth and Sofia

either.

and when that didn’t work, I gently pulled her hand from her face. Her large eyes were red from all of the