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.”

was so earnest that for a moment, the entire world faded away. Coral had that effect. She was so sweet and so kind that I could hardly grasp just how much she

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 of having a maternal presence with me during my first hunting

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 with the rest of the Crescent

to wonder if the necklace had really helped or if

doubt.

I couldn’t help but be co cky and a little tricksy. So, on the way there, I decided to play a joke on

at the door when I arrived. “How was the festival?”

and then I pretended to be

brushed her blonde hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, just as she always did when

happened?” she asked, and her eyebrows creased together

necklace,”

demanded, and her eyes fell to

Her knees had buckled as her chest heaved with heavy s obs, and I regretted the joke immediately. I’d

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

didn’t. She sn atched the necklace from me and nearly fell to the ground as she sobbed.

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

eyes suddenly stared deeply into mine, and she glared at me. “You don’t -understand, Asher! You don’t understand how important this

There was a dryness in my throat, and a strange sadness that overcame me as I watched

I’d done with Corá, but I couldn’t bring myself

Cora was gone.

had to help

just

I demanded, and

and then he turned to

I tuned my attention back to Ca ssandra.

either.

when that didn’t work, I gently pulled her hand from her face. Her