Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 32 He protected her?

CA SSANDRA

My heart sk ipped a beat in my chest and every inch of my skin broke out in goosebumps.

Was this real?

Was that really my tomb?

But as I stared on at the marble monument, I knew it to be true. That tomb was indeed for Cora Felix.

Had Asher built it himself? And furthermore, did he have Rosepetal reconstructed? There was no other logical reason for the mansion to be intact after the inferno. The blaze had rendered everything damaged and destroyed.

I stared at the Alpha King and frowned. His stance, his bowed head… he appeared to be in mourning. As sad as it was, it made little sense to me, and many questions swirled around my mind like a tornado. Why did he do all of this? Was he sorry for me? Why had he left me alone that night and why didn’t he come to my rescue if he was so sad?

My instincts told me to run to him and demand answers, but after a moment of deliberation, I managed to get myself under control.

What would change if I got the answers anyway? It was too late. Cora Felix was long gone.

I decided the best course of action was to turn around and leave. If I was quiet enough I could slip right back over to the palace and put this strange encounter behind me. I could bring Finnick into my bed and snuggle him until I fell back asleep. Perhaps his mere presence would be enough to push the nightmares away.

I turned on my heels and started creeping forward. Each footstep was cautious

and careful until I accidentally lost my momentum and brushed against one of the rosebushes that lined the path. The thorns brushed the skin of my arms and I cried out a little in surprise. My hands suddenly flew to my mouth at the sudden sound.

I whispered, and even though I said a silent prayer that Asher hadn’t heard, it wasn’t enough.

Keller?” the Alpha King’s voice called out angrily, and when I turned around, I saw him coming toward me swiftly. The cold light

arm. The sudden force made me cry out. He was angrier than I’d

M-majesty,” I stammered as I fought to find my words. “I’m

doing here?” he demanded again, his tone even more severe this time. I was in deep trouble, that much

Your Majesty,” I insisted as I fought back the lump in my throat. “I was… I was just taking a walk, but I got lost out on the grounds. There’s still so much of

suspiciously, but he lessened his grip. around my arm. He studied me for a while in silence, as if he were evaluating my lies. My heart thrummed in my chest like a hummingbird’s wings, and as his

he asked finally, and it took all of my effort to

Your Majesty,” I managed, and then I shook my head

he remarked, and then his glare intensified. “I think

I insisted, but Asher raised his hand

grounds, you wouldn’t have made that face at the mention of Cora. You must

her, Your Majesty, and I wasn’t following you,” I pleaded with him. His lips curled downward into a frown, and he sighed. His grip suddenly

was happening

when my eyes fell to the ground, I spotted an enormous viper heading

cried out as the beast hissed at us. Asher dropped my arm

viper was enormous, bigger than any I’d seen before. Its large body was studded with black and

before I could react, it lunged right at

trapped by the enormous snake. I closed my eyes at the last second, ready to be attacked. And yet, as braced myself for impact, it never

later, a strange gurgling sound and

open to a

black-scaled viper lay on the ground, its large body ripped open from its