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 said a silent

and when I turned around, I saw him coming toward me swiftly. The cold light of the moon made his gray eyes even more piercing, and his nostrils flared as he glared at me. “What are you doing

and gripped my arm. The sudden force made me cry out. He was angrier than I’d seen him before

as I fought to find

his tone even more severe

didn’t mean to sneak about and watch you, 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

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

Cora?” he asked finally, and it took

Your Majesty,” I managed, and then I shook my head for good measure. “I

intensified.

Your Majesty-” I insisted, but Asher raised his

King said sternly. “If you were simply lost on the grounds, you wouldn’t have made that face at the mention of Cora. You must have known her or known about her. Unless you were stalking me-”

I pleaded with him. His lips curled downward into a frown, and he sighed. His grip suddenly tightened

what was happening and what he was

behind us. It was a strange rustling sound, and when my eyes fell to the ground, I spotted an

hissed

Its large body was studded with black and red

I could react,

enormous snake. I closed my eyes at the last second, ready to be attacked. And yet, as braced myself

a strange gurgling sound and

eyes flew open to a gruesome sight.

its large body ripped open from