Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 33 Troubles

CA SSANDRA

Why had there been a viper near the Palace?

And why had Asher uttered my true name before he’d lost consciousness in the garden?

The questions swirled around in my mind as I stared down at Asher. The Alpha King was fast asleep and tucked tightly into bed. His forehead was still shiny with- sweat and his chest heaved as he breathed laboriously.

Just after he’d been bitten by the viper, I’d screamed my head off and caught the attention of several guards out on the grounds. They’d rushed over to Rosepetal and helped get the king back to his room in the palace.

One of the guards, an older one whose name I couldn’t recall, had asked if I wanted the aid of the other royal healers, but I’d turned down the offer. I didn’t want to risk the others seeing the dark mark on Asher’s skin. Injured or not, I’d made a promise to keep the king’s disease a secret.

Since I’d been appointed as Asher’s private healer, the guards had no problem with me treating him personally. They’d even gone out and retrieved my medical supplies from the palace lab for me.

The viper’s body had been retrieved and sent to the lab with my assistant, Becky. I was assured that once the results were finished, they would be brought to me straight away.

Once I had my supplies, I had one of the guards remain at the door for me, and the other standing just outside the chamber. They’d granted me my privacy and allowed me the space to treat Asher.

I attempted to steady my hands as I cleaned the wound on his wrist, but it was no use. I was a complete and total wreck. Seeing Asher this way made my heart

ache in ways I didn’t know it could. I’d never been this way before. Emmett had always praised me for my calmness when it came to the horrific things I’d seen during medical treatment. I’d always been able to prioritize my patient’s health over my own emotions, but today…

Today I was scared.

needed to stay sharp and focused if I was going to be of any use here. Asher needed me to remain calm and collected.

with my supplies. Once the wound was clean, I could begin to apply medicine to it and get

rags down, I heard a commotion from outside the

then suddenly, the doors flew open, and

furious. Her amber eyes were piercing as they bore into mine with sharp intensity, and for a moment, I thought her gaze

was raised high and her finger pointed right at my face as her ivory nightgown billowed around.. “You backwoods piece of commoner trash! I

to reason with her,

she drew closer. “I mean it. You’re a murderer and a conspirer. I’m

as I took a step backward. “You’re not making any sense. I don’t have any type of

to speak my name!” Adalyn shouted, and then she lunged at me. I closed my eyes and braced for impact, but when it never came, I peeked and saw a

Let

when she reached toward me, her fingernails shifted

guard apologized as he tried to hold Adalyn still,

hissed. “Treating my husband? I

shout and continued to thrash, but it was no use. The guard’s grip on her was too strong. Once I was certain she wouldn’t be able to break free, I stared deeply into her crazed eyes.

and calmly, and I raised my chin slightly. “As the king’s private healer, I’ve already started to administer the treatment. Besides, I’m the only one here in the palace with the knowledge needed to treat the viper bite. The beast was nearly identical to the one that bit Prince Marco back in the Wild Crawler Pack, and I was able to cure him quickly if you recall. So, if your don’t wish for the Alpha King to meet a tragic fate,

flared. She opened her mouth as if she was going to

Did she know that she had no choice but to trust me and let me care

about and stiffened. The

oves were

myself for an attack,