Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 302 Memory of the past CASSANDRA b As my heart dropped in my chest, I felt paralyzed from sheer disbelief.

I'wanted to reach out to touch his face or his hands. I wanted to tangibly feel that he was real, lying in this bed before me, but I couldn’t move. For all of these years, I had believed that Ector was dead.

When he had been exiled to the borderlands, I had given up any hope of ever seeing him again. Those exiled from Wegalla were never seen again and after the undoing of our family name, Ector was no exception. A small part of me had wished we would reunite one day, but after the inferno, that part of me went silent. Though my | 11

| heart ached for my dear brother, no one ever returned from the borderlands unless they were soldiers specifically sent on a mission.

But here he was, lying in this bed, breathing.

For a moment, I felt like I was about to collapse. My knees wavered but before I could fall, Asher reached out to stabilize me.

“Silas found him months ago out in the borderlands,” my mate explained as he held me. “But Silas wasn’t sure if he was Ector or not since we all presumed him to be dead after being exiled all those years ago. So, I went out there with him to check.” “That’s why you needed to leave Anemond,” I realized.

He nodded. “I'm sorry I didn’t tell you then, but I didn’t want you to be disappointed if it wasn’t him. I needed to be absolutely certain it was Ector before I said anything. And then things got... complicated after that. So much has happened since that there wasn’t an opportunity to tell you. I'm sorry, Cassandra.” “Don’t be sorry,” I assured him, and I offered him a small smile. “I understand, Asher. Things have been difficult.” After he nodded in agreement, I turned back to Ector.

“He looks so thin,” I remarked as I noted his hollow cheeks, and my heart ached at the sight. Though his hair was as beautiful as ever, he was clearly very malnourished. Given his appearance, 1

| could only imagine what his life had been like out in the borderlands, and the thought of him having to survive out there for all of this time...

The last time I'd seen my brother was after the trial. Our father had been sentenced to the death penalty and Ector was going to be banished.

In all honesty, I should have been banished like him, but back then, I had been the prince’s mate, so things had been different for me.

I was grounded and put on house arrest in Rosepetal, awaiting future trials.

The day Ector was set to leave Anemond, I was inconsolable. I wasn’t allowed to leave so I wouldn't be able to say goodbye.

snuck in and

We secretly met with Ector in the gardens. — | Back then, my brother had been strong and confident. He believed our family’s name

this Ector looked completely different. He

could snap in half

stop myself, I began to cry. Tears spilled onto my cheeks and I reached out

be emotionally stable, Cassandra,” Asher

threatened.

I was like a stranger now. My face and voice had changed after the inferno, altered by Emmett’s sorcery. I didn’t look like I had back then, but beneath the dye I had used for so many years,

We were family.

cheek, Ector’s eyes opened wide, revealing irises the same color as

| frightened animal, and his hands moved as if he

Asher tensed, ready

he were trying to protect himself, I couldn’t tell how I felt at the sight of this. I couldn’t imagine what Ector had been through after he’d

about to open my mouth to say something, Ector began to yell and scream. He wasn’t saying any understandable words, just loud noises, and I tried to soothe him

going to hurt you,” I assured him calmly. “ It’s okay.” Despite his rising emotions, I stared deeply into his eyes. Asher

handle this myself.

a step backward but continued to maintain eye

me?” I

against the headboard. His movement was gentle at first, and then stronger, as if

said gently, and then I summoned all

and silence hung in the air. His emerald eyes studied

moment, trailing over me multiple times as if