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.

Asher snuck in and

with Ector in the gardens. — | Back then, my brother had been strong and confident. He believed

completely different. He looked

if he could snap in half

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

emotionally stable, Cassandra,” Asher warned

tends to attack when he feels threatened. Trust me,

look like I had back then, but beneath the dye I had used for so many years, my hair was

We were family.

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

alert, like a | frightened animal, and his hands moved as if he intended to

me, Asher tensed, ready to

Instead, he moved backward as if 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

something, Ector began to yell and scream. He wasn’t

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

handle this myself.

a step backward but continued to

recognize me?” I asked

movement was gentle at first, and then stronger, as if he were trying to physically jump-start

gently, and then I summoned all of my

Cora.” My brother froze and silence hung in the air. His emerald eyes studied

multiple times