The Forgotten Luna by Cassandra M

LADESSA.

"Do you have a red mark on your back?" King Essak asked the moment he stopped in front of me. He asked in a low voice as if he didn't want anyone to hear.

I saw many guards approaching and dispersing the crowd around us until it was just Kael and me with the Alpha King. I didn't see Alpha Draco anymore.

"Do you have a red mark on your back?" The King repeated his question, snapping me back to the present.

Then, a surge of strong current rippled through my body, and I knew he had used his King's command. I made the mistake of looking back into his eyes. I thought he would never use it on me.

Only the Alpha King had this power, and from what I heard, he had never even used this to get any criminals to admit their crimes. He would leave judgment to his Court. But I had no idea why he was using this on such a trivial matter. Why was he asking me too many questions?

"I do..." I answered in almost a whisper as I dropped my gaze to the floor.

I had no choice; lying could cause me to bleed severely until the King stopped the punishment or until I died.

"Take her!" He said to the man beside him. "And follow me."

My whole body trembled as Kael placed his arm across me and slightly pushed me back. "I'm coming with her."

"No." The King stopped walking. "I only need her."

"She is the reason I wanted an audience with you, King Essak."

The King slowly turned around and stepped toward us. He stopped just a few inches from Kael. "You lied to me, Alpha Kael. Tell me again, what is her name? The loud woman was not lying. Am I right?" Kael swallowed hard but didn't reply.

"You have two choices: let her come with me, or I will throw you out of this banquet, and you will never know what fate she will get within the four walls of my palace."

am not leaving

King Essak

No! Please... Kael, I will go with him. I'll be okay." I said as I stood between them, but then Kael was

before I ran after King Essak. "Alpha King!

throw Kael out of

not kneel to me or anyone!" He roared that I thought I had turned deaf. He grabbed my arm and pulled me up harshly,

stared at Kael,

off the people holding him until one of them jabbed his stomach with the long baton he was holding, and someone elbowed his

me again. I faced him with a tear rolling

of my palace." He

is a peaceful man, my King. He will never

make any scene, I will let

to stop hurting

a loud voice, and they stopped

and kept my head up. I didn't want Kael to see me crying, or he would be in

you..." mumbled

at Kael again, who was still on his knees, his hands on the back, with three people restraining him and two others pointing long spears at

to stop my tears. "Kael,

worry in his expression. I couldn't blame him-this was

voice was broken, far from the Kael who always

will not harm

thing I want." He bowed down, his jaw tightening. The moment he

my

guards