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."

not leaving her

him out of here!" King Essak pointed toward the

okay." I

him, but someone grabbed me and pulled me away. I shoved the hands holding me before I ran after King

out of the palace!" I

shall not kneel to me or anyone!" He roared that I thought I had turned deaf. He grabbed

he stared at Kael, who was

of them jabbed his stomach with the long baton he was holding, and someone elbowed

tried to go to him, but the King pulled me again. I faced him with a tear rolling down my cheeks. "I

disturbing the peace of my palace." He

peaceful man, my King. He will never hurt anyone. He was

any scene, I

them to stop hurting

a loud voice, and they stopped

my tears and kept my head up. I didn't want Kael to see me

mumbled and

his knees, his hands

eyes met, and it was getting harder to stop my tears. "Kael, please calm down. I'm

still see the worry in his expression. I couldn't blame him-this

just protecting her." His voice was broken, far from the Kael who

will not

the only thing I want." He bowed down, his jaw tightening. The moment he tilted his head up, he looked at me. "I will

nodded and forced a weak smile to form on my lips, trying to pacify

of the guards held my