Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 286

One thing was certain. The view outside of the country house was indeed beautiful.

Once Asher and | pulled ourselves out of bed, we stepped outside and took a look at the wildlife surrounding us.

Beyond the house, a great stretch of open field seemed endless. Green plants covered the field and colorful

wildflowers grew everywhere. They dotted the field like confetti, and their perffilled the air with a pleasant

aroma.

For a moment, | completely forgot our circumstances and simply enjoyed the gorgeous sight. We hadn't had a

moment of peace in so long. Life had been an endless string of battles, violence, and schemes, and it felt nice to

breathe.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t rest for too long or enjoy the scenery for more than a few minutes. We had to think

about what to do next.

A meeting was called soon after. We all gathered around the backyard, save for Erika, Helene, and the children.

Once we were all gathered, the Alpha of Red Stone began to speak. He told us that this house was located near

the borders of Wegalla and Yurene. It was a forgotten place and very few people lived out here. He assured us

that the smells from the flowers and fruit trees would make it nearly impossible for outsiders to track tour scents,

so we were safe here.

He then explained that there was a channel only a few miles away through which we could leave the country.

The sentry post that should have been filled with Yurenian soldiers had been abandoned long ago, so it would be

easy for us to leave through the channel. But it would cost us more time.

We took a moment to deliberate. We needed to get back to Wegalla as soon as possible but we had to do it

strategically.

“We don’t know what's going to happen in Vlokwell,” | said. “Kaleb and Ronald sought to destroy each other and

it’s hard to say who would win. Regardless of the victor, they would surely consider this channel, so we'd better

not take this chance lightly.”

Asher nodded. “We should move out as soon as possible.”

| knew he was right, but we needed tto get srest and tend our wounds. Rayden and a few of the men

had been wounded pretty severely, and although Asher continued to claim he was alright, he was still very pale.

Admittedly, | was still exhausted too. My muscles ached and | had quite a few wounds that could use scare

before we left.

We went back and forth for a while until finally, we decided we would need to leave this place in

three days. That would be more than enough tto rest and ready ourselves for the next half of this mission.

The Alpha of Red Stone recommended that we should go with him to his Pack. He assured us that we would be

safe from any soldiers and invited us to stay as long as we wanted until we recovered.

It was a tempting offer, but we knew we couldn't take it. We needed to go back to Wegalla and deal with the

chaos there.

Rayden insisted that he would cwith us, but Asher commanded him to go to Red Stone and remain there

until he was fully recovered. Rayden seemed reluctant, but Asher reminded him that even if he took the three

days to rest, his condition would be too poor for him to travel back to Wegalla, and Wild Crawler couldn't lose its

Alpha.

After she was given the option to stay or go, Helene decided that she would go with the Alpha of Red Stone. She

didn’t want to get herself in trouble and she wasn’t a citizen of Wegalla.

“I have no place there,” she mused. “I need to figure out my next step, so Red Stone seems like the rational

option.”

She then presented the idea of taking Lila with her, which surprisedgreatly. She explained that she liked the

little girl very much and considered her to be a friend. She swore she would take care of her as if she were her

own.

While it was a surprise, when | saw the glittering tw inkle in Helene’s caramel brown eyes, | knew Lila would be in

good hands.

Once that was settled, | advised Erika to go with Helene. Anemond would be too dangerous and | didn’t want to

risk my dear friend to get hurt. Erika was like a mother to me. | couldn’t lose her when things were so precarious.

As for Finnick, | wasn't sure what to do. I couldn't make a decision. | knew I shouldn't leave him behind, but | was

worried about what could happen if he cwith us. Just as | feared Erika’s safety, | feared my son’s too, so |

decided | needed to have a discussion with him. He was such a young boy, but he was mature beyond his years,

so | knew he would understand if | explained things to him.

Once our meeting was over, one of Rayden’s men cover and toldthat Raven had woken up. The

sorceress had apparently refused to eat, drink, or say anything aside from wanting to see

me.

| was annoyed at the interruption but decided to see her anyway. | wasn’t too pleased with the young woman,

but I had brought her with us for a reason.

When | entered the room she’d been placed in, Raven's eyes lit up and trailed over me,

“Cassandra!” she practically shouted. “Look at you! You're a great sorceress now! How do you feel?

I've heard that great sorceresses can predict their own fates. | bet you feel amazing, hub? You should thank me

for that, because without my brilliant idea, Kaleb would never have known how to cultivate your potential.”

| stared at her coldly. “Could that terrible fire really be called a brilliant idea?”

She nodded manically, “Without the fire, you never would have been able to connect with your past, your painful

memories... Your potential was linked to your bad memories, Cassandra. You needed to see them. The method

may have been unorthodox, but it was brilliant nonetheless”

As irritation swelled within me, | fought the urge to hit her.

“What do you want?” | asked her coldly. “I was told you refuse to eat or drink. Do you want to die?”

Raven tilted her head slightly. “Shouldn't | be asking you that question? Why did you bringhere, Cassandra?

Do you want to torturelike we did to the gui nea pigs? Or do you plan to dismember my body and see what a

sorceress would be like on the inside? | know you're a healer, so the research could be-"

“I don’t have twisted interests like you,” | cut her off before she could continue and | stifled a suarl “I want you to

tellhow to command the magic within me. | haven't been able to control my newfound power freely and |

want to learn how

“And why should | do that?” Raven wondered and she rolled her pretty eyes in annoyance,

“Because your life is in my hands,” | replied, and then | extended my nails into claws and narrowed my eyes at

her. “If you don’t want to die, you'd better cooperate. And you better not play any tricks or attempt to fool me,

Raven. | can assure you that if you try to cross me, I'll slit your throat without hesitation.

I've heard that great sorceresses can predict their own fates. | bet you feel amazing, huh? You should thank me

for that, because without my brilliant idea, Kaleb would never have known how to cultivate your potential.”

| stared at her coldly, “Could that terrible fire really be called a brilliant idea?”

She nodded manically. “Without the fire, you never would have been able to connect with your past, your painful

memories... Your potential was linked to your bad memories, Cassandra. You needed to see them. The method

may have been unorthodox, but it was brilliant nonetheless.”

As irritation swelled within me, | fought the urge to hit her.

“What do you want?” | asked her coldly. “I was told you refuse to eat or drink. Do you want to die?”

Raven tilted her head slightly. “Shouldn't | be asking you that question? Why did you bringhere, Cassandra?

Do you want to torturelike we did to the gui nea pigs? Or do you plan to dismember my body and see what a

sorceress would be like on the inside? | know you're a healer,

so the research could be-"

“I don’t have twisted interests like you,” | cut her off before she could continue and | stifled a snarl. “I want you

to tellhow to command the magic within me. | haven't been able to control my newfound power freely and |

want to learn how.”

“And why should | do that?” Raven wondered and she rolled her pretty eyes in annoyance.

“Because your life is in my hands,” | replied, and then | extended my nails into claws and narrowed my eyes at

her. “If you don’t want to die, you'd better cooperate. And you better not play any tricks or attempt to fool me,

Raven. | can assure you that if you try to cross me, I'll slit your throat without hesitation.