Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 281 CASSANDRA As we raced through the grounds in our wolf forms, | saw the buildings beyond us and noted with horror that they were all on fire now. The smoldering flames rose high, as did thick plumes of smoke.

| had hoped to get smedicine from my room to treat Asher’s wound, but there was no chance of that happening now. Part offelt a small amount of loss in knowing that many of my belongings were still within the chamber, but the other part knew that material items didn’t matter. | had my family with me, and for now, we were all safe and sound. The medicine would have been nice, but | would have to find other methods of dealing with our injuries.

As | tried to suppress the pain in my back and the panic of escaping this place for good, my eyes scanned the grounds. Serv ants were running around desperately, their expressions horrified as they fled away from the burning buildings. They were so terrified that they hadn't even noticed us.

Finnick clenched himself against Asher tightly, his sterling eyes wide with fear as screams rang out around us. | wished | could use my newfound magical abilities to put out the fire, but since | knew little about how to use sorcery, | didn’t know how.

he studied the blaze. Our son trembled and wa Thankfully, none of the soldiers had followed us, so once | was certain we would be okay, | carefully eased Raven's still unconscious body onto the ground and then changed back into my human form, Erika followed suit and helped Finnick get down from his perch on Asher’s back. Once he was secure in the maid's arms, | nodded at Asher, and the Alpha King shifted back too.

“Is everyone alright?” | asked as | glanced around at my family.

Everyone nodded, and then Asher approached me. [x] “There's nothing we can do here,” he said, recognizing the concern on my face. “We need to leave before the situation escalates.” | nodded my head and then Erika did the same.

1/4 TALLIN [11] [e] 56% Chapter 281 “If you take Finnick, I'll worry about this one,” she said, and she inclined her head to Raven. When | nodded again, Erika handed Finnick over toand then carefully eased Raven up. Despite her calm demeanor, the maid was incredibly strong and powerful. She carried the sorceress with ease while Finnick buried his face into the crook of my shoulder.

| kissed his forehead and tightened my hold around him. “It’s okay, baby. We're gonna get out of here.” We resumed our journey back toward the gate, but before we could get too much further, | heard a voice call my name.

| whipped around, and through the thick smoke, a figure approached. It was Ms. Benn. The head housekeeper held Lila in her arms. Her sharp, angular face was stained gray from the soot and there was a franticness in her ice-blue eyes.

My eyes fell on Lila. She appeared to have lost consciousness and appeared weak. The smoke inhalation had likely done a number on the poor child.

Even though | knew it would have been smarter to turn and continue heading to the gate to escape this wretched place, | couldn't turn my back on a child.

“Cassandra,” Ms. Benn pleaded as she approached me. “Please, you have to take Lila with you.” PI | was taken aback and frowned. Had | heard her correctly? Was this a trap? quickly scanned the area, yet Ms.

Benn seemed to be acting alone.

“What do you mean?” | asked as my eyes trailed over her. “Why would you wantto take her when you could just cwith us?’ Ms. Benn shook her head quickly. “I can’t leave. The king needs me.” “The whole country is on the verge of war,” | practically shouted back at her, nearly laughing at the absurdity of her statement. “Kaleb won't care about losing a maid.” Her pale eyes widened and then flashed. “You know nothing about this country, about loyalty. | would rather die than leave. But Lila doesn’t deserve that. Get her out of here, take her somewhere safe. Make sure she will be safe.” My lips parted but | couldn't refuse. We didn’t have tto have a whole discussion, so | just nodded. Wordlessly, Erika passed Raven over to Asher and then took Lila into her arms and held her close.

2/4 TH [e] Chapter 281 Ms. Benn bowed and then quickly left and headed toward the main building. As | wretched her leave, | shook my head. | had never understood Ms. Benn, but her loyalty to Kaleb seemed to be unquestionable. | couldn't imagine abandoning my child just to stay put and help such a violent king, but | supposed it wasn’t forto understand.

We continued moving moments later, and uncertainty filled my mind. We were supposed to meet with Rayden, but as we approached the gate, we didn’t see anyone other than Kaleb’s guards, who appeared restless. Their eyes were locked on the smoke, but duty apparently kept them trapped in their positions.

We hid in the dark shadows cast by the trees. | wondered if we would need to fight the guards to leave. Without Rayden and his friends’ help, we couldn't slip out unnoticed. Of course, we weren't in the best position to be fighting. Asher and | were wounded, and we had two children with us, not to mention Raven, who could wake up at any moment.

As | contemplated our next move, | heard a small noise cfrom the bushes behind us. | exchanged a glance with Asher. He seemed to have heard it too. | silently set Finnick down and motioned for him to join Erika. Once he did, Asher and | crouched down and then quietly moved in the direction of the sound.

As we stepped forward, we were surprised to see Rayden, but he didn’t appear to be alone. The Alpha of the Wild Crawler Pack didn’t seem too worse for wear, but his expression was distressed like he was in skind of trouble.

“Letgo,” he hissed to someone beside him. “Or you won't like what happens next.” A woman's voice scoffed. “If you don’t do as | say, you're dead.” My lips parted as | recognized the voice.

It was Helene.

| walked toward them and saw Rayden standing in front of Helene. Helene’s hand was on his right shoulder while her left hand was behind his back.

Helene didn’t seem to recognizeat first.

“Don’t move,” she warned me. “My knife is soaked with a deadly poison. This man will die the moment it breaks his skin.” “Helene, it's me,” | pleaded with her. “It's Cassandra. Please put the knife down. That man is my friend.” Suddenly, her expression changed and her honey-brown eyes widened. She removed her hold on Rayden, sheathed her knife, and then moved toward me.

“Cassandra!” she said, and then she wrapped her arms around me. “Oh, I'm so happy to see you. | didn’t know he was your accomplice. Please, takewith you.

We need to get out of here.”