Page 49 of The Possessive Alpha’s Reborn Luna

"Alice betrayed the King?"

"Execute her!"

An elder stood up, his face filled with fury. "The Queen has betrayed the royal family and betrayed the Moon Goddess! This is a crime punishable by death!"

"Yes! Execute her!"

"Burn this whore!"

The curses surged toward me like a tidal wave. I stood there expressionless, listening to every word.

Cedric stared at me relentlessly. His eyes burned with fury, his chest rising and falling violently, his entire body trembling. But beneath that anger, there was another emotion in his eyes... An emotion I couldn't understand.

"Although matters among your pack have nothing to do with me..." Prince Adrian's voice suddenly rang out, breaking the deadlock. Everyone turned toward him.

He was still standing there, a playful smile lingering on his lips. "But I have already invited her. So tonight, she must dance with me." He pointed at me, then looked toward Cedric. "I believe your pack is not the kind that breaks its word, correct?"

Cedric's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Keep dreaming!" His voice sounded like the roar of a beast. "She will not dance with you!"

"Guards!" He turned toward the soldiers, his voice filled with unquestionable authority. "Take the Queen back to her chambers! As for her punishment, I will decide myself."

Chapter Twelve

Cedric

"Let her go!" Adrian's voice cut through the air, cold and commanding.

I whipped around to see Adrian striding toward us, his eyes locked on Alice, held between the guards.

"I said, let her go!" He repeated, reaching out to shove the guards aside.

"Adrian, what the hell do you think you're doing?" I blocked his path, my voice dropping to a dangerous rumble. Jealousy and rage clawed at my chest. My wolf snarled, wanting to rip apart this bastard who dared covet our mate.

"She's my dance partner tonight!" Adrian's eyes narrowed, his tone lethal. "What are you planning? Lock her up? Burn her alive?"

"None of your damn business!" My voice was ice.

Adrian didn't back down. He tried to get past me to reach Alice.

Rage shattered my control. My fist connected with his face.

Adrian stumbled back, blood trickling from his lip.

"Guards!" I roared. "Hold him back! Don't let him near the queen!"

The guards swarmed Prince Adrian, surrounding him.

"King Cedric," Adrian wiped the blood from his mouth, his handsome face hardening, "this is no way to treat a guest."

"She is my mate!" Each word ripped from my throat. "Adrian, I'm warning you—stay away from her. Come near her again, and I don't give a damn about starting a war between our kingdoms."

I turned to the guards, my voice like winter. "Take the queen to her room. Now!"

The guards hauled Alice away.

Her back stayed straight, defiant. Even as they dragged her off roughly, she didn't beg. Didn't look back at me once.

That sight—it felt like something had seized my heart and squeezed. My wolf howled inside me, thrashing, suffering, desperate to chase after her.