The Alpha King And His Chosen Luna novel Chapter 271

<Her message to me

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Her message to me

(Isla)

I stared at the name carved beneath the divided circle. Isalienne was written deep enough into the tree that years hadn’t erased it. My mother had known this road would matter if I ever followed her. Vaela remained close as I touched the letters.

‘She left it for us.

‘How can you know?’

‘Because I feel her here.’

I kept my hand against the tree and looked toward the two roads ahead. One followed the river while the other turned toward the mountain. Tavian’s map showed both routes, but only one eventually reached Frostvale. I looked back when Caius approached.

“Which road?” he asked.

“The one toward the mountain.”

Caius took the map from the vehicle and opened it. Frostvale was marked beyond the mountain, exactly where Tavian had shown us. The longer road followed the fiver before circling around. The shorter route went directly toward the crossing.

“Vaela thinks our mother went that way.”

“Then that’s the way we’ll take.”

Zeron and Raith joined us while the warriors remained near the vehicles. Caius showed them the route and explained what Vaela had sensed. Raith looked at the narrow road leading toward the mountain. It appeared wide enough for the vehicles from where we stood.

“We can drive until the road changes,” Zeron said.

Caius folded the map.

“That’s the plan.”

I looked at Isalienne one more time before returning to the vehicle. Lyrienne had followed this road centuries ago while searching for the daughter she believed was alive. Now I was following the same path while searching for her. I wondered whether she’d ever imagined that happening.

We turned onto the mountain road. Trees covered most of the land around us, and the river disappeared behind them. I kept Lyrienne’s book on my lap as we traveled. Vaela remained focused on what waited ahead.

‘Do you think there are more marks?’

‘Yes’

‘Can you tell where?’

Her message to me

‘Not yet.”

The road continued upward for nearly an hour. There were no homes or signs of another territory. I checked the trees whenever we passed one large enough to hold a mark. Nothing appeared.

Caius looked toward me.

“She’s still there?”

“Yes.”

+25 Pears

He returned his attention to the road. Zeron and Raith followed close behind us. The warriors hadn’t reparted anything unusual since leaving Evercrest. We continued toward the mountain crossing.

The road eventually became too narrow for both vehicles. Caius stopped before the ground changed completely. Tavian had warned us this would happen. From here, we either continued on foot or returned to the longer route.

“We ‘walk,” I said.

Caius looked toward the mountain.

“We’ll need supplies.”

Zeron and the warriors began gathering what we would need. Nobody suggested turning around and taking the longer road. Vaela had led us here for a reason. I wasn’t willing to ignore her now.

We left the vehicles with two warriors. The other two came with us while Zeron and Raith carried supplies. Caius took Tavian’s map. I carried Lyrienne’s book inside my bag.

The mountain path wasn’t difficult for wolves. We moved through it faster than humans could have managed. Trees became fewer as we climbed. Vaela became more interested in the land with every mile.

‘We’re close.’

‘To Frostvale?’

‘To something.’

I looked around but saw nothing except trees and roek. The path curved around the mountain before descending again. I could see another valley beyond it. Frostvale had to be sornewhere ahead.

Caius stopped.

“What?”

I pointed toward a tree beside the path.

“Another one.”

The divided circle had been carved into the trunk. Beneath it was Isalienne again, but this time something else had been added. An arrow pointed toward a smaller path leaving the main route. I walked toward it.

“She wanted me to leave the road.”

Het message to me

Caius studied the smaller path.

Then we find out why.”

+25 Points

We followed it for several minutes. The land descended toward a stream hidden between the trees. I noticed an old stone structure near the water. Most of it had been reclaimed by the forest.

Vaela reacted immediately.

‘There.’

I stopped.

‘What is it?’

‘Something of hers.”

I hurried toward the structure with Caius beside me. There was no door left, and part of the roof had fallen years ago. Inside stood a stone table and the remains of an old fireplace. Someone had once used this place for shelter.

I walked toward the table. Another divided circle had been carved into its surface. Beneath it were several words. This time they weren’t my name.

If you found this, keep going.

I stared at the message. Lyrienne hadn’t known whether I would ever reach this place, yet she’d continued leaving a path for me. She had wanted me to find whatever waited beyond these mountains. My fingers moved over the words.

“She knew I might follow her someday.”

Caius came beside me.

“She hoped you would.”

I looked around the abandoned shelter again. There had to be a reason Lyrienne had brought me away from the main road. Vaela still hadn’t settled. She wanted me to keep looking.

‘Where?’

‘Near the fireplace.

I crossed to it and crouched beside the stones. One looked different from the others. I moved it aside and found a small opening behind it. Something had been placed inside.

“Caius.”

He came over as I reached into the opening. My fingers closed around a small wooden box. Dust covered the top, but the divided circle was still visible. I carried it to the table.

Zeron and Raith entered behind us. Neither spoke as I opened the box. Inside was a piece of folded cloth and a necklace. I recognized the stone hanging from it.

It matched the stone from my birth record.

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