Page 31 of The Possessive Alpha’s Reborn Luna

She froze. Something complicated flickered in her eyes. Her mouth opened like she wanted to say something, then closed.

The silence stretched thick and suffocating. It had never been like this before. Alice always had so much to say—chattering like a bird. Now her silence made me uneasy.

Was she planning her next escape? The thought made my wolf stir, whimpering painfully in my chest.

"Why?" I broke the silence, voice low. "Why did you run? Where were you trying to go?"

She looked away without answering.

"I asked you a question!" My voice rose involuntarily. "Alice, answer me!"

"It's none of your business." Her voice was so cold I wanted to go insane.

"None of my business?" I nearly shouted, grabbing her shoulders. "You're my mate! Everything about you is my business! Do you have any idea how dangerous that forest is?"

"So what?" She lifted her head, eyes defiant but voice mocking. "You don't care anyway!"

"I don't care?" I stared at her in disbelief and growled. "Alice, I was scared out of my damn mind! You call that not caring?"

"Your caring means making me Victoria's servant? Making me apologize for something I never did?" Her voice erupted with long-suppressed anger. "Or kicking me out of the Queen's chambers to give them to Victoria, that fake little actress? You didn't think about me being your mate then! My disappearance is exactly what you both wanted! Now you can be with her without any guilt!"

Her words hit me like a slap.

"Victoria and I are nothing!" I ground out each word. "We're completely innocent! She was Arcales' wife. I only look after her because my brother asked me to on his deathbed!"

She laughed bitterly and shook off my hands. "You don't have to lie to me."

"Alice! I have no reason to lie to you!"

"Do you even believe that yourself?" she shouted. "I was the idiot who didn't see that she's the only one you love!"

"You—" My chest heaved. I felt like I was losing my mind. Why was she so convinced I loved Victoria? Had all these changes come from thinking Victoria and I were involved?

"Enough. I don't want to talk to you anymore," she cut me off, eyes turning icy. "But next time, I won't let you catch me!"

"You want to run again?" My fury exploded. "Alice, you're the Queen! Do you know fleeing the kingdom is a capital crime?"

"So?" She lifted her chin, looking at me with contempt. "Are you going to execute me? Perfect. Then I won't have to see your hypocritical face anymore!"

"Alice!" I'd never been this angry, but I couldn't do anything to her. She still looked pale. Fragile.

"Get out!" She pointed at the door. "Get out! I don't want to see you!"

I opened my mouth—

Bang bang bang!

Urgent knocking interrupted our fight.

"Your Majesty!" Caspar's anxious voice came through the door. "Your Majesty! Emergency situation!"

I took a deep breath, swallowed my rage, and strode to the door, yanking it open.

"What is it?" My voice was ice.

Caspar glanced at Alice behind me, hesitating.

"Speak!"