Page 51 of The Possessive Alpha’s Reborn Luna

"No! That's not true!" Victoria shook her head. "You were so good to me. You must love me..."

"It was duty!" I raised my voice. "Victoria, wake up! You were Arcales' wife—my brother's wife! I've never felt that way about you!"

Victoria's body shook violently, her face going paler.

"Now," I pointed at the door, "get the hell out of my study! Now!"

"Cedric—"

"Out!" I roared.

Tears streamed down Victoria's face. She opened her mouth, like she wanted to say more, but finally said nothing. She covered her mouth and ran out.

The moment the door closed, I leaned against the desk, breathing hard. I never imagined Victoria harbored these feelings.

Her words terrified me. How could I face Arcales now?

Suddenly, Alice's face filled my mind. So many things crashed together in that instant.

Alice said she was tired of my coldness, tired of everyone's mockery, tired of this palace. She'd said more than once that Victoria and I were too close, that I only cared about Victoria. I'd accused her of talking nonsense. But she'd only looked at me with mockery.

I didn't understand. My care for Victoria was only duty. I never crossed that line. Why would Victoria think I loved her? Did Alice think the same? Is that why she was so cold, so distant, so desperate to escape me?

I needed answers. I needed to hear the truth from her lips.

I took a breath and strode from the study toward Alice's room. The corridor was silent except for my footsteps echoing.

But as I turned the corner, a familiar figure came running.

Caspar. His face was frantic, sweat covering his forehead. He looked like he'd raced back from the border the moment he heard.

When he saw me, he rushed over.

"Your Majesty!" He gasped. "I heard about Alice—"

Hearing the worry in his voice ignited my fury again. I wanted to tear his head off!

"You dare show your face?" I roared, grabbing his collar and slamming him against the wall. "You bastard!"

Caspar's back hit the wall with a thud.

"It was you!" My voice was hoarse, eyes blazing. "You seduced her! The child she's carrying is yours, isn't it?"

Images flooded my mind—Alice smiling at him, that gentle, relaxed smile. Him touching her head, that intimate gesture. Her stepping in front of him, willing to take my blow to protect him.

"You fucking touched her!" My fist crashed into his face. "Caspar! She's my mate!"

Blood trickled from Caspar's lip, but he didn't fight back.

"Your Majesty," he looked at me, disappointment and anger filling his brown eyes, "you'd believe anyone else over your own mate?"

"What?"

"Alice never betrayed you!" Caspar raised his voice. "The child she's carrying is yours! There's nothing between us! We're friends! Friends since childhood!"

"But she admitted it!" I roared. "She said the child isn't mine!"

Caspar's eyes widened. "What? No, there must be some misunderstanding. Alice would never—"