When The Moon Hides Her Crown novel Chapter 189

Chapter 189 It Was Her

SERAPHINA

“Breathe…”

I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath until he spoke. Our eyes stayed locked, neither of us daring to look away. His voice was calm, his heartbeat steady, his gaze unshakable, so different from the storm tearing through me. What I had just witnessed defied anything I could have imagined.

That was when the sound of footsteps thundered closer, accompanied by the growls of wolves closing in from every direction toward the corridor.

“Go, don’t stand by that filth,” Ronan murmured, brushing his hand softly against my cheek. Then he stepped back, pulling away the dark cloth from his face and letting it fall casually onto Cassius‘ body before disappearing into the room beside us.

A heartbeat later, Finn appeared before me. His sharp gaze flicked toward the door Ronan had just closed, then dropped to Cassius‘ mutilated body, before finally fixing on me.

The corridor filled quickly. Wolves and Alphas crowded in, their eyes widening at the sight on the floor.

“Fuck, what the hell is this?” someone breathed.

“Who did it? Who killed him?” Another voice rose in disbelief, the shock rippling through them. Then a sharp question cut through the noise, “Alpha Finn, you were here before the rest of us. Did you see anything?”

But Finn’s eyes never left mine. Instead of answering them, he tilted his head slightly and asked, “Seth Darven was here first. Did you see anything?” His voice was calm, but his gaze was piercing, as though he could peel back the layers of my thoughts. He had seen the door close. I was certain of it.

I steadied my breath, forced down the tide of emotions flooding me, and answered with as much composure as I could muster. “I arrived only a second before you, Alpha Finn. I saw nothing but his body already lying here in pieces.”

Something flickered in Finn’s expression at my words. His stare deepened, sharp and searching, as though he expected me to confess more or something else entirely.

“Could he have been murdered?” someone muttered, and the words made my heart race in

secret.

If they began to suspect that, then…

The murmurs cut off when Asher entered. His voice was calm, detached, yet it carried weight. “Murdered?” He crouched down, lifting the black cloth with the tip of his finger. “Isn’t this the same cloth the intruder was wearing to cover his face?”

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Chapter 189 It Was Her

“Fuck! Yes, I saw it too! That was the cloth!” one Alpha gasped. “Does that mean the intruder was Cassius?!”

“I can’t believe it… he killed so many Academy wolves on the way here. Was he always that powerful?!”

“I never knew he had that kind of strength!”

My gaze slid slowly toward Asher. With a single statement, he shifted the entire room’s focus.

The rising voices fractured into silence when Alpha Hugo stormed in, growling, “What is going on here?!” His steps faltered as his eyes fell on the bloody remains scattered across the floor.

For a moment he was too stunned to speak. Then his gaze darkened as it caught on the black cloth dangling from Asher’s fingers.

Asher let it drop to the ground and rose to his full height. His tone was flat, almost bored. “So this is how the chase for the intruder ends. No surprise, it was him. Couldn’t even last five minutes before ending up dead.”

Alpha Hugo’s frown deepened.

“Could he have been killed by a curse?” someone whispered, their voice tinged with fear. The memory of the Moonstone’s curse still haunted them, and Asher’s words only fed the fire.

“Who knows?” Asher shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets. “But after returning from the Ghost Forest, I can’t deny curses exist.”

He turned and walked away, his steps unhurried, his presence leaving a lingering unease behind. Just before disappearing down the hall, his eyes flicked briefly to me.

Everyone began whispering among themselves, voices buzzing with speculation. Some insisted Cassius had been struck down by a curse as punishment for his intrusion and violation of the forbidden chambers.

“Everyone, return to your dorms,” Alpha Hugo commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. The Academy wolves moved quickly to gather what was left of Cassius‘ body, their faces grim.

As the crowd dispersed and the corridor thinned, Finn drifted closer, his steps measured, his gaze locked on mine. He stopped barely an inch away, his voice low, almost a whisper. “Why? Didn’t you say you belonged only to yourself? Then why..”

My heart stuttered at his words. So I had been right, he had seen Ronan. His question wasn’t only about what had happened here. He was asking why if I claimed my freedom I

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Chapter 189 It Was Her

allowed Ronan to act for me. Of course, what he did not know was that Ronan was my soulmate.

I blinked, steadying myself. After a moment of silence, I answered softly, “I also said I write my own destiny, Finn,” a faint smile touched my lips, “And I decide who I choose for myself.”

With that, I turned and walked away, my footsteps echoing down the corridor.

Finn’s eyes lingered on my retreating figure, his expression unreadable, his gaze hollow. Under his breath, he murmured, “What a twisted fate we’re given, then. I decide for myself too…”

His eyes lifted toward the pale Moon framed by the vast windows. “Full Moon is coming.”

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