Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 7 Bad guy

CA SSANDRA

“Mommy, what’s going on?” Finnick whispered, and he stared up at me with widened eyes. I froze in place, unsure of how to answer him. Surely, the Alpha King

couldn’t be serious.

Me, go with him to Anemond?

I studied Asher’s expression and wondered if he’d seen past my changed face.

and voice. Had he discovered it was me after all? No. There was no way.

Regardless, why would he bring me there? As the capital city of the Wegalla Empire, there were countless outstanding healers that resided there. While I knew I was good at my job, I didn’t believe for a moment that I was any more talented than any of them.

If anything, I could just write down the list of herbs I’d used and have the ser vants pass it along to the royal healers, and if something was amiss, they knew

where to find me.

“I-I don’t understand, Your Majesty,” I asked him. “Why bring me all the way to

Anemond?”

“Must I repeat myself?” the Alpha King sighed and he shook his head in frustration. “I thought you were smart, but perhaps I’m giving you too much credit.”

Anger s piked within me, but I ignored it.

“Begging your pardon, but I have patients here in the Wild Crawler Pack I must attend to,” I brought up in hopes he’d change his mind. “Many of them require. treatment that only I can administer.”

“Isn’t that why you have an assistant?” Asher retorted.

“Well, yes,” I admitted. “But I can’t just leave her to do all of the work. It takes

both of us to run the clinic.”

“This isn’t a discussion, Ca ssandra,” his voice hardened as his impatience grew. “It’s an order. You will comply or else suffer the consequences. I doubt you wish to subject your son to any sort of punishment.”

The Alpha King was right. I couldn’t refuse, not when it was a royal decree. I had to do what was right and keep Finnick from harm’s way.

I replied quickly, and

leave us,” Asher commanded. “Return home and prepare your things.”

and after I rose to my feet, I bowed in respect.

without another word, and once the doors were closed behind us, my son grabbed my hand.

“He scares

whispered back, and I glanced around to make sure no one had heard him. “You mustn’t say such things, not until we’re

“Sorry,” he apologized.

Finnick down the stairs, and after I waved goodbye to Jasper,

Pack House.

nearly nightfall, and the moon shone bright above us as we

dinner?” I asked Finnick, and my

said. “Auntie Sofia gave us soup and

simply, and I made note to thank the Luna for watching my son and taking care of him

we headed toward our house, a few Pack members greeted us and wished us good evenings. I kept my responses polite but short. Now was the time the Pack. members would be heading home to celebrate their harvests, but I

happened that day.

me, his fingers wrapped tightly around mine. I knew he could sense my frustration, so he remained quiet as we quickly walked, but after a while, he started to lag behind me. Soon, I dropped his hand without really noticing until

said. “Please

I turned around, I noticed he’d stopped and was panting

and crouched down so I

sorry, honey,” I apologized. “I didn’t

his breath. Once he was

assured him, but he wasn’t

he

he could tell I wasn’t okay. But what could I

understand?

Anemond?” I asked him softly,

“No,” he said.

not?” I

obvious. “If Mommy

special, so empathetic. I smiled at him, and drew him into a hug. After a moment, I let go, and we resumed our walk. As we continued

I

without revealing

was that strange man?” he

official,” I explained