Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 19 Mommy said you’re bad

ASHER

I stared out the window and admired the way the light entered the room. Dusk here in the Wild Crawler Pack was far more tranquil here than it was all the way out. in Anemond. Out in the capital, it was nearly impossible to see the h orizon amidst the tall buildings and structures. Here, there was nothing but open sky for miles.

I peered out at the front lawns. Here, the grass grew tall and was a plush, emerald green. The lawns of my palace in Anemond were nothing like this. They were broad and sp acious but cut meticulously short by the team of gardeners. It was almost as if wildlife was forbidden. There was no smell of pine, no fresh air…

I inhaled deeply. I’d never admit it to anyone, but I would miss the fresh air here. There was something to be said for this land beside the border. There was a wildness here that didn’t exist out in Anemond, no matter how much I yearned for it.

Far out on the lawn, two boys were playing ball with one another. One of them, I assumed, was the son of the Alpha, and the other I recognized as Ca sandra Keller’s son, the one with the gray eyes named Finnick.

Finnick Keller.

As I watched the two play, I considered the strange color of the boy’s eyes. In the past, it was said that the color of the iris was a royal trait, passed down from an ancient bloodline. However, I had a few acquaintances who had similarly colored eyes, so that wasn’t exactly true.

The strange part was the way Ca ssandra had acted when her son pointed out that I shared the same color eyes. The beautiful healer seemed scared, panicked almost, when the boy had spoken up.

Why was she so afraid of me?

I knew I could be intimidating, but was there something more that I didn’t

know?

the musical sound made me smile. The pair looked so happy

We’d spent. countless hours playing ball, exploring the castle, and reenacting plays we concocted in

and as the years flew by, I found

so far away now.

longer the little boy

empire, a ruthless leader who

was gone.

son and began to speak with them. Their conversation carried on for a while, and I watched the Alpha’s son sigh in

had left me too, and I was all alone with nothing but my

knock was heard behind me. I

is it?” I asked, and

of Alpha Gareth’s, Your Majesty,” a young man’s voice

enter the room?”

took a breath. I needed to push away all thoughts of Ector and Cora. I had more important things to worry

1, and his hazel eyes were timid as they

ready, Your Majesty,” the se rvant announced, and he

small bow.

me know,” I replied, and I fought away the boredom. Yet another dinner with yet another Alpha. Gareth and his wife Sofia had been wonderful hosts, but I was tired of having business conversations. They were often so dull, and it was difficult to speak my mind when I knew my hosts were terrified of

my presence.

I

part to play. If I showed weakness, my authority could be questioned. I was the Alpha King and I needed to