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

my own friends. We’d spent. countless hours playing ball, exploring the castle, and

up together, and as the years flew by, I found myself becoming more and more

memories felt so far away now.

the little boy who played

was the Alpha King of the Wegalla empire, a ruthless leader who didn’t have time to play or enjoy

was

lawn. He approached Finnick and the Alpha’s son and began to speak with them. Their conversation carried on for a while, and I watched the Alpha’s son sigh in dejection. The se rvant soon left, and the boy followed suit. Finnick was left on the lawn alone, and even from the vantage of my room, I could tell

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

heard behind me. I

is it?” I asked, and I

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

enter the room?”

agreed reluctantly, and before the door opened, I took a breath. I needed to push away all thoughts of Ector and Cora. I had more important things to worry about

as they flashed over to me. I recognized him but hadn’t bothered to learn his name since I’d been here.

the se rvant announced, and he

small bow.

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

my presence.

I

weakness, my authority could be questioned. I