Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 45 Telltale

ASHER

As the Alpha King of Wegalla, I often had to endure things that I didn’t want to, and this meeting was no exception.

I wasn’t usually one to drift off during important conversation, but this particular one wasn’t holding me as much as I wished for it to.

I’d invited a few of my more trusted councilors into my study to discuss some business, and as I sat back in the leather armchair at my desk, their discussion danced by my ears. I’d had the housekeepers make some rearrangements, so the councilmen were seated around me rather than all of us sitting in the more informal seating area of my study.

I fidgeted in my seat. These days, I was more restless than I’d ever been. There was much to attend to, but ever since the viper attack in Rosepetal’s garden with Ca ssandra Keller, I’d been off my game.

“Your Majesty?” one of my councilors, an older gentleman named Jacoby prompted me out of my stupor. His dark eyes were wide with concern as they studied me, and I straightened my posture so he wouldn’t get the wrong impression.

“Yes, sorry,” I apologized, and I waved my hand. “Please, repeat what you said.”

“We were just discussing the forthcoming visit, Your Highness,” Jacoby managed as he glanced at the other three councilors in confusion.

In a few days, the Crescent Pack, and Anemond for that matter, would be receiving a group of diplomats from North, Yurene. The group used to be a small pack, but their old Alpha was very warlike and vicious. In the last few decades, their numbers had grown as they’d annexed several packs in its vicinity.

Normally, this wouldn’t be perceived as an issue, but their new king, who’d just

ascended took the throne a mere year ago, seemed to prefer another way of taking. lands from other Packs. They made “peaceful” diplomatic relations with the Pack they wanted to annex and then broke it down, economically and then physically.

I’d received their request to visit a month ago.

“What do you have to say about the meeting?” I prompted my councilors, and each exchanged nervous looks with one another

“If you don’t mind my being candid, Your Majesty, I must say that I don’t think this is the best idea,” Jacoby said slowly.

“I have to agree with Jacoby, Your Majesty,” Aremine, another older councilor.. added quietly. His tone was even more timid than Jacoby’s but his fierce blue eyes told another story. Aremine had been around since my father had been in power, and I considered him to be one of the wisest men in the room,

said simply, and I crossed my arms against

may have ill intentions,” Aremine said. “Their Pack has a documented history of using these visits as a jumping off point before they try to seize further land for their

don’t know that for sure,” Karsh, the youngest of the councilors spoke up.

his brow furrowed after he

of them to play the same tricks here in Wegalla. The empire is too

didn’t seem completely sure. He was playing the two sides

strong,” Aremine allowed, but then he turned to me. “But Your Majesty, there’s strength in numbers, and their Pack certainly has them. Should we allow them to

their visit, they’ll simply come here by force,” I said with a sigh.

chimed in, and Aremine rolled his eyes

treat the diplomats, Your Majesty?” he asked me. “As friends? Welcome guests? Or should we be much fiercer in our interactions? Intimidation is a

they speak bad things about Wegalla when they return to their own country,” Jacoby said. “This will only hurt the empire’s image

chair. As the cold leather hit my skin, a sigh of relief escaped me. My

as it was to admit, I didn’t care about the diplomats from Yurene, not even a little bit. The whole country was no matter to me. Besides, Karsh was right. Wegalla wouldn’t easily be taken down by a small country’s nasty tricks. T

they tended to drag out simple meetings over the span of days. But I couldn’t exactly dismiss them, not when

the door

demanded in annoyance, and I pinched the bridge of my nose

What now?

guards answered from the other side. “I have Prince Marco here to speak

have some

Though I didn’t know what was going

out, and then I

dismissed.”

rose to their feet and hurried out of the room. Just as they left,

A small gasp escaped me

later, Adalyn appeared in the doorway. Her cat-like eyes were ablaze with anger and her

skulked into the room and immediately, I knew I was too tired to deal

on?” I asked again.

Adalyn spit. “And her