Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 47 Pet store

CA SSANDRA

As the days went by, I couldn’t get the cold look on Asher’s face out of my mind. It lingered there like a ghost and haunted my every move.

The way he’d dismissed me, the way his lips had drawn into a thin line…

But what else had he expected me to do? I didn’t want to stay here or compète with Adalyn for his affection. I wanted to complete my research, find a cure for the Alpha King’s mysterious condition, and leave Anemond for good.

And yet, the image of Asher’s face made my heart wrench.

“Mommy!” Finnick called out and interrupted my thoughts. I shifted my attention to my son and forced a smile. He was dressed up in brand new clothes and his normally serious face was bright and cheery.

Though I tried to replicate his enthusiasm, he saw through me right away, and

his smile turned into a frown.

“Mommy,” he complained. “What’s wrong? You’ve been so distracted.”

It was an intelligent observation and I knew I needed to save face.

“I’m sorry baby,” I apologized. “I’ve just been so busy that I’m a little tired. But you look so nice in your new clothes.”

Finnick’s frown shifted back into a grin.

It was true. He’d been gifted a whole set of new clothing from the royal staff, and he looked like a proper young man. Today, he’d chosen a pair of tan trousers and a navy blue sweater that made his eyes even more gray than usual.

“Thanks, Mommy,” he said.

was a similar knit, but instead of blue, it was a nice deep

my smile was genuine. His excitement touched my heart and healed a little

Asher.

jacket,” I advised. “We need to be prepared

Mommy,” Finnick replied, and after he grabbed his jacket, I double-checked my purse and made sure I had everything necessary. Once I was certain I was

stepped out of the room and into the busy hall, and then we made our way to the entrance

my relief the hunting festival had just ended, so it wouldn’t be as bustling as usual.

of when I was a child. Back then, there would be a festival market on the main street with different and wonderfully interesting things for sale. Trinkets, books, exotic taxidermied animals, and various other wares filled the many stalls and carts posted up on the streets, along with

sale, there were talent shows and performances that I watched with curious eyes. It was an exciting time here in Anemond, and I felt a strange feeling come over me as I thought about it all. It felt like another life, another century

to the main street, my jaw dropped a

just as bustling

filled the streets, maneuvering around each other like schools of fish. For a moment, I was a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of activity, and when

eyes were wide and his infectious

couldn’t blame him. Back in Wild Crawler territory, we

this.

he nodded back, I took a deep breath, and we walked into

made our way into the

usual and with the other hand, he pointed out all of the various stalls and displays. He was in awe

was young.

music from a few musicians perched in the center of the market. Their exotic instruments sent a chill down my spine. This

stopped in front of it, my jaw nearly dropped

eyes flew to

didn’t think the shop still existed.

this place with my father

a lot of convincing but he finally caved and took us there. The moment we stepped foot in the shop, Ector and I were absolutely enamored by the cute puppies, and we desperately wanted

years that would aid well in battles, but we’d never had a puppy