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.

the front of my own new sweater. Mine was a similar knit,

go?” I asked, and when Finnick nodded, my smile was genuine. His excitement touched my heart and healed a little bit of the

Asher.

be

purse and made sure I had everything necessary. Once

hall, and then we made our way

my relief the hunting festival had just ended,

I was reminded 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,

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

it to the main street,

just as bustling as the hunting

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 I looked down at Finnick, I expected the same reaction. But

surprise, Finnick was thrilled. His eyes were wide and his infectious smile was

Back in Wild Crawler territory,

this.

close to me,” I advised him, and after he nodded back, I took a deep breath,

Finnick’s hand tightly as we made our way into the

more than usual and with the other hand, he pointed out all of the various stalls and displays. He was in awe of everything, just as I’d

was young.

a few musicians perched in the center of the

nearby, and when we stopped in front of

were selling adorable puppies. When my eyes flew to the sign above the door, a strange feeling went through me.

didn’t think the shop

father and brother

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 Father to

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