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.

front of my own new sweater. Mine was a similar knit, but instead of blue,

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

Asher.

advised. “We need to be prepared for it

I double-checked my purse and made sure I had everything necessary.

room and into the busy hall, and then we

the main street of Anemond. Much to my relief the

and made our way through the grounds and toward the city, 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, and various

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 when I’d

to the main street, my

was just as bustling as the hunting festival.

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

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

him. Back in Wild Crawler territory, we didn’t have markets

this.

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

hand tightly as we made our way

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

was young.

chorus of music from a few musicians perched in the center of the market. Their exotic instruments sent

guide me over to a shop nearby, and when we stopped in front of it, my jaw nearly dropped again and my eyes widened.

they were selling adorable puppies. When my eyes flew to the sign above

think the shop still

with my father

Ector and I had dragged Father to the shop. It took a lot of convincing but he finally caved and took us there. The moment we stepped foot in the

hounds over the years that would