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, but instead of

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

Asher.

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

jacket, I double-checked my purse and made sure I had everything necessary. Once I was certain I was ready, I

hall, and then

the main street of Anemond. Much to my relief the hunting festival had just ended,

left the palace 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 other wares filled the many stalls and carts posted up on the streets, along

time here in Anemond, and I felt a strange feeling come over me as I thought about it all. It felt like another life,

we finally made it to the main street,

was just as bustling as the

schools of fish. For a moment, I was a little overwhelmed

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

in Wild Crawler territory,

this.

back,

made our way

of the various stalls and displays. He was in awe of everything,

was young.

air, and with them, a chorus of music from a few musicians perched in the center of the market. Their exotic

Finnick guide me over to a shop nearby, and when we stopped in front

shop’s window, I could see they were selling adorable puppies. When my eyes

the

this place with my father and brother when I was young.

he finally caved and took us there. The moment we stepped foot in

had raised several ferocious hounds over the years that would aid well in battles, but we’d