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 blue, it was a nice deep

my smile was genuine. His

Asher.

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

my purse and made sure I had everything necessary. Once I was certain I was ready, I grabbed my own jacket and took my son’s hand in mine.

the busy hall, and

Much to my relief the hunting festival had just ended, so

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 areas for food and beverages. made from precious plants that only

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

main street, my jaw dropped

just as bustling

little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of

were wide and his infectious smile was on full

Back in Wild Crawler territory, we

this.

and after he nodded back, I took a deep

we made our way

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

was young.

a few musicians perched in the center

a shop nearby, and when we stopped in front of it, my jaw nearly dropped

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

think the shop still

this place with my father and brother when I

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

the years that would aid well in battles, but