Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 52 Rude Northerner

ASHER

“You’re very late, Alpha Asher. Is it customary of your Pack to keep your guests

waiting?”

The moment I stepped into the first-floor meeting room, a heavily accented voice reached my ears, and I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Though I knew the voice belonged to the King of Yurene, I was shocked by how callously I was being

spoken to.

The king stood from the couch very slowly and then extended his hand toward mine. “I jest, of course, though you do appear to be quite busy.””

I stared at his hand for a moment before I accepted it in mine. “I suppose I am quite busy. I’m sorry to keep you waiting-”

“Are you ill?” Kaleb blurted out. “You look tired-”

Lancel took a step forward in warning, but I raised a hand to stop him.

“It’s fine,” I murmured.

Kaleb studied us with a curious expression and then chuckled. “It seems the people of the South are more tense than us Northerners.”

The king of Yurene was one of the tallest men I’d ever seen. I wasn’t short by any means, but compared to his impressive stature, I felt like a child again. His hair was somewhere between gold and brown, and his deep blue eyes were dark and haunting. His appearance was sophisticated but his attire was another thing completely. He was dressed in deep leathers and furs that suggested a colder climate than it was. It made sense- Yurene’s climate was likely much colder than that of Wegalla’s.

Despite his height, he appeared to be a few years younger than me and still

had a softness to his smile.

so,” I

was a very capable Alpha. While his father, the former king of Yurene, had taken most of their land through war and disputes, Kaleb was known to use softer policies to annex other packs into their empire. That being said, I could see a certain glint in his eyes that suggested he shouldn’t be doubted.

is Lancel, Bert, and my counselors,” I introduced the group to the king, and then I took

you all,” Kaleb said

each of the cups with

I addressed them as I

in, and when he lifted the tea to his lips, he inhaled deeply and smiled.

widened. “A wonderful selection, Alpha Asher. I must say, the tea in the South is very worthy of praise. The only praise I’ve been able to give so far.”

you have had a rather bad impression of Wegalla,” I remarked, and I pushed down the feeling

bluntly, and then he offered a strange expression of amusement. “I

my tea cup down. My eyes flew to Lancel, but my guard looked just as confused by

around the market earlier. I wanted to get a feel for Anemond before I arrived in the palace. I’ve only heard tales. of Wegalla from my father, you see, so I wanted to get to know the city myself. I was in the middle of the market when I heard a woman cry out for help. My men and I ended up finding her in the middle of an alley

woman.’

my,” I uttered before I could

Kaleb continued. matter-of-factly, but his bright expression faded quickly. “But I must say, the experience left quite an impression. I didn’t realize this

something like this… it all sounded so strange.

years.

into this,” I announced as my eyebrows creased together. “I can assure you, Alpha Kaleb, this kind of thing doesn’t happen

“Do you mean to say that it

emphasized. Alpha Kaleb’s tone was tiresome. and I couldn’t believe I was being challenged like that in my own

stared at me for a moment and then

brought you bad luck,” he remarked, and he turned his

steady my breath. I needed to stay

to do so.

you here, Alpha Kaleb?” I wondered. “From our correspondence, I hadn’t expected you to come