Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 66 The soldier

CA SSANDRA

That night, for the first time, after all of these years of loneliness and emptiness, I dreamt of my father and brother.

It was a nice dream. In it, I was out with my family in a field. Ector and I were running while my father watched on with a kind smile on his normally stern face. As we ran, a warm breeze kissed my cheeks and bright sunlight filled the sky. Ector and I tumbled around in our wolf forms and rolled in the tall, soft grass. It was the first time I’d pictured my wolf form in ages. I’d almost forgotten what she’d looked like.

I wished I could have stayed in that dream forever.

But it wasn’t meant to be. I awoke the next morning to the sound of someone calling my name. My eyes blinked open slowly and my vision was blurred as I came to. Who was saying my name?

Moments later, my eyes focused, and I saw Erika standing over me. The maid’s face was painted with worry and she touched my forehead gently.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she murmured. “You have a fever.”

For a moment, her stance and tone of voice reminded me of my childhood.

contain myself, I began to s ob.

swelled up in my eyes and before I reminded me

“Oh Erika,” I managed to say through my cries. “I’ve missed you so much.”

The maid stood there, completely stunned and unsure of what to say. I was confused by this interaction- why wasn’t she saying anything?

Suddenly, another voice chimed in.

“Mommy?” Finnick called out in a worried voice. “Mommy, what’s wrong?”

realized I was no longer

of bricks and the tears came much faster.

cry, dear,” Erika tried to soothe me, and I felt her touch my bandaged hand. I winced from the pain but allowed her to check the

here?”

instantly forced myself to stop crying and regained my composure. I nodded and then pointed at the closet just beyond us.

over to the closet. She rooted around through

and containers until she found the salve.

she asked for clarification, and when I nodded again, she shut the doors and walked back over to me. She took a seat at my bedside, and then carefully applied the salve to my hand. I cried out in pain as the medicine touched my wound but then forced myself

I was more stable, I turned my attention back to

you,” I said.

“Of course.”

I could tell from her perplexed expression and the glimmer in her eyes that she wanted to ask me something. Her lips event parted but she seemed to change her mind about

need to take care of yourself, Ca ssandra,” she offered. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard these days. But don’t

I nodded. “Alright.”

trembled and he had his favorite stuffed bear in his hands. He set

since we got here, there’s been no happy things. I miss Wild Crawler. I miss Dominic and Luna Sofia. I don’t like Prince Marco. He was supposed to be my

head and fought back the sadness that was swelling within me. “I’m so

felt so sorry for my son. Truth be told, I missed Wild Crawler more than anything. I missed Luna Sofia, Alpha Gareth, Dominic… I especially missed Marley. But there was nothing we could do about it. Even if Asher was willing to let us go, it was unlikely we’d return to Wild Crawler safe and sound. Too much had happened here. There was no chance

handed me a

she glanced over at the door. “There were a few guards when I arrived here earlier. They didn’t stop

to make sure I don’t leave,” I explained. “The Alpha King

and she

Alpha King didn’t seem angry with me after I explained what had happened. But at the same time, it was a very firm decision. You were right, Erika. Adalyn and

distance. “They’re dangerous, the lot of them. I just don’t

at all,”

beyond us. I recognized it instantly. It belonged to Margaret. She was arguing with the guards, who were telling her that no one was