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

and the tears

felt her touch my bandaged hand. I winced from the pain but allowed her to check the wound. Her face suddenly paled. “Your wound is infected, Ca ssandra. Do you have any

here?”

instantly forced myself to stop crying and regained my composure. I nodded and then pointed at

and walked over to the

and containers until

a seat at my bedside, and then carefully applied the salve to my hand.

more stable, I turned my attention back

I

nodded. “Of course.”

to ask me something. Her lips

need to take care of yourself, Ca ssandra,” she offered. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard these days.

I nodded. “Alright.”

tears. His lower lip trembled and he had his favorite stuffed bear in his hands. He

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 friend but he’s so mean, Mommy. I don’t like him and I don’t like it here.

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

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 that we could go back to our normal lives, not after the ordeal with Adalyn. The Moses family would never let me rest, I

handed me a glass

urged, and as I obeyed, she glanced over at the door. “There were a few guards when I arrived here earlier. They didn’t stop me from entering, but

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

she shook

my body. “The Alpha King didn’t seem angry with me after I explained what had happened. But at the same time,

slowly as she stared off into the distance. “They’re dangerous, the

all,”

issue further, suddenly I heard a voice beyond us. I recognized it instantly. It belonged to Margaret. She was arguing with the guards, who were telling her that no one was allowed to