Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

ASHER

Chapter 70 Dubious foreigners

I was only half awake as I sat in the meeting room and listened to the morning report. Jacoby was informing me about the investigation being conducted about the attempted kidnapping that’d taken place in the market, and the councilor’s dark eyes were glum as he spoke.

“We checked the identity of the kidnapper, Your Majesty,” he said. “They didn’t live in Anemond, nor did they seem to be residents of Wegalla at all.”

My brow shot up immediately. “Do you think they were foreigners?”

Jacoby nodded. “I believe so, Your Majesty. But without officially issued certification, no foreigners would have been able to pass the territory line of Wegalla.”

I frowned.

This was all very strange.

“Did the soldiers stationed there fail their duties?” I wondered as frustration rose within me. “How could a foreigner enter the territory without anyone knowing?”

Jacoby hesitated for a moment.

“Perhaps,” he began. “There’s another possibility. I find it a little coincidental that the king of Yurene appeared right then and there to stop the kidnapper from taking Miss Ca ssandra…”

“Are you suggesting that he was behind it all?” I asked directly.

“I don’t know,” he replied, and his cheeks flushed with color. “All I know for sure is that the king is infamous for being scheming and slippery. He could be responsible. It would certainly raise the reputation of Yurene if a king swooped in to

save a citizen of Wegalla. It would make their country and their people seem much more civilized and important.”

My frown deepened as I considered his words.

I wasn’t sure if a matter such as this was important enough to make such a fuss about. I didn’t want Wegalla’s own reputation to come into question and be smeared by an incident such as this. But then again, I couldn’t deny the possibility that Kaleb was behind this. As Jacoby had pointed out, it was a little coincidental that he happened to be in the vicinity when the incident had taken place.

think

didn’t want to consider the idea too much further, but I couldn’t help but wonder if he had his sights set on her in multiple ways?

I knew for certain was that I couldn’t trust the

my attention back to Jacoby, who was waiting patiently for my reply.

I said politely, and then I nodded at him. “Please keep up the investigation and

Jacoby said dutifully, and then he bowed his head in respect. As he walked out of the room, I couldn’t help but admire the way he’d conducted himself.

in and let out a small groan as my head throbbed. Though I’d drank my fill of coffee this morning, I still found myself to be quite tired. My sleep had been restless and little the night. before. Lately, I’d been too anxious to

that Finnick wasn’t Emmett Keller’s son, my mind could not be put at

heard from the villagers in Wild Crawler that Ca ssandra had been three months pregnant when she’d been brought to the territory by Emmett. Of course, it had just been idle gossip since no one seemed to know the entire story surrounding her arrival

when he’d said this kind of information wouldn’t be included in

Crawler had been so wrought with mystery.

idea crossed my

pregnant back then?

to consider, but I couldn’t help but think about it anyway. My recent theory was one I couldn’t ignore even if I

my mind and did my best to recall the events from all those years ago. I tried to picture her

I hated to admit it, I couldn’t

business, along with my efforts to clear the Felix

a tidal wave and

I done everything I

let my final images of Cora fade

up straight in my chair and wiped away the tears that had started to spill down my cheeks. For the briefest of moments, I considered telling my visitor to leave me alone, but I couldn’t. My duties as the Alpha King came first. I needed to put on a brave face

I called out as I cleaned

my guard reported from the other

door.

within

Just who I wanted