Ch. 116..120: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 116-120

Chapter 116 He likes her a lot ASHER As Bert read his report about the preparations for the celebration in honor of Silas Moses, I could hardly focus. I knew it wasn’t good that my mind was elsewhere. With Silas returning, I needed to pay special attention to the Beta’s family. I didn’t know much about him personally, just that he had a long history of military service and that he was new to the position of Beta. His role as a military official could make him potentially difficult to work with, as I had little experience. when it came to matters of war and battle, but truth be told, my concerns weren’t about him. I was still preoccupied with what Kane had said to me the other day. His strange disposition brought me to a realization I’d never had before- I knew too little about my own brother. I hadn’t asked Kane if he’d discovered Cas sandra’s true identity, as exposing it directly could be risky, but I knew something was up. I was puzzled about why he seemed to care so much about her. From what I could recall from our childhood, Kane had always been a loner and rarely showed concern for anyone, but now… he appeared to be looking after Cas sandra, which made me uncomfortable and stirred up feelings of jealousy within me. First, it was Kaleb, and now Kane. As the days went by and the list of suitors grew longer, the impulse to claim Cas sandra as my mate only strengthened. I didn’t like the ilea of others getting so close to her. “Your Majesty, shall we invite the king of Yurene to the celebration?” Bert sked, and his question pulled me right back into reality. I blinked a few times and tried to get my head on straight. “I… I don’t know,” I murmured as I searched my mind for the right decision. 1/5 “It would be impolite to exclude guests from the celebration,” Bert suggested gently.

Though I wanted to deny this idea outright, I knew he was correct. Excluding the king of Yurene from the event would be impolite as well as suspect, and I didn’t want any opportunity to raise suspicion in the palace. Kaleb and I were already on thin ice with one another, and any slight, no matter how small, could put Wegalla and Yurene in a precarious position. So, I took a deep breath and nodded.

“You’re right,” I decided. “Bert, please issue invitations for the king and his guards. They will be welcome to the celebration.” “Yes, Your Majesty,” he said, and he offered me a small bow. Though I didn’t trust Kaleb by any means, I knew this was the right choice. Besides, the foreign king was set to return to Yurene in two weeks. I wouldn’t have to continue this polite charade for too much longer. Having him close at the celebration would allow me to keep an eye on him and ensure he couldn’t be alone with Cas sandra. “You may leave, Bert,” I addressed the head of serv nts politely. Bert bowed once more, and after he gave me a small smile, he left the room. Once I was alone, I released the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Everything as of late had me so stressed. I was ready for life to settle into some normalcy, but I wasn’t so certain that that was a possibility. There was always some event to attend and host, or some other form of drama or crisis that pulled me in a million directions. I was only one man and yet there were so many roles for me to fill. I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes. I wondered if my father had ever felt his way when he was king. His reign was far different from m.. and he’d greatly hanged as a person in the later half of his life, but was there ever a time when he just wanted to hide and get away from it all? How did he handle the weight of so many pressures and expectations? At the end of the day, though, I wasn’t my father. I had a duty to fulfill to 2/5 Wegalla, and when I’d taken the crown, I’d decided I was going to be a much better ruler than him.

My head pounded as if on cue, and I winced at the sudden pain. I wasn’t sleeping as well as I wanted to, and my headaches were growing stronger with every day. It was a torment that only made the agitations of my day-to-day life event worse. I sat back for a while and let the pain subside, and once it became more bearable, I opened my eyes and rose from my seat. Despite having other meetings and matters to attend to, I decided I wanted to go to the clinic. I needed to see Ca ss andra. Surely, her mere presence would improve my poor mood. It always did. I snuck out of the palace through the back door and made my way to the clinic. It was surprisingly chilly, and I shivered, but the fresh air was nice. When I arrived at the clinic, I noticed a sign reading “Keller’s”. It was a welcome but strange sight to see. The door was closed, but when I gently pushed it, it opened. “Hello?” I called out, and when I got no answer, I stepped insid Despite the lights being on, the clinic appeared to be empty, but when I got a little further into the reception area, I spied Finnick and Cas sandra’s maid, Erika, were seated on the floor in the hallway. Finnick was playing with some toys while Erika witched on happily. It had been a while since I’d seen Finnick, and the first time since I’d found out hat he was my son. As I stared at the young boy who shared both my dark hair and my serious gray eyes, I felt momentarily lost for words. Erika and Finnick soon noticed my arrival, and the maid rose to her feet and offered me a curtsy. 3,5 in.” “Your Majesty,” she greeted me warmly. “My apologies, I didn’t hear you come “Quite alright,” I assured her, and I made my way to the hall to join them. Once I reached Finnick, I crouched down to his level and smiled. “Hello, Finnick.”

“Hello, Your Majesty,” the boy greeted me politely. “Are you looking for my Mommy? She’s busy working with Becky in the back room.” “I was,” I said. “But I wouldn’t want to disturb her. So I wondering if it would be okay if I waited here with you?” Finnick nodded, and I carefully sat down beside him. He had a row of stuffed animals arranged in front of him and the sight made me smile. “Now, who are these?” I wondered as I gestured at the toys. Finnick lit up at once. “These are my friends,” he announced happily. “We’re playing healer and patient. Mr. Bear is feeling sick, so his friends are here to help him feel better. And I’m the healer, just like Mommy.” I smiled. “Mr. Bear is lucky to have you as his healer. It sounds like he’s in capable hands.” “Would you like to hug him?” Finnick asked me earnestly. When I nodded, he handed me the slightly worn and well-loved brown stuffed bear. I smiled at its button eyes. The toy looked handmade. I gave it a hug and then hander it back to Finnick. “I hope he feels better soon,” I remarked. “He will now,” Finnick replied happily. “Thanks to us.” He hugged the bear tightly, and then his expression grew rious. 4/5 mod “Do you like my mommy?” he asked me was taken aback by the sudden question, but I couldn’t help but smile and “1 do,” I confirmed. ” like her a lot.”

 

Chapter 117 Not him CAS SANDRA As Becky and I sorted through the equipment that had been packed up from the palace and tried to find the right places to assemble them, I couldn’t help but think of the upcoming celebration Kane had mentioned. “Have you heard anything about the celebration to honor Silas Moses’ return?” I asked my assistant. “The Alpha King’s brother mentioned it when he stopped by earlier.” “I hadn’t heard anything about it yet,” Becky remarked, and she tucked a strand of her dark red hair behind her ear. “It’s definitely something I would love to see, though. I haven’t attended any type of party or Pack event since my mother fell ill. Of course, I’m sure only the royal healers will be allowed to participate, and since I’m only an assistant…” Her voice trailed off and I felt a little sad for her. Becky had been so dedicated to taking care of her mother, but she deserved some fun, no matter who the celebration was honoring. “Why don’t you come with me?” I suggested. “Really?” Becky exclaimed, and when I nodded, she let out a small squeal of joy. “Oh, Cas sy, that would be wonderful! Oh, this is so exciting.” Her eyes glittered and her smile brightened. “Everyone is looking forward to Silas’ return,” she noted as she turned her ttention back to the equipment in front of us. “I can’t believe i’ll get to be there 00.” Becky and I continued to work for another hour, and once we hit a stopping point, I decided it was time to finish for the day. We stacked up some empty boxes, and once the trash was discarded, we left the back room. As we stepped out into 1/4

the hall, I was surprised to see Asher sitting on the ground with Finnick. The two were sitting close and talking very quietly.

A lump formed in my throat and for a moment I was frozen. “Do you promise?” I heard Finnick ask. Asher nodded accordingly, and my nervousness grew stronger. you.” I took a step forward, the two of them turned their attention to us. “Hello, Your Majesty,” I greeted the Alpha King formally. “What a surprise to see “Healer Cas sandra,” Asher replied politely, and when he smiled, I grew weak in the knees. “Hello.” “What were you two discussing?” I wondered as I glanced between them. Finnick opened his mouth to speak, but Asher held his finger to his lips in a shushing motion. My son realized what he meant immediately and nodded. “It’s a secret,” Asher replied. “Just between us.” “It was just a promise the Alpha King made,” Finnick chimed in. His face was proud but had undertones of mischief. “That’s all I can say.” I smiled. I was relieved. For a moment, I was worried that Asher had said something relating to my true identity. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Becky,” I said to my assistant, and then I turned back to the others. “Erika, will you watch Finnick? I’d like to speak with the Alpha King.” “Of course,” my maid replied. “See you later, Cas sy,” Becky said, and without another word, she walked out into the reception area and then out the door. Once she was gone, Asher rose to his feet. “Shall we?” he asked, and when I nodded, I gestured forward. 2/4 I led the king to the private room I’d arranged just for our health checks, and once we were alone, I went to the supply closet in the back of the room and pulled out the necessary equipment. Asher took a

seat on the examination table and looked around. “I must say, this place is much nicer than my study,” he said with a smile. “Much more professional and private. Do you like it here? Is everything okay?” “Everything is perfect,” I confirmed. “And Finnick loves it too. He keeps telling. me how happy he is to be here. I think this place will be good for him.” I brought my equipment to the table and began the health check. We were silent for a while, and then curiosity got the best of me. “So, what were you and Finnick discussing?” I wondered in a way I hoped didn’t seem too much like prying. Asher didn’t fall for it and simply smiled. “It’s between us,” he said. “Our secret. But don’t worry, I have no intention of telling Finnick anything without your permission. I respect your choices and won’t intervene.” “Thank you,” I said, and relief flooded through me. “Of course, Cas sandra,” he replied softly. As he stared deeply into my eyes, I felt that same sensation of weakness I’d felt in the hallway. No matter how much time I spent with the Alpha King, I was certain I would never get used to the way he looked at me. There was so much warmth and kindness and devotion in those sterling gray eyes. The Asher before me was so different than the one I’d met in Wild Crawler. I didn’t know when or if I’d ever feel comfortable or safe telling our son about his rue heritage, but as I studied Asher, I didn’t feel scared. We would tackle things together on our own time. For now, just the sight of him playing with Finnick was more than enough. “So, word reached me about the celebration for Silas Moses’ return,” I brought 3/4 up as I recorded his heart rate in my notebook. “Becky seemed interested in attending, so I wanted to ask if it would be alright for me to bring her.” “Of course,” Asher replied, and then he touched my arm gently. “Though, you don’t have to go if you

don’t want to, Cas sandra. I’m not going to force you to attend.” I appreciated his kindness and understanding but knew that it would be best for me to face my fears rather than continue to avoid them. “Thank you,” I said gratefully. “But I think I want to go. Becky seems thrilled the prospect and it might do her some good to get out of her mother’s house for ai evening. She deserves some fun.” “You’re a good friend,” Asher noted. “Consider it done, then. You and Becky are welcome to join us.” We finished up the health check, and as I started to put the equipment back in the supply closet, Asher got up from the examination table and walked over to the marble countertop beside the sink. “Where did you get this?” he remarked, and when I glanced over in his direction, he was holding a porcelain tea cup. The rest of the tea set was set up behind him, along with a container of jasmine tea leaves. I frowned. “What do you mean? Kane brought those by earlier. I meant to thank you, he mentioned that they were gifts from you. The tea set is very lovely-” “Kane brought these?” Asher cut me off, and his expression grew confused. “Yes,” I said slowly. “He came to visit earlier. He said you were too busy to come y today and delivered the tea and the set on your behalf-” “Cas sandra, these aren’t from me,” Asher revealed, his tone gravely serious. “And I didn’t send Kane to visit you today.” KANE

Chapter 118 Stay away from her After returning to the palace from Cas sandra’s clinic, I decided to go and visit Mother. It wasn’t my first choice of things to do, but I couldn’t wait any longer, so I made my way to the South Wing until I reached her chambers. I knocked on the door but didn’t bother to wait for a reply before entering. Mother seemed surprised to see me, and when she rose from the bed, her eyes were large. She appeared more tired than usual, not that I could blame her. She was experiencing quite the ordeal, and the stress of her confinement seemed to be taking its toll. Her already fair complexion had lost all of its color and her eyes seemed sunken. Her hair was loose from its usual intricate style, and her lips quivered. “Kane,” she greeted me quietly. “What are you doing here?” “I came to visit, Mother,” I replied as if it were obvious, and after I crossed the room to give her a hug, I took a seat in the velvet armchair in the corner. “How are you?” “I’ve been better,” Mother remarked dryly, and then she sighed. “I heard talk from the halls that the wretched healer Cas sandra has moved out of the palace. Is there any specific reason behind it?” I smiled. “Nothing that you need to concern yourself with.” Mother glared at me for a moment, but when she As much as I disliked the situation, I was glad that Asher had agreed not to escalate the punishment of my mother and allowed me to handle things, though knew he was suspicious of my intentions. “Ugh, that awful healer,” Mother continued, and she shook her head as she 14: stared out the window into the darkening sky. “What a terrible plague upon us all. I do not understand why Asher brought that vile girl to Merliscire, but I have the feeling that she is the root cause of all of this trouble. I’m certain she’s trying to seduce Asher and take Adalyn’s place-”

“Come now, Mother, that’s not what’s happening,” I sighed, and I ran a hand through my hair. “Stop worrying about Cas sandra. She’s no threat to you or Adalyn.”

Mother exhaled sharply and crossed her arms. “Says you,” she huffed, and then her lips pouted slightly and her eyes grew round with feigned emotion. “I’m only worried about Prince Marco. I can’t imagine how the poor child is feeling. His father has been swept away from him by some. back woods woman from a territory no one cares or thinks about. I can’t begin to understand what a child of five could be thinking right now. He must be both devastated and crushed by Asher’s recent actions. And then the imprisonment of his grandmother! The boy has suffered too much.” I remained silent but rolled my eyes when she wasn’t looking. I knew my mother all too well. Margaret Collins had never been a good person. Some had even considered her evil because she had once campaigned to have me take the crown instead of Asher. For months after my brother had become the Alpha King, there were whispers of my mother’s wicked plights and suggestions that she’d only married the late king to further her agenda. While I knew she wasn’t a good person, I didn’t think her actions were unforgivable. I knew redemption was possible for her. I also knew that she wasn’t responsible for Cora Felix’s death, even though Asher suspected her due to her absence from his coronation ceremony. He’d harbor ill feelings toward her ever since that day, and though I knew where my other had actually been that day, I couldn’t tell him. Even though her whereabouts could clear her of suspicion, it wasn’t my secret to tell. I studied Mother closely. Even though she hadn’t been responsible fr her death, then was no denying she had disliked Cora Felix strongly, and now she shared a similar distaste for 2/4 O Cas sandra. Margaret Collins saw anyone close to ASher as her enemy due to her deep-rooted insecurity. Truth be told, the late Alpha King had never sincerely liked or even loved her. From all that I’d gathered

over the years, he considered Mother to be another substitute for Selene, Asher’s late mother and Mother had taken those sentiments to heart. That feeling of loneliness had only hardened her over the years and stripped her of any goodness she may have had within her. Lately, all Mother seemed to care about was her hatred for Cas sandra Keller and Prince Marco’s ascension to the throne after Asher. She was hellbent on he grandson becoming the Alpha King after my brother, even though the young pri wasn’t Asher’s biological son. I didn’t understand her hyperfixation on the matter. Adalyn and Asher had no other offspring, so Marco was an uncontested heir no matter what. I sighed. No of this mattered to me. I didn’t understand all of the drama surrounding the throne and the ruling of this country. Politics had never interested me. “What did you do today?” Mother spoke up and interrupted my thoughts. “I must say, my darling, I’m surprised you’ve stuck around the palace for so long. It isn’t like you to linger. You’re always traveling so much.” “I’ve decided to slow down a little,” I remarked off-handedly. “No use jetting off when there’s so much going on here. Now, let’s see… I spent some time in the library, walked the grounds, visited the new clinic-” “The clinic?” Mother repeated back in surprise. “What were you doing there? Don’t tell me that you’re experiencing feelings for the healer as well.” Despite her serious expression, her tone was light, so I knew she was joking. Of course, that did little to settle my nerves. “I went there to apologize to her,” I said sternly. “And clarify that Erika’s name has been cleared.” Mother scoffed and shook her head. “Unbelievable. I don’t understand, Kane. 3/4 Between you and Asher, it’s as if I don’t know either of you anymore. That maid was suspicious. Asher should never have punished me. All of this for a healer’s maid.”

Her scorn quickly shifted to sadness, and her eyes welled up with tears. Though I knew her actions had been worthy of this punishment, I couldn’t stand seeing her cry like this. I rose from my seat and walked over to her. “Don’t cry, Mother,” I soothed her gently, and I placed my hand on her shoulder. “Please don’t cry.” Mother whimpered for a moment and then began to sniffle. “Thank you, son,” she said softly, and then she looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. “I know what I say doesn’t matter, but I think it would be best for you to maintain some distance from the healer. She’s nothing but trouble, and you don’t need her causing any mischief in your life.” I smiled despite her words. “I can’t make any promises, Mother.” As she studied me and wiped the tears from her cheeks, I remembered the words she’d said to me many years ago. “Stay away from the warrior’s daughter.” At the time, I’d heeded her decree and stayed away from Cora Felix. However, this time, I didn’t believe I should do the same again. 4/4

 

Chapter 119 Dangerous game KANE That same night, I hadn’t anticipated Asher’s visit, but at the same time, I wasn’t surprised to see him. “Come in, brother,” I said when I opened my chamber door, and I held it open for him to enter. As Asher crossed the threshold, I detected a look of sullenness in his expression, though his greeting was kind enough. “How are you?” he wondered as he took a seat at the chair beside my small desk. As he crossed his legs and stared at me with those piercing gray eyes of his, I considered my words carefully. The Alpha King didn’t seem to be in too great of a to escalate the situation. mood and the last thing I needed was “Fine,” I remarked as I studied him carefully and folded my arms against my chest. “How are you?” what is it that you want? I know “I’ve been better,” Asher replied, and then his eyes narrowed. “Tell me Kane, I you visited Cas sandra today and I also know that you lied to her about the ‘gift’ I allegedly asked you to deliver on my behalf. I don’t understand. Why did you deliver her a tea set and some jasmine tea and say they were from me? What are you playing at, brother?” “I don’t want anything,” I stated as calmly as possible. “This is a misunderstanding, Asher. The only reason I lied to Cas sandra was so that she would accept the gift. Jasmine tea was Cora’s favorite and I didn’t want to make her panic by giving it to her out of the blue.” The Alpha King’s face paled and his eyes widened. Asher attempted to hide his disbelief, but he wasn’t the best of actors. His expression betrayed his emotions, and his nostrils flared as he searched for the right words to say. “How did you know?” he asked quietly. 1/4

I offered him the smallest smile I could manage. “It wasn’t too difficult to uncover the truth, considering how different you’ve become as of recently.”

“What do you mean by that?” he demanded. “Only that you aren’t merely attracted to Cas sandra as I’d once thought, but because you’re clearly obsessed with her,” I explained gently. “You’ve only ever loved one woman, Asher, and that’s Cora. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together.” The realization that he’d been caught made Asher’s face grow even more somber. “Be cautious, brother,” I advised him as I took a step forward. “If I could figure it out, so could the enemies of Cas sandra’s family-” His eyes darkened and he rushed to his feet and advanced toward me. “Stay away from her, Kane,” he practically growled at me. “I mean it. I want you to stay away.” “Calm down, Asher,” I insisted as I stared back at him. “There’s no need for malice.” “I mean it,” he pressed, and his hands clenched into fists at his side. “She isn’t your concern. I don’t need you anywhere near her.” “What is that supposed to mean?” I countered. “You know exactly what it means,” Asher retorted. “You have no business being anywhere near her-” “We’re just friends, Asher-” He scoffed. “Oh, please, Kane. Since when have you ever been friends with a woman? You’re nothing more than a womanizer, and I won’t let you try to get involved with her.” 2/4 My voice caught in my throat. I was taken aback by his sudden ferocity, and I realized that this was the first time we’d quarreled like this. Since I moved into the palace with my mother, the two of us had never argued. Despite Asher’s clear dislike for Mother, our relationship remained strong, as if we were biological brothers. However, with the way Asher was snarling at me, I wondered if there were some ill feelings I’d never picked up on.

This vexation was unfamiliar and made my stomach churn. “Wow,” I breathed. “Who could have guessed you thought so little of me, Asher. Cora had a way of bringing out the more primal side of my brother. All of those years ago, I’d never wanted to take Cora from Asher. I had always. admired Cora for her kindness and empathy, especially during the difficult times when I was viewed as nothing more than the useless stepson of the former Alpha King. However, Asher made Cora happy, and I was content with that. I’d kept my distance from the happy couple and became what others in Merliscire referred to as a “playb oy” Much to the dismay of the upper families in Anemond, I found pleasure in the company of other women while my brother’s heart opened to Cora. When they had become mates, I’d been incredibly happy for them. Yet, despite being her fated mate, Asher hadn’t been able to protect Cora well. As much as I hated thinking this way, I couldn’t help but think if I hadn’t stayed away from her like Mother had instructed, and had taken care of her, she might not have gotten hurt at all. Part of me wanted to rub that idea right into his face, but insulting him wasn’t my intention. I would only be acting out of spite, and besides, despite how he was behaving, I didn’t hate or even dislike Asher. He was my brother, after all. But that didn’t mean I was going to let her go without a fight. My expression grew more serious as I studied him. Now that Cora was back and had a new name and identity, things were different than they’d been back then. She wasn’t his mate anymore; she had lost both her wolf and her scent in the inferno. “Cas sandra isn’t some object for you to possess,” I emphasized with my head. held high. “She is an independent woman capable of making her own decisions. You don’t own her and you certainly can’t speak for her. You have to respect her free will and her right to choose for herself.” “What are you implying she has to choose?” Asher asked calmly as his eyes. trailed over me. “There’s no decision for her to make. She’s always been my mate,

Kane-” шеге “You’re married,” I reminded him. “Which is a fact you keep forgetting, by the way. Even if you wanted to pretend that things could go back to the way they were before the fire in Rosepetal, you’re still bound to Adalyn and Prince Marco. If I you, I’d keep that in mind going forward. I didn’t mean any ill will toward you, brother, but others… others may feel differently.” Asher clenched his jaw. “You’re playing a dangerous game,” I advised him. “I won’t be the only one to figure it out if you keep acting this way. And if Adalyn were to find out… I wouldn’t want to be Cas sandra, or even you for that matter.” “Spit it out, Kane,” Asher whispered as his cheeks paled. “Speak plainly. “Be careful,” I emphasized. “That’s all.” When he didn’t say anything further, I gestured to the chamber door. “You should go,” I suggested. “Unless you have something more to say, brother.” Silence fell between us for a moment, and then he shook his head. “I don’t,” Asher uttered, and without another word, he stormed out of the room.

Chapter 120 Report CAS SANDRA The morning air whipped around me and made me shiver as I eagerly waited outside of the clinic. I wrapped my thickly knit sweater tighter around me. Not even the coldness of the day could ruin my mood. I glanced down at my watch. Any minute now. Moments later, I heard the sounds of wheels against the pavement, and suddenly, a car appeared in the distance. Excitement raced through me and I bounced in place as it drove up to the clinic. When it came to a stop, the back door flew open, and Marley practically flew out of the vehicle. “Cas sy!” she exclaimed, and as she barrelled toward me, my smile brightened. I braced for impact, but it did me no good. Marley ran right into me and wrapped her arms around me tightly. As we embraced, tears sprang from my eyes and I began to cry from happiness. you.” “Marley,” I managed through my trembling lips. “Oh, Marley, I’m so happy to see “You’d better be,” she joked, and after we shared a laugh, we pulled apart from one another just in time to see Jasper heading toward us. “Jasper!” I exclaimed. “I didn’t expect to see you!” “Someone had to drive,” he teased, and then his lips curled into a smile. “It’s good to see you, Cas sandra.” “Likewise,” I said, and then I gestured toward the clinic. “Let’s head inside and get out of this cold. The clinic is nice and warm-” “Wait this is your clinic?” Marley blurted out, and her jaw dropped in shock. “Cas sy, this place is huge! It’s way better than the one back in Wild Crawler” 1/5 tour.” I grinned. “Just wait until you see the inside of it. C’mon, I’ll give you guys a

Without further ado, the three of us walked up the drive and into the clinic. As promised, I showed my friends all of the different rooms and amenities of the new clinic, and they both seemed thoroughly impressed by it all.

Once I finished showing them around, I ushered them into the meeting room in the back and started heating up some water for tea. “How is everything back in Wild Crawler?” I asked as I prepared my new tea “Everything is fine,” Marley remarked and her light green eyes glittered with excitement. “Better than usual, really. Rayden was crowned Alpha of the Pack yesterday. I wish you could have seen the ceremony, Cas sy, it was brilliant. Sofial and Gareth pulled out all of the stops and the banquet afterward… some of the best food I’ve ever had in my life.” “That’s great!” I said happily. “I’m glad to hear it all went well. I’m happy for Rayden.” “I’ll be sure to tell him that,” Marley said with a wink.”He wanted to come with us, but he needed to take care of some Pack issues first. He still has quite a bit to learn.” According to the Pack traditions of Wegalla, the new Alpha would have to come to Anemond to see the Alpha King within a month of his crowning ceremony, so Rayden would likely come to visit soon. I had to admit I was happy at the idea of seeing him, though I knew after their last encounter, that Rayden and Asher being in the same room might spell disaster. It was strange to think back to the Asher I’d met back in Wild Crawler. He’d been so different then. Just as I was about to say something more, the door to the meeting room opened, and in walked Becky. “Oh,” she remarked in surprise, and she pushed her glasses up the bridge of $75 her nose. “Sorry to interrupt, Cas sy, I didn’t realize you were in here. Wait, are these your friends from Wild Crawler?” I nodded happily. “Yes, this is Marley and Jasper. Marley and Jasper, meet my assistant, Becky. She’s

an absolutely brilliant researcher and healer in training.”” “It’s so nice to meet you!” Marley exclaimed, and her smile brightened. “Come sit with us, Becky.” My assistant joined us at the meeting table, and after I finished preparing the tea and passed the cups around, I sat opposite of Marley. “Did you bring the forensic report with you?” I wondered. “I know you just got here, but I’m really curious about it.” “No worries, I have it right here,” Marley replied, and she reached into her bag and retrieved it. She handed me the stack of papers. I briefly scanned them and my lips parted in surprise. “We’ll need to look this over further, but I think this might be related to the poisons,” I realized, and then I handed the papers to Becky. My assistant looked them over and then nodded. “I think you might be right,” she agreed. “We definitely need to study this thoroughly and compare it with our notes.” “Poisons?” Marley wondered with a worried expression. “What poisons?” “I’ll tell you all about it later,” I promised. “We have plenty of time to discuss it all. I had Erika prepare a room for you upstairs if you need some time to relax first.” “That might be good,” she agreed. “It was a long drive.” “Speaking of drives, I’m afraid I must return to Wild Crawler,” Jasper announced. “There’s a lot of Pack business to get back to. I’ll return in a few days to collect Marley.” 3.5 “It was nice to see you, Jasper,” I said. “We’ll escort you out.” We walked Jasper out to the car, and after he shared a small hug with Marley, I studied the two closely. It was clear that Jasper treated Marley differently. They had always quarreled, but I could see that he clearly cared for her. After he got in the car and drove away, I nudged my friend.. “Is there something going on between you two?” I wondered. Marley’s cheeks flushed scarlet.

“No,” she denied it immediately. “Besides, I’m not interested in men right now. “Fair,” I laughed and I smiled at her. I missed teasing my friend so much and wanted to spend more time chatting with her like this. But before I could visit with Marley, I needed to visit Asher first. I needed to see the man in the dungeon and see if he could figure out what the data on the report meant. When I reached Asher’s study, he was busy dealing with a stack of documents. His expression was worried, and I had a sense that he was dealing with something stressful. “Take a seat, Cas sandra,” he said without looking up from his papers. “I just need a moment.” “No problem,” I replied, and I sat down in the leather chair opposite him. Asher hadn’t given me any clues about what was going on, but I wasn’t going to press the matter. For now, I needed to focus on the business at hand. After Asher finished signing the document, he set it aside and looked at me. “Sorry,” he apologized. “It’s been a busy day already and it isn’t even noon. What’s going on?” I showed him the report and explained the situation. When I’d asked if Marley 475 could visit Anemond, I hadn’t given him any information about the forensic report. I hadn’t meant to leave it out or keep it from him, but I knew the matter would be easier to explain later on. Asher frowned as he looked over the papers. I told him all about the theory that the poisons had some correlation with the mysterious illness and his eyes widened. “You think the disease may have some relation to Dark Abyss?” he repeated back in surprise. When I nodded, he sighed. “Well, according to regulation, no one should visit the imposter. But if you really think that it’s necessary to speak with him directly, I suppose I could grant you permission.” “Thank you-” I started to say, but Asher held his hand up. “I only have one condition,” he continued. “I need to be with you when you’re talking. I won’t risk you getting hurt.” I considered the idea for a moment and then nodded. “Okay,” I agreed. “Shall we go to the dungeon?” 5/5