Ch. 136..140: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 136-140

Chapter 136 Becky’s finding CAS SANDRA When I returned to the clinic after Asher’s health check, Marley was speaking. with a patient. I waited patiently for them to finish, and when she turned around 1 face me, she smiled. “Have you seen Becky?” I wondered. My friend nodded and gestured behind her. “She’s in the lab room. She’s been back there all day. Hasn’t taken a break at all today.” Becky hadn’t come to breakfast either. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t stop worrying about her. She had always been a dedicated worker and assistant, but she was pushing herself too far. She needed to take a break and face what was going on. So, I nodded and then headed toward the lab room. When I reached the door, I knocked twice, and when I didn’t get a response, I entered anyway. Becky was standing in front of one of our devices, studying it so closely that she hadn’t even realized I’d entered until I walked up beside her. “Cas sy,” she exclaimed, and she pushed her round glasses up her nose. “I didn’t even see you.” After she greeted me, her attention went right back to her experiment, and she cuickly scribbled down some notes I couldn’t make out. “Becks, you should take a break,” I advised. “You’ve been in here all day.” “I will,” she replied with a wave of her hand. “I just need another minute to finish this, alright?” “Okay,” I said, and I took a seat on the nearest stool and waited for her to wrap.

111 up her project. Once her minute was up, she set her note sheet down and turned to face me. Her cheeks were pale and her eyes were bloodshot and tired-looking. She stretched her arms above her head and gave me a small smile. “I know you’re worried about me,” she said. “After everything that happened yesterday. But it’s all over

and done with now. That ba stard of a man won’t bother me anymore. Besides, even if things hadn’t been so terrible, we wouldn’t make a nice couple anyway. He’s an upper-class wolf and I’m just a commoner. We never would have worked out.” Sho I remained silent and studied her expression. I couldn’t tell if she meant wha said or not. Her words were cheerful and casual, but the redness of her eyes and the swollenness of her lips suggested she’d been crying. I knew she was trying to deflect in an attempt to save face, but I wasn’t so easily convinced. I was too in touch with my emotions to know when someone was trying to lie about something like this. “You’ve been in here since yesterday,” I pointed out gently. “Erika told me that you didn’t use the room they prepared for you. Is that true?” Erika had come to me before I’d gone to the palace to check on Asher. The maid’s kind eyes had been wrought with concern. “I know she’s going through a lot,” she’d said. “So don’t be too hard on her. I only bring this up because I’m worried, Cas sandra. Becky is a good girl with a kind hear I don’t want to see her hurt.” “I know,” I’d replied. “Thank you for telling me, Erika. I’ll check in with her and find out what’s going on. I’m sure she’s okay. Just needs to ride the wave for a while.” My entire way back to the clinic, I’d considered what to say to her. I didn’t want to be confrontational. I couldn’t force Becky to face her problems head-on. I just wanted to be a good friend to her and let her know that she had our full support. In the meantime, I hoped Asher would touch base with Silas so we could get this mate business all sorted. Becky deserved a loving man, and while I didn’t know Silas well, he surely deserved a kind partner like Becky. |||

2/4 Meanwhile, Becky nodded and pulled me back into the present moment. “Yes, I’ve been in here since yesterday, Cas sy. But it’s not because of Silas, I promise. I’ve been hard at work on something else.” “Really?” I wondered, and my eyebrows creased together. “Something else?” Becky nodded again, only this time it was far more enthusiastic than before. “Come here, and I’ll show you.” I stepped off of my stool and walked over to her workstation. Becky hand. a stack of papers, and I scanned them quickly. “What are these?” I wondered as I tried to make sense of the lab results. “After the celebration, I came in here and studied the coroner’s report thoroughly,” she replied. “In it, I found something similar to the poison Udosyn. So, I tried to recreate a few elements based on Udosyn and tested it…. It turns out our assumption was correct. It’s all related, Cas sy.” My lips parted in surprise. I had only mentioned once in front of Becky that the disease might be related to the poison, and I certainly hadn’t expected my assistant to recreate it overnight. “Becky this is…” my words trailed off as I tried to find the right this to say. “How did you do this? And so quickly? This is insane.” “I used my anger as motivation,” she replied with a small shrug. “I wanted to show anyone who looked down on me that I was capable and intelligent. I’m not going to let someone treat me badly or think I’m stu pid just because I don’t come from money.” “Good for you,” I replied, and I sincerely meant it. “Seriously, Becky this is amazing. You are so incredibly talented. I’m impressed.” “Thank you,” she replied, and her smile grew brighter. I was so proud of her. Though we hadn’t known each other as Marley and I had, I felt an intense bond with Becky. I thought of her like a sister, and I was so ||| 3/4

impressed by her scientific mind and her will to persevere. “If you could recreate this overnight, there’s even more hope that we could find a cure for the disease,” I remarked as I stared down at the data. “We could save so many lives with this information and put a stop to this terrible illness.” “Marley told me the disease is prevailing in Wild Crawler,” Becky mentioned thoughtfully. “I don’t know if it would be possible, but I was wondering if I could go and visit to get more information. The more patients I could study, the better. And besides… I’ve never been on that side of the country before. It could be trip for me. Get my mind off of things.” Becky had a good point. Her hypothesis and research could really do some good in Wild Crawler. It would also be good for her to get away from Anemond and take a break away from the capital city for a bit. “I’ll have to ask the Alpha King for permission,” I said. “But I’m sure he’ll be okay with it. One thing you need to keep in mind- Wild Crawler is a very small Pack and the disease can be dangerous. You’ll have to be extremely cautious.” “Of course,” Becky said, and she nodded seriously. “Thank you, Cas sandra. I think this could be good news for everyone.” 4/4 III

 

Chapter 137

Marley had originally planned to leave Anemond in a few days to return nome, but when she heard that Becky was going to Wild Crawler, she pointed out that my clinic was going to be short-handed. “As much as I want to get home, I won’t leave you to deal with all of these patients on your own,” my friend insisted with a twi nkle in her light green eyes. “I’ll extend my stay a little longer so I can help. “You don’t have to do that,” I countered. “What about your boys?” “They’ll be fine,” she assured me with a wave of her hand. “Besides, I’ll just call my parents. They love spending time with the kids and the kids love their grandparents. It works out well for everyone, Cas sy.” I offered her a small smile. “That’s really kind of you, Marley. Thank you. I really appreciate the help.” “Of course,” she said. “That’s what sisters are for.” Sisters. The words from her lips brought me joy like no other. Though my identity prior to Wild Crawler was a mystery to them both, I considered Marley and Becky as my sisters. They were there for me and made this life of insanity and complications worth it, and I was lucky to have them by my side. Once we got the plans arranged, we decided to have a nice dinner with one another to celebrate Becky’s newest scientific accomplishments. Erika and Hannah prepared an insane amount of food, including some mouthwatering roasted chicken, garlic and cheese potatoes, a salad full of leafy greens, and an impressive dark chocolate cake for dessert. ။

O 1/4 As we tucked into the food, Marley did her best to cheer everyone up. Despite the gorgeous meal, our spirits were a little dim and tired, but that didn’t stop my friend from trying.

Finnick was seated beside me, but he was preoccupied with a new book Asher had gifted him. Normally I didn’t allow books or toys at the table, but since it was a gift from the Alpha King and it offered a little bit of a distraction so the adults could talk, I allowed it. The new book was a lot more wordy than the picture books Finnick wa to, but he was keeping up quite well. Finnick was naturally a quick learner and very proud at him for pushing his studies further. Meanwhile, it took a few attempts, but finally, Marley managed to make Becky laugh, and then the floodgates opened. We were all cracking up like we’d been friends for decades. It was a relief. I knew Marley felt responsible for Becky’s feelings about Silas and was doing all she could to smooth it over. After a long session of laughter, we sipped at the sparkling grape juice I’d requested (since alcoholic beverages didn’t feel fitting given the circumstances), and Marley shifted the subject. “Becky, if you’re looking for a handsome guy in Wild Crawler, you might be out of luck,” she giggled. t was difficult back when I had first started dating and nov well, it’s even harder to find a decent young guy there now.” I half-expected Becky to be upset by talk of men, but to my surprise, she simply chuckled and nodded in agreement. “I’m sure,” she noted. “It’s the same in Anemond, too. You should have seen. some of the men my mother tried to set me up with. Even the handsome ones had some serious problems.” “Like the Alpha King?” Marley quipped, and a lump formed in my throat as heat spread to my cheeks. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s handsome and all, but between him and Rayden, I think I would choose Rayden.” “Marley!” I gasped, and I playfully rolled my eyes. “I can’t believe you would say 2/4 ||| that.” “What?” she replied, and despite all of the eyes on her, she strongly defended herself. “I’m serious! Rayden is a total catch. You know what I’m talking about Cas s! He’s got that gorgeous bluish-black hair and those eyes…”

“Yes, yes, he’s handsome,” I said off-handedly, and I glanced down at Finnick. Luckily, he was still too absorbed in his book, along with his mashed potatoes, to pay attention. “Tell me more,” Becky insisted, and she leaned forward. “This Rayden interesting.” “Well, he’s the new Alpha of the Wild Crawler Pack,” Marley explained without sk ipping a beat. “Used to serve in the Myriad, but he came back not too long ago. He was cute when he was younger, but now… He came back with all of these interesting tattoos. I don’t know. He’s quite handsome, Becks.” “It sounds like it,” she remarked. “I like tattoos.” “Me too,” Marley agreed, and then she nudged me. “What about you, Cas s-” “Hey, now, leave me out of this,” I giggled as she continued to poke my side. “Sure, Rayden’s cute, but I don’t think of him like that.” Marley rolled her green eyes playfully. “Boo. One day I’ll get you to tell type.” My eyes fell to the table and I sipped at my drink. I certainly had a type alrig…. but only one man met the qualifications. Asher. If Marley knew that I was entangled with the Alpha King… I could only imagine how she would react. “It’s a shame he’s been rejecting every girl his parents try to set him up with,” Marley continued on. “Clearly, he’s waiting for someone special.” now. I tried to steer the conversation away. “Rayden’s just focused on the Pack right 111

Chapter 138

Marley turned to Finnick. “Who do you think is better, Finnick, Rayden or the Alpha King?” Finnick, ever so loyal to his best friend Dominic, answered over his book without hesitation. “Rayden, of course.” His immediate answer was enough to send us into another bout of laughter. Finnick’s smile widened for a moment, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Marley looked as if she were going to say something else, but befor utter another word, I shot her a gentle glare, playful, of course. “Alright,” she conceded with a grin. “We’ll see. Rayden will be in Anemond soon, and then Cas s andra can figure it out herself.” The subject shifted after that until we reached the end of our meal. Once the last bits of chocolate cake were devoured and Finnick had been tucked into bed, Becky gathered up her things and mentioned she needed to get home. “I need to check on my mother,” she said with a small groan. “She’s probably going to be upset that I didn’t return last night and I need to smooth it all over. Thank you for letting me stay, Cas s.” “Any time, Becky,” I assured her. “You’re always welcome here. I’ll be sure to speak with the Alpha King tomorrow and get permission for you to go to Wild Crawler. I’m sure he’ll have no problem with it.” “And I’ll speak with Jasper,” Marley chimed in. “He could give you s assistance during your stay.” “That would be wonderful,” Becky replied, and she smiled between us. “Thari you, both. I think this is going to be a great thing for our research. I’m excited for the opportunity to put our work to use. We have the potential to save a lot of lives in Anemond.” ||| 4/4 belly. I knew there was likely going to be a confrontation with my mother the moment I stepped through the door. She would likely inquire about my whereabouts from the night before and would also undoubtedly

bring up the subject of marrying the seemingly decent yet boring man she’d been campaigning for weeks now.

I sighed as I walked. This was all so exhausting. I worked long hours in the clinic and the lab, only to have to come home to tiring conversations about my love life. I slowed my pace a little. I’d already been gone all night. She could wait for me a little longer. The night air was crisp and I stared up at the glittering stars above me. It was a nice evening, but I felt so suffocated. I longed for the freedom the stars had. I wanted desperately to distance myself from my mother’s pressure, but it was all so complicated. Despite Mother’s traditional stubbornness, I knew she loved me, and her intentions were rooted in concern for my future. I had a few districts to cross before reaching my house. Despite living in the capital city of Anemond, my family had never been wealthy or powerful. My father had passed away when I was very young, and my mother had kept the circumstances of his death a secret. Every time I’d tried to bring it up, Mother managed to shift the subject or get too upset to speak. So, over time, I stopped asking. Whatever had happened affected her emotional state and later her physical one too. It was a struggle for her to raise my sister and me. I had worked hard to secure the opportunity to work for Cas sandra, and I was determined to do my best. I had big dreams and aspirations for a long and fruitful career. Sure, love was something I desired as much as anyone else, but above all о 1/4 else, I wanted to use my scientific mind and capabilities to do some real good for Wegalla. If I worked hard enough, perhaps the antidotes and cures Cas sandra and I had crafted could go on to save lives. live: Healing was my calling. I’d known that since I was young. Love, of course, was important, but that wasn’t everything. Maybe I could event

it, if it meant that I could be of use to the empire. As I thought of the potential trip to Wild Cralwer, my lips curled into a s Sure, the encounter with Silas at the celebration had thrown me off and injure heart, but I wouldn’t let that pain burden me forever. No, I needed to focus on the positives and think about all of the good Cas sandra and I, as well as Marley, were doing in the new clinic. Still wearing a bright smile, I finally reached the house, and after I walked along the gray-paved path, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the keys. I unlocked the door, and the moment I stepped inside, I braced myself for impact. When my mother didn’t call out to me, my eyebrows came together. Her greeting was like clockwork every time I entered the house. Before I could set my keys down, Mother always called my name, and I would go to the living room to discuss my day with her. Every day was the same. So, where was she? I clenched my keys in my hand and took a step in. Beyond me, in the hallv saw a shadow. “Mother?” I called out, but when the shadow stepped into the light of the kitchen, it wasn’t her. It was the man Mother had tried to set me up with, Frederick, if I remembered his name correctly. He offered me a smile as he stepped toward me. “Hello, Becky,” he said warmly, and when he took a step closer, I stepped back. ||| 2/4 “Hello,” I said awkwardly, and I peered around. “Um, where is my mother?” “Jane is in the other room-” he started to say, but before he could finish his sentence, Mother stepped into the room. “Becky,” she announced as she entered, and her hazel eyes trailed over me in surprise. “Good, you’re here. I was wondering if you were ever going to come home.” “Sorry, Mother, I’ve been busy with work,” I said cautiously, my own on Frederick. “What’s going on here?” “Frederick just came over to see how you were doing,” Mother explained, she flashed a sickly-sweet

smile in my would-be suitor’s direction. “Isn’t that so sweet of him?” Her tone was surely meant to emphasize how much this man allegedly cared for me, as did his intentions, most likely, but I wasn’t falling for it. Frederick was young, relatively wealthy by Anemond’s standards, and supposedly, according to Mother, a successful businessman. Upon our initiall introduction, she’d told me that he was quite the eligible bachelor in our part of the village. The young man’s eyes were kind enough, but the longer his gaze lingered, the more unnerving it became. It was clear from his mannerisms that he was the kind of man that saw women as a possession rather than a real partner. In me, he saw – potential mother, a caretaker, a piece of meat. But I knew my worth. I was more than that. Besides, Frederick wasn’t the kind of man I desired, wealthy or not. He had a decent head of blonde hair, but when he turned around, there was a noticeable bald spot forming in the back, not to mention a clearly receding hairline. His waistline. bulged slightly, and from the odor on his clothing, it was easy to assume he frequented the taverns in town. A lingering smell of alcohol remained on his jacket. 3/4 He wasn’t the kind of man I wanted to be with. Since our last date, I’d avoided contact with him, but he obviously hadn’t gotten the hint. “Very sweet,” I finally replied, and I glanced at the clock. It was too late to deal with all of this. All I wanted was to change my clothes and take a bath after my long day.

Chapter 139

“Why don’t you two go take a walk outside?” Mother suggested, muc irritation. “It’s a beautiful night.” “Indeed,” Frederick spoke up. “I would love to take you on a walk, Miss Becky.” The sound of my name from his mouth made me want to vomit. But I didn’t want to show any signs of discomfort in front of my mother. She was fragile these. days, and I knew her intent was good. She was only doing what she thought was best for me. So, I took a short breath and nodded. “Sure,” I said. Mother smiled, and without another word, Frederick walked to the door and held it open for me. We stepped out into the night, and I fought the urge to groan. It was qui out and our district wasn’t exactly appealing, so this walk wouldn’t be very ev or beautiful. We continued down the sidewalks in silence for a moment before Frederick turned to me and cleared his throat. “So, Miss Becky,” he began, and then he smiled his off-putting smile. “Have you considered my offer?” 4/4 His offer? I simply stared back at him. He hadn’t even bothered to ask me for my hand in marriage. He’d expected me to be completely swept off my feet after a single mediocre date. I knew what he meant by his question. His offer was to make an obedient wife out of me and turn my thoughts away from my dreams. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “No, thank you,” I said politely but firmly. “I appreciate you coming to my house tonight to see me, but I

don’t think we’re… compatible. So I’m unfortunately going to have to decline.” “Decline?” Frederick asked in surprise, and his fake-charming persona immediately dropped. “What do you mean?”

My stomach threatened to heave again. I couldn’t believe his audacity. I was being more than polite to him, even though after our date, I shouldn’t have given him the time of day. I could still remember his offhand comments about my dress being out of fashion, as well as the quips about my body. I had always been very small and thin, and his comments about my lack of “womanly curves” still haunted me. As he stared at me in shock, I nearly scoffed. Frederick clearly couldn’t fathom how a girl like me could reject him. “I’m just not interested,” I replied simply. “I have a career to think of-” “A career?” he laughed cruelly, and his eyes narrowed at me. “Miss Becky, you III O 1/5 might want to think this over a little further. You’re so young. Sure, you may have ‘dreams’ of a career, but girls your age often have their heads in the clouds about such things and don’t tend to look at the bigger picture.” “Really?” I replied dryly, and I crossed my arms. Frederick nodded, unaware of my agitation. I shook my head in response. “I don’t want to do this. I have work to attend to in the morning, and I need to return home. Thank you for the walk. Good n I turned on my heels and had no intention of looking back, but Frederick give me the chance to leave. He followed suit and then stood right in front of me. “We have much more to discuss,” he insisted. “I’m extremely satisfied with your Becky. You’re the best choice I’ve encountered here in Anemond and I think you would make a good wife-”

The word “satisfied” sickened me immediately. What kind of person referred to another person like that? I wasn’t an object. I decided then that I wanted to escape. He wasn’t worth any more conversation and especially not a polite farewell. He didn’t deserve a second more of my time. So, I walked past him and began to head back home. I only got a few steps in before suddenly, Frederick stopped me in my tracks and grabbed my wrist, pullin me closer to him. I froze, a wave of revulsion crashing over me when Frederick touched me. was completely different from how Silas Moses had touched me in the garden. While I’d been angered and taken aback by the Beta’s unexpected kiss, I hadn’t felt repulsed. Frederick made me feel as if I was being handled by an ugly monster. “Let go of me,” I demanded, and I tried to yank my arm away, but Frederick wouldn’t let go. “No,” he said firmly as he held me in place. “We still have more to discuss-” 2/5 “No!” I shouted back, and I continued to struggle. “There’s no reason to be shy,” Frederick insisted. “Please, Becky, just stay here. If you accept my offer, I’ll be such a great husband to you. You’ll see. I’m the ideal match for you-” “I said, let me go!” I shouted again, and I raised my foot to kick Frederick’s shin. I was going to hit back as hard as I could and then run all the way back to my house. From there, I was going to lock the door and call Cas sandra. Her closeness with the Alpha King might be able to grant me some security. But just as I was about to deliver the blow, something flashed and Frederick was knocked to the ground, releasing my wrist in the My breath caught in my throat as I stared up at my savior. Silas Moses. His breathtaking golden eyes flared with ferocity as he stood. above Frederick. Frederick, meanwhile, groaned in pain and held his hands against his abdomen. I was stunned. Everything had happened so quickly that it barely registered in my mind. What was Silas doing here?

But I couldn’t linger on my confusion too long. Silas suddenly reached down and grabbed Frederick by the shirt. His nostrils were flared and a growl escaped him He was going to hurt him! “Stop!” I called out. While Frederick certainly deserved to be punished. such a creep and a scoundrel, it was clear that Silas was out for blood. The Bet grasped onto Frederick tighter, but before he could deliver another blow, I touched his arm. “Silas, please,” I pleaded, and suddenly, Silas softened. My sudden touch. seemed to calm him down, but when he glanced at me, it was obvious he was still out for blood. 3/5 Part of me wanted to let him continue until Frederick’s miserable, terrible fac was bashed in. I wanted to see that awful man pay for the way he had grabbed r the way he’d insulted me. But the other part knew what scrutiny Silas would face he followed through and killed the man. After a moment, the Beta took a breath and released his hold on Frederick. Frederick gasped for breath and then scrambled to his feet. “Stay away from her,” Silas growled with disgust. “If you ever c try to harm her ever again, I’ll come back here and kill you. That’s a p Frederick’s face went pale and his eyes nearly burst out of his skull. He and without another word, he turned on his heels and ran. Once he was gone, anger stirred within me. “I don’t need you to fight my battles for me,” I huffed. “What are you even doin! here? Why did you step in?” I couldn’t understand why Silas Moses had intervened. He frowned as if it were obvious. “You’re my mate,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I help you?” Mate?

I scoffed. “Oh, so we’re mates again? Interesting, since I didn’t see yesterday. This back and forth is giving me whiplash, Silas.” I despised being toyed with. So, I decided then that I was going to leav finally go back to my mother’s house. This was all too much for me. I wasn’t a plaything for men to fight over. I was an independent person who deserved more than either of them was offering me. But just as I was about to leave, Silas gently touched my arm, and before I O 4/5 could react, he pulled my wrist up close to his lips and kissed the spot where Frederick had forcefully grabbed me.

 

Chapter 140

Chapter 140 I need to see you BECKY I widened my eyes and for a moment, I couldn’t react. I was frozen like a statue, trapped in this moment with the Beta of the Crescent Pack. crazy This was all so crazy. Frederick, Silas, my mother, all of it. My mind was filled to the brim with swirling thoughts, and I was thinking so fast that I could hardly process it all. I But as I stared into Silas’ eyes, I remembered the night in the garden, and my mind shifted to anger. “What are you trying to do?” I demanded as I glared at him. “Why are you here, Silas?” “I told you, I came here to help,” he replied, and then his mouth hardened into a thin line. “And I don’t want you to be touched by other men.” I Irritation bloomed within me and I shook my head as I thought again about the fact that he had kicked Frederick to the ground. Surely, my would-be suitor would bring this mess of drama to my mother’s door, which would lead to even more nagging. “I didn’t need your help or your attention,” I insisted as I pulled my arm back. “I could have handled that on my own, and now, the situation is only going to get worse. I don’t understand what you want Silas, but I’m in no mood to play games with you.” All I wanted was to get home, turn off the lights, take a bath, and forget everything that had happened tonight. I would spend the rest of my evening in solitude, praying that Frederick didn’t show up with guards. It was clear that Frederick had no idea who Silas was, so intervention from the district guards out of the realm of possibilities. I didn’t want my mother to be pulled into the middle wasn’t 1/5

of this mess, nor did I want her to know about Silas. I half expected the Beta to fight me and try to kiss me again, but he seemed to understand what I was thinking just from my expression and gave me a simple nod.

“I was serious about what I said,” he mentioned again quietly. “I’ll make sure that man won’t bother you ever again. Just one word from me to the guards is all it will take. He won’t come near you again, Becky.” My name from his mouth was enough to bring me to my knees, but I was about to show him my true feelings. Sure, Silas was handsome and charming, bu with an apparent complex when it came to overprotectiveness. was also an as sy t “Please just drop the matter,” I insisted. “I don’t want to linger on it any longer. What I do want, though, is for you to answer my earlier question. What are your doing here, Silas? Why did you come all the way out to my district when you should be back in the palace.” Silas took a long deep breath and ran his hand through his thick, dark hair. When he dropped his arm back to his side, he lifted his chin and observed the dark night sky for a moment before answering. “I don’t know what it is I desire,” he admitted quietly. “I just knew I needed to see you.” When his beautiful golden eyes met mine, a shiver ran down my spine. “Can I walk you to your house?” he asked me politely. “It’s awfully late, and it isn’t safe for a lady to walk dark streets alone.” “I’m very familiar with these ‘dark streets” I reminded him. “I’ve lived here my whole life, Silas. I’m not in danger here.” Silas stared at me for a moment and heat rose to my cheeks. He was so quiet and strange. I was used to men like Frederick who ran their mouths at any opportunity, speaking about anything that came to their minds. The Beta didn’t seem to be like that at all. Sure, he was pretty insistent and relentless when it came to physical affection with me, but I could tell somehow that there was more to him

2/5 than met the eye. Still, I wasn’t about to let him in, not after what had happened during the celebration. I couldn’t trust him, even after the way he’d saved me from Frederick’s advances. “Please,” he insisted. I stared back at him and deliberated until finally, I sighed. “Fine,” I said with a slight roll of my eyes. Without another word, I continued down the sidewalk and headed toward my house. Silas lingered a few feet back, which I was perfectly fine with. I was in no mood to make small talk with a man who’d forsaken me in front of the upper-class wolves of Anemond. The entire way back, I wasn’t sure what I would say to my mother. I didn’t want to let her down, but I couldn’t lie and pretend that things with Frederick had gone. well. I needed to be firm and let her know that our pairing wasn’t going to happen like she wanted it to. But how could I do it without hurting her? She wanted me to get married to a wealthy man so badly, but most of them were just plain awful. I wasn’t about to sacrifice my hard-earned dreams just to become a traditional wife. Sure, motherhood was appealing, but I was still so young. Settling down and having children wasn’t in my plans, at least not right now. I wanted to be a royal healer and make advances in medicine that would save lives. A man like Frederick would expect me to cast those dreams aside so I could better serve his own interests. I glanced back at Silas and couldn’t help but wonder what a man like him would be like as a husband. No, Becky, I thought as I turned back around. I couldn’t allow myself to even consider the idea. 3/5 Silas Moses wasn’t my future. That much was clear.

When we finally reached my house, I was surprised to see my mother was waiting for us on the porch. I wanted to tell Silas to leave before she could see him, but it was too late for that. Sweat formed on my brow as Mother’s dark eyes widened in surprise. “Becky?” she wondered as she rose up from the rocking chair by the c “Where’s… where’s Frederick?” As my cheeks grew hot, I glanced between her and Silas. For a moment, I considered lying, but I knew there was no use. So, I sighed and then told her everything. As I explained Frederick’s behavior, her face grew visibly shocked. I couldn’t read her expression or surmise whether or not she believed me, because Frederick had always acted like a gentleman in front of her. Once I was done, Mother’s eyes went to Silas, who had lingered on the path in front of the house. “And who is this?” she wondered. Before I could say anything, Silas answered for me. “I’m Silas Moses,” he introduced himself politely. Mother froze for a moment and blinked her eyes. “Moses,” she mumbled, and suddenly, her eyes widened again, and she straightened her posture. “Lord Beta.” She began to move as if she were about to kneel, but Silas held his hand up. “Please, don’t do that,” he insisted. “It’s completely unnecessary. You can just 4/5 call me Silas. “What are you doing in our district. Sillas? Mother wondered as her brow furrowed in confusion. “is all well in the palace? Is something wrong?” “Everything is fine,” he replied, and then he glanced at me Tim here because i saw Frederick behaving inappropriately toward Becky I wanted to make sure the got home safe”

Mother stared at us in surprise, and a lump formed in my throat I had no idea what she was about to say, but I was terrified to find o