Ch. 16..20: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 16-20

Chapter 16 Cora’s story

CA SSANDRA

I lingered outside the meeting room door for a moment, and my heart beat ferociously in my chest. Sure enough, Marley was gone, and I took this alone time to center myself.

It’d been a long time since I’d thought about the girl I’d been before the inferno.

As the years had grown by, I’d allowed her to fade away into near nothingness, but the return of Asher Collins to my life had changed that entirely. Ca ssandra Keller, my new identity, was no match for the Alpha King, and his arrival, along with the order to return to Anemond, had a chance of tearing my life to shreds.

Long ago, I’d been Cora Felix, the daughter of a Ga mma wolf named Darrin Felix. I had been born into a prestigious werewolf family, exalted in the Wegalla Empire, and the Crescent Pack in particular.

My father and my older brother, Ector, were well-respected warriors in our Pack. They were tough as nails and a major asset to the crown. After a chain of events, I was chosen to be Asher-the Alpha prince’s-mate and the future Luna of the empire. Life was perfect, wonderful even.

That is, until it all fell apart.

For reasons unknown, my father was framed and accused of committing crimes. against the Lord Beta’s family. It was claimed that my father wanted to steal the Beta’s position, and as such, he was imprisoned for his alleged crimes. Meanwhile, my brother Ector was banished to be a guard at the impoverished border.

I was taken prisoner as well, confined away, and left to die alone.

It was well-known throughout the Wegalla empire that Cora Felix had died in ant inferno, Darrin in prison, and Ector at the border. It was believed that the entire Felix family had been cursed by the Moon Goddess for their crimes against the crown.

But it wasn’t a curse.

It was a plot.

We’d all be set up.

They’d wanted me to die alone. They’d forced a poison down my throat that’d numbed my limbs and rendered me unable to move. They’d arranged the entire thing to make it seem as if it were an accident.

Even to this day, I had no idea who the killers were. They had been wearing elaborate masks when they broke into my home and set the place ablaze. As they forced their concoction down my throat, they claimed they had been empowered by the Moon Goddess and were executing me out of loyalty to their new King.

My life hadn’t been the same since that fateful night, and I doubted it’d ever be the same again. I’d sworn many times over the years that I’d never return to Anemond again.

But now… I had no choice. I had to follow the Alpha King’s orders and treat the illness that plagued the Wild Crawler Pack. I had to leave my entire life behind yet again and return to the place of my nightmares.

I took a moment to breathe and then forced the memories out of my mind. I couldn’t let myself drown in them, not when I had more important things looming on

the h orizon.

Above all else, I had to keep my wits about me, since Anemond was a dangerous place full of dangerous werewolves. I would need to stay strong if I was going to keep myself and Finnick safe.

“Mrs. Keller?” a voice interrupted my thoughts, and when I looked up, I noticed. a young woman not much older than me, staring at me with a pleasant expression. She was very pretty, with long, curly chestnut-brown hair and sky-blue eyes. I’d seen her around the Pack House before- she was a maid whose name I

unfortunately couldn’t remember.

“Yes?” I asked.

“I’m here to escort you to your room,” the maid said, and she gestured to the hallway beside us. Her voice was very kind, and she offered me a soft smile.

“What’s your name?” I asked her.

“Amalia,” she introduced herself.

“Amalia,” I repeated back and I smiled. “That’s a really beautiful name.”

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Keller,” Amalia replied, and her eyes glittered at the compliment. Alpha Gareth and Luna Sofia were far more gracious to their staff than the other royal families, so I knew she was treated quite well, but an extra ounce of compassion and niceness didn’t hurt.

“Where is my room located?” I wondered as I glanced around. My body ached. so much, and I hoped I wouldn’t have to walk too far throughout the Pack House on

my own.

“It’s just past the lobby,” Amalia said, and then she gestured forward. “Shall we, Mrs. Keller?”

I nodded, and then I followed her down the hall. Each step was incredibly painful, but I managed to keep my face from betraying my anguish.

Once we reached the lobby of the Pack House, I spotted Jasper. His arms were crossed behind his back dutifully, but his dark eyes met mine immediately met mine

when I arrived.

“Will you excuse me for just a moment, Amalia?” I asked the maid, and she offered me a small nod.

“I’ll wait for you over there,” she said, and after she glanced at Jasper, she walked to the other end of the entryway. Once she was gone, I approached Jasper.

1

“So, Marley left?” I asked him, and his cheeks darkened significantly.

“Yes,” he said quietly, and his hand reached up to brush his neck awkwardly. “It was Alpha Gareth’s order.”

see,” I remarked. “I just wanted to make sure she was okay.

“She’s fine, I promise you,” he said sheepishly as if he were embarrassed by something. “She.. didn’t exactly want to go. She’s stubborn, you know. But I managed to convince her to go home.”

When his hand moved away, I noticed the skin of his neck was red and raised, as if he’d been scratched.

Marley.

My best friend could be a little feral at times, and if his neck was any indication, she’d put up a fight on her way out.

“She wanted to say goodbye,” Jasper admitted when he caught me looking at the scratches. “We told her she had to go.”

“That’s Marley,” I remarked. “Sorry she did such a number on you.”

“It’s okay,” he said. “You’re her best friend. She’s protective of you.”

We fell into silence for a moment. Marley was incredibly strong, and I admired just how much she cared about me. If I’d been in her position, I’d have done the

same.

Except maybe the scratching part.

“I’m sorry, Ca ssandra,” Jasper suddenly said. For a moment, I thought he was referring to the Marley situation, but his expression told me he was talking about my forthcoming departure. As a guard, he must have known what was going on.

“Don’t be sorry,” I said softly, and I offered him a small smile to show my appreciation. “It’s not your fault, Jasper.”

We smiled sadly at each other for a minute. There was so much I wanted to say, but I couldn’t find the words.

“Mrs. Keller?” Amalia called out and interrupted the moment.

“One minute!” I called back, and then I looked at Jasper. “See you later, okay?”

“Have a good night, Ca ss,” he replied.

As I walked away toward Amalia, I couldn’t help but feel sad. I would miss Marley and Jasper when I was in Anemond.

ww

Chapter 17 Healer’s fear

ASHER

Once the healer left, I leaned back in the armchair in Alpha Gareth’s meeting room and released a sigh. My head was aching, as if I had a million hammers, pounding at it at once. I pinched the bridge of my nose between my fingers.

It was difficult to say whether the headache was from the mysterious disease worsening or the lack of sleep. I barely got a full night’s rest these days, and it was, beginning to take its toll on my entire body. It was simply too difficult to rest when there was so much plaguing my mind.

And now, there was someone else to consider, someone I couldn’t get out of my

head.

Cas sandra Keller.

Even though she was gone, her name ran circles in my mind, over and over, as if it were a song rather than a name.

Ca ssandra Keller, a nobody healer from a long-forgotten Pack on the border of

Wegalla.

Over the past few conversations I’d held with her, I knew there was something special about her, something weirdly familiar that drew me in in unexplainable ways. As much as I wanted to dismiss those feelings, I knew they couldn’t be ignored.

Had I heard her name before? Or known someone with a similar one? Was her face similar to one I’d seen before? I couldn’t place it anywhere in my memory, but perhaps she just reminded me of another subject… It was so hard to say.

Either way, I couldn’t figure it out.

Deep down, I knew there was no need to bring the girl all the way to Anemond with me. My son was nearly healed from his encounter with the viper and was going

to make a full recovery. And she had been right- she could easily conduct her research here and report her findings to me in the capital city.

But I wanted her to come with me.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I was immensely attracted to her. Her long, wavy copper hair that shimmered like flame, her beautiful dark green eyes, and her full lips… even her petite, lovely figure drew me in. Since yesterday, I’d fantasized about the way her slender hips curved and how much I wanted to place my hands on them and draw her to me in an embrace.

I hadn’t been like this in years. In fact, I hadn’t taken any interest in any woman after Cora had died.

So, what was it about this woman that I couldn’t get out of my head?

Suddenly, a knock rang out and interrupted my thoughts.

“Alpha,” a voice then said, and I recognized it as Lancel, one of my guards. He’d been under my command for years and was one of the few I actually trusted. Despite being the king of the realm, there were few I could trust in Anemond. Everyone was conniving with ulterior motives and agendas that threatened to undermine my every move.

But Lancel had been close to me for as long as I could remember. He had been my bodyguard since I was very young, and was the only one who still referred to me as “Alpha” rather than “Your Majesty” or “King”

“Come in, Lancel,” I called out. Moments later, the door opened, and Lancel entered. He was an older man of nearly fifty, with deep-set blue eyes, and hair that had turned prematurely white. He was broad and muscular and reminded me of a kinder version of my father.

After he crossed the empty room, he stopped in front of me and bowed in respect.

“Alpha, the healer’s bags are all packed,” he reported.

I’d sent my guards to Ca ssandra Keller’s house to pack her belongings while we spoke, so she wouldn’t have a chance to escape again.

“Did you happen to find anything suspicious?” I wondered, and I pinched my nose again as my head continued to pound. I closed my eyes again and leaned back into the chair.

“There’s a letter we found on the kitchen table,” Lancel revealed. “It seems she

left it with her assistant before she fled to the forest.”

“Really?” I asked, and my eyes flew open. “Have you

read it?”

I knew that it had to be suspicious if even Lancel found it curious.

He nodded. “It seems that the healer was preparing to leave this Pack for good. She planned to leave her clinic to her assistant, Marley Raven.”

“Marley,” I repeated back. “I’m not surprised.”

“But there’s more, Alpha,” Lancel continued slowly, and he lowered his voice slightly. “There’s something I found very weird.”

I frowned. “Really?”

“Yes,” Lancel replied. “I may be reading into the matter, but I think she may be

afraid of Anemond.”

“Afraid?” I repeated back.

My trusted guard nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”

A laugh rose up from my chest.

“Well, of course, she’s afraid of Anemond, Lancel, “I noted, and I rested back into the seat. “She’s afraid she might struggle to take on the responsibilities I’m asking of her. Why else would she try to run away?”

My logic felt foolproof, yet Lancel didn’t seem too convinced.

“Well, yes, Alpha,” he said. “But that’s not quite what I mean.”

“Then state your piece, Lancel,” I urged, and I released a sigh. With my head pounding as severely as it was, I needed rest, and my guard was taking too long to reach his point. What was so suspicious about Ca ssandra Keller?

“Alpha, I’ve seen werewolves who have run away from their duties,” Lancel said, and his deep blue eyes grew worried. “They were nothing but cowards. But this healer… she doesn’t seem like any of them?”

“What makes you say that?” I said, and my eyebrow raised.

Lancel reached into the pocket of his trousers and retrieved a folder piece of paper. He unfurled it and then handed it to me.

“It’s the last few sentences she wrote,” he said, and then he gestured to the

letter.

I stared down at the flowy cursive writing and quickly read through the letter until I reached the bottom of the page.

Brun…

“Please forgive me, Marley,” I read aloud. “I just can’t go to Anemond. I have to

I suddenly stopped, and my eyebrows creased together. I understood instantly

what Lancel meant.

“She says ‘I can’t go to Anemond’ rather than ‘I don’t want to,” I mused.

Why would she state it that way if she were truly trying to desert her duties?

“Alpha, I believe the woman to be very suspicious,” Lancel said. “From what I’ve inferred/it appears she’s been to Anemond before.”

I fell silent as I stared at the letter in my hands. My trusted guard’s words were likely true. The healer had been to Anemond. Something about her was strange, and the letter seemed to prove exactly what I’d been thinking.

My head pounded even further. Something about this Ca ssandra Keller needed to be investigated, and it needed to be done at once.

“Keep an eye on her, Lancel,” I ordered as I closed my eyes and gently rubbed my temples. “If she is afraid of something in Anemond, we need to find out what it is. She’s hiding something. And I intend to discover what it is.”

Chapter 18 Her lost necklace

CA SSANDRA

Much to my excitement, when Amalia brought me to my intended room, Finnick was waiting for me on the other side of my door. His little face lit up with. excitement, and his normally serious gray eyes widened as he grinned at me.

“Mommy!” he exclaimed, and he rushed over to meet me. I’d half-expected him to look a little rough around the edges after our encounter with the bear in the woods, but Finnick looked perfectly healthy.

He threw his arms around me, and I fought back a sound of pain as he squeezed.

“Careful, baby,” I said softly as tears welled in my eyes. “I’m still a little sore.

“Oh,” he realized, and he let go and took a step back. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” I assured him, and then I gave him a look over. “Are you doing okay, sweetheart? I’ve been so worried about you.”

SVANGE

“I’m better now, Mommy,” he assured me, and he gave me a tiny smile. “I was a little scared at first, but after I took a warm bath and got some new clothes, I was feeling better.”

Suddenly, a strange look crossed his face, and he noticed my bandages.

“Are you okay?” he whispered, and he gently touched my arm.

“I’m okay,” I assured him, and I carefully lowered myself down to his level. “Can I tell you a secret?”

Finnick nodded.

“I was a little scared too,” I admitted. “But Marley patched me right up and gave

me some medicine. I should be just fine in a little bit. I’m just going to need some rest and a lot of love from my favorite person,”

“Me?” Finnick asked excitedly, and when I nodded, his smile grew wider.

“You’re my favorite person, too,” he said.

After we shared another careful hug, I rose to my feet, and Finnick gave me a tour of the room. It was incredibly sp acious and painted a lovely deep green. The floors were a rich dark wood, and two canopied beds rested in the corner, just next to a floor-length window. The curtains were drawn, and the beautiful light of the sunset danced on the ground.

My stomach rumbled a little.

“Are you hungry, Mommy?” Finnick asked.

“A little,” I admitted.

Amalia cleared her throat.

“Alpha Gareth was inquiring if you’d like to join him for dinner?” she asked, and I considered the request for a moment.

“Would it be alright if I ate here with my son?” I asked. “My body aches pretty badly, and I haven’t seen him since last night.”

“Of course,” Amalia replied. “The Alpha will be fine to accommodate you. I will bring you dinner here.”

“Thank you, Amalia,” I said.

The maid smiled at me and then disappeared from the room. Once the door had closed behind her, I gestured to the pair of armchairs in the room.

“Finnick, can we talk?” I asked. My son’s eyebrows creased together and then. he nodded.

He followed me over to the chairs, and once we were seated, I took a deep

breath.

“Honey, we’re going to be going with the King to Anemond,” I revealed.

Finnick’s eyes sparkled for a moment, but he managed to keep calm. “Really?”

I nodded. “Yes. We leave in a couple of days.”

“Okay,” he remarked simply. I could tell he was at least a little excited. Every child was curious about the capital of the werewolf empire. I’d often heard him and Dominic, Sofia’s son, talking about it when they played.

Finnick began to ask me all kinds of questions. He wanted to know all about it, what it looked like, how the people there lived, and what kind of clothing they wore so that he could blend in. He seemed so thrilled by the prospect of seeing a new city, and I didn’t want to burst his bubble, so I answered him the best I could.

After a while, Amalia returned with some food, and I was relieved to have a break from the questions. Above all else, I was glad Finnick hadn’t asked me why I’d -had a change of heart. He also hadn’t brought up the Alpha King, and I was thrilled

to sk ip that subject entirely.

We ate quietly together, and then Finnick ran off to go play with Dominic before bed. I knew Finnick was probably bursting with excitement to tell his best friend all about going to Anemond, and admittedly, I was relieved to have a second to breathe. All of this talk of Anemond had me feeling stressed beyond belief, and I was still recovering from my injuries.

I rose from my seat and decided to check the backpack I’d left behind in the woods. It was tucked in the corner of the room, and covered in mud. I was surprised they had gone to the effort of returning it to me.

I sorted through the pack and double-checked to see if everything was there. All seemed to be in order… except for one thing. I rifled through my things again, but it was definitely gone.

I’d placed a moonstone pendant in the pocket of the backpack and sealed it

tightly before we’d left for the forest. It had belonged to my late mother and was the only thing I had left of her. She had died when I was very young, and the pendant was the only keepsake I’d kept from my old life.

It was a beautiful thing, white gold, with a shimmering silver stone ringed by tiny white diamonds. It was small, but not too small, and the most gorgeous thing I owned. It was the kind of necklace worn by someone of high rank, as I’d been before the inferno. It’d been gifted to my mother by her mother, and I’d intended to pass it along to my children one day just as they had.

Emmett had told me to get rid of the necklace years ago. He’d told me the pendant was a liability and that if it was discovered, my identity could be as well. I understood what my husband had meant, but I couldn’t get rid of it. It was the only thing my mother had left me, and the only thing I hadn’t lost in the fire.

And now it was nowhere to be found.

Panic began to set in.

Had it fallen out of my backpack during my fight with the bear?

Perhaps in the fight, he’d scratched at the pack and it’d fallen out.

For a moment, that seemed like the correct answer, but there were no scratch. marks, and the pocket had been completely sealed. So, where had it gone?

I thought about it for a while. Had my mind deceived me? Had I actually forgotten to pack it in the first place? Maybe with everything going on, I’d meant to pack it but actually forgot it at my house.

Then it dawned on me. A realization crashed over me, and my hands began to

shake.

Asher Collins had sent his guards to pick up the rest of my belongings.

My chest heaved as I fought to catch my breath.

If he or his guards found the necklace, it could mean the end of my life, as well

as Finnick’s.

Chapter 19 Mommy said you’re bad

ASHER

I stared out the window and admired the way the light entered the room. Dusk here in the Wild Crawler Pack was far more tranquil here than it was all the way out. in Anemond. Out in the capital, it was nearly impossible to see the h orizon amidst the tall buildings and structures. Here, there was nothing but open sky for miles.

I peered out at the front lawns. Here, the grass grew tall and was a plush, emerald green. The lawns of my palace in Anemond were nothing like this. They were broad and sp acious but cut meticulously short by the team of gardeners. It was almost as if wildlife was forbidden. There was no smell of pine, no fresh air…

I inhaled deeply. I’d never admit it to anyone, but I would miss the fresh air here. There was something to be said for this land beside the border. There was a wildness here that didn’t exist out in Anemond, no matter how much I yearned for it.

Far out on the lawn, two boys were playing ball with one another. One of them, I assumed, was the son of the Alpha, and the other I recognized as Ca sandra Keller’s son, the one with the gray eyes named Finnick.

Finnick Keller.

As I watched the two play, I considered the strange color of the boy’s eyes. In the past, it was said that the color of the iris was a royal trait, passed down from an ancient bloodline. However, I had a few acquaintances who had similarly colored eyes, so that wasn’t exactly true.

The strange part was the way Ca ssandra had acted when her son pointed out that I shared the same color eyes. The beautiful healer seemed scared, panicked almost, when the boy had spoken up.

Why was she so afraid of me?

I knew I could be intimidating, but was there something more that I didn’t

know?

I studied Finnick. The sweet boy was laughing with his friend, and the musical sound made me smile. The pair looked so happy and innocent, and for a moment, my heart ached.

When I was a child, I’d had similar times with my own friends. We’d spent. countless hours playing ball, exploring the castle, and reenacting plays we concocted in our minds.

My best friends back then had been Cora and her older brother Ector. We were practically inseparable and spent all of our time with one another. We grew up together, and as the years flew by, I found myself becoming more and more enamored with Cora. Falling in love with her came naturally, and when we found out. we were mates, that love only grew stronger.

Those memories felt so far away now.

I was no longer the little boy who played ball.

I was the Alpha King of the Wegalla empire, a ruthless leader who didn’t have time to play or enjoy myself.

And Cora was gone.

My thoughts were interrupted when a se rvant appeared on the lawn. He approached Finnick and the Alpha’s son and began to speak with them. Their conversation carried on for a while, and I watched the

Alpha’s son sigh in dejection. The se rvant soon left, and the boy followed suit. Finnick was left on the lawn alone, and even from the vantage of my room, I could tell the boy was sad.

Just like me, I thought. Cora and Ector had left me too, and I was all alone with nothing but my power and my enemies.

Suddenly, a knock was heard behind me. I turned around and released a sigh.

“Who is it?” I asked, and I straightened myself up.

“A se rvant of Alpha Gareth’s, Your Majesty,” a young man’s voice replied. “May I

enter the room?”

“You may,” I agreed reluctantly, and before the door opened, I took a breath. I needed to push away all thoughts of Ector and Cora. I had more important things to worry about at the moment.

The door opened, and a se rvant appeared. He was no older than 1, and his hazel eyes were timid as they flashed over to me. I recognized him but hadn’t bothered to learn his name since I’d been here.

“Dinner is ready, Your Majesty,” the se rvant announced, and he offered me a

small bow.

“Thank you for letting me know,” I replied, and I fought away the boredom. Yet another dinner with yet another Alpha. Gareth and his wife Sofia had been wonderful hosts, but I was tired of having business conversations. They were often so dull, and it was difficult to speak my mind when I knew my hosts were terrified of

my presence.

I

But I had a part to play. If I showed weakness, my authority could be questioned. I was the Alpha King and I needed to conduct myself as such.

“May I escort you to the lobby, Your Majesty?” the se rvant asked timidly. I noticed his hands shook at his sides, and for a moment, I wanted to tell him I could easily walk to the lobby myself, but I knew that I needed to have measures in place to ensure my safety. My own guards were in a meeting at the moment, and it was unlikely that this young man would bring me any harm on his own.

“Yes, you may,” I said. I approached the mirror by the dresser and ran my hands through my dark hair. My eyes were underscored by deep dark circles, but there was nothing to be done there. I was as presentable as I could be.

I followed the se rvant out the door and down the hall. As we walked down the stairs and toward the lobby, I passed by a handful of Gareth’s Pack, and each offered various words of politeness. I did my duty and acknowledged them, but it felt like a chore. While I would miss the fresh air, I was ready to be back in my own home and in my own chambers.

When we reached the lobby, I was surprised to see young Finnick was there. The boy was staring at a point beyond him, and when I followed his gaze, I realized he was watching his friend being escorted toward the dining room.

I considered my move and decided to approach the boy.

“Would you care to join us?” I asked him directly, and Finnick jumped.

Before I could get another word in, the boy retreated slowly, as if I were some sort of predator closing in on its prey.

“Mommy and I already ate earlier,” he said cautiously. “He told the Alpha we wouldn’t join him.”

“Is that so?” I replied, amused, and then I grinned at him. “You can join us. anyway if you want. I can tell your mother it’s okay.”

Finnick blinked his wide gray eyes at me and considered my words. He studied me with his serious gaze for a moment or two and then shook his head.

“No, Your Majesty,” he said like a little adult. “Mommy said you’re very bad.”

Before I could utter my disbelief, the boy bowed and then took off down the hall, leaving me confused and disappointed.

 

Chapter 20 Alpha’s dinner

ASHER

After the boy disappeared, I released a sigh and then followed Gareth’s servant into the dining room. I wished that Finnick had joined us and explained what he meant by his words.

Had Ca ssandra Keller really told him that I was a bad man?

The idea should have enraged me and yet, I was somewhat amused. I didn’t love the idea of a child fearing me, but perhaps he’d simply twisted her words as children so often did. Either way, something about the Kellers was intriguing, and I looked forward to getting to know them once we reached Anemond.

Upon my arrival, Alpha Gareth and Luna Sofia, along with their son, rose to their feet and offered me solemn bows. I inclined my head in their direction respectfully and then turned my attention back to the se rvant leading me through the room.

A long, rectangular table sat at the center of the wood-floored room, and around us, the light from the enormous red-brick fireplace flickered. The room itself was painted a rich dark red, and a smile formed on my lips. Despite this Pack existing at the border of the empire, the furnishings were exquisite and worthy of royalty. There was a hominess here that didn’t exist in my palace.

The se rvant offered me the seat at the head of the table, and once I sat, he pushed the chair in for me and then gave me a small bow.

“Please let me know if there’s anything else you require, Your Majesty,” he said. When I waved my hand, he nodded once in understanding and then disappeared.

Gareth’s s rvants were quite attentive, I’d give them that.

Once he was gone, I returned my attention to the table. The Alpha and Luna bowed their heads in respect once again, and then Gareth cleared his throat.

“Good evening, Your Majesty,” he said, and he offered me a pleasant expression. “I take it you’re feeling better?”

ask.”

“Marginally,” I replied politely. “Thank you for your concern.”

Gareth nodded. “If there’s anything else we can do, please don’t hesitate to

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied, and then my eyes flicked over to my right. I hadn’t realized my son, Prince Marco, was seated there. The boy’s eyes were brighter than they’d been before, and color had returned to his cheeks.

“Hello, Daddy,” he greeted me with a smile, and I smiled back

“Hello, my son,” I replied. “You’re looking better. Whatever the healer did to treat you, it appears to be working.”

“I feel better, Daddy,” Marco declared.

When the viper had struck, I’d been terrified of losing the boy, but Ca ssandra Keller’s methods had apparently worked perfectly. How was it that a healer from a small Pack such as this was so knowledgeable when it came to illnesses?

I could only hope she’d be able to treat my disease as well.

Se rvants entered the room bearing trays of food, and instantly, the air around. us filled with pleasant scents. They laid down platters of chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and freshly-baked bread on

the long table, and then began to dole portions out onto the china before us.

Once our plates were full to the brim, the se rvants bowed at Alpha Gareth first, and then myself and Prince Marco.

“That will be all,” Gareth said, and then the se rvants bowed again and left the chamber.

We then began to eat, and the moment I took a large bite, I felt the lingering remains of my poor mood slip away. Between the deliciousness of the food and

witnessing the childhood innocence out on the lawn earlier, I was feeling better than I had in a long time.

Marco seemed to pick up on that straight away.

“Daddy, why are you so happy?” he wondered with a slight tilt of his head, and then he took a bite of his mashed potatoes.

I smiled again at my son.

“No reason,” I remarked, and then I reached over and patted him on the shoulder. Marco smiled at me, content with the affection.

Marco was quite needy for my attention these days. When I’d planned this trip down to the Wild Crawler Pack, I’d intended to come alone with only Lancel, but Marco had insisted on joining me. I’d put up a little bit of a fight, but at the end of the day, I couldn’t deny him. Any five-year-old child would have done the same, and I couldn’t blame him for wanting to stay by my side.

“It’s such a blessing that Prince Marco has recovered so quickly, Your Majesty,” Gareth spoke up.

“It’s all thanks to your healer,” I remarked as I turned my attention to him. “She’s quite remarkable, isn’t she?”

is.”

Gareth’s cheeks darkened slightly, but he simply nodded his head. “Indeed, she

He appeared slightly awkward at the mention of Ca ssandra, and part of me wondered if it was because I was taking her with me to Anemond.

“I haven’t seen your eldest son, Alpha,” I mused. “Where is he? Is he still unhappy with my decision to bring the healer with me?”

“No, Your Majesty,” Gareth insisted, and then he gulped. “I beg your forgiveness on his behalf. He isn’t feeling well-”

“Oh,” I cut him off. “I figured the young man was angry with me. It’s rather

obvious he’s smitten with her. Of course, you already knew that.”

Gareth and Sofia’s eyes widened and flew to each other. I watched with amusement as their cheeks flushed scarlet.

“What does smitten mean?” their son, Dominic, spoke up quietly, and when he tugged on his father’s sleeve, Gareth sighed.

“Eat your food, Dominic,” he insisted, and then he turned his attention back to me. “Your Majesty, I think you’re mistaken about Rayden. Ca ssandra Keller arrived here five years ago when Rayden was just about to join the Myriad. He was too preoccupied with his service to notice her, and besides, she was married back then. They’ve barely interacted since.”

My brow lifted.

“She came to your Pack five years ago?” I asked. “I thought she was born here… Curious. How is that possible, Alpha? Does your Pack accept rogues?”

“Absolutely not,” Gareth replied quickly. “She came to our Pack with our old healer, Emmett. He brought her here and married her, so we accepted her as our own. We would never go against the rules of Wegalla-”

His voice wavered, and I fought the urge to fire back.

“Relax, Alpha Gareth,” I said casually, and I raised my hand up. “I was just making a guess. Marriage, huh? So where did she come from?”

“We don’t know, Your Majesty,” Gareth admitted. “Emmett said she was a stray. Back then, she had scars all over her body and she appeared to have been through.

an ordeal…”

His voice trailed off and his lower lip trembled.

Stray.

Stray was just a mild word for rogue.

Gareth was right to look terrified. Accepting werewolves into a Pack without a clear background was a serious offense. If they’d admitted a stray all those years. ago, it was clear this remote Pack was just as careless as I’d initially assumed.

Before I could open my mouth to speak, the chamber door opened and Lancel walked in. The expression on his face told me the matter was serious.

“I have something to report to you, Alpha,” he announced, and then his eyes fell

to Gareth.

“Speak it,” I replied shortly.

Lancel straightened his posture before he spoke.

“A se rvant said he saw the healer and Alpha Gareth’s son sneak out of the Pack House just a few minutes ago. They’re gone.”