Ch. 161..165: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 161-165

Chapter 161 Back to Anemond BECKY My departure came faster than I was ready for. The night before was sleepless, as I couldn’t relax after everything that had happened between Dic kson, Silas, and me. Jasper had told me yesterday that the car arranged for me would be waiting outside of the clinic around 6:00 AM. I stretched my arms up above my head and yawned, then I checked the clock hanging on the office wall. It was around 5:30. I had already packed up my belongings, except for a change of clothes. I would. slip into them before I left so I would feel refreshed for the long drive ahead. For now, I decided that I would do one last round and see how the patients. were doing. It had been a quiet night in the clinic, but that didn’t mean much. I left the office and walked around quietly. Most of the patients were still fast asleep in their beds and cots, but when I began to walk down the corridor off of the main clinic area, I spotted Angela and Marina. Marina was tucked in, fast asleep, but her mother was awake. “Becky,” Angela greeted me with a small smile as I approached. “How did you sleep, honey?” “Not as well as I’d hoped,” I admitted, and then I smiled back. “But I have plenty of time to rest in the car so it’ll be alright. How are you feeling this morning?” “A little sore,” she replied and she gently rubbed one of the dark marks on her pale neck. “The marks hurt more and more these days.” “I’m sorry to hear that,” I remarked, and then I held up my medical kit. “Let me take your vitals before I go.” I went ahead and took her temperature and made some notes on her chart.

2/5 Once I was finished, Angela held my hand in hers and I was surprised at how warm it was. Her high body temperature was likely related to the disease and it sent a wave of sadness through me.

“Thank you for helping us, Healer Becky,” she said earnestly. “May the Moont Goddess bless you on your life’s journey.” When she squeezed my hand, I squeezed it back. “You as well, Angela.” The woman nodded and then laid back on her cot and closed her eyes. I lingered there and once her eyelids started fluttering, I made my way back down toward the office. I took a moment to double-check that I had all of my belongings with me, and once I was sure everything was in its proper place, I picked up my bags and carried them out the front door. The early-morning air was chillier than I anticipated and I shivered a bit in surprise. The car hadn’t arrived yet, but there, standing near the tree where I had discovered Silas last night, was Dic kson. His arms were crossed against his chest and his eyes were fixed on the ground. I wasn’t sure how long he’d been there, but I supposed he had arrived early. He seemed lost in his thoughts but when I walked down the path and approached him, he finally lifted his gaze. “Becky,” he said, and his cheeks flushed a little. “Good morning.” “Good morning,” I replied politely but shortly. I wanted to say more but on the off chance that things were still strange between us, I kept quiet. I had expected there to be awkwardness between us considering what Dic kson had said to me last night, but as he smiled at me, I could hardly sense anything off. “I’ll take that,” Dic kson said, and he gestured to my backpack. “The car should be here in a minute or so.” I nodded and handed my pack to him. “Thank you.” “Of course,” he replied. 2/5 We stood there in silence until a long black car pulled up to the clinic. Once it came to a halt, Dic kson picked up my belongings and began to load them into the trunk. Just as he’d finished, Jasper arrived at the clinic and greeted us. “Good morning Becky,” Jasper greeted me and then turned to Dic kson. “Dic kson, I didn’t think you’d be here so early. I wasn’t expecting you until the

afternoon” His demeanor seemed bright despite the early hour, and I had the strong sense that it was because of Marley. My return to Anemond meant that she would be returning to Wild Crawler, and from what I’d gathered about the two of them, they bore strong feelings toward one another. Dic kson smiled and pushed his dark glasses up the bridge of his freckled nose. “I couldn’t fall asleep last night, so I decided to come to work early today,” he explained nonchalantly. “I see,” Jasper noted, and then he glanced between us. “Why couldn’t your sleep? Was there a development in the research?” Dic kson shook his head and gave an apologetic smile. “No, unfortunately not.” I swallowed silently and stared beyond them. I had a strong theory as to why the healer couldn’t fall asleep, but I couldn’t say so, not to Jasper. After a moment, I glanced at Dic kson. There was a strange feeling hanging over my heart when looking at him, an unexplainable unease.” “Well, if that’s everything, Becky, you should get going,” Jasper said and he glanced at his watch. “You have a long drive ahead of you.” I nodded and then smiled at them. “Thank you both for everything. I’m going to miss you.” “We’ll miss you too,” Jasper replied. “We sure will,” Dic kson chimed in quietly. 3/5 comfier than the one I’d come to Wild Crawler in and I relished the cus hioned seats. I had planned to rest during the drive, but again, I couldn’t fall asleep. Perhaps I was just too excited to return to Anemond to test out the water sample and get closer to the truth of this all, but I couldn’t pretend like that was the only thing on my mind. As my head swam with the possibilities, I tried my best to cast aside all thoughts of Silas and Dic kson. They had given me a lot to consider, but I couldn’t worry about that now. So, I simply stared out the window and watched as the vastness of looming forest gave way to sprawling cities and enormous buildings. The hours went quickly until we finally arrived back in Anemond. As the car drove onto the street where

Keller’s was located, the cloud in my heart diminished. I took a breath, and as we pulled up to the clinic, Marley and Cas sandra stepped out of the building and waved excitedly. When I got out of the car, Marley rushed over and gave me a huge hug. “Welcome back, Becky,” she greeted me warmly. “I missed you!” I smiled and hugged her back. “I missed you too. But I’m sure there’s someone you miss more than me… someone back in Wild Crawler?” 4/5

Chapter 162 The way to truth CAS SANDRA On the morning of Becky’s return to Anemond, Asher arrived at the clinic to pay me a visit. I was surprised when the Alpha King greeted me at the door because just the day before, he’d mentioned that he was leaving Anemond on business for a couple of days. While I’d wanted to know what he was up to, I knew better than to ask. As the leader of Wegalla, there was likely something to handle with the military, especially with Silas’ recent return to the Pack. The Beta had been away to observe the troops on the border and make sure they were up to the Alpha King’s standards, so I was sure it had to do with that. Despite his assurance and calm demeanor when he’d told me the news, that morning when he stepped into the clinic, his expression was strange. “Good morning,” he greeted me quietly, so as to not wake Finnick, who was still fast asleep. “Good morning to you as well,” I replied, and then I offered him a small smile of surprise. “What are you doing here, Asher?” “I wanted to check in before I left,” he explained softly, and then he reached out to touch my cheek. “I know we said goodbye already, but I wanted to make sure that you were going to be alright while I was gone.” I nodded thoughtfully. “I appreciate that very much, but I’ll be okay. Becky is set to return today and we’re going to be hard at work on the water sample and such. I’ll be so busy that I’ll hardly have time to get myself into any trouble.” Asher smirked. “Good. The last thing I need is for you to get into something while I’m away.” “I’m a tough girl,” I assured him playfully. “I’ll be able to handle myself.” 1/4 “Still,” he remarked. He then drew me closer to him and once I wrapped my

arms around his neck, he wrapped his around my waist and pressed his lips against mine. His kiss was warm and inviting, and since there was no one around who could possibly see us, it was more drawn out than usual. Once it ended, the Inba King’s gray vect “I might have a big surprise for you when I return,” he mentioned off-handedly. My eyebrow shot up. “Oh? What do you mean by ‘might’?” “You’ll just have to wait and see,” he teased, and then he leaned in and kissec my temple. “I’ll be back before you know it.” We shared one more embrace and then Asher left. As I watched him through the window as he walked down the drive, I frowned slightly. There was something strange in his behavior that made me feel a little uneasy, but I dismissed those feelings before they could fester. It was early and I might have just been overly sensitive. Things were getting better between us, even taking Adalyn and Marco into consideration. Even though Adalyn had witnessed our kiss that night outside of the clinic, she hadn’t done anything about it. While that fact was a little worrying, I wondered if she’d decided it wasn’t worth the trouble and let it go. Either way, I wasn’t going to question it too much. I had too many other things occupying my mind. I needed to stay sharp so I could focus on Becky’s return and what this new piece of evidence could mean for our research. As I waited for the car to arrive, I brewed some morning tea and when Finnick awoke, I spent some time with him. Erika mentioned that they would be coloring today, which was one of his favorite activities, so my son’s demeanor was happier than usual. Marley awoke a little later and sat with me in the waiting room of the clinic. We sipped at our tea and nibbled on some pastries that Hannah had made. We made some small talk but avoided the impending subject of Marley leaving. Becky’s arrival meant my friend would be going back to Wild Crawler, and I was sad, to say the

214 least. Finally, after a few hours, Becky arrived, and after we gave her a warm welcome, we helped her carry her things inside. Once she was settled in, we had lunch together, and then Becky went to focus on the water sample. To my surprise, my assistant didn’t seem all that excited about her findings. I could tell from the weary look in her russet eyes that something had happened in Wild Crawler- not something big, but something that was clearly weighing on her mind. I decided not to ask, even though I wanted to. If she wanted to talk about it, would wait for her to bring it up. Before she went straight to the lab, she gave Marley a tight hug and wished her a nice journey. As my friends said goodbye to one another, my heart began to ache. I would do anything to keep Marley with me. With her, Erika, and Becky in the clinic, Anemond was finally beginning to feel like home. But Marley had children to worry about. She had done me a huge favor by staying here in Becky’s stead, and now that my assistant was back, Marley had to go figure out the details of her own life, including her divorce. Marley collected her bags, and I helped her carry them to the car. The driver loaded them up and Marley and I stepped away to say our goodbyes. “My kids are going to be thrilled to see the toys I got them here,” Marley remarked. “I can’t wait to give them to them.” But as soon as the words left her lips, her light green eyes started to well up with tears. “Oh, Cas sy,” she managed to say. “I know it’s not like we’re never going to see each other again, but leaving you is… it’s so hard. I miss you so much.” “Trust me, I miss you too,” I agreed, and I reached out and touched her arm. “Maybe next time, you can bring your family.” JA

“That would be great,” Marley said through her sniffles. “Maybe you could even bring Jasper-” I teased, and before I could finish my sentence, Marley punched my arm and then began to laugh. “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she chuckled, and then she pulled me into her arms. We hugged each other tightly and remained there for a minute or two until finally, she pulled away. “I love you, Cas sandra.” “I love you too Marley,” I replied, and finally, I began to tear up as well. She climbed into the car and I watched it leave until it disappeared at the end of the street. I took a moment to collect myself and then I walked back into the clinic. but I decided to be productive instead. Becky had left part of the water sample with me, and an idea crossed my mind. Part of me wanted to go back to my room and cry a little more Becky had mentioned the idea of the water source in the mountain area being poisoned. Who better to look at the water sample than Spi ke, our resident poison expert? I picked the second tube from the lab, tucked it into my medical kit, and once it was secure, I headed out of the clinic and toward the palace dungeon. 4/4

Chapter 163 Probing CAS ANDRA When I arrived at Merliscire, I was greeted immediately by Lancel. The Alpha King’s most loyal and trustworthy guard seemed surprised to see me and remarked as such after I said hello.. “Miss Ca ss andra,” he remarked curtly. “What brings you to the palace? The Alpha King is away on business-” “I know,” I interrupted gently. “He told me yesterday after our health check.” Lancel nodded. “I see.” “I was actually wondering, Lancel, if you could do me a favor?” I wondered, and when the older man’s thick eyebrows knitted together in confusion, I took a step forward and leaned in slightly. “I’ve been entrusted with a sample from Wild Crawler that may be beneficial to our research.” “Really?” he asked in surprise and then he regained his no-nonsense air. “And what would you intend to do with it, Miss Cas sandra?” I glanced around the entryway of the palace to ensure that no one was around to overhear our business and when I was sure we were alone, I spoke candidly. “I want to take it to the dungeon. I think the imposter may have some insight into its properties.” Lancel nodded again, finally understanding my request. “I shall escort you,” he declared, and without further hesitation, he began to walk down the corridor. I followed suit and let out a small exhalo of relief. I hadn’t expected the guard to give me any grief about the matter, of course, but I knew any dealings with Spi ke set him on edge. I knew he didn’t approve of our current alliance with the villain, but 1/5 absolute, and he’d never sway from a decision made by Asher, no matter what. We continued down to the dungeon and a shiver ran through me as we descended the staircase. While I’d been here many times, I never got used to the lack of lighting or the temperature of the prison. It was desolate and dark, which made sense, but knowing that my father once resided here made it feel

even more lonely.

e we were th Lancel escorted me to Spi ke’s cell, and he stepped aside a little but remained alert. Spi ke seemed equally surprised to see me. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” he asked me with a raised eyebrow. “More research?” I rooted around in my medical kit and retrieved the tube containing the water sample. “I need you to look at this,” I stated, and I held it through the bars. Spi ke approached with curiosity, and when he accepted the sample, he stared at me blankly. “Water?” he wondered as he held the tube up. “That’s what’s in this, correct?” When I nodded, his frown deepened. “Why do you suddenly want me to study a water sample?” he asked. “It might be related to the poison you’ve suspected,” I remarked. Spi ke’s eyebrow lifted and his eyes studied me closely. “Where was it taken from?” “It doesn’t matter,” I replied. “It’s not important for you to know.” He looked as if he were about to question me further, but when he caught a 2/5 I didn’t blame him for being alarmed. I was relieved that Lancel was here to help me. “Fine,” Spi ke decided. “I’ll take a look at it.” “Thank you,” I said, and without another word, I started to walk back down the corridor. Lancel walked beside me. Once we reached the top of the stairs and stepped out into the main corridor, I smiled at the guard. “Thank you for coming. with me, Lancel.” “Of course,” he replied curtly. “I’m just doing my duties.” Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind and I frowned. Why hadn’t Asher taken Lancel with him?

“Lancel, do you know where the Alpha King was going?” I wondered. “He left so quickly that I didn’t get to ask.” The guard hesitated a moment and then shook his head. “I have no idea.” I knew it was a lie, but there was no way Lancel would tell me something Asher hadn’t. We may have been getting along now, but the stubborn guard would only be loyal to his Alpha and no one else. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone standing not too far away from us. I turned in their direction and realized it was Kane. Asher’s stepbrother was leaning against the wall with a slight frown on his handsome face, but when he noticed us, he smiled and approached. “Well, well, well,” he mused. “What a pleasant surprise to see you here, Healer Cas sandra.” “Hello,” I greeted him pleasantly though I was confused by his being here. Encountering Kane Collins here was unusual, especially since our presence near the dungeon was supposed to be a secret. “What brings you to the dungeon of all places?” he wondered, and before! could make an excuse and explain why we were here, Lancel spoke first. 3/5 “Healer Cas sandra was brought here to offer medical care to an important prisoner,” he stated simply. Kane’s eyebrow raised up. “How interesting. They must be important if they require her care.” Lancel opened his mouth to speak, but Kane raised his hand in the air. “Don’t worry, I’m not too concerned with the matter,” he said, and then he turned to me. “If you’re finished with your business, could I accompany you back to the clinic, Healer Cas sandra?” I glanced at Lancel and after he gave the tiniest of expressions, I nodded at Kane. I didn’t believe Kane would harm Asher or me, though I didn’t know much nim. Kane Collins was pleasant to get along with. Normally, someone from the privileged family in Wegalla wouldn’t be so friendly toward commoners from a smaller Pack, but Kane was different. I had noticed it since his last visit to the clinic. Kane was genuinely affable to everyone there- Becky, Erika, and Hannah. Of course, perhaps it was because he was a pla cyboy and knew how to make women feel at ease with his presence.

I said goodbye to Lancel and then Kane and I headed to the clinic. We chatted freely about various topics like the weather and the clinic’s condition, until suddenly, Kane made a remark that almost made me stop in my tracks. “So, I’ve noticed that my brother has been visiting the clinic a lot lately,” he said. “Is he sick or something?” His tone was so nonchalant, that for a moment, I completely forgot myself and spoke with less caution than usual. “No, Asher is fine,” I blurted out, and it took me a second to realize that I’d referred to him by his first name rather than his title of “Alpha King” As my heart throbbed in my chest from embarrassment and worry, I thought I caught a glimpse of darkness in Kane’s violet eyes, but it could very well have been my imagination. However, he merely smiled and nodded, seemingly unperturbed by the way I’d informally referred to the Alpha King. “I see. Well, I’m glad he isn’t sick. That would sure be a shame.”

Chapter 164 His chance at redemption ASHER Darkness fell as we reached the military base near the borderlands. Our journey to search for Ector Feliz was so classified that apart from myself and Silas Moses, only one guard of the Beta’s accompanied us. Normally, a mission of this caliber would have required a vehicle, but we opted not to use one to avoid attracting attention. So, instead, my brother-in-law, the guard, and I shifted into our wolf forms and ventured out of Anemond, toward the border. It took a whole day of traveling to reach the edge of Wegalla. We were so eager to carry out our mission that we didn’t pause to rest for even a moment during the journey. Each of us was well-trained and physically in shape enough to meet the demands of that kind of travel, so our wolf forms were easily able to handle an endless run. According to Silas’ intel, the military base was miles away from Ector’s place of residence. Although we were all capable wolves and could have continued running the rest of the way, we needed something in our bellies. The lieutenant commander of the base had received news of our visit beforehand and had prepared a nice feast for the King and his Bera. Goddess knew how he managed it considering how deserted the borderlands were.. While I appreciated the effort and lengths they had gone to to ensure that we were taken care of, neither Silas nor I seemed to have much of an appetite. I picked at my food politely and ate just enough to satisfy the people who’d taken the time to prepare it for us. Their time and effort were important, but I was too worried about finding Ector Felix and what it would mean for Cas sandra if it was him. I had no idea how she would react to his reappearance, but I knew this was too important of a situation to not follow through. I knew the sight of her long-lost ။။ 1/4

brother might be too much to bear, but I cared about her more than anyone else. I owed it to Cas sandra to investigate.

After we ate, we were escorted to one of the empty guest buildings on base by the lieutenant. His mood was far more chipper than mine and Silas’ and for a moment, I was a little agitated as he spoke, but I forced myself to breathe. He was merely doing his job, and I couldn’t fault him for treating us with loyalty and kindness. The plan was for us to take an hour or two to rest and then head back out. If we were fast enough, we would arrive at Ector’s place in a few hours. But as we lingered in the guest building, the lieutenant cleared his throat. “Perhaps, Your Majesty, you should get a good night’s sleep here and then continue on your journey tomorrow,” he suggested cautiously. Silas glanced at me. I simply shook my head. I hadn’t planned to waste time here, and even if we did stay on the base, I knew I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. I needed to ensure that Ector was alright, and more importantly, I needed to confirm it was really Ector after all. I had been casting this doubt aside since Silas mentioned the possibility of finding him, but what if the man wasn’t him at all? What if he was simply in possession of the Felix family badge? What then? But I couldn’t think that way. I needed to think positively. This was my chance at rédemption. We made the decision to leave an hour later. We bid the lieutenant farewell and thanked him for his generous hospitality before shifting and getting back on the road, so to speak. O 2/4

Silas took the lead, and we ran for a few hours until finally, we reached the far reaches of the borderlands. The area around us was desolate and terrible. The few trees around us were dead and I couldn’t spy a water source anywhere. This land was even more awful than I’d expected and it was a miracle anyone had survived living out here. We shifted back into our human forms, and then I stood outside the ragged wooden house while Silas checked with the guard stationed there. “How is he?” the Beta wondered, and the guard’s face grew solemn. “His condition has deteriorated greatly, Lord Beta,” he replied, his tone somber. “He’s less aggressive than the last time you were here, but physically, he is much worse off. He can’t remove himself from bed.” Silas’ gold eyes darted over to me, and it took all of my effort to remain calm. That certainly wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I couldn’t let it outwardly affect me. I needed to keep my wits about me and conduct myself like the king I was. “What would you like us to do, Your Majesty?” the Beta asked me as he smoothed his dark wavy hair from his forehead. “We should speak with him,” I decided. “I don’t want to disturb him in his weakened state, but we came all of this way. I suppose we should enter quietly as a group and evaluate what he needs. If medical intervention is necessary, we’ll need to act quickly.” “Yes, Your Majesty,” the guard replied dutifully and he offered me a bow of respect. Silas nodded. “Shall we?” I nodded back, and after I took a deep breath, I opened the door. When we entered the crude house, a rotten odor streamed forth and nearly sent me to my knees. My hand flew over my nose instinctively and my stomach turned at the scent. It was the stench of medical decay along with dirtiness and 3/4

something else. I could only assume the man had soiled himself or something, especially knowing that he couldn’t leave his bed. My heart ached. Ector or not, no one deserved that kind of fate. Silas and the guards immediately frowned and studied each other with concern. As I moved on from the odor and acclimated to our surroundings, my gaze shifted over to the bed along the back wall, and I caught sight of the man within it. His dirty face was partially obscured by locks of long, golden blond hair. Even though the tresses were sticky and greasy, the color was unmistakable. Shock traveled through me. The man appeared to be sleeping, yet his snores were interrupted by soft groans of pain. “He won’t allow anyone to clean his face or body,” the guard spoke up quietly as he fell back. “Every time someone has tried, he acts as if he’s ready to attack. My men want to help, but it’s a safety issue. We don’t know what he’s capable of.” Silas nodded. “Of course. Though there was so much I could have said, I remained silent as my brain swam with a million thoughts. Despite their warnings, I decided to approach the bed anyway. I took quiet steps so as not to wake the man up, and once I was at his bedside, I leaned in just enough to get a better look at the man. His skin was tanned from the sun exposure, but his cheeks were hollow and sunken. His body was bony and emaciated and his face was different than it had been in the old days, but when I caught sight of the birthmark on his neck, my eyes. widened and I was certain. This had to be Ector Felix.

Chapter 165 Do you want to see Cora? ASHER Just as the thought left my mind, Ector’s eyelids began to flutter, and then moments later, his eyes opened and met my gaze. His green eyes resembled Cora’s albeit murky. The whites of them were red with irritation and there was an emptiness in his stare at that tugged at my heartstrings. For a moment, I thought Ector recognized me, however, he quickly averted his stare and glanced at Silas and the guard. His eyes widened as a guttural sound rumbled in his throat. The terrible noise was panicked and angry at the same time. Ector managed to push his body in a swinging motion and sat up in bed. I instinctively took a step back and braced myself for the worst as Ector began to snarl at us. The sounds that escaped his mouth were garbled, and we couldn’t understand him until he managed to say one thing clearly. “Go!” he shouted. “Go!” When I took a step closer, Ector pressed his back against the wall and let out a gruesome shriek. I retreated and remained still so I wouldn’t scare him. “Ector, it’s me, Ash-” I started to say, but just as I was about to speak my name, Silas stepped forward and halted me. “Your identity might agitate him further,” the Beta uttered just low enough for me to hear. “After everything he’s been through, I mean. Your name might trigger some unpleasant memories for him.” Right. Of course. Silas was correct. If I mentioned that I was in fact the Asher Collins of his past, it might set off an adverse reaction and escalate the situation further. Even though I wanted nothing more than to reassure my old friend and put his 1/5 mind at ease, Ector wasn’t in the right me ntal state to handle this. So, I took a pause and stepped back.

We remained locked in this tense situation until Ector’s breath managed to steady a bit. His emaciated chest began to heave less and less until finally, he appeared calm. While his eyes were still distrustful, the severity of his gaze had lessened significantly, and I decided to try again. “Ector, I’m here because of a lady’s request,” I spoke slowly but calmly.

He didn’t seem as agitated by my words this time, so I continued on. “The lady’s name… is Cora,” I said gently.. Something seemed to come over Ector when he heard his sister’s name. He suddenly froze and his dry, cracked lips parted in surprise. “Cora?” he whispered, and when I nodded, tears burst forth from his eyes and spilled down his dirt- covered cheeks. He began to murmur her name repeatedly as he cried and stared at me as if he were a lost boy. The sight was almost enough to make me cry as well, but instead, I simply nodded and softly smiled at my old friend. “Yes, Cora,” I said. Suddenly, Ector groaned as if the name had brought him great pain. He lifted his hand as if he were reaching for something, and without thinking it through too much, I took the chance and stepped forward and grabbed his hand. Though Ector flinched at the sudden movement, he didn’t pull away. “She’s doing perfectly fine,” I assured him quietly. “And she wants to see you, Ector. She’s missed you so much.” Ector mumbled something I couldn’t quite make out and then fell quiet. Then, after a while, his lips twisted into something resembling a smile, but tears still streamed down his hollow face. He continued like this for a minute until his cries turned to so bs, and he gently pulled his hand away so he could bury his face in them. 2/5 remained crying. I waited for a second and then spoke. “Ector, would you like to see Cora?” I wondered.

Suddenly, Ector’s sounds of despair stopped, and he lifted his head from his hands. His green eyes remained locked on mine I briefly wondered if he was going to lash out again or tell me to leave. But much to my surprise, he nodded his head. “Yes,” he whispered. “Yes.” ***** Under normal circumstances, we would have shifted to wolf form and returned. to Anemond at once, but Ector’s physical condition was too poor for that. If we wanted to bring him back to the capital, a car and a healer were necessary. The guard that Silas brought with us went to make the necessary arrangements while the Beta and I took a moment outside the wooden house to catch our breath. Ector had long since drifted off into sleep. The stationed guard remarked that he had never seen him so calm while resting. Normally, a statement like that would have made me feel better, but instead, it made me feel sad. I wished so badly that Ector hadn’t had to suffer like this. Standing side by side another, Silas and I gazed at the moon. Though the A 3/5 deserted borderlands were terrible and ill-suited for life, the beauty of the sky was unmatched. With no buildings or wildlife to interrupt the view, the crescent moon was on full display and shimmered stunningly bright. “I could understand why you might prefer staying at the borders over returning to Anemond,” I remarked jestingly. “It’s tranquil here. And of course, there aren’t any complicated politics like back in the capital. Given the opportunity, I’m not so sure would ever return.” “I have no intention of shirking my responsibilities,” Silas replied, and then he glanced over at me. “I apologize for my delay in returning to Anemond, Asher. I know I was gone for a while-” “There’s no need for an apology,” I assured him with a shake of my head. grateful for you, Silas. Without you, I might never have found Ector. I have to ask though… I’m surprised by your lack of animosity towards him. In Anemond, most people believe that the Felix family were a bunch of traitors.

They were accused of attempting to kill your father, after all. So, why didn’t you kill him when you found him?” Silas took a long deep breath and then turned to face me. “I thought it was necessary to report this to my Alpha King before any decisions were made,” he noted diplomatically. “As a Beta, I understand that I don’t have the right to pass judgment on a wolf on a whim. Even if I did… I don’t know that I would want to. I value other’s lives too much to act on impulse. I don’t want to be like my father” That sentiment was surprising. The Moses’ weren’t known for their compassion, but then again, Silas was so different from his father and sister. I didn’t press the issue further. Instead, I cleared my throat and shifted the subject just slightly. “As my Beta, do you have any questions or concerns? I wondered. “About any of this?” Silas hesitated for a second. “I suppose I worry that if Ector discovered that 4/5 Cora died, he might not be able to cope with it. I know you said what you did to convince him to leave. But I worry about what might happen later on.” I I nodded thoughtfully. I wanted to tell Silas the truth, but it wasn’t my secret to reveal. Cas sandra’s real identity was hers to share and hers alone. “That’s a valid concern,” I decided to say instead. “Aside from malnutrition, hist condition is largely due to his me ntal state. He’s been through so much. But whatever comes next, I’ll handle the situation. Right now, we need to get him out of here and get him help.” Silas nodded and then we got to work and crafted a plan. We were going to move Ector to the military base for proper medical care t next day, however, if Ector strongly insisted on seeing Cora, we would return to Anemond right away. Now that I knew it was really him, I needed to speak with Cas sandra before! made any important decisions regarding his well-being.

Though I was under a lot of stress, thinking of Cas sandra brought me a sense of relief. I looked forward to seeing how she would react upon learning that her brother was alive. While she had been opening up to me more and more lately, I couldn’t help but admit that I desired her to be happier. Perhaps Ector’s return would help bring back the Cora I’d known so long ago. 575