Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

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?”
“Alittle 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