Alpha’s Hybrid Cinderella – Chapter 19

On something that might have been a lot more than a whim, I brought a small store of banshee weed just in case. I hadn’t asked how long we would be staying on Dark Moon territory, but I didn’t want Evan to coincidentally have a bad spat of nightmares with no way to deal with them. The recent rains would drown the banshee weed under puddles, making them hard to find, so bringing the ones I’d already picked with me was the only other option.

I’d made the right choice. When we got off the train, the rain had picked up again, and there were new ponds everywhere along the rolling terrain that would have made herb-picking impossible.

There was also an entire crowd waiting to receive us when we arrived. I was so stunned I didn’t know how to react at the enthusiasm everyone greeted us with. Dark Moon territory residents hated humans and hybrids, and yet here they were, hiding it so they could greet Evan and me with deference due to a king.

.

r man stood front and center to greet Evan. He saluted him in full uniform, back straigh

k. Osborn, this is Claudia.”

ake your acquainta

y didn’t he let me?)

ty revealed his true inner thoughts once more:

as short as she is.)

ith Osborn than those like Flicka and Elly and Maria, at least.

”

t pack, Claudia. I entrusted someone from my own side to take over

talk… I can introduce myself if he would just allow it.)

dership capability in him that had never been present in Alpha Kris, who had always been notoriously lazy and irresponsible. Scarlet pack or Dark Moon, it didn’t matter: what werewolves needed was a proactive leader, and Osborn would do a much better job than his predecessor. A little talkative in his head, though

me things,” Evan told me. “Peelle is getting off from the next car. Why don’t you show him around until I’m done here?

n cue, Peelle jogged up to us and flashed a grin at me. But

an nodded at him,

t to notice.

***

ew hours later after I showed him through the nearest portion of the city. “But D

his head.

dicinal gardens that Evan had also taken over. Rare plants and herbs grew here, protected as valuables. Before, I’d never gotten close enough to see them for myself, so it was the first time seeing some of them for both of us. I was so caught up i

in your herbology courses,” Peelle said approvingly inste

ing in school.”

n and me. Good to get a well-rounded education, you know.”

ed Scarlet University for a year or two, or something like that. You must have considered a major. Or may

e question as he racked his brain for an excuse.

hospitality major. She’ll laugh her ears off when she compared it to what I do now.)

d maybe it wasn’t too late, though he was a pack fighter and soldier serving under Evan so loyally. Maybe in the future when it wasn’t necessary, and he could pursue what he really wanted…

back to university and enrolled in the hospitality program. I just get that feeling from you.”

n, it took all I had to keep from bursting into lau

***

nshee weed from the corner plot before we left at Peelle’s assurance that I had full permission to take what I wished. It was strange to think that just weeks ago, I would have been beaten for even asking to com

new privileges crossed my mind, but I was so overwhelmed and off-kilter by the abrupt change that I shelved it for later consideration. I needed to get used to this first.

waved

er a few days of his absence, and chatting with him had made the hours fly by. Even exploring the city didn’t feel so daunting with him by my side, although some passing werewolves shot me unfriendly looks that were too fast for Peelle to catch.

time.

***

ining room, something that both embarrassed me and made me laugh.

, and he raised an eyebrow at the smile I gave him. I couldn’t wait to tell him about what we’d found at the restricted gardens. Maybe I could even suggest returning every once in a while to check on their progress. I still hated the idea of returning to D

lly.

wouldn’t last.

n the length of it, and Osborn took advantage of the brief lull to direct a private mind-link thought to Evan. I caught it, of co

executed?)

utterly unfeeling:

(No need.)