The Alpha's Stolen Luna - Chapter 105: Chapter 105

: Sutton
“Enough,” Max ordered.
I stepped back a few paces, breathing heavily after our sparing session. I put my hands on my knees, leaning over as I worked to catch my breath. We were only on the second day of training. I felt a bit ridiculous but Max kept assuring me I was doing well.
“Good, Luna,” Max said through his own labored breathing. “You’re a natural.”
“It’ll be easier once I’ve healed,” I said, taking the water he offered. “I’ll be able to move better without worrying about reopening wounds.”
“You’re still doing just fine,” Max said. “Take a rest. I need to go check in with the others.”
I nodded. Max headed inside and I went to sit under the oak tree next to Jack. I offered him the bottle of water. I leaned against the trunk of the three and looked out over the yard, admiring the work I had put into it. It was thriving. Even without me here to tend it. Lucas must have had someone come in after we left to dispose of the wolfsbane I had brought in. Whoever it was replaced them with an array of equally beautiful purple blooms.
“You said you did all of this back here?” Jack commented.
“I did,” I replied.
Jack looked around. He leaned back to look up at the tree we sat under. I followed his gaze. Admiring the abundance of foliage that had come in during my absence. It was a good tree. I’d actually made it the centerpiece of the yard. Every flowerbed, every adornment, converged onto this point. I was quite proud of the design.
“My grandpa would say this is a good climbing tree,” Jack said reminiscently.
“Yeah? I thought that too,” I replied. “We had a good climbing tree when I was little. Before we moved to the city. My father even built us a treehouse.”
“A treehouse?” Jack asked, looking back up through the branches. “This could be a good tree for a treehouse.”
“You know, I thought the same thing,” I replied, nudging him with my shoulder.
“Luna Sutton,” Max’s voice floated back to us, “we have a visitor.”
Coming out of the house behind Max was Ambassador Soloman. I pushed off the ground to go and meet them.
“Ambassador Soloman,” I greeted. “This is an unexpected surprise.”
“Yes, I suppose it is,” he said, taking my hand affectionately. “I came to see how you were faring.”
“In my temporary exile, you mean?” I teased.
“I don’t think Alpha Lucas would appreciate the term,” Soloman replied.
“Jack, why don’t you come and help me inside,” Max called. “We’ll give you two some space.”
Max took Jack into the house while I led Soloman to the sunroom, where we’d be more comfortable.
“So, Ambassador, I know you didn’t come all this way just to make sure I was alright,” I said. “Lucas would be more than capable of providing that information. So, what really brings you out here? Have you found any more information about my parents?”
“No, I haven’t,” he said. “It is still a mystery to me. But Delta Hunter is hopeful that they can reach whatever information Alpha Anders has from your mother soon enough.”
“That’s good,” I replied. Silence fell for a moment. I took a sip of water before speaking again. “I’ve been wanting to ask… the princes… Princess Leanetta… you knew her, didn’t you?”
Soloman smiled gently. “I did,” he replied. “Very well, in fact. We were quite close.”
“You loved her?” I questioned, catching the tone with which he spoke of her.
“As an uncle, yes,” he assured me. “King Osric and I grew up together. He is a good friend. Leanetta was quite the precocious child. She and Raphe were always getting into mischief. But Netta could always talk her way out of it. She had her father wrapped around her finger, that one.”
“I have a sister like that,” I said with a laugh. “My youngest sister, Helene. My father still dotes on her the most. Not that anyone can blame him.”
“I met Helene,” Soloman said. “Briefly. She was very kind.”
“She is,” I said. “Do they remind you of the princess too? Like I do?”
“Not as much, no,” he said. “You really are the spitting image of her.”
“What about the other family?” I asked. “Lucas said there was extended family that fled after the princess’ death. I thought it was odd that you couldn’t identify my mother from her photos. Unless she’s a more distant relative than you suspect.”
Soloman’s grinned briefly before becoming more serious. “You really are very clever, Luna,” he said. “The truth is, I don’t believe you are so distant a relation as I implied. Please forgive the deception. Alpha Lucas is not exactly open to exploring the likeliest possibility without solid proof first.”
“What are you saying, Ambassador?”
“Please, call me Soloman,” he instructed. “And I’m saying I believe your mother was Princess Leanetta.”
My heart started to race. “But you… you said the pictures didn’t look like her.”
“That was true,” Soloman said. “But it wouldn’t be a surprise for her to change her appearance. The one thing that I can’t figure out is her eyes. You have Leanetta’s eyes. Like yours, they were two different colors. When I spoke to your father, he stated she didn’t wear any corrective lenses. So, I can’t explain that change. Can you?”
“No, I mean… she was just my mother,” I said. “I was a kid. I don’t think I would have noticed anything that would seem unusual.”
Soloman nodded. “Of course,” he replied. “But that is something that hinders any claim you would have.”
“Claim?” I retorted. “I don’t want any claim on anything. I just want to live my life. To be with Lucas…”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Soloman urged. “Forgive my wording, but…
Max burst into the room, interrupting Soloman.
“Get inside, Luna,” he demanded. “We’ve got company.”