Chapter 69: A drive into the market

Alyssa jerked awake with a loud gasp, her eyes darting wildly around the room. Her chest heaved as she clutched the sheets and sat up. Another nightmare. It was just another nightmare.

Soft sunlight streamed through the curtains in pale golden ribbons. Dorian wasn’t in the room. He must have drawn the drapes to block out the bright lights before slipping out, protecting her sleep.

She got out of bed quickly, rushing through a cold shower to snap her mind back to reality and wash away the lingering terror of the dream. The image of the black wolf hung like a storm cloud over her mind, and she refused to let a sequence of bad dreams ruin this precious week with Dorian.

Changing into a soft, peach-colored sundress, she stood before the vanity mirror and brushed out her hair. Then she swept the thick strands into a low bun, applied some lip gloss, and forced a bright smile at her reflection.

Perfect. I look normal, and certainly not like someone battling the terrifying, vivid PTSD of a repressed memory.

She padded downstairs, where the rich, savory scent of cooking told her Mary was already bustling around the kitchen.

"Good morning, Mary," she greeted cheerfully as she entered.

Mary looked up from the vegetables she was chopping on the island block, her eyes instantly lighting up the moment she saw Alyssa.

"Good morning, Luna. I trust your night went well?"

"It did. And yours?" Alyssa offered warmly as she slid onto a high barstool.

"It certainly did, Luna."

"Where’s Dorian?"

"The Alpha had to leave quite early for an urgent meeting with Alpha Cole. He asked me to tell you he would return before noon."

"Oh," Alyssa murmured, a small prick of disappointment hitting her chest. She glanced at the clock above the hallway. It was just past 8:00 AM. "How early did he leave?"

"About two hours ago," Mary said gently, sensing her mood. "It was a pressing matter, Luna. Otherwise, he never would have dreamed of leaving your side."

Alyssa forced down her anxiety, reminding herself of Dorian’s responsibilities. She knew his duty as the Alpha King demanded most of his time, even if he tried all he could to always be around her.

She wasn’t going to let his absence weigh her down. She wanted to be the wife who understood, the Luna who supported her Alpha without complaint.

"I’m sure he’ll be back soon," she said, clearing her throat. "What about your husband?"

"Alden made a quick trip into town to stock up on groceries for the week. If you’d like, after we finish breakfast, we could take a drive into the central marketplace ourselves."

Alyssa’s blue eyes brightened instantly. "I would love that. But what about Dorian? What if he returns and finds us gone?"

"I’ll give him a call before we leave, Luna. You don’t have to worry about a thing."

Alyssa nodded happily, leaning over the counter to watch the older woman work. She offered to assist with the cooking, but Mary kindly declined.

The two of them fell into an easy, comfortable chatter, the warmth between them mirroring the familiar dynamic of a mother and daughter sharing a kitchen.

By the time breakfast was served, Alyssa was laughing genuinely at the mild, dry jokes Mary shared. She learned that Mary and Alden had a grown daughter who was happily married with twin boys.

Mary promised to bring the toddlers over for a visit during the week, provided the Alpha approved.

Alyssa rushed through her meal, thoroughly savoring the sharp spiciness of the grilled chicken, the fresh salad, and the stir-fried pasta. But as she ate, she remained completely oblivious to the way Mary was discreetly observing her.

Mary noted the brilliant, rosy flush high on Alyssa’s cheeks, her ravenous appetite, and the subtle, soft roundness blooming along her breasts and hips. More than that, her sharp wolf senses picked up a particular scent only a mother could decipher–the scent of new life.

Alyssa had to be pregnant. A week or two, at most.

She almost blurted the realization out right then and there, but stopped herself. It wasn’t her place. Besides, if the young Luna didn’t even realize she was carrying a child yet, such a monumental revelation deserved to be a private surprise between her and the Alpha.

After breakfast, Mary locked up the villa. As they walked out, Alyssa noticed the sleek black G-Wagon was still parked in the paved driveway, causing her to blink in confusion.

"Dorian didn’t take the car?"

Mary shook her head with a warm smile. "The Alpha left in another vehicle, Luna. He specifically left this one behind to ensure you had comfortable transport into town if you wished to leave."

How thoughtful, Alyssa thought, a warm swell of affection blooming in her chest. Even in the middle of a high-stakes, urgent pack crisis, Dorian never forgot to prioritize her comfort.

While Mary stood near the vehicle dialing their chauffeur’s number, Alyssa walked toward the left perimeter of the lawn, directly toward the dense treeline where she had seen the smoke-shrouded wolf in her dream.

In the bright light of day, the shrubs felt far less ominous.

She stood there for a quiet moment, trying to decipher the lingering puzzle of her dreams, until Mary’s voice called out to her. The chauffeur had arrived.

But as she pivoted to head back toward the driveway, the hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end. That familiar, deep buzzing sound from her nightmare was back. And this time, she could feel it physically vibrating against her flesh, making her skin prickle and raise goosebumps.

Then came the sensation of being watched, the exact sensation she had felt at the docks the previous evening.

She turned around fully, her eyes narrowing into slits as she scanned the dense thickets and towering palm trees surrounding the villa.

She saw nothing but rustling leaves, yet the sensation remained fixed on her. Someone, or something, was watching her.

"Is something wrong, Luna?" Mary called out from the driveway, her tone shifting to one of mild concern.

The sound of Mary’s voice snapped Alyssa out of the trance. The vibration ceased. The feeling vanished into thin air.

Suddenly feeling uneasy, Alyssa turned on her heel and hurried across the gravel to join Mary in the safety of the vehicle.

...

The continent’s central marketplace was a beehive of chaotic activity. The air was thick with the scent of spices and a tangy blend of sweaty bodies.

Rowdy sellers bantered loudly, and merchants yelled out competitive prices to the ocean of passing customers. There had to be more than a hundred stalls, packed to the brim with an assortment of foreign goods.

Alyssa stayed glued to Mary’s side as they navigated the dense, moving crowd. Two guards followed a few paces behind them, close enough for protection, but far enough to give the women breathing room.

Alyssa’s eyes were wide and round with awe. She had never experienced a bustling market like this before. Back in the southern pack, Ingrid had always locked her inside the basement whenever she went into town, keeping her hidden away like a shameful secret.

She looked eagerly around at the vibrant stalls, blushing softly whenever friendly shop owners called out compliments to her.

As they walked, she realized with a start that Ashgard wasn’t merely home to werewolves and pureblood Lycans. Mary subtly pointed out practicing witches, foreign sorcerers, and even a few vampires lurking quietly in the shadows of the stone awnings.

Alyssa was stunned speechless.

And then, right in the center of the bustling crowd, the sensation of being watched returned.

She whirled around, looking past the imposing frames of her guards and into the sea of faces. For a fleeting second, she caught the distinct outline of a figure clad in a black cloak, staring directly at her.

But a split second later, a group of tall customers walked past, and the figure vanished into the crowd.

Alyssa slowly forced her eyes away, pushing the paranoia deep down. We are in a public marketplace, for the Goddess’s sake, she reasoned with herself. Of course people are staring.

But the moment she and Mary stopped beside a brightly decorated stall to admire some intricate, handmade jewelry, the prickling sensation returned with a vengeance.

​This time, when she whirled around, she clearly caught the cloaked figure stepping backward into a narrow, shadowed alleyway to avoid her line of sight. Her heart skipped a violent beat. There was no denying it anymore. They were being followed.

She turned sharply to Mary, her lips parting to alert the older woman. But Mary had just spotted an old friend in the crowd and eagerly rushed a few steps away to embrace her.

Alyssa was left standing alone by the jewelry display, feeling awkward. The guards were still behind her, providing a wall of security.

She cast another wary glance back toward the dark alleyway; the cloaked figure was gone.

Exhaling a tight breath, she turned away to follow after Mary, pushing her way through the shifting crowd and murmuring quick apologies whenever she accidentally stepped on the toes of passing shoppers.

She finally managed to close the distance, reaching her hand out toward the fabric of Mary’s sleeve...

Suddenly, a pair of powerful hands clamped over her mouth from behind, dragging her backward and yanking her straight into a dim side alley.