Chapter 162


    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 Wega, there


    was likely something to handle with the military, especially with Ss’ 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 exined 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. Thest thing I need is for you to get into something while I’m away.”


    “I’m a tough girl,” I assured him yfully. “I’ll be able to handle myself.”


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    “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 upying 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 littleter 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


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    least.


    Finally, after a few hours, Becky arrived, and after we gave her a warm wee, 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 theb, 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 tough.


    “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 theb, tucked it into my medical kit, and once it was secure, I headed


    out of the clinic and toward the pce dungeon.


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