Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

ASHER

Chapter 29 Her secret

Why did I trust Cas sandra Keller?

That was a great question. But I was completely surprised when the healer asked it, and even more surprised when I realized her question had a point.

I hadn’t told anyone about my ailment apart from Lancel. My most trusted guard had been attempting to investigate the mark for me, but it hadn’t been going well. Besides him, no one else knew I had the disease. Not the royal healers or even Adalyn.

So, why was I willing to entrust this secret to a healer from a mostly forgotten

Pack on the border?

In all honesty, I didn’t know why, but something in my gut told me she could be trusted. When I’d shown her my mark back in Alpha Gareth’s meeting room, I hadn’t thought about it twice. Trusting her felt natural as if she were someone I’d known for years.

But in reality, it was unnatural, strange even.

Why would I trust a village healer?

So, I reached into my mind and crafted an answer for Ca ssandra Keller that seemed passable. I told her it was nothing, just a calculated choice. I hated to lie, but I needed to do so to cover for myself.

My father, the late Alpha King, once told me that the king should trust no one. I’d never believed him until I myself became king and realized that Anemond was full of traitors and liars who sought to sway me in their favor. They smiled at me and treated me favorably, but their reasons for doing so only came down to one thing.

Power.

only knew there were plenty of others who wanted to replace

and stepbrother, Adalyn’s family, the malicious Northerners… they all

moment, and then she

she said simply. “I’ll

I

replied, and for a moment, I continued to study her. Something about her was familiar, I

impossibly lovely as well, they looked nothing alike. They had completely different faces and their demeanors were entirely different. Cora was lively and outgoing, while Ca ssandra was calm and thoughtful. Still, there was something there that made me like Ca ssandra, along with her son.

“How old is your son, Healer Ca

figure out why. Despite her quiet nature,

years old,” Finnick spoke up before she could answer, and Ca ssandra’s deep green

Uneasiness painted her features, and she appeared as if she wanted to run away.

woman? Why was she so scared? Was she simply uncomfortable with me because

the silver tray and then carefully picked up the teapot. She streamed steaming hot tea into her cup and then gently set the teapot back down. She passed the cup down to Finnick, who

until they were finished and then continued

father have gray eyes, Ca ssandra?” I wondered. “Or perhaps your husband? Emmett, you said his name was?

further, but I was still a little curious of Finnick’s eye color. Was

ground. It shattered upon impact and the pieces flew everywhere, all over the floor.

Your Majesty!” she apologized profusely, and her big eyes flashed in horror. She rose to her feet in a flash and started collecting the shards from the floor. Meanwhile, I reached forward, grabbed a napkin, and began to dab at my shirt.

“It’s ok

myself

dropping the cup seemed a little convenient. Had something about my question flustered her so

ssandra Keller