Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 30 Reunion with her nanny

CA SSANDRA

I could only blame myself for my own carelessness. Finnick’s eyes. Why hadn’t I found a better excuse for their coloring, and why had I let myself tense up so much when the Alpha King had inquired about them?

I should have been more prepared, more calm… but everything about Asher Collins’ presence set every nerve in my body on fire. I was a deer, cornered by his steel-like gaze.

I couldn’t even keep my grip on a simple teacup. When it shattered all over the floor of the king’s study, I found myself wishing I’d shattered with it to avoid the embarrassment of facing him.

“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty!” I cried, and then I lept to my feet and started collecting the pieces from the floor. All the while, my forehead broke out in sweat, and heat spread through my cheeks. This was beyond mortifying.

“It’s okay,” Asher muttered as I cleaned around the room. “It was an accident.”

Yet, his tone said otherwise. I’d made a huge mistake. I’d broken palace property and probably burned the Alpha King’s skin with my carelessness.

“You don’t need to do that, Healer Ca ssandra,” Asher said as he dabbed at his shirt. “A s rvant will sort that out.”

I rose to my feet instantly and then bowed my head.

I

“My apologies,” I said quietly. I set the shards down on an empty part of the table and then brushed my hands on my trousers before I sat back down. Beside me, Finnick looked flabbergasted, and I couldn’t blame him. I wasn’t conducting myself properly at all, and I hoped he wasn’t too embarrassed by my actions.

“Are you okay, Mommy?” he whispered, and I nodded my head and patted him

on the shoulder.

Asher sighed and then stood and walked over to his desk. He reached into a drawer and retrieved a bell. He rang it three times and then replaced it in the drawer. Once he was finished, he sat back down on the leather sofa and crossed his

legs.

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter another word the doors to the study opened, and a maid entered the room.

approached Asher quickly and then bowed. “At

spotted the shards immediately. She gave the Alpha King

sorry,” I apologized as she dusted the floor. “My hands

miss,” the maid replied.

suddenly, realization crashed over me. This maid wasn’t just any

She was Erika.

My former nanny.

my father had been a busy Ga mma in the king’s service, so, he hired a nanny to look after me and my brother Ector while he was away working. Erika was a perfect match for us. She was kind-hearted and caring, and we loved her as if she was another member of the family. When we grew up, Erika remained one of our maids.

the

forced to leave. I’d wanted

but it was of no use. I couldn’t let Erika get involved in the mess. She was too kind and dear to me to risk. getting hurt.

hadn’t seen Erika in five years, but her smile was just as

older now, and her dark blonde hair was streaked with a few

to her, cry with her. I hadn’t been able to share my sorrow with anyone after my father’s death. I knew Erika would have understood and offered me. a shoulder to lean on. She would soothe me and tell me that

me now. I wasn’t Cora anymore.

she wouldn’t recognize me anyway, and even if she did, things weren’t

nodded and then continued cleaning. Once she was done, she turned to the

person walked in. He was an extremely tall man with long auburn hair, a thick beard, and an incredibly freckled complexion. His eyes were as black as coal, but they weren’t unkind. He wore soft gray pants, at button-down shirt, and a pin with the

greeted the Alpha King

Healer, Marten. Marten, this is Ca ssandra Keller, the healer

you,” Marten addressed me politely.

“You as

Marten privately,” Asher said. “You’re welcome

and I

Mommy,” Finnick said happily, and I helped him off of the sofa. We quietly walked out of the study, and once we passed through the double doors, I released the breath

encounter had been messy, and I was relieved

and once we reached

stood at the staircase, and her beautiful face had a strange expression on it. She stared me down with her amber eyes and then raised

eyebrow at me.

nodded at her once and attempted to walk past,