Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 38 Believe the ones you trust

CA SSANDRA

“Mommy, look! Erika taught me how to make a paper crane!”

When I entered our bedroom, Finnick came charging toward me, his little arms extended out in front of him. His normally serious gray eyes were wide with excitement and his lips were curled into a happy grin.

He presented me with the little crane and I held out my hand to accept it. He set it there gently and then looked up at me with glee.

“Wow, baby!” I exclaimed with genuine excitement. “This is incredible. You did such a great job!”

“Thanks, Mommy!” he replied, and then I turned to Erika.

“Thank you,” I mouthed, and the maid winked back at me. Her warm eyes were friendly as she smiled and for a moment, I remembered what it was like to know her as a child. She’d taught me the same thing when I was young and the tiny crane in my hands reminded me of happier times.

A week had passed since the viper had attacked Asher in the garden. These days, I returned to my quarters earlier than I did before. The Alpha King/repeatedly dismissed me sooner than expected due to Pack business he was reportedly busy with, but I had the sense that there was more to it than that.

There was definitely some awkwardness between us after what had happened. that night. Neither of us had acknowledged it, but I didn’t mind. I was relieved to not address/our actions or face his questions at all.

Besides, getting dismissed from the Alpha King’s study early meant I got to spend more time with Finnick and Erika before she finished her hours for the day.

Requesting Erika’s care had been risky, but at the end of the day, I didn’t regret

it at all. Finnick adored the maid more than anyone here in the palace, and it was nice to have her around, even if she didn’t know my true identity.

“Would you care for some tea, Ca ssandra?” Erika asked me as I closed the door. behind me, and she gestured at me with a teapot. “I’ve just brewed some. It’s nice

and hot.”

over at the small table in the corner of the room. Erika was always so kind

tea, and when the jasmine-scented air filled my nose, I let

I knew long ago loved jasmine tea too,” Erika

smile.

formed in my throat. But I managed to stay

tried to say in

was her favorite tea. I prepared it for her

she?” I wondered though

young woman, not much older than yourself. She was like a daughter to me. But her name is unspeakable here in Merliscire. In all of Anemond, in

her?” I asked quietly.

and her warm eyes grew apologetic, like she was embarrassed to be sharing something so personal. I leaned forward and placed my hand on

tell me-” I started to say,

assured me. “I don’t mind. It’s just sad, that’s all. The poor

my old nanny tearing up tugged at my heartstrings. I wanted to reveal myself

I whispered

you know about her? Aren’t you from the Wild Crawler Pack? The one that’s at the very edge of the Wegalla border? I’m surprised you’d

“Back when it happened, I mean. It was all anyone could

was,” Erika agreed quietly, and then she dropped her head in sorrow. “They didn’t ever find her body. Did

was nearly enough to bring me to tears but I held them back. Beside me, Finnick seemed confused, but he didn’t ask any questions. He simply sipped at his tea like a polite

and when she nodded, I continued. “You seem sad about her passing, but from the way others spoke about her… wasn’t she a

flared around her. “No, those were just terrible rumors. The Felix family, they were never evil, and neither was Cora. Her family never would commit a crime and she would never try to manipulate the king

scream out that I was Cora Felix and that I loved her just as much now as

But I couldn’t.