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.”

“That would be wonderful,” I said with a smile, and then I joined her and Finnick
over at the small table in the corner of the room. Erika was always so kind and
attentive to everyone and their happiness.

She poured me a hot cup of tea, and when the jasmine-scented air filled my
nose, I let out a contented sigh.

“Someone I knew long ago loved jasmine tea too,” Erika remarked with a small
smile.

My stomach suddenly turned and a lump formed in my throat. But I managed to
stay calm.

“Oh?” I tried to say in a casual manner.

Erika nodded. “Yes. It was her favorite tea. I prepared it for her nearly every day. I
miss her dearly.”

“Who... who was she?” I wondered though I knew the answer.

The maid got a strange look on her face, almost as if she was going to cry. “A
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 fact.”

“What happened to her?” I asked quietly.

Erika’s lower lip trembled and her warm eyes grew apologetic, like she was
embarrassed to be sharing something so personal. I leaned forward and placed
my hand on her arm.

“You don't have to tell me-" I started to say, but Erika shook her head.

“It's okay, Ca ssandra,” she assured me. “I don’t mind. It's just sad, that’s all. The
poor girl got caught up in some trouble and then... well... she perished in that
horrible fire.”

The sight of my old nanny tearing up tugged at my heartstrings. I wanted to
reveal myself right away, but I knew it wasn’t safe. Yet I couldn't help but ask
more questions.

“Are you referring to Cora Felix?” I whispered and Erika blinked at me with
surprise.

“Yes,” she said, and then she frowned in confusion. “How do 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 know her name-"

“I heard it from others,” I spoke before she could continue questioning me. “Back
when it happened, I mean. It was all anyone could talk about those days.”

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

“I didn’t,” I replied. The sight of the maid so upset 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 gentleman and played
with his crane.

“Can I ask you a question?” I asked her, and when she nodded, I continued. “You
seem sad about her passing, but from the way others spoke about her... wasn't
she a terrible person? I heard awful things about her wanting to use the king to
save her guilty family.”

Erika shook her head and her gray-streaked blonde hair 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 for her own gain. Besides, sweet Cora loved the king too
much. to ever use him for her own gain. No matter what they say, I don’t believe
the rumors for a second.”

This time, I had to turn away to keep Erika from seeing the tears that started to
spill down my cheeks. My tough exterior was cracking. I wanted to tell Erika
everything. I wanted to scream out that I was Cora Felix and that I loved her just
as much now as I did back then. I wanted the woman to hug me as she’d done in
the old days.

But I couldn't.

So, I took a deep breath and turned back around. My nails dug into my palms at
my sides until I decided to try the tea. Perhaps the jasmine flowers would help
calm my nerves.

“Mommy, why are you sad?” Finnick asked quietly, and he gently tugged on my
sleeve.

I searched my mind quickly for an excuse.

“I... I'm just moved, sweetheart,” I explained after I took a sip of tea. “Cora Felix's
story... it's rather sad. I'm not sure that I believe she was guilty either.”

“Really?” Erika whispered, and when I nodded, she finally smiled again.

“Really,” I confirmed, and then I turned to Finnick. “What about you, Finnick?
What do you think?”

Finnick considered the idea. I could practically see the gears within his mind
turning as he searched his brain for an answer. He set his crane down on the
table and then faced me directly.

“I would believe her,” he said thoughtfully.

“You would?” I asked.

Finnick nodded. “Dominic told me once that it's important to believe the people
you trust and cherish no matter what.”

“That's wise advice,” I agreed, and then I leaned over and kissed Finnick’s head.
“You're such a kind soul, Finnick.”

“Both of you are,” Erika remarked, and then she smiled warmly at us. We didn’t
say anything more after that, but something in my soul felt better than it had in
years.