Ch. 26..30: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 26-30

Chapter 26 Merliscire Palace

CA SSANDRA

I peered up at the clock at the front of the car. The display read noon, and despite the ride being long, it seemed like it should have been much later.

When I peered out the window, a strange feeling formed in the pit of my

stomach.

Merliscire Palace. It was just as magnificent as ever, with tall, pillars

constructed of white marble that glinted with specks of gold, a surplus of long windows, and expansive balconies that gave a beautiful view of the

perfectly-manicured grounds. The grass was a lustrous shade of emerald, and the driveways were paved in rich red brick.

At the front of the palace was an enormous gold fountain. It was in the shape of a wolf with its head raised high toward the moon. It had been crafted centuries ago and was meant to pay tribute to the Moon Goddess. The water splashed high into the air and shimmered on its way down.

Anemond may have been the source of my nightmares, but I couldn’t deny. there was something beautiful and magical about the palace.

The car pulled up the drive and stopped right at the marble stairs that led to the entrance hall. The moment I caught sight of the stairs, a memory struck me.

I remembered the first time my father had brought my brother Ector and me to the palace. Even back then, we were both awestruck by the sight of it and its luxuriousness. When we’d first stepped foot inside, Father had told us to not wander or look about, as it would be impolite, but we couldn’t resist. We’d never witnessed a beauty such as the Merliscire Palace before, and we likely never would again.

I was pulled back to reality when Finnick began to stir. His eyes blinked open slowly and then widened when he realized where we were.

“We’re here?” he breathed, and then his lips curled into a grin. His innocence

touched something deep within me, and for a moment, I felt like I was a young girl again. How I wished this place hadn’t tainted my life in the way it had, so I too could feel excited about this place.

“Yes,” I said simply, and then I helped Finnick with his seatbelt. Marco, meanwhile, couldn’t have moved faster. He undid his own seatbelt with ease and then launched himself out the door. Asher got out silently as well, and as Finnick and I climbed out of the car, I watched the young prince embrace his father.

Asher gave him a brief hug and then carefully pulled away from his son and turned to the se rvants who’d just arrived. He flashed them a stern expression, and they immediately went to the trunk and began to unload our luggage. I watched the exchange in awe. It wasn’t impolite exactly, but the scope of Asher’s power was impressive to see.

I looked around at the se rvants to see if I could recognize any of them, and yet, none looked familiar. Perhaps the Alpha King had brought in a whole new crew when he’d been coronated, or perhaps, I just couldn’t remember any of them. After all, I hadn’t visited the palace all that often in the first place, even before my father was framed. Asher had never liked meeting me at the palace, He preferred to come to me instead at Rosepetal, the mansion I’d moved to after we’d discovered we were

mates.

Asher always liked to refer to Rosepetal as “our home”

But in the end, it turned out to be my prison and the place I nearly lost my life.

When Finnick tugged at my sleeve impatiently, I pushed away my thoughts of the mansion and returned to the present.

“This is amazing, Mommy,” he whispered, and I smiled down at him.

“It is,” I agreed in an equally soft voice. “Now, stay close to me, baby. This place is big and I don’t want you to get lost.”

Finnick nodded. “Okay.”

A few minutes later, the head of the se rvants appeared and led us into the palace. Se rvants held the doors open for us, and as we crossed through and into the entryway, the weight of everything crashed over me.

We approached the marble staircase, and as I followed the se rvants and Asher, the pain of my injuries flared slightly. I hadn’t taken any medicine today, and it was definitely making things difficult. But, I pushed the pain aside and focused on my surroundings. The childlike side of me reveled in the nostalgia and wanted to see how the palace of my childhood had changed, but the more rational part of me couldn’t stop remembering the bad times.

Right here in Merliscire, Asher’s father, the former Alpha King, had sentenced my father to lifelong imprisonment and then banished my brother..

Here, the Alpha King was at his highest power and ruled over Wegalla as an absolute authority. I couldn’t let my nostalgia forget that.

“Bert, come here,” Asher summoned the head se rvant to him once we reached

the first level.

Bert was a middle-aged man with wrinkles that lined his tanned cheeks. His eyes were a deep warm brown, and his smile was kind. He approached the Alphal King dutifully and asked what he could do to assist him.

“Prepare a room at once for Healer Cas sandra and her son,” Asher commanded. “And then call the Chief Healer to my study.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Bert answered, and then after a pause, he softened his. voice. “Lady Adalyn is waiting for you, Your Majesty. She wishes to have lunch with

you.”

The Alpha King frowned for a moment and then shook his head. “Tell Lady Adalyn that I’ll need to deal with some business first. However, Marco will join her.”

He patted Marco on his shoulder. “Bert will lead you to your mother.”

“But I want to stay with you, Daddy!” Marco insisted, and he tugged on his father’s shirt.

Asher shook his head again. “No, you need to go to your mother.”

Marco didn’t want to accept this answer and started to whine. Meanwhile, Asher’s frown only deepened. His gray eyes flashed over to Bert, who understood the expression immediately.

“Come with me, Your Highness-” Bert pleaded, but Marco wasn’t having any of it. The young prince pouted, stamped his foot, and pointed at Finnick.

“If he’s going to follow you, so am I,” he declared, and his eyes shot daggers at Finnick.

I stood there in shock until I realized what was happening. There was a reason. Marco was constantly giving my son and me sour looks.

Was he jealous? Was he worried Finnick would steal his father and his attention away from him?

I was slightly amused, but at the same time, a bit worried. It was said that children could always sense something adults couldn’t. All I could do was hope that. Marco’s trait of jealousy came from his mother. Adalyn was the embodiment of jealousy and insecurity.

Footsteps on the marble suddenly rang out, and a figure approached, as if my thoughts had summoned her.

“Asher, are you here?” a sweet voice called out.

Adalyn appeared before us, clad in a red silk dress. When she reached the Alpha King, she took his hand in hers and smiled. Her brilliant amber eyes. glimmered as she gazed at Asher lovingly, but that excitement faded when she noticed me.

“Who is this?” she asked in a surprised tone. “Do we have a guest, darling?”

Chapter 27 Alpha’s study

CA SSANDRA

Adalyn’s eyes lingered on me for a while, and for a moment, I felt like prey. The royal family all seemed to have that effect. They were the predators while the rest of us were just lucky to survive.

Asher’s wife was even more beautiful than I’d ‘remembered her to be. She was tall, with deeply tanned skin, straight dark brown hair that fell to her middle back, and an angular face with high cheekbones. Her amber eyes were framed by long, dark eyelashes, and her full lips were painted a dark red to match her dress.

Those cat-like eyes stared into mine and studied me carefully. She was smiling, but there was no kindness in her gaze. A shiver traveled down my spine. There was no way for Adalyn to know my true identity, and yet, I couldn’t help but fear her.

“Yes,” Asher spoke finally. “This is Ca ssandra Keller and her son, Finnick. She is a healer from the Wild Crawler Pack.”

“The Wild Crawler Pack,” Adalyn repeated back, and her tone dripped with disgust. She was still just as snobby as I remembered her being, and she wrinkled. her nose at the mention of my Pack. “Interesting. What is she doing here?”

“I’ll explain to you later,” Asher said absently, but that answer didn’t seem to satisfy her.

pout.

“Come and join me for lunch and you can tell me all about it,” she said with a

The Alpha King shook his head. “Go ahead with Marco. I have some business to attend to.”

Adalyn was clearly unhappy with his words, but her pout faded. She straightened her posture and then nodded obediently.

“I will wait for you in your room after lunch,” she said.

I was confused by her statement. His room? Did they not share a room like a husband and wife normally do?

However, Asher’s tone and expressions toward her weren’t exactly loving. They didn’t seem like a happily wedded pair. They didn’t even have the familiar air of close friends.

Strange emotions rose from my core, but I couldn’t place them. Was I curious? Or satisfied by this realization?

“Mommy, I want to go with Daddy,” Marco whined. For a moment, I thought she’d give in to his demands, but Adalyn instead glared at her son. Marco stopped whimpering immediately and gulped. That seemed to be the end of that.

Meanwhile, Asher said nothing. He eyed Bert, who immediately disappeared down the hall after giving the Alpha King a bow of respect.

floor.

Asher then turned to me and Finnick.

“Follow me,” he commanded, and then he continued up the stairs to the next

I followed after him without question, and as we walked away, I could feel Adalyn glaring at my back. But I ignored her completely. What else could do? She was the Alpha King’s wife, after all. I had to maintain my composure here.

We continued ascending until we reached the landing on the third floor. Finnick grasped my hand and squeezed. When I looked down, his face was in awe. I smiled down at him and then turned my attention back to what was in front of us.

Ashér led us down the hall. Once we reached the end, we stopped at a set of double doors. A pair of se rvants stood on either side and after they bowed at Asher, they opened the doors for us and allowed us inside.

To my utter surprise, we were in the Alpha King’s study. Even when I’d visited he Merliscire Paace with my father, I’d never set foot there. I was always relegated

to the first floor or led by the se rvants to play in the gardens. I’d always loved the gardens. They were full of beautiful flowers and interesting plants native to Wegalla. It was my favorite part of the palace.

But the study was something else entirely. It was a confidential, secretive place, somewhere only to be entered by the Alpha King and those he trusted.

In a million years, I’d never have guessed that Asher would bring me here.

Finnick and I stepped into the room, and when we did, my jaw dropped. It was a sp acious room, larger than the lobby of the Wild Crawler Pack House. The walls, were jet black, and the floors were a deep gray marble with silver flecks. A large blackwood desk was placed near the floor-to-ceiling window, which gave a view of the grounds outside the palace. To the left was a small library. The shelves reached so high they nearly touched the ceiling, and they were arranged in a half-circle.

On the right-hand side, a coffee table and a few leather couches were arranged like it was a meeting room. It reminded me of Alpha Gareth’s, only it was more

luxurious.

“This is huge,” Finnick gasped. I was a little surprised to hear him speak. He’d remained polite and silent nearly this entire time, just as I’d told him to. But now, he was too in awe to remain silent.

“Shh,” I said quietly, and then I glanced at Asher. Luckily, the Alpha King didn’t seem to hear Finnick’s declaration. He simply wandered over to his desk and began rooting through it. I led Finnick over to the shelves as we waited and then crouched down next to him.

“You have to stay quiet, Finnick,” I whispered. “The palace is a very big place. and the Alpha King is a very busy man. He is a figure we have to respect, okay? He has plenty of things to occupy him, so we can’t waste his time.”

Finnick nodded, and his expression grew serious.

understand,” he said very maturely, and then he nodded. “I’m sorry, Mommy.”

“Don’t be sorry,” I assured him. “I know you’re excited about all of this. Truth be

told, I’m excited too. But we have to remain respectful. We’re guests of the king and need to conduct ourselves politely.”

“Yes,” Finnick agreed, and then he nodded again.

“Thank you,” I said, and I kissed the top of his head. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Mommy,” Finnick replied, and after we briefly hugged, I rose to my feet. I’d half expected Asher to be glaring at us when I turned around, but to my surprise, the Alpha King was still searching through his desk.

Finnick and I waited patiently with our hands behind our backs. I wasn’t sure what Asher was searching for, but it seemed to be of the utmost importance if it was holding his attention for this long.

Finally, he seemed to find what he needed and retrieved a small stack of papers from a drawer. He carefully laid them out on his desk, scanned them with his serious. gray eyes, and then looked up at me. Wordlessly, he rose to his feet and then. walked over to the couches. He exhaled heavily, and then seat himself in the largest

one. He took a moment and then gestured at the sofa across from him.

“Take a seat,” he addressed me. “I have a few things I wish to discuss with you

before the Chief Healer arrives.”

Chapter 28 Three months

CA SSANDRA

A lump formed in my throat in response to Asher’s words. What did the Alpha King want to talk to me about?

I forced down my fear and simply nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

I glanced down at Finnick, and my son nodded as well. He took my hand and then I led him over to the meeting area of the study. Finnick sat first, and then I took a seat to the right of him, closer to Asher. Even though I knew nothing bad would happen, I wanted to put myself in a place of protection just in case.

Moments later, a knock was heard at the doors.

“Come in,” Asher called out in a regal tone. The doors opened to reveal a pair of servants holding trays. They quickly hustled over to us, set the trays down on the large ebony coffee table, and then bowed respectfully at Asher.

“Do you require anything else at the moment, Your Majesty?” one of the se rvants, an older red-headed woman asked politely.

Asher shook his head. “Not at the moment. Leave us, please.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the pair replied in unison, and without another word, they crossed to the other side of the chamber and left.

Once the doors were closed, my eyes fell to the trays. They were laden with a beautifully painted teapot, a few cups, and two plates of cookies, some of which I recognized as Finnick’s favorites.

Beside me, I heard my son’s stomach rumble. It was around lunchtime, so it wasn’t a surprise that he was hungry.

“Please, help yourself,” Asher addressed him directly. His tone was gentle, and he gave the boy a small smile.

I was surprised by the exchange. Had the pair spoken before this moment? Or was this their first time?

Finnick stared at Asher for a moment and then shook his head. “Thank you, Sir,

but I’m not hungry.”

His stomach betrayed him yet again and let out an even louder rumble. Asher

chuckled in amusement and then leaned forward.

“They’re not poisoned, Finnick,” he said, and then his eyes darted to me. “Are you refusing because your mother told you I’m a bad guy?”

It took all of my effort to keep from gasping. Heat spread to my cheeks, and my hands began to shake at my sides. How did he know I’d said that?

I opened my mouth but no sound could escape. How could I explain myself?

Finnick’s eyes widened as well, and his cheeks flushed scarlet. He quickly looked away from Asher and focused on the marble floor.

“It’s nothing to do with my mommy,” he whispered. “I’m…, I’m just not hungry right now.”

The room fell into complete silence after that. A minute or so passed us by, and Asher spent the entirety of it watching Finnick until finally, he softened his gaze.

“Alright,” he replied. I expected him to push the issue further, but was incredibly relieved when he didn’t. “Now, as I was saying, Healer Ca ssandra…”

His voice trailed off, and then he leaned forward in his seat and rested his elbows on his legs. The muscles in his arms flexed a little at the motion, and his wavy hair fell into his face. He brushed it behind his ears and then continued to speak.

“I know you’re wondering what I want,” he began, and his tone grew far more serious than it’d been with Finnick. “It’s simple enough. I want to uncover the reason behind the dark mark on my skin.”

I nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. I understand.”

“Let me finish,” Asher interjected, and after I nodded, he continued. “Your research and subsequent treatments must remain completely confidential. You will not be allowed to tell anyone about this, or else you will face major consequences.”

I nodded again and forced back a gulp. I knew what it would mean to betray the king. I would be confined to prison for the rest of my life or worse. I couldn’t allow that to happen, not when Finnick was depending on me.

“I will be speaking with the Chief Healer soon,” the Alpha King mused. “He will appoint you to the position of Private Healer to the King. This will allow you to stay, in the palace and grant you permission to visit me frequently.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I said graciously.

Asher sat back in his seat and crossed his legs. “You will have three months to find the reason behind my illness. This should be more than enough time to complete your research and conduct treatments.”

I paused as his words sank in.

Three months?

That was a very short amount of time. Yet, it was understandable. The disease had a tendency to cause its victims to deteriorate at a rapid pace. Three months of enduring the illness would take its toll on the king.

Asher’s steel eyes stared right into my very soul, and a thought crossed my mind. He didn’t tell me what would happen after three months. What if I couldn’t find the cause of the disease? Would I be executed? Imprisoned?

And what would happen if I did find the cure? Would I be allowed to leave Anemond and return to the Wild Crawlers, where Finnick and I belonged?

Three months.

I wanted to ask him all of these questions, but I couldn’t. So, I asked the one

question I knew that would be allowed.

“Your Majesty,” I began, and I cleared my throat. “Why me?”

The Alpha King frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Why am I being entrusted to this secret?” I asked. “Shouldn’t this be a matter for the Chief Healer?”

Asher raised his chin slightly. “You don’t know much about Anemond,

Ca ssandra. And you’re wrong. I don’t trust you. I chose you because you’re a healer from Wild Crawler, where the disease has spread wildly. You know more about it than anyone else in the kingdom. Besides, the accident with Marco has proven that you’re incredibly intelligent and best suited for the job. It’s as simple as that.”

His head tilted to the side slightly as he awaited my reply, and I searched my brain for the right words to say. I didn’t know what I’d expected him to say, but I felt a pang of emotion at his response.

I hadn’t expected him to trust me completely, but there was a hidden part of me, the one that had once known him better than anyone, that wished he did. That part hoped that maybe, deep down, he might feel something for me. Not exactly love, as he’d once felt for Cora, but something that made him want to trust me.

But the rational part of my brain knew that this was for the best. I needed to shove all of my stu pid ideas and notions aside and keep my mind sharp. This wasn’t about my emotions or my desire to connect with the man I once loved. This was about my son and his safety.

I had three months to treat the Alpha King, and if I could manage to do that, maybe I could return home with Finnick and leave the nightmare of Anemond behind forever.

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.

Everything would change if I wasn’t the king, and the Moon Goddess only knew there were plenty of others who wanted to replace me.

My stepmother and stepbrother, Adalyn’s family, the malicious Northerners… they all wanted my power, and that was all. I was alone.

Ca ssandra Keller considered my answer for a moment, and then she tucked her long copper hair behind her ear and nodded.

“I see,” she said simply. “I’ll do my best, Your Majesty.”

I

“Good,” I replied, and for a moment, I continued to study her. Something about her was familiar, I just knew it.

Again, I was reminded of Cora, though I couldn’t place why. Though Ca ssandra was 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.

I looked at the boy. “How old is your son, Healer Ca ssandra?”

For a moment, the healer looked panicked, but I couldn’t figure out why. Despite her quiet nature, she was prone to fear and it made her seem suspicious.

“I’m five years old,” Finnick spoke up before she could answer, and Ca ssandra’s deep green eyes widened as if he’d said something he wasn’t supposed to.

“Yes, Finnick is five years old now, Your Majesty,” she managed. Uneasiness painted her features, and she appeared as if she wanted to run away.

What was it about this woman? Why was she so scared? Was she simply uncomfortable with me because of my station? Or was it something further?

Ca ssandra plucked one of the small teacups from 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 accepted it quietly and then filled another for herself.

I waited until they were finished and then continued with my questions.

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

I wasn’t sure what inspired me to keep pressing further, but I was still a little curious of Finnick’s eye color. Was there something in his bloodline that made the pair familiar to me?

Ca ssandra’s hand suddenly twitched, causing her teacup to crash to the ground. It shattered upon impact and the pieces flew everywhere, all over the floor. Hot liquid sprayed me, and I hissed instinctively in response.

“I’m so sorry, 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. Luckily it didn’t leave a huge mark, but my skin was a little warm.

“It’s ok

I grumbled as I dried myself off. “It was an accident.”

But something in my mind wondered how much of an accident it was. The timing of Ca ssandra dropping the cup seemed a little convenient. Had something about my question flustered her so greatly that she slipped?

One thing was for sure, Ca ssandra Keller had something to hide.

Was it a plot or some kind? An attempt to bring me harm? Or something else.

My mind didn’t want to consider the possibility, but I was also no stranger to odd plots and attempts to seize my power.

Years ago, my wicked stepmother had once tried to drag me from my crown. She’d hired a young maiden with similar features to impersonate Cora in an attempt to seduce me. She had wanted to find a way into my heart and my secrets, so she could use them against me at a later date. My stepmother had hoped that she could use the girl to infiltrate Pack meetings, but unfortunately for her, the maiden she’d hired was a lousy imitator. I’d seen right through her disguise and knew at once that she wasn’t my Cora.

Was Ca ssandra an imitator as well? Did she have a secret to hide, a reason to act so suspicious and afraid of me at all hours?

As the healer flittered about and tried to clean up her mess, I studied her son

and was surprised to find the small dark-haired boy was studying me as well. His gaze was far more intelligent than a normal boy of five years and his aura struck me as strange, familiar somehow. I couldn’t place my finger on it, but there was

something about the boy that raised my eyebrows.

Finnick’s gray eyes, a similar shade as my own, blinked at me innocently enough, but his posture was straight and polite as if he were much older than his years. His hands were folded neatly in his lap and he didn’t fidget even once.

He was nothing at all like Prince Marco. My curly-haired son was restless, attention-seeking, and had a bit of a temper issue. But not Finnick. He was calm, cool, and collected, something I admired greatly. In some ways, the young boy reminded me of myself when I was his age. I had always been the quiet one in my group of friends as well.

How could this mild-mannered boy be Ca ssandra’s son? Sure, their faces shared some similarities, but their natures seemed completely different. She shared his kindness and politeness, but the healer was constantly on edge around me.

Something more was going on.

Whatever it was, I would figure out her secret eventually.

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.

She approached Asher quickly and then bowed. “At your service, Your Majesty.”

Asher wordlessly gestured to the floor, and the maid spotted the shards immediately. She gave the Alpha King a small nod and then got to work cleaning.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologized as she dusted the floor. “My hands slipped-”

“There’s no need to apologize, miss,” the maid replied. “It’s my job to clean.”

She smiled up at me, and suddenly, realization crashed over me. This maid wasn’t just any maid.

She was Erika.

My former nanny.

My mother had died when I was young, and 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.

Eriká had meant the world to me.

But after my father had been imprisoned and my brother had been banished, the house of my family had been sealed up. Erika had been dismissed and forced to leave. I’d wanted to hire her as my private maid in Rosepetal, but back then, the Beta’s family, along with the others in court, wanted the Alpha King to execute me.

Asher was doing his best to clear my father’s name, 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.

I hadn’t seen Erika in five years, but her smile was just as sweet as always.

She was older now, and her dark blonde hair was streaked with a few grays, but her hazel eyes were brighter than ever.

I wanted to talk 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 it would all be okay.

But Erika didn’t know me now. I wasn’t Cora anymore.

Besides, she wouldn’t recognize me anyway, and even if she did, things weren’t safe. So, I pushed my sadness down and just smiled back.

“Thank you,” I said simply. Erika nodded and then continued cleaning. Once she was done, she turned to the Alpha King who gestured for her to leave. Erika bowed once and then left the chamber.

Just as she left, another 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 royal crest on it.

“Your Majesty,” he greeted the Alpha King respectfully.

“Welcome,” Asher replied, and then he turned to me. “This is the Chief Healer, Marten. Marten, this is Ca ssandra Keller, the healer from the Wild Crawler Pack.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Marten addressed me politely.

smiled. “You as well, sir.”

“Mrs. Keller, I must speak with Marten privately,” Asher said. “You’re welcome to leave us now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I replied, and I turned to Finnick. “Let’s go, sweetheart.”

“Okay, 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 I didn’t realize I’d been holding.”

That encounter had been messy, and I was relieved for it to be over.

I led Finnick down the hall and once we reached the stairs, I nearly froze in

place. Adalyn 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 an

eyebrow at me.

I nodded at her once and attempted to walk past, but she didn’t let me go that easily.

“Cas sandra Keller,” Adalyn sneered, and she crossed her arms against her chest. “That’s your name, isn’t it? What were you discussing with my husband?”

“Nothing, My Lady,” I addressed her politely, and her cheeks flushed scarlet.

“How dare you speak to me like that?” she demanded. “You must tell me at once. You’re obliged to follow my orders.”

The situation was serious, but I wanted to laugh. She hadn’t changed a bit after all of these years. Cora would have laughed in her face, but I wasn’t that woman anymore. Cora was long gone, and I was no longer in a position of power.

“I obey the King’s orders, My Lady,” I said instead, and Adalyn seethed.

“How dare you!” she shouted. “You… bumpkin!”

It was clear that Marco had inherited her disposition. Adalyn’s hands curled into fists at her side, and for a moment, I thought this would turn to violence. But she managed to collect herself and take a breath. She hated a scene and besides, it for her to conduct herself that way to the Alpha King’s guest.

Wast

“We’ll see about that,” she said, and then she turned on her heel and strode

away. When she disappeared down the hall, a tiny laugh rose from my chest. I hadn’t expected Adalyn to act this way. I assumed she was more clever, but she

was still prone to such anger…

“What’s so funny, Mommy?” Finnick asked. His eyebrows furrowed, and his lips parted slightly in confusion.

“Nothing, my love,” I insisted.

“That lady looked horrible,” Finnick whispered, and I wanted to laugh again.

“You’re right, darling,” I said, and then I took his hand and began to walk down the stairs.

“I don’t like her,” he added, and this time, I grinned.

“Me either.”

But as much as I wanted to keep laughing, I couldn’t allow myself. Adalyn was simple, but she was capable of all kinds of evil. I couldn’t underestimate her, not for a second. If she wanted something, she would go after it, so I needed to stay sharp.