A Return to Happiness (The True Luna Series Book 1)

Chapter 6

Lily

The scenery in front of me is breathtaking but also confusing. In what Mason said as the Princess Seraphina’s room, sits on top of a plush carpet, the most gorgeous young lady I have ever seen. She was laughing while playfully tickling an equally cute little girl which I assume was Princess Seraphina when we arrived. The young lady, is she the princess’ nanny? But then, why am I here?

“Where’s my princess?” Mason says, rather loud but in a happy, cheerful tone. He hunkers down in front of the door with arms open wide. The young lady and the princess look up when they hear his voice and immediately running towards him, laughing the whole time. The princess hops into his embrace and the young lady hugs him too. Now they all laugh together. Mason kisses the princess’ cheek, making the young lady pout while offering her cheek to be kissed as well. Which Mason obliges. Now they all laugh again, happily so.

Oh-oh, what is this? I thought, utterly confused. Is the young lady his mate? Oh, Moon Goddess, I can’t help but think that she might just way out of his league. Don’t give me wrong, my boy is very handsome. But this woman, she’s fit for a king, or at the very least an Alpha. Her beauty is unparalleled and she seems genuinely sweet. What a treasure. What is she doing with my son? And how come he told me that he didn’t have a mate yet when we talked last night? Oh, Moon Goddess, I hope that Mason don’t just play her for a fool.

The young woman suddenly stops laughing when she realizes that they were not alone. She looks at me rather shyly but then she smiles. Her smile is so incredibly mesmerizing it takes my breath away. “Hello,” she says with a melodic voice. “Are you Mason’s mom, the new nanny?”

I nod, and smile back. “Well, I am Mason’s mom,” I answer. “Hopefully, also the new nanny. I’m Lily Mills.”

The young woman now pays all her attention to me while Princess Seraphina stays in Mason’s embrace, examining me with curious eyes. “Mrs. Mills,” the young woman says. “Pleasure to meet you. I can’t believe you’re Mason’s mother, how old were you when you had him? Ten? You look young enough to be his lover.”

I laugh at her sweet compliment. “Thank you,” I say.

“And you are so graceful and elegant. So, beyond lovely, I’m so envious.”

Now I’m genuinely bewildered. Has this woman ever seen a mirror? She was envious of me? A creature this define was envious of me? Yeah, definitely has never seen a mirror. “You’re lovely yourself,” I say. “Incredibly so.”

Now the young woman beams. She seems delighted to hear my compliment, she even claps. “I’m Daisy,” she says. When I extend my hand to shake hers, she pulls me in for a hug. Her hug is warm and her body smells heavenly. “And this, is Seraphina.”

Interesting, Daisy didn’t call Princess Seraphina, princess, just Seraphina. That’s odd. I give Seraphina a playful wink before hopping closer like a bunny rabbit, my movement makes the cute princess giggle. “Hey, Princess Seraphina,” I say, making a note to not be so bold and call her just Seraphina.

Princess Seraphina scoots a little closer to me before shyly says, “Hey.”

I smile, loving her already. Princess Seraphina looks like a wonderful little girl. She doesn’t seem to be difficult at all, I hope I can really get the job. I feel sad thinking of her having to grow up without a mother and with everchanging nannies, instead. If I got the job, her happiness would be my priority. Moira and Mason are grown up, they don’t need me anymore, and I don’t have a husband. But if I get the job, what about Daisy?

Somehow, both Mason and Daisy can feel my confusion because now they both laugh. Damn! I hate it every time I wear my heart on my sleeve. “Daisy is Luna Queen Theresa’s little sister,” Mason says. “Princess Seraphina’s aunt.”

And that explains it. Of course, Daisy is ravishing, she is an Alpha’s daughter after all. Luna Queen Theresa too was beautiful, if I remember correctly. When Alpha King Wolfe took her as his Luna, I was deep in my grief of losing my husband, I didn’t come to the celebration. I saw her pictures here and there over the years, but I was never keen on paying attention to anything aside from my own sorrow. Moira was eighteen and immediately left for college, Mason was my only reason to live. I woke up in the morning and took care of the house solely for him. When he became eighteen two years after and left the house, I departed to the Red River Pack to join my brother. Life then started to get better. A year after that I heard that Luna Queen Theresa died giving birth to the princess. I was sad for the King but knew that there was nothing I could do to help.

“The truth is, I’ve been persuading Boone to not look for a nanny anymore,” Daisy says. “I would love nothing more than taking care of my own niece. I love her very much, she’s my own flesh and blood. But Boone said no. He didn’t want me to sacrifice my youth for Seraphina. He said he wanted me to experience the world, stay in school and all. Now I’m glad that he didn’t listen to me. I really like you, Mrs. Mills. I hope we can be friends.”

I smile. What she said was so heartwarming, this girl is a Godsent. “I’d love to be your friend too, Daisy,” I say. “Are you still in school now?” I ask.

Daisy nods. “Yes, I’ve been studying online since Theresa died. Boone didn’t like it, though. He was so adamant that I go and see the world. Sometimes, I sense that he feels guilty that I’m here taking care of Seraphina instead of spreading my wings and experience life.”

Makes sense. Boone, whoops, wrong. Boone to her, Alpha King Wolfe to me, sounds like he cares for her very much. And why not? The girl is his sister-in-law, and she’s incredibly lovely. In every sense of the word. A girl fits for the King. I heard rumor here and there that the Alpha King Wolfe has not been interested in taking a new Luna, yet. Could it be because he was waiting until Daisy got a bit older? This exquisite perfection in front of me would be just right for him, she already loved his daughter with all her heart.

***

Boone

The journey home has been impossible. Moira acted as if I cheated on her. She made me defend my action for hiring her mother. Which kind of confusing for two reasons: One, I would’ve thought that she would be happy, ecstatic even! I’m hiring her own mother, for Moon Goddess’ sake. And two, I’m the King. I answer to no one.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I made the chauffeur stop the car before mind linking my Gamma who was at the car behind us to change position with Moira. Then I asked Moira to go to the other car and stay there the whole journey home. She refused, of course. I had no other choice but to talk to her using my Alpha’s voice. It cowered her. She bowed down low and hurried to leave the royal car. My Alpha’s voice has always been intimidating to everybody in my kingdom and beyond, even my Luna. It cowers them. I don’t always enjoy the effect it has on people, therefore, most of the time, I use it tactfully.

Lately, though, Moira has been a bit indelicate. I don’t like it one bit, maybe it’s time I have a talk with her. I really respect her father, the national hero, but I don’t want it to go to her head. She’s nothing but a secretary to me. She needs to understand that she’s easily replaceable, just like all the nannies she’s been hiring.

Once the car drives again, I slum on my chair. My Gamma laughs out loud. Yep, this guy has been my friend since we were babies, just like my Beta. Those two can become a bit brash at times, but whatever. They’ve always got my back. I trust them with my life.

“Shut it,” I give him a warning. “I’m beat. Let me nap for a while, you good?”

“Yep,” Victor, my Gamma answers. “Go ahead, man. I’ll guard.”

I close my eyes and somehow manage not to open them again until we almost reach the palace gate. The smell of flowers permeates the air nicely, intoxicating me a little. Home sweet home. Victor tells me that Moira mind linked him earlier, telling him that she wouldn’t go immediately to the palace. She had an errand to run. I nod absentmindedly, really could do without Moira for the rest of today. I just want to spend the rest of my day with my sweet little daughter and Daisy. Daisy, I really do love her, like a sister more than anything. She’s so pure, like the first set of snow.

If Camellia continues to deny me, could I, should I think of Daisy? She’s just as lovely as Camellia. Oh, but she’s way too young. I would hate to rob her from the opportunity to find her fated mate. To find love, to be loved. Wholly. That was why I kept on asking her to see the world, to spread her wings. Her true mate is somewhere out there, how can she find him if she stays lock up inside my palace? She even goes to college online for Moon Goddess’ sake!

As the car gets even closer to my palace the sweet smell of flowers intoxicates me even more. I feel like lying, if not floating on top of fresh green grass surrounded by spring flowers in a meadow. What a feeling. I can’t remember the last time I experienced such a feeling. Probably never. Yep, more like never. I shake my head and find my Beta waiting for me in front of the palace entry, hands on pockets, a lazy grin on face.

“Dude,” I greet the guy as soon as I got out of the car, Victor was close behind me. “All good, I take it?”

“As you can see,” Beta Bradley answers, casually he adds, “Nothing burnt.”

“Yep,” I say. “Nothing burnt, good job.” Then I inhale deeply. “Don’t you love the smell of spring rain?”

Beta Bradley and Gamma Victor exchange a look. “Well,” Beta Bradley say, finding the opportunity to become a smartass. “I do. In the spring. August, however, is considered as summer. Plus, it hasn’t been raining for days now.”

“Semantics,” I say, waving his comments off. I walk to the entrance and find myself smiling when I see Daisy running towards my embrace. I catch her, we both laugh. Aww, it is really good to be home. I kiss her cheeks then pinch her nose. She giggles. Then I see a huge vase of fresh flowers in the middle of the foyer. Like always. I take a deep breath again, filling my lungs with the sensual smell of the beautiful spring flowers.

“Lilies,” I say, walking towards the vase, inhaling it greedily.

Now my Beta, my Gamma, and Daisy look at each other. “That’s…,” Daisy says, bewildered. “Sunflowers.”

Now I stare at Daisy, as bewildered. “Huh,” I say. “Could’ve fooled me.”

My Beta is now giving my Gamma an accusatory look. “What happened?” he demanded.

My Gamma is now giving my Beta a puzzled look. “Damn if I know,” he answers. “But the King was sleeping almost the whole journey. Maybe he was drugged.”

“Don’t be silly,” I say. “I was not drugged.” I do have to admit that something is happening with my olfactory. It’s playing tricks with my mind. “Ah,” I exclaim. “Lemon cake, my favorite! Is that what the chef baked for dessert? I’m too excited to wait for dinner. Daisy, sweetheart, be a dear and persuade the chef to give me just a slice, will you? I promise it won’t ruin my dinner.”

Now Daisy looks nervous. “I don’t think the chef baked lemon cake,” she whispers to Beta Bradley. “I believe he made carrot cake.”

Beta Bradley stares at me, studying, scrutinizing. “What?” I ask, not too nicely. “Do you miss me or something? Love me too much?”

He laughs lightly. “Why don’t you go to your room and freshen up, shower or something,” he suggests. “I’ll come to your room with your cake.”

I actually don’t like to be told what to do, I’m the King here. I tell people what to do. But his suggestions make sense. I feel kind of road-dirty, I could use some freshening up. “Alright, dude,” I say. “Don’t forget my lemon cake.”

“Don’t worry,” he says. “I won’t.”

***