Chapter 65 CHAPTER 65
Dinner was served in the long hall, and the golden light from the chandeliers fell over the table where Ethan, Liam, Lisa, Celine, and Isabel sat together. The servants moved quietly around them, placing dishes of roasted meat, fresh vegetables, and warm bread on the table.
The girls had spent the entire afternoon in the city, and their energy still clung to them like perfume. Bags and boxes filled with their shopping were stacked inside Lisa’s and Isabel’s bedroom after spending the whole afternoon trying to unbox them all to no avail. Lisa was still musing at the mountain of stuff piled on her bed and whether or not it was the right thing spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a single shopping spree. Exactly how rich was her family to afford all that without flinching? Celine used to be used to the spoilt life but this was unfamiliar to Lisa.
She remembered her life at Silverpine and how she had envied her younger sister every time she went shopping with her mother and came back carrying bags of new clothes. Lisa had survived on hand me downs from her mother – worn out clothes that she had to mend continuously before they could become good enough to wear. Now she was having more clothes than she could wear in one lifetime – expensive designer clothes.
She smiled as she imagined the look on her adoptive family’s faces if they saw the kind of clothes she was wearing right now. They could die out of jealousy.
Ethan noticed the smile on Lisa’s face. Something told him it was about the visit to the city.
“You three look like you bought the whole city,” he teased.
Celine flipped her hair dramatically. “We did not buy the whole city. Only the beautiful parts.”
Isabel giggled, nearly choking on her juice. Lisa shook her head softly. “We bought too much. I don’t even know when we’ll wear half of those clothes. But they were pretty and we couldn’t resist. I’m sorry.” She gave Ethan an apologetic look.
“Stop apologising to him,” Celine said, pointing a playful finger at her. “He might be king but you are also royalty. You were denied this life for too long. Now you take it and enjoy it.”
Ethan smiled at the way Lisa lowered her gaze, shy but touched. Liam watched her too, a small tug of affection in his eyes.
They began eating, and Ethan asked, “How were Pauline and Alina? It’s a shame we didn’t get to see them.” He said looking at Liam who nodded in agreement.
Lisa nodded. “They were so happy to see us. We took them gifts, and Pauline almost cried.”
“That sounds like her,” Ethan said with a soft fondness. “I’m glad you went.”
The table filled with small talk and laughter, but Lisa’s eyes kept drifting between Ethan and Liam. Something in the way the two men spoke - too controlled, too measured - made her chest tighten. They were hiding something. She felt it in the quiet spaces of their smiles.
She turned inward, seeking Celia.
“Celia… did Rex tell you anything? About what Ethan is hiding?”
Celia hesitated.
“I asked him. He won’t tell me either.”
“Why?” Lisa pressed.
“Because he thinks if I know, I’ll tell you. And if you know… you might panic.”
Lisa’s stomach tightened.
“Try asking him again. Or try reaching inside his mind and see if you can find out what they are hiding.”
“Lisa,” Celia murmured gently, “he’s my older brother. When he doesn’t want to talk, he’ll just block me. I can’t see what he’s thinking.”
Lisa returned to the dinner table disappointed, the laughter around her suddenly sounding far away.
Before she could drown in her worries, Celine broke the calm like a crack of thunder.
“So,” she said loudly, stabbing a piece of roasted potato, “are you going to tell us what you were doing at Celestine’s temple today, or should I guess?”
Ethan froze for half a second.
Liam coughed sharply.
Ethan lifted a brow, calm but careful. “We were just checking in with Celestine. You know… asking about the fate of the kingdom. And my mother.”
Celine squinted at him. “That is the worst lie you have told since you were ten.”
Liam set his fork down and glared. “Celine, you do not speak to the king that way.”
She blinked dramatically. “Oh, so now I am having dinner with the king and the commander instead of my brother and my friend? Wonderful.”
Isabel burst out laughing. Even Lisa couldn’t hold hers in.
Liam scowled. “It’s the same person, Celine.”
“Yes,” she said, lifting her chin. “But the version of him that scolds me at the dinner table is annoying.”
Ethan rolled his eyes. “At least you’re consistent.”
Celine made a dramatic sigh and sank back into her chair. “Today has been embarrassing. First the priestess, now this dinner. I am losing my dignity faster than I can blink.”
Ethan leaned forward. “What did Celestine say, hmm? Did you fall in love with someone during your dance competition abroad? A foreigner? Someone mysterious?”
Celine went bright red.
Lisa covered her mouth.
Isabel nearly fell off her chair.
Ethan kept going, oblivious. “Is he from the human world? Or maybe from another pack? Tell us…”
Celine stood so fast her chair scraped the floor. “I am NOT talking about it!”
She stormed out of the dining room, cheeks flaming.
Silence hung for a second before everyone burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Except Ethan, who blinked and asked, “What did I say?”
Lisa wiped tears from her eyes. “You truly don’t know?”
“No! What…. why did she run off?”
Isabel leaned toward him and whispered loudly, “She likes you, Ethan.”
Ethan froze.
Liam groaned. “Finally someone said it.”
Before Lisa could tease further, Celia surged forward inside her mind.
Her voice shook.
“Lisa… something is wrong.”
Lisa’s breath caught.
“Celia? What is it?”
“I went to the wolves’ realm,” Celia said, her voice trembling like cold wind.
“I found him there.”
Lisa felt her blood chill.
“Him? Who….”
“Our mate. He is not okay, something is wrong with him.”
Lisa’s heart slammed against her ribs.
“What...? Is he alive?”
“Barely,” Celia whispered. “He is lying on the ground. He can’t stand. He can’t shift. He can’t eat. He is fading, Lisa. I think he came to the realm because he feels like he is dying.”
The world drained of sound.
Her spoon slipped from her fingers.
Her breath trembled.
Across the table, Ethan looked up, confused by the sudden fear in her eyes.