Chapter 28 CHAPTER 28
Cindy sat across from Ethan and Liam at the private table, her trembling hands clasped tightly in her lap. The shock of what had just happened. The sudden connection, the inexplicable pull toward a man she’d never met,still buzzed under her skin. Her heart hadn’t stopped racing since he called her Lisa.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. “I need to understand something,” she began, her tone a mix of fear and curiosity. “What are we? I know wolves, everyone in Silverpine is, but Lisa and I… we’re different. You’re the first I’ve ever sensed who feels like us.” Her gaze shifted from Ethan to Liam, her golden eyes flickering faintly under the light. “And how did Lisa know I’m your sister? Why do you call me Lisa, and her, Celia? Who are you?”
The questions tumbled out of her in a rush, one after another, without giving Ethan time to answer. Her voice trembled, not from weakness, but from a lifetime of questions that had finally found somewhere to land.
Ethan exhaled slowly. His gaze softened as he looked at her, not as a king, but as a brother who had spent half his life searching for a ghost. “My name is Ethan Ashvale,” he said quietly. “And this…” he nodded toward the man beside him “…is my childhood friend and senior guard, Liam. You were just a baby when we were separated, Lisa. You were taken during the witch raids… the night our kingdom fell.”
Cindy blinked, her throat tightening. “Lisa…” she echoed, her voice barely a whisper.
Ethan nodded gently. “Your real name is Princess Lisa Ashvale, daughter of King Roderic and Queen Elyra of the Lycan Court.” His expression darkened, a shadow crossing his features. “That night, our father died protecting us. I was only ten. I saw the witches take our mother, and you, before the fire consumed the palace.”
He paused, swallowing hard before continuing. “I’ve been searching for you ever since, sister. Even when everyone told me to stop. The Moon Goddess priestess, Celestine, she told me never to give up. That one day, my blood would find its way back to me.”
Cindy listened in silence, her mind spinning. “Lycan,” she repeated softly, testing the word. “I’ve heard that name before, but I thought Lycans were myths.”
Liam gave a faint, respectful smile. “Most wolves do. They think of us as stories to frighten pups at night. But Lycans are real, stronger, older, closer to the Moon herself than ordinary wolves. You and the wolf inside you… Celia… you carry royal blood.”
Cindy’s fingers tightened around her knees. “That explains why Lisa was different,” she murmured. “When my wolf first appeared, she didn’t act like the others in Silverpine. She was calmer, wiser… older somehow. I asked her to hide because I was already different enough without showing a wolf that didn’t belong.”
Her eyes lifted to Ethan’s. “Then what happened, after… after we were taken? To you… to the kingdom…I mean.”
Ethan smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “ It was as if it was haunted,” he said simply. “ But we rebuilt everything – slowly. As for me, I was raised by the High Council. They trained me to rule, to lead our people, to fight the witches who destroyed our home. But even as I became king, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our mother and you were still alive. Celestine confirmed it, she said she could feel your spirit through the bond.”
Cindy’s eyes glistened. “I don’t remember any of that,” she whispered. “The first memory I have is with the Hales. The couple that found me and adopted me. I only remember being Cindy Hale.”
Ethan’s expression softened. “It’s understandable, you were barely two years old when it happened. I doubt you remember anything.”
Ethan leaned forward, his expression pained but tender. “How was your childhood?” he asked quietly. “After you were found?”
Cindy swallowed hard, her throat suddenly tight. “I was found in the forest near Silverpine,” she said slowly. “By a couple, the Hales. They weren’t perfect, but they took me in, named me Cindy Hale. They had another daughter, a few years younger.”
Ethan’s eyes softened. “Did they treat you well?”
She hesitated, her expression unreadable. “They gave me food and a roof over my head,” she said finally. “They saved me when I couldn’t save myself. That’s enough for me.”
He studied her face, sensing the guarded truth beneath her words, but chose not to press.
“How did you end up in the city?” Liam asked after a moment. “Silverpine is far from here.”
Cindy offered a faint, evasive smile. “That’s a long story,” she said. “And not one I’m ready to tell.”
Ethan didn’t press. Neither did Liam. They could feel the weight behind her words, the pain she wasn’t ready to share.
Instead, Cindy looked up again. “So, how exactly do you know I’m your sister? Other than Lisa…Celia, recognizing you. You could be wrong. She could be wrong.”
Ethan smiled faintly. “Yesterday, Celestine told me my blood was near. Hours later, Liam walked into Pauline’s café and sensed a Lycan aura stronger than any he’d felt in years. You were there. That’s no coincidence.”
Cindy frowned slightly. “And you trust this priestess that much?”
“With my life,” Ethan said without hesitation. “She’s guided me since I took the throne. She’s never been wrong.”
A thoughtful silence fell over them. Then Ethan added softly, “I’d like to take you to her, if you’re willing. Celestine will tell you more than I can about our parents, about what happened that night. And maybe, she can help you remember.”
Cindy nodded slowly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “I’d like that,” she said. “If she knows the truth, I want to hear it.”
“Then it’s settled,” Ethan said, rising to his feet. “her temple is just around the corner. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see you.”
Liam stood as well, ever alert. “I’ll alert the other guards.”
Cindy took one last sip of the water Pauline had brought them earlier, her hands finally steady. As they walked out, she turned toward the counter. Pauline and Alina were both staring, mouths slightly open.
“I’ll be back soon,” Cindy said with a sheepish smile. “There’s something I need to do.”
Pauline blinked. “Of course, dear… take your time.”
As soon as the door closed behind them, Alina leaned closer to Pauline, whispering, “What just happened? Did we just hire a princess to be our chef?”
Pauline exhaled, still staring at the door. “Apparently… yes.”