Chapter 34 CHAPTER 34
Butterflies stirred restlessly in Cindy’s stomach as she stood inside Pauline’s café, trying to steady her breathing. She wasn’t sure if the tightness in her chest came from excitement or fear - maybe both. Beside her, Isabel leaned against the counter, pretending to be relaxed but clearly fighting her own nerves.
The morning light spilled across the windows, painting the worn tabletops in gold. The smell of roasted beans, sugar, and memories filled the air.
“So this is it,” Pauline said, trying to sound brisk and failing halfway through. “My favorite troublemakers abandoning me.”
Alina sniffed and handed Cindy a napkin like it was a ceremonial offering. “You could at least pretend to cry, Cindy. I feel silly being the only one leaking.”
Cindy laughed softly, hugging the younger girl. “If I start crying, I won’t stop.”
Pauline reached across the counter and pulled both girls into a fierce embrace. “You saved my kitchen, Cindy. It was only for a day, but I’m grateful. Who knew my humble café would end up being the center of such an emotional reunion?” Her gaze softened toward Isabel. “And you, stop worrying about me, you little owl. Go see the world. You’ve earned more than late-night shifts and broken coffee machines.”
Isabel’s smile wobbled. “You’ll miss my company though.”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Pauline said, then cleared her throat quickly as Ethan and Liam appeared at the doorway.
Their presence shifted the room instantly. The tall Lycan king looked both out of place and perfectly natural amid the smell of pastries and chatter. Even dressed in simple traveling clothes, there was something unmissably regal about him.
“Sir,” Pauline began, dipping her head awkwardly. “Thank you for waiting. They were saying their goodbyes.”
Ethan’s expression was warm. “You’ve taken care of them when I could not. That’s something I’ll never forget.”
Pauline straightened. “Just take care of them now. Both of them.”
“I will,” Ethan promised. “I’ve searched a long time for Lisa…” he paused, correcting himself gently, “for Cindy…and I won’t fail her again.”
Pauline nodded once, blinking hard. “Then I suppose I can let them go.”
Outside, two sleek black SUVs waited, engines humming softly. The city traffic drifted by, unaware that royalty stood on its sidewalks. Liam opened the rear door while Ethan lingered a moment to shake Pauline’s hand.
“Thank you,” he said again, with the gravity of a vow. “And when time allows, I’ll bring them to visit.”
“You’d better,” Pauline said, folding her arms with mock sternness. “I expect postcards, or at least gossip.”
Isabel giggled and wiped her eyes. “Of course!”
Ethan’s lips curved. “I’ll see to it.”
Cindy looked back once more before stepping into the car. Alina was waving both hands now, hair catching the sunlight like threads of fire. Pauline stood beside her, apron fluttering in the breeze, brave smile refusing to break.
The moment felt like the end of one life and the uncertain beginning of another.
As the convoy pulled away from the curb, the café grew smaller in the rear-view mirror until it was only a blur of color and memory. Cindy pressed a hand against the window, whispering, “Goodbye.”
“Don’t look so tragic,” Isabel murmured beside her. “You’re going to be a princess. I, on the other hand, am going to be eaten by wolves.”
Cindy turned sharply. “Isabel!”
“What?” Isabel grinned. “It’s a legitimate concern.”
From the front seat, Liam chuckled under his breath, while Ethan gave a patient sigh. “You’ll be quite safe, young lady. We don’t eat guests.”
“Good to know,” Isabel said, leaning back with exaggerated relief. “Because I forgot to pack pepper.”
Even Cindy laughed, tension easing from her shoulders. She glanced at Ethan, who was watching the city slide past with quiet thoughtfulness. His profile, calm and strong, reminded her of everything she still didn’t understand -royalty, power, destiny.
“Your Highness,” Isabel whispered dramatically, elbowing her. “Do you prefer ‘Your Grace’ or ‘Your Shiny-Majesty-of-the-Moonlight’?”
Cindy groaned. “Stop it.”
Ethan turned slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Actually, she’ll need an official title soon. There will be a coronation ceremony to introduce her formally to the Lycan Court.”
Cindy’s mouth fell open. “A what?”
“A ceremony,” Ethan said easily. “Tradition demands it. We’ll keep it simple.”
“Simple?” Isabel echoed. “Crowns? Trumpets? People bowing? Sounds so simple.”
Ethan smiled faintly. “She has a lot to learn. Training, protocol, history -it will all come back to her, I’m sure. You both have much ahead of you.”
The humor in the car faded into a thoughtful quiet. The city streets gave way to open highways, then to winding country roads. Buildings thinned, replaced by stretches of green and the steady rhythm of the tires against gravel.
Cindy rested her head against the seat, watching the horizon unfold. Every mile carried her farther from everything she’d known -the Hales, Silverpine, Pauline’s café - and closer to something vast and unnamed.
“Do you think they’ll like me?” she asked quietly.
Ethan turned, his voice gentle. “They already do. They’ve waited for this day far longer than you can imagine. The people are good, Cindy. You’ll see that soon.”
She nodded, unsure whether to believe him, and looked at Isabel, who was humming some off-key tune and pretending not to notice the weight of the moment.
For a while, the car was filled only with the hum of the engine and the occasional chirp from Liam’s communicator. The landscape outside changed again - rolling hills, silver streams, the faint shimmer of mist over pine trees.
Finally, Ethan leaned forward. “We’re leaving the human territories now,” he said quietly. “From here, everything belongs to the Lycan realm.”
Cindy looked out. The air seemed to shift - the colors sharper, the scents richer. Power thrummed invisibly beneath the earth, alive and ancient.
“Feels different,” Isabel murmured.
“It is,” Ethan said. “You’re crossing into old magic.”
They drove on. The road curved through dense woodland and then opened suddenly to a breathtaking view: a sprawling valley, sunlight glinting off towers of stone and silver roofs. A great house stood at its heart- old, majestic, surrounded by gardens and smaller homes that dotted the slopes like a village wrapped around its king.
Cindy’s breath caught. “That’s… that’s where we’re going?”
Ethan nodded. “Home.”
Isabel blinked. “You mean that whole thing? The giant-castle-that-could-fit-five-cafés?”
Liam’s laugh filled the car. “Welcome to the Court, ladies.”
Cindy couldn’t answer. She only stared as the convoy began its descent into the valley, guards appearing along the road like silent shadows. As the gates opened, people bowed, murmuring greetings she didn’t yet understand.
Her palms were cold, her heart racing. She wasn’t ready for this world - but maybe she never would be.
The car passed under the great archway, and for the first time since leaving the city, Cindy whispered a single thought meant only for Lisa.
I hope we belong here.
Yeah. Me too. Lisa answered back, nervously.