Chapter Twelve - The Princess They Seek
667 Words
The healer's cabin was in ruins.
The front door lay splintered across the floor, glass from the shattered windows glittered in the moonlight, and overturned furniture was scattered everywhere.
No one spoke.
Every Blackthorn warrior stared at the frightened omega standing in Kael's arms.
Luna's entire body trembled.
She wasn't crying.
She looked... terrified.
Kael gently rested his hand on the back of her head.
"You're safe."
Her breathing slowly steadied as she buried her face against his chest.
The room watched in silence.
Even Damon had never seen his Alpha look so protective.
After several moments, Luna realized everyone was looking at her.
She quickly stepped back.
"I-I'm sorry..."
Kael sighed quietly.
"You have nothing to apologize for."
She nodded, though the habit was impossible to break.
---
Marcus knelt beside one of the broken windows.
"They didn't come to kill."
"No," Kael replied.
"They came for Luna."
Elara looked at Luna with concern.
"They called her... Princess."
The room fell silent.
Luna frowned.
"I don't understand."
"I've never been a princess."
Rosie tugged gently on Luna's sleeve.
"They were scary."
Luna immediately knelt beside the little girl.
"I'm sorry you got frightened."
Rosie threw her tiny arms around Luna's neck.
"It wasn't your fault."
Luna froze.
Those words...
They sounded so simple.
Yet no one had ever said them to her before.
She hugged Rosie back carefully.
---
Outside, warriors searched every inch of the village.
Not a single attacker remained.
It was as though they had vanished into the forest itself.
Marcus returned an hour later.
"Nothing."
Kael crossed his arms.
"They knew exactly when to leave."
"They're trained."
"Very."
Damon looked uneasy.
"They also knew where Luna was staying."
Someone had told them.
Or...
Someone had been watching.
---
Later that night, Kael called an emergency council meeting.
Only his most trusted wolves were present.
Marcus spread a map across the table.
"These attackers weren't rogues."
"No."
"They moved like soldiers."
Kael nodded.
"They were disciplined."
Damon leaned forward.
"And they knew Luna."
Kael looked toward the fireplace.
"No."
"They knew about her."
The difference mattered.
If they truly knew Luna...
They wouldn't have called her Princess as though reminding her.
They expected her not to remember.
That thought unsettled him.
---
Meanwhile...
Luna sat awake in her room.
Sleep felt impossible.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the hooded man's golden eyes.
"Come with us, Princess."
Why had he called her that?
She had never been anyone important.
She was an orphan.
Wasn't she?
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Luna?"
Kael.
She opened the door.
He carried two mugs of warm tea.
"I thought you might still be awake."
She gave a small nod.
"I couldn't sleep."
"Neither could I."
They sat together on the balcony overlooking the quiet village.
For a while, they simply watched the stars.
Finally, Luna spoke.
"...Do you think they mistook me for someone else?"
Kael answered honestly.
"I don't know."
"I've never met them."
"I know."
She stared into her tea.
"I don't remember much before I was six."
He looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
"My parents died."
She swallowed.
"After that..."
"My memories become blurry."
She frowned.
"I don't even remember where we lived before Ashwood."
Kael remained silent.
She wasn't lying.
He could hear it in her heartbeat.
"What if..."
She hesitated.
"What if they were telling the truth?"
He met her eyes.
"Then we'll find the truth."
"We?"
A faint smile crossed his face.
"I told you."
"You don't face things alone anymore."
For the first time that night...
Luna believed him.
---
Far away...
Deep beneath the mountains...
The hooded leader removed his cloak.
An older man stood waiting beside an ancient stone table.
"Report."
"We found her."
"And?"
"She remembers nothing."
The old man's expression darkened.
"That won't last."
He looked toward a faded tapestry bearing the symbol of a silver moon.
"The Moonblood heir has awakened."
He smiled coldly.
"And soon..."
"So will the kingdom."
- Writer
