Chapter 15: The Last Princess

The silver pendant trembled in Lyra’s hand.

Its crescent moon wrapped around a royal crown shimmered under the morning sunlight, casting tiny beams of silver across the wooden floor.

Arnold stared at it, unable to hide his shock.

“No…”

He whispered.

“It can’t be.”

Lyra looked at him with trembling eyes.

“You know this pendant?”

Arnold slowly nodded.

“I’ve only seen it once.”

“When I was a child.”

He reached out, but stopped just before touching it.

“This pendant belonged only to the royal family of Lunaris.”

The room fell silent.

Lyra shook her head.

“That’s impossible.”

“I’ve worn it my whole life.”

“I thought it was just… an old necklace.”

Arnold looked into her frightened eyes.

“It isn’t.”

“It’s proof of who you are.”

Lyra stepped back.

“No.”

She shook her head repeatedly.

“I’m not a princess.”

“I’m just a servant.”

“I clean floors.”

“I wash dishes.”

“I’ve never ruled anyone.”

Arnold’s voice softened.

“That wasn’t your choice.”

She looked away.

“My parents died.”

“I don’t even remember their faces.”

Arnold sighed.

“I think…”

“You remember more than you realize.”

He gently pointed toward the pendant.

“The vision.”

“The palace.”

“The woman.”

“They weren’t dreams.”

“They were memories.”

Lyra’s knees weakened.

Everything she believed about herself was beginning to crumble.

Outside the cottage…

Karl stood silently beneath a large oak tree.

He had come intending to speak with Lyra.

To apologize.

To explain.

But as he approached the cottage, he heard Arnold’s words through the open window.

“The royal family of Lunaris.”

Karl’s heart skipped.

Lunaris?

He frowned.

Why would Arnold tell Lyra such a story?

His wolf stirred uneasily.

Listen.

Karl remained hidden.

Inside…

Arnold walked toward the fireplace.

“There is something I’ve never told anyone.”

Lyra looked at him.

“I wasn’t born in Moonhaven.”

“I was born in Lunaris.”

Her eyes widened.

“You were?”

Arnold nodded.

“My father served as captain of the Royal Guard.”

“He died protecting the palace.”

“My mother escaped with me.”

His voice grew heavy.

“I was only nine years old.”

“I remember the fire.”

“The screams.”

“The betrayal.”

“The blood.”

He closed his eyes.

“I swore that if anyone from the royal family had survived…”

“I would protect them.”

He slowly turned toward Lyra.

“I just never imagined…”

“…that person would be you.”

Tears filled Lyra’s eyes.

She didn’t know whether to believe him.

Everything sounded impossible.

Yet…

The vision.

The pendant.

The glowing mark.

It all fit together.

Suddenly

Knock! Knock!

Both of them froze.

Arnold instinctively rested a hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Who is it?”

A familiar voice answered.

“It’s me.”

Karl.

Lyra’s heart tightened.

Arnold opened the door only halfway.

Karl stood outside alone.

No warriors.

No weapons drawn.

Only exhaustion filled his silver eyes.

“I need to speak with Lyra.”

Arnold didn’t move.

“About what?”

Karl met his gaze.

“Alone.”

Arnold looked back at Lyra.

The decision was hers.

Lyra hesitated before taking a slow step forward.

“It’s alright.”

Arnold studied Karl for a long moment.

“If she asks you to leave…”

“You leave.”

Karl nodded once.

“I understand.”

Arnold quietly walked outside, closing the door behind him.

An awkward silence filled the cottage.

Karl looked around.

The small home was simple.

Fresh flowers decorated the table.

A warm fire burned in the hearth.

For the first time…

He realized Lyra looked more at peace here than she ever had at Blackwood Manor.

His chest tightened.

“I…”

He struggled to find the words.

“I came to apologize.”

Lyra remained silent.

Karl lowered his eyes.

“I should have defended you.”

“When Selena humiliated you…”

“I did nothing.”

“When the rogues attacked…”

“My words hurt you.”

He swallowed hard.

“I was wrong.”

Lyra stared at him.

This was the proud Alpha who had never apologized to anyone.

Now…

He couldn’t even meet her eyes.

“You rejected me.”

Her voice was quiet.

“But that isn’t what broke me.”

Karl slowly looked up.

“What broke me…”

“…was believing that I wasn’t worth protecting.”

Her words struck him like a blade.

“I spent years trying to earn a place in your pack.”

“I worked until my hands bled.”

“I smiled through every insult.”

“I accepted every punishment.”

“But the night I needed someone…”

“You chose silence.”

Karl felt his throat tighten.

There was no excuse.

No explanation that could erase what he had done.

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

“This time…”

“I truly mean it.”

Lyra’s eyes glistened.

“I forgive you, Karl.”

Hope flickered across his face.

But then she continued.

“…because carrying hatred will only destroy me.”

His hope faded.

“Forgiveness…”

She took a slow breath.

“…doesn’t mean I can trust you again.”

Silence settled between them.

Karl closed his eyes.

He had expected those words.

Yet hearing them still hurt.

Before either of them could speak again

A deafening horn echoed across Moonhaven.

BWAHHH!

The sound rolled through the valley.

Then another.

And another.

Outside, villagers began shouting.

“The western gate!”

“We’re under attack!”

Arnold burst through the cottage door.

His expression was grave.

“The Blood Hunters are back.”

Before anyone could react, a frightened guard ran into the doorway.

“Arnold!”

“There are hundreds of them this time!”

“And…”

His voice trembled.

“They’ve brought a Lycan.”

The room fell silent.

Arnold’s golden eyes narrowed.

“A Lycan?”

The guard nodded fearfully.

“He says…”

“…he has come to claim the Princess of Lunaris.”