Ella

I’m staring at Sinclair in utter shock, wishing I could unhear his words.

“You’re saying my father is King Xavier?” I gape, the joy of the last hour vanishing. “The king who died without an heir, triggering your father's campaign against Damon? The one who killed my mother?”

“We don’t know for sure that he killed my mother,” Sinclair soothes. “And even if he did, it doesn’t change anything.”

“It means my father was a murderer—a dead murderer!” I cry, my stomach churning. “It means he ruled over the city where I grew up, in terrible conditions, and never, never did anything to ensure my well-being.”

It hadn’t occurred to me that the Goddess’s tale made me a princess. I’d focused on my parents wanting me, glossing over everything else—like my father being a king and my being chosen to unite humans and wolves. Now, it feels like the world is collapsing. “Baby, we don’t have all the answers yet,” Sinclair says, pulling me into his arms. “This was only your third session. For all we know, your parents never knew where you ended up. The Goddess’s servants might have taken you to the orphanage, just as they handled binding your wolf and… whatever happened in the forest.”

“But he’s dead,” I repeat, hating that this bothers me more than the rest. “I always thought finding my parents meant meeting them… and now I can’t.”

“Xavier is dead,” Sinclair confirms, tilting my face upward. “But your mother lives, Ella. Queen Reina left Moon Valley after Xavier died, and last I heard, she dedicated herself to the Goddess. We can find her when this is over.”

“Reina?” I murmur, realizing I’d never heard the Queen called by her name. That’s the surname they assigned me at the orphanage. I’ve always been Ella Reina.

“Maybe that was her gift to you—a clue,” Sinclair suggests.

“And the Goddess?” I ask, overwhelmed. Everything feels numb, too tangled to identify a single feeling. “She called herself one of my parents too… and she knew all of it. She sent those wolves to bind me, as you said.”

“She also said it all happened for a reason,” Sinclair reminds me gently. “I know no reason justifies such trauma, but she must have thought it necessary. I can’t believe she would have acted otherwise.”

“So you’re taking her side?” I sniffle, burying my face in his neck.

“Never,” he retorts, stroking my spine. “From now until eternity, I’ll only ever take your side… and if I ever face that bitch, I’ll punch her beautiful face. We’ll see how long she stays pretty once I get my hands on her.”

I hiccup a laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Thank you,” I whisper, tilting my face up for a kiss.

He kisses me, and we sink onto the bed, determined to savor our remaining time in the dream.

Roger was lying in his suite, trying to process the day’s events when a knock sounded. He rose and crossed the room, his nose picking up his new favorite scent, though he could scarcely believe it was real.

When he opened the door, Cora stood in the doorway, her dark eyes wide and vulnerable. “You still want that drink?”

“Of course,” he ushered her in and took her order, preparing the cocktail silently, waiting for her to lead.

“Don’t turn this into something it’s not,” Cora warned as he handed her the glass. “I’ve just had a long day and need to decompress.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Roger inquired, expecting a refusal.

She surprised him. “I think I might be a terrible person,” she admitted dolefully.

“Why do you say that?” Roger asked, fixing his own drink.

“Ella thinks if she doesn’t tell me about her secrets, I won’t find out… she doesn’t realize she’s a celebrity here.” Cora shook her head. “It’s all over the palace—the long-lost daughter of King Xavier, of the Goddess herself—however that works.”

“Okay?” Roger asked, wisely avoiding conjecture.

“The point is, if anyone deserves happiness, it’s my sister,” Cora groused.

“But…?” Roger prompted.

“But we were always each other’s only family,” Cora said bleakly. “Sure, as children, we hoped our parents would come for us—that hope never really fades. But as we grew older, we bonded over never knowing our origins. We chose each other. And now she might find her real family, and I… I’m angry at her. Angry she’s getting answers I never will.”

“Are you afraid she won’t need you anymore?” Roger inquired gently. “Because that won’t happen.”

“I wish—that would be easier,” Cora confessed miserably. “Fear is forgivable. Jealousy is selfish and petty… but I am jealous. It feels like the world revolves around Ella. It was hard enough when she was just my brilliant, beautiful little sister. No matter what happened, she never fell apart, and though she excelled, she was never prideful.”

“I became a doctor, thinking a prestigious job might level the playing field… but she could have been one too, she just didn’t want to. She only wanted to teach children and have a family. Then I got the job at the sperm bank and learned this huge secret about the world. I was doing incredible science, and I didn’t mind keeping the secret about shifters because I felt special for the first time,” Cora revealed, her eyes shining. “Then Ella turns out to be a wolf. And now… she’s an actual princess, a gift from the Goddess.”

Roger sighed, understanding perfectly. “Sometimes, when I have a horrible, unconscionable thought—something shameful—saying it aloud helps. I can acknowledge it and let it go.”

Cora nodded slowly. “It’s wrong and cruel to feel this way, after everything she did for me, after everything she’s been through. I know that… but,” Cora took a deep breath, “Ella shouldn’t get to find her family too… I want to win, just once.”

Roger watched as she buried her face in her hands. Why can’t I define myself outside of her? This is my life, not hers, so why does our relationship have so much power over me? Why can’t I be my own person?

“If anyone understands that, it’s me,” Roger assured her, resting a hand on her shoulder.

“Hell, I plotted against my brother with his enemy; I helped attack his mate—”

“Wait, what?” Cora interrupted. “Are you talking about Lydia, or Ella?”

“Ella. That night behind the club,” Roger paled, realizing his mistake. “I thought you knew.”

“No,” Cora hissed, slamming her drink down. “I did not. Explain—right now.”