His Rogue Luna novel Chapter 20

"Luna?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper and his steps hesitant.

"My father sent me here to collect you. He thought it would be suspicious if he came to you himself," he bowed his head in submission waiting for my response.

"It's alright, but please call me Artemis," I said, placing my hand on his shoulder. He straightened up and with a nod, began silently leading me through the forest, heading East.

I didn't dare break the silence, instead choosing to memorise the path we walked. We approached a small hut that was clearly secluded from the other cabin homes I had seen.

The man from earlier stood by the door, looking anxious before smiling brightly at us when he spotted us. As we neared, he pulled me into a tight hug.

"Cynthia I knew you would make it," I patted his back awkwardly and he let me go, quickly ushering us inside.

The hut was small and slightly cluttered, books of all kinds piling up in the hallways and the tables. I was led to a small sitting area and took a seat next to the man that led me here.

"I think introductions are in order," the man beamed, clapping his hands together.

"I am Diego Cruz Flores, and this is my son, Romeo Cruz Flores," he smiled, turning to me and watching my reaction.

"So you know Sophia Helena Flores?" His eyes flashed with sadness and he nodded.

"She was my sister," he choked. I let the words settle in my mind. "And you look just like her, your eyes, your face, your hair," he reached out and touched my face, his eyes looking distant before he pulled away.

"And who is Cynthia?" I asked. That name kept rolling around in my head.

"Cynthia was my niece, the daughter of my sister that went missing only months after being born," he explained sadly.

"Yet you called me Cynthia," I pointed out.

"Yes, because you look just like her. You are her," he stated.

"How do you know? How can you prove it?" I asked. A part of me was so eager to believe his words, that I was a lost child and had found family again, but another part of me was more distrusting.

He gave me a knowing smile, his eyes looking sad and Romeo shifted besides me.

"You bear the mark of The Gifted."

"What's the mark of The Gifted?" I asked. Romeo shuffled awkwardly besides me, giving his father a pointed look.

"Dad those are just tattoos, anyone can get them," I glanced down at my forearms where I had a matching marking on each.

"No, it's clearly a mark from the Goddess herself," Diego snapped back.

"A witch I met in the forest did them for me," I explained. Romeo raised a brow at his dad, as if saying he was right but Diego scoffed, turning back to me.

"A witch? And who was this witch?" He asked.

"Her name is Diana and that's all I know," I shrugged. Despite her and I growing close in the last two years I had known her, she was a private woman and didn't reveal anything about herself. "I'm not even sure she's a witch, I just assumed," I frowned, only now realising how a lot of things about her didn't add up.

"Well for starters, your name,"

"Which one?" I asked. "Cynthia or Artemis?"

"Both," I furrowed my brows. I felt like my head was spinning with all this information and making me slow.

"They both have the same meaning; they are both names of the Moon Goddess. They are just derivations," He explained.

"Both of your names were given to you by the Moon Goddess herself. Your mother saw her in a dream before you were born and was told to name you that. And this woman named Diana you met can't be a witch, that name is sacred amongst most species,"

I couldn't believe he was saying that the old woman I knew who healed me and saved me was the goddess herself.

I didn't quite believe him.

"And those tattoos, they would burn a normal werewolf and wouldn't stay on their skin. Those markings are too powerful," I just listened to him, letting it all sink in.

"Dad I think that's enough for now," Romeo spoke up.

"Oh yes yes it's late. I don't want to hold you for too long," he muttered to himself, checking his watch.

"But I have so many questions," I protested, pushing away my exhaustion. I had finally found my family, people I could call my own and come home to. I was not letting them go.

"Don't worry. I'll see you soon, I'll send Romeo again," I nodded, standing up as they did. Diego pulled me into a tight hug, holding me for a while before letting go.