Chapter sixteen: ever growing power

"Conrad?"

"Yes, my love?"

"I ... I ...well..."

Conrad pulled back and looked into Cynthia's eyes. "Yes? What is it, my love?"

'Ummm. I am not strong. I am.weak and I do not feel ready." she shyly confessed.

"Hmmm. Is anyone ever ready to stand before other Supernaturals? let alone negotiate with them?"

"Well, no...but ...I feel like if I had to do that as I am now...well...they would laugh at me then devour me!'

Cynthia had tremendous power within her but she lacked confidence. Seventeen years of abuse and neglect did that. Conrad had healed her external scars but not the internal ones. At least not yet.

"Cynthia?"

"Yes." she looked up at him.

"Do you know what your name means?"

She shook her head no.

"Come here, please, my love. Sit here." Conrad pointed to his lap. Cynthia slid onto his lap and looked at Conrad expectantly.

"Have you always been named 'Cynthia'? I mean by your parents when you were young?"

"Yes, my parents called me that. That is the name I have always had. Why?"

"Well, it is a powerful name. The name Cynthia is feminine and translates over from its Latinized form of "Kynthia", meaning "the woman from Kynthos" (or, Cynthos). But the name is not about the location itself, rather who came from Kynthos. Kynthos is a mountain located on the Isle of Delos, which is an important place in Greek Mythology. And according to which, Mount Kynthos is the birthplace of the Moon Goodess, Artemis and her twin brother Apollo. Because of this legend, the name Cynthia is attributed to Artemus (Artemis) and the name Cynthia represents (or translates to) the Moon Goddess herself. Being named 'Cynthia is a blessing and your parents meant it aa that. And..." Conrad stopped for a moment..."And??" Cynthia was asking him to continue.

"And ... being the one who bears that name brings with it responsibility...a lot of responsibility. You are carrying the Moon Goddess' power, skills, abilities. There is a reason you are named Cynthia and that you are THE white wolf. So, do not doubt yourself. The years of abuse and neglect can make you string, not necessarily weak. You overcame those. You not just survived but you protected your wolf while you in human formI might remind you, took the punishments, torture and abuse. YOU did that. Not your wolf. YOU!"

"I needed to protect her...my beautiful Athena. I needed to!"

Athena interested her thoughts, "He is right, Cynthia. YOU protected me. YOU kept them from finding me and destroying or using me. YOU did that. You are not weak. You are strong. Stronger than me for you did all that in human form."

Cynthia began to cry. She had not seen things that way. Yet her mate andnher wolf were both telling her truth...a truth she had not realized until right this moment.

"Athena, do you think my parents knew ? Is that why they named me 'Cynthia?'"

"I believe they did."

Cynthia withdrew from Conrad's embrace and walked to the large floor to ceiling picture window. She was thinking of her life. Just 22 years old and 17 of those she knew nothing but people telling how worthless she was...abusing her daily...and her hiding her wolf. She had never thought enduring that made her strong. Now she began to rethink who she waals...who she is.

Conrad stood quietly watching his beloved. "Conrad?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Do you really see me as strong and courageous?"

He walked closer to her. He placed his arms around her from the back and.brought her in close. He lowered his head to her soft spot and inhaled her scent. He whispered in her war, "Absolutely! The most courageous she-wolf I know."

She smiled and turned to face him, "Really?"

"Yes, really."

Cynthia smiled at him, "Then let's find that witch or qarlock or faye or whoever and learn how to control and harness these powers, my dear!"

"Let's!"