Ri
The feeling like I am being watched woke me from my sleep.
“I can’t believe this!” I heard Tatay’s half-worried-half -proud voice.
Slowly, I opened my eyes and was surprised to see my family waiting for me to wake.
“Princess!” My mom approached me when she saw me awake. The rest followed me with a smile on my face.
“Hey, my queen!” Rochie called out even curtsied. I glared at him. “What? You don’t believe me? See it then!” he pointed out my arm. I looked down. Just below my palm is a mark, like a tattoo. It has a head of wolf in the middle surrounded by symbols of different elements.
“You are indeed part of the prophecy, Princess!” Tatay told me. “So as your brothers and their mates.” he smiled.
“So, technically, you are the next Fraeian Empress!”
“And check this out!” I turned to Kuya Drew and was surprised to see the droplets of water float.
“You have water power, too?” I uttered.
“Yep!” he said aspirating the “P”. “Each of us has except for Rochie who leveled up his wind power.”
“Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed excitedly. “Wait… Does that mean I have to look for the four other girls?”
“Yep, you got it right! Of course, we won’t let you go alone.” Red said.
“Besides, those are our mates you are talking about.” Kuya Drey grinned.
“Somewhere in the North, we can find another pack. Why not try there?” Justin suggested. We are in Tatay’s office looking over the map of Cebu that shows each of the packs’ territory.
“Red Ash Pack. I guess we can find one there!” I told them. I don’t know why I said it. It’s as if something is telling me. “And there’s also one at the Green Meadow Pack, Blue Crimson Pack and wait, the Silver Moon Pack?”
“What?” Justin exclaimed. “You mean there’s another one from here? In our own pack and we didn’t even know?”
“Of course, you won’t. None of the family has shared the knowledge to the rest of the pack. She might think it is better to hide it like we did.” Tatay explained.
“You’re right, Tatay!” Rochie said then turned to me. “So, Ri, wanna take a stroll?”
“Sure!” I guess he’s excited to find his mate.
We went on a stroll to the rest of the pack territory. Since it’s a weekend, most of the pack members were home. We passed by the now-busy mini town. It was when we reached the forested area when something inside me got excited. I guess this is my Fraeian instincts.
I let the strange feeling take control and I was brought deeper into the forest. The boys just followed without questions. (Ooops! I think not for long.)
“Why are we heading to the river?” Justin broke the silence. I didn’t look at him and instead, continue with my walking. A few meters from the river, I saw someone lying on the bank. As if the river’s strong current brought the person here.
I moved closer and gasped when I realized it was a girl. I felt then that this was the girl we are looking for. I slowly approached her when I accidentally stepped on a twig.
The next second, I saw balls of fire flying towards me. I stepped back, trying to avoid it. It amazed me that she was able to make fireballs. I decided to stop avoiding. I positioned myself and accepted each fireball she threw. Her eyes bulged seeing what I did to her attacks.
I smirked as I raised her up to the air. She shrieked and got hysterical. I slowly put her down but she tried to attack me again.
I lifted her up once more and that’s when I heard a growl. I turned and looked back and I saw Kuya Red glaring at me, fist balled tightly. I glared back at him and he looked away.
“I mean no harm!” I shouted to the girl as I turned back to her. “I’ll put you down but you have to promise not to attack!” She looked at me intently before she nodded.
I slowly put her down and freed her.
“Mate!” I heard her say as she looked at Red. I smiled and grabbed Red’s hand and walked towards her.
I heard her growl at me.
“I’m Rianne but you can call me Ri. This is my brother, Red.” I smiled at her. “And you are?”
“Eana.” (Read as “Yana”).
“Eana.” Red uttered. “Nice name, my Love.” he hugged her and kissed her and she blushed.
“These are my other brothers, Kuya Drew, Kuya Drey and Rochie and this is our cousin, Justin.
“Hi!” she greeted them shyly.
“Let’s go home then! I have plenty of questions to ask and I guess, Tatay as well. ” I excitedly walked back to the house with her in my arms. “And Mom will be delighted!”
“Oh my gosh!” Mom squealed (excited much?) as she saw Red holding Eana’s hand.
“You’re mate?” Red nodded. Mom hugged her instantly. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m RoseAnn. I’m your mate’s mom.” She smiled at her.
“I heard the good news!” Tatay said. “You can call me Tatay Orly. I am the alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. Welcome!”
“Thank you! I am Eana, from the Stonefire Pack. Just a few days ago, our packed was attacked by rogues and I managed to escape from them through the river. Unfortunately, the current was too strong for me. Lucky for me, I’m still alive.”
“So the rogues are unleashed. Thanks for that info.” Uncle Ronan came and was gone in an instant.
“So, Justin told me you are a Firean.” The look on Eana’s face told us she knows her ancestors. “May I see your right arm?” Tatay continued. “If my guess is right, you have the same mark as Red’s and like Ri, you haven’t shifted yet.” Her jaw dropped confirming Tatay’s statements as true.
She looked at me. “You haven’t shifted yet?” I nodded and smiled at her. “Wait… if you know my ancestors, then you are Fraeian descendants, too.”
“We are Aelean. But we are the direct descendant of the empress Brienne.” Tatay explained.
“Oh my gosh!” she suddenly bowed down to us. “I never thought this day would come; that I would meet Empress Brienne’s descendants!”
“Oh no! Don’t be silly. We are just descendants not the empress herself.” Nanay spoke as she helped her stand.
“So, am I mistaken if I say I am part of the prophecy since I have the mark?”
“No, you aren’t.” Tatay spoke. “And so are the other three and Ri.”
“How?” she looked at my arm and saw my mark. “Oh my!” she bowed down again towards me. “Empress,” she looked down as respect.
“Oh, come on! Stop that!” I pulled her up. “No bowing! You’re my sister, not a slave. Besides, it’s the 21st century. ” She blushed at my comment.
“Welcome to the family, Eana!” Dad said for the first time. “By the way, I’m Drake, the father of these noisy people!” He smiled. “At last, I got my second daughter!” he laughed.
“You have to teach me that fireball attack! Those were so amazing.” I blurted excitedly and once again, she blushed.
(A/N: I know that I said earlier in the story that they can only find their mates at 21. Since Ri was destined to be the next empress, she has to find the other girls therefore Red’s and Rochie’s ability to find their mate sped up.)