5

"What are you doing here?” I spat at Darin as he shifted back, standing stark naked by the water and looking me up and down as if he could see my naked self.

“Want some company, princess?” he said as he took one step toward the pond.

“Want another broken nose?” I asked with my eyebrow raised.

“Lucky shot,” he said as his eyes narrowed into slits.

“We are gonna find out if thats true if you take another step toward me, Darin,” I warn him as I pick up a rock below the surface.

He didn’t seem intimidated and took another few steps into the water. I had my grip tight on the rock and was about to raise it up to throw it at him when I heard another voice. This one, was pissed.

“Get out of the fucking water, Darin.”

I feel some of the weight off my chest as his voice comes from the trees.

Darin releases a small growl. “Back one day and already telling me what the fuck to do, eh runaway?”

“Do it, Darin,” Ryn says and I finally see him. He’s wearing shorts and a shirt and looking at Darin with a stern look I rarely saw from him.

Darin growls again and mutters something that sounds like ‘yes sir’ before he shifts back into his grey wolf and runs away into the trees.

“I’m sorry about him, Olina,” Ryn immediately apologizes. “Your brother sent us to check on you.”

“It’s alright. I mean, its not, but I’ll deal with him.”

“I’ll deal with him.” Ryn says as he makes eye contact and gives me his no bullshit glare.

“So you are the lead warrior again then?” I say, unable to hide my smile and I notice the corners of his mouth turn up a little as I say this.

“It isn’t official yet…” he tells me sheepishly.

“Well I’m glad. You deserve it. And that alone, almost makes it all worth it.”

He chuckles and I can tell he doesn’t believe me.

“Ready to go, your highness?” he asks me and I roll my eyes at him.

“Again with that shit, you gotta stop Ryn, But yes, I am ready to go. I’m gonna shift though, cause I didn’t bring clothes.”

He nods his head and then reaches over his head and pulls his tshirt off.

“Your brother told me to wear this for that reason. Here.” he comes over and puts the shirt on the rock next to me before walking back to the woods and standing behind one of the trees.

I walk out of the water and pull the shirt on. It comes down to the middle of my thighs and then I walk over to find him. As I round the tree I hollar at him that I’m decent.

“Shall we?” I ask as I gesture for us to walk. Comfortable silence was something about being with Ryn I always appreciated. He was the only person I could be with and say absolutely nothing, and it would relax me. 

“So are you gonna tell me why on earth you had an aneurysm and thought you shouldn’t be the General of the Army?” I ask after a few minutes of quiet.

I glance over and see him crack his neck, something he does when hes uncomfortable or hiding something.

“I just… had to sort somethings out once we got back here. Had to, uh, look at my different options. Do some reading and stuff.” he sputters out. A lie.

“Did you feel pressured into it?”

“No, actually. I mean Quai was pretty straight with what he wanted and that there wasn’t a rush, but he also wanted an answer right away. I could tell. And I wanted to make sure that I could do it and still… get what I wanted… out of life.”

“that isn’t vague at all… but alright. I can understand that I suppose. We did just get back. I got news the first day too, decisions to make. I guess I definitely understand.”

“It’s weird being back isn’t it?” he asked as he shoved his hands in his pockets and heaved a deep breathe. I watched his chest move up and down and my eyes briefly raked down to his toned abs beefore I snapped my head forward again. Goddes, Olina get a hold of yourself. It wasn't the first time I had been a bit tranced by his body, being the top warrior of the army takes some working out. And the times I did find myself looking, I honestly had no defense for why. 

“It’s almost like we don’t belong here, like we’ve been gone so long that we have to find where we fit in again,” I told him. He was the only person who knew what I was going through coming back here now. I was grateful to have someone who shared the same anxieties as me.

“Exactly. General is my birthright. It’s what I was literally born to do. But then I was made your guardian. And that changed everything. I knew Quai had wanted me to come back once we were 18 and you mated to Syn, but the longer we were away, I  don’t know...”

“Its almost like our birth rights, don’t feel right anymore.” I finished for him as I gazed off into the distance, my sadness rising at the future I had imagined.

“Maybe because what we thought was our birth right, isn’t what we are actually meant for.” he said quietly.

“Maybe for me. But you are absolutely meant to be the general. You weren’t just born for it. You were made for it, trained for it, you have earned it. Unless there is something that you can think of that would make you happier than that position, I can’t really recommend that you do something else.”

“Well, I guess that’s what I wanted to sort through before I accept the position. Make sure I can have this job, and what makes me happy.”

I was about to ask him what he meant but we were already back at the fields and Quai was coming up to us.

“Ryn! Nice work, thanks for finding her, I know you aren’t her guardian anymore, but you’re still the best at tracking her scent.”

“It isn’t a problem, your highness. I’ll get back to leading the training now.”

“Thank you again,” Quai said as Ryn walked away to the training room.

“Elites?” I ask as I realize that he isn’t training the masses.

“Yeah. Once a week still. Ready for lunch? Hows your waterfall?”

I smile as he knows me so well.

“It’s good. It helped.” I told him and he nodded in understanding.

“Good, the visitors are here.”

Damn. I’d forgotten about that.

“Alright, I’ll get dressed quick. Common room?” I asked as we reached the back door to the castle/packhouse.

“Yep, I’ll meet you there.”

We split apart on our level and went to our rooms. I dug through my backpack that I still had to unpack and found my nice jeans and a blue blouse to match my eyes. I undid my long brown braid and scrunch up my hair so that it was wavy before slipping on some mascara and sandals on my way out the door.

I entered the hallway the same time as my brother who was wearing slacks and a button up that was rolled up to his elbows. He never looked less than perfect.

“Remember,” I told him as we paused before heading down the stairs. “Polite, but distant. They will know right away that you aren’t their mate, then despite what they may say, its all useless. So just polite. That is what Lana would want.”

He nodded and took a deep breathe. There was nothing worse to Quai than women throwing themselves at him. Especially since he can’t have his destined one yet.

We entered the common room together and sure enough, there were several people waiting in there chatting.

“Good day,” I said as we stopped in the entrance.

“Oh your highnesses!” One of the older men said, clearly one of the Alphas.

“Alpha Jones,” Quai extended his hand to the man. “Pleasure to see you again.”

We exchanged hellos with everyone and sure enough, when the men introduced their daughters to Quai, nothing happened. They both shook their heads at their fathers who looked mildly disappointed. One of the  girls seemed relieved but I could tell the other was going to be trouble by the way she looked at Quai.

Thankfully our father and mother entered, extending the invitation for the Alphas and Lunas to enter the conference room with Mom, Dad and Quai and discuss the issues they were here to sort out. I offered to show the girls around, and they declined, deciding to stay in the common room and wait. Like I cared.

I went to the kitchen and found what was needed to bake some cookies. I got started and by the time I had 3 batches done, I heard the conference doors open and voices enter the hall. I waited until I finished the last batch and then sorted out a large plate to take to the guests. I went into the pantry, which connected to the hall and was another way into the kitchen, and I heard whispers that made me stop moving.

It sounded like a woman, so I slowed myself and peered around into the hallway only to see the girl I was concerned about pressing herself up against Quai, her chest pushed into his and her face inches from his. Her hands were resting on his chest and his hands were balled up at his sides. I could sense the anger rolling off him in waves and I quickly went back into the kitchen and grabbed the cookies before whistling to announce my presence as I entered the hallway. Quai was glaring at the girl and she looked irritated.

“Just cause I’m not your mate, doesn’t mean I can’t be a good mate, Think about it.” she said as she glanced at me and then walked away with a sway in her hips.

I looked at my brother who looked like he was going to puke now.

“I have to shower.” he said abruptly and then he sprinted to the downstairs bathroom and I heard the water run. He emerged 5 minutes later dressed and more relaxed.

“Better?” I asked.

“I wreaked of her and I was going to vomit.” He tells me as he scowls.

“I figured. Here, bring cookies.” I handed him a tray and he took it gratefully as he grabbed a cookie and shoved it into his mouth.

After far too much casual talk everyone finally left and Quai and I retired to our rooms to just pass out on our beds. My heart ached for my brother. Knowing who your mate is from the first time you smell them, no matter what your age, is supposed to be a blessing for the royals. But it hardly seems like it from our points of view.

It was 4 days later, and I was sitting in my mother’s office. Tonight was the full moon. Tonight my bond with Syn would officially break and I’d be free of the heartbreak that haunted me every day. After tonight I would be free to leave the pack lands and travel as much as was needed of me before returning and deciding where I fit into the kingdom here.

My mother and I were discussing the locations that I was to go, and when. I was free tonight but I didn’t have any real rush. I had a year to visit everyone, so I was planning to wait a few months before my first trip and break them all up instead of doing one really long trip. Nonetheless, she had to reach out to each kingdom and pack to inform them of my upcoming visit. The more of a warning ahead of time, the better for everyone.The chances were good that if I did have another mate, he was an Alpha or future Alpha too. So the Alphas from our kingdom had brought their sons, and tonight after midnight, I’d meet them all at the barbeque we would have under the full moon, the same way we do every month. If none are my mate, we move forward as planned. I was getting more nervous as we got closer. I wondered if it was my bond with Syn still that made me hesitant to meet other wolves, and made me hate the idea of forming another bond with someone else. It could so just be that I was worried that unlike with Syn, I wouldn’t know my next mate at all. I didn’t get years to learn about them and form a relationship. I had no upper hand this time.

Once I approved my mothers final draft of my rough schedule, she dismissed me to go get dressed for the Barbeque. An hour later I was dressed and pampered. I had to wear a dress tonight, not formal but a spring dress. It was light pink and flowed down to the floor. I had on ankle boots underneath and the dress had short sleeves so I left my jacket. My hair was half up in a bun, half down and curled and my natural makeup was on pointe. Overall, I had to admit, I looked better than I had in a long time. And in another hour, I’d feel better too. Or at least I kept telling myself that.