The Missing Princess
Chapter 8- Independence

Kodi

I stare at the ocean. After Uncle Aaron explained everything I needed some air. This is why I am sitting on the beach staring at the ocean. I wish I had my board. That is the only time I truly feel free, out on the water. I still replace it hard to believe that my family wanted me. Okay, fine, I understand that shit was happening in their kingdom, and that they wanted to keep me safe, but to give their one year old daughter more or less away seems a bit drastic. Lets not forget that my brothers didn’t even try looking for me. Then again they were six when all this happened so I guess they are not to blame and they were also told I was a boy so they were as in the dark as I was.

“You know they had no idea they had a little sister.” Reign comments.

“Fuck, don’t do that. You scared the shit out of me.” I hissed.

“Sorry, my little copper flame. You worried me when you disappeared. Dad wanted to send the whole pack out looking for you. I had a feeling that you would be here.” Reign states.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to cause trouble for the pack.” I say.

“Don’t worry about it.” He replied.

I have no idea why he is here. I still replace it hard to believe that he wants me or that he won’t use me for my powers. I jump when his hand slips into mine, intertwining our hands. We sat there for a while longer until his phone started ringing. I smile as he grumbles about being disturbed.

“Come on my little copper flame. If we don’t get back to the pack soon Dad is going to lose his shit and either deploy the whole pack who will swarm this beach, or he will come himself to get you.” Reign groans.

“Ok, I guess we should get back. I don’t need the whole damn pack swarming this beach and tearing it up.” I comment.

He pulls me to my feet. We walked for a little while until I noticed he stopped. My eyes get wide when I watch him start pulling off his clothes.

“Umm you don’t need to strip to get into a car.” I pointed out.

“I didn’t drive here. I ran here and I know you didn’t drive here either. Don’t worry you can ride on my back. My wolf, Blade, has been jumping around in my head to meet you since we found you in that fucking house.” Reign told me.

I slam my eyes closed when he starts undoing his pants. I was barely controlling myself when he pulled his shirt over his head. All that light golden brown skin and muscle on display had incredibly dirty thoughts running through my mind. Like running my hands and tongue along all those very defined lines on his granite like body. I also couldn’t help but think how utterly ridiculous we looked walking together. Reign is at least a foot and a half taller than me. I cringe when I hear snapping bones signifying that he is shifting into his wolf. A cold wet nose touches my cheek making me let out a small squeak as my eyes open. Holy fucking shit! His wolf is huge and solid black in colour. Fuck, even his wolf is at least a half a foot taller than me.

I know I shouldn’t be scared, but standing here looking at this huge wolf has me taking a half a step back. His ears flatten against his head as a small sad sounding whine is heard. His wolf looks sad.

“Sorry,” I mumble.

He rubs his huge muzzle against my cheek. I giggle when he licks my cheek. He lays down looking from me to his back and back again. I get the hint and climb up. This is probably the weirdest thing that I have ever done. This also makes me realise that I am not the proper mate for him. I don’t have a wolf and I can’t be turned. Elves and fae are the two species that can’t be turned into any other supernatural being even if we are mated to them. Trying to turn us will kill us. His wolf will never have his wolf mate counterpart. That is not fair to him. This is one more reason that we can’t be together. Besides I doubt that the pack will want someone like me as their Luna. The smile falls from my face as Blade slows done as the pack house comes into view. Uncle Aaron is out there waiting. I can tell he is not thrilled that I took off after his little reveal. My brothers are there standing beside him. That is still something that I have to get used to. Blade stops in front of them. I let out a scream as Rory pulled me off of Blades back smothering in his arms. Blade growls at him, but Rory ignores him.

“Where did you go?” Vance asked.

“The beach. I needed some fresh air and somewhere to think. The beach is my happy place and helps calm me down. That was a lot of information that I had dumped on me and I needed somewhere to think.” I explained.

“That makes sense.” Rory comments.

I keep my eyes on my brothers as I hear bones cracking again. My brothers laugh as Uncle Aaron passes Reign his clothes. I had been holding onto them as we headed back this way. There was no way I was going to turn around to hand him his clothes. My heart wouldn’t be able to handle that. The five of us walked into the house only for me to knocked to the ground when Dani and Ellie rammed into me wrapping their arms around me. I can’t help but laugh at them. I missed these girls so much. I still can’t believe that I was so damn close to them, but still had no idea that they were here. I was so damn caught up in keeping a low profile and making sure no one found out who or what I was that I more or less ignored the people passing me by day after day. It makes me wonder how many times I passed or was in the same store or building as them or even Uncle Aaron.

“We need to talk.” Uncle Aaron told me.

“Okay,” I replied.

We make our way back upstairs to Reigns office. Ino closes the door as the last person walks in. I am not sure what is going on, but I all of the sudden have a terrible feeling. No one says anything for a few minutes. The silence is killing me.

“Kodi, I would like you to move here with us.” Uncle Aaron announces.

“Um no offence, but I have been living by myself for the last 8 years. I have built a life for myself, and I am more than capable of taking care of myself.” I point out.

“Yes, I understand this, and it has nothing to do with you not being able to protect yourself. I would feel better if you were here with the pack. I know Reign would like you here as well.” Uncle Aaron added.

I don’t know what to say. I am not sure this is a good idea. I know everyone is watching me and waiting for me to say something. I look at Dani as her eyes widen. I have a feeling she knows what I am thinking.

“Please don’t reject my brother.” Dani begs.

“I can’t reject him. Dark fae are physically unable to reject their mates, but we can accept the rejection if the other reject us first.” I explained.

“Kodi,” Reign growls.

“Listen, this paring is wrong for you. I am wrong for you. You are an alpha who needs an appropriate Luna. It would be unfair to Blade for you to be with me. I can’t shift and besides the elves, fey can’t be turned. Trying to turn me would kill me. Blade will never have the wolf counterpart he deserves. Not to mention that I am not going to give up surfing and I have a career and business that I will not give up. I know you wolves are both protective and possessive of your mates, especially alphas. I know it had to take everything within you not to growl or hell even come down and throw me over your shoulder and carry me away during the competition. Besides the fact that I doubt that your pack would want some weird hybrid to be their Luna.” I point out.

I stand up and walk out of the room. I am sure that will convince him to reject me. I mean everything I just said makes sense. I leave a note telling them that I have gone home. I can’t be here any longer. It is almost dark by the time I get home and cook some dinner. Even though I knew no one would come looking for me, I was hoping that Reign would follow our bond and come replace me. What I said must have made sense to everyone. I had cleaned up after dinner and had just turned off the kitchen light. I was heading to bed when someone knocked on my door. My magic alarms didn’t go off which is weird. No one should be able to walk through them without me knowing. I sigh as I walk to the door. My brothers would be the only two people to be able to pass through without my knowledge. I open the door my eyes locking with those larimar blue eyes of his.

“Reign?” I say.

Reign

I had no idea what to do when she walked out. Everything she had said made sense, but there was no way I was rejecting her. I looked at Dad who sat there stunned as did everyone else in the room. I thought about going after her, but I knew she needed some time to cool down.

“What that hell just fucking happened?” Kekipi asked.

“Kodi more or less just told Reign to reject her.” Ellie answered.

That made Blade growl. He was on the same page as me. We were not rejecting her and if we had to spend the rest of our lives proving to her that we wanted her and not for what she was able to do then so be it. Dad raised an eyebrow at me, but all I could do was smile. We both knew that Kodi had no idea that our pack wasn’t like so many on the main land. There are many that are stuck in the past and refuse to mix with other supernatural beings. Okay yes, wolves and vampires still have a very tedious truce, but things are getting better. More packs have come to realise that fighting between each other has not and will not get us anywhere.

“What are you going to do?” Dad asked.

“I am going to let her cool down then I am going to replace her. She is mine and I am not letting her go. I will let our bond lead me to her.” I explained.

Dad smiles at me while patting my shoulder before walking away. I walk out back and shift into Blade. I figured we need a good run to clear our heads.

-She is right you know.-Me

-I know, but I don’t care if she doesn’t have a wolf. We both know that we have always known that our mate wasn’t going to be a she-wolf.-Blade

-True, we will have to explain all of this to her. -Me

-She is still scared that we are going to use her. We need her to return to the pack and meet a few of the members so she can see that what she has been told and maybe even have seen on the main land isn’t how things work here.-Blade

-I know.-Me

I waited till it was dark and then shifted into Blade. I stuffed my clothes into a bag which he picked up and carried as we followed our bond. We followed our bond to a small neighborhood. The neighborhood is nice and very inconspicuous which is what Kodi was aiming for. She has been trying to appear as normal and human as possible. Our bond led us to a small but cute little house. As I grew closer I could feel something was off. There was something in the air.

-Magic.-Blade

-She is using magic to make her house appear like the rest.-Me

-Yes, and to protect it as well. I am sure she will know we are here before we knock on the door.-Blade

He is probably right. I carefully walked up to the door and I could feel it when we passed through the protective barrier of her magic. The house became clearer, but it didn’t change that much. I was careful not to touch any of the plants along the path as I noticed wolfsbane growing among other dangerous plants. I saw a light in the house go off so I knew she was here. I could also smell her scent which became stronger the closer to the door I got. I knocked on the door and waited. I heard the lock on the door disengage as is swung open.

“Reign?” She said.

“May I come in my little copper flame?” I asked.

She steps aside as I walk in. I hear her shut the door as she follows behind me. I sat down on the couch as she sat down across from me. She is so damn tense I can taste it in the air. It wouldn’t surprise me if she tried to run. I put my hand up when she starts to talk which causes her to scowl at me.

“First let me say that what you said earlier makes sense. However, I have a few things to say. I shifted for the first time when I was 16, which is two years earlier than I should have. Blade and I knew not long after that whoever my mate was that she wouldn’t be a she-wolf. Saying that I can tell that I know many very beautiful she-wolves but none have ever held my interest.” I told her.

“Reign this isn’t...” She says.

“Kodi we don’t care that you are a hybrid and that you don’t and will never have a wolf. You are ours and we want you. There will be no rejection on our end.” I explained.

I can tell she wasn’t expecting mine and Blades voice to over lap. I tell her that she needs to come back to the pack and see that everything she thought is not how our pack is. I can clearly see the doubt on her face, but she agrees to come back with me. I watch as she packs her stuff and can’t help but stare as she continues to stuff more and more into two normal sized bags.

“Expansion spells.” She says.

I laugh as we walk out of the house. Once again I shift and lay down so she can climb on my back. I take off as she clutches tighter to the fur on my neck as I take off. We make it back to the pack in no time. I let her stay in the room across from mine until we can discuss this situation further.