12.
Nikolai
I was finally going home, to my ancestral home. I would be lying if I say that I'm not nervous. At the moment I was receiving death glares from my best friend as I continuously drum my fingers on the table while my foot was bouncing beneath it. We were on our way to the States to begin the search for my mate. The thought of finding her scares me, it brought out the worse in me. I become angry and withdraw myself from my family. I was scared of getting hurt again and even worst- losing her.
"As your only true friend please knock it off. Princess would not like fo her only son to arrive dead at the family home," the heavily accented voice of Zarif stilled my actions. I sent a growl his way and turned to look out the window of my private jet. "You are feared prince of Russia why are you so nervous? Is it your stupid twin cousins?" he voiced out. I shrugged not answering him, he knows of my withdrawal from my family; after all, he has been my friend since we were pups at the age of four.
"Niko. You cannot let them win. They are not better than you. They have to fight for the throne. Prove self for the throne in which they do not care. Spoiled lot they are." Zarif has always been forward in his words, not caring for one's position and always fight for justice and equality. He has been my mouthpiece for ages; we balanced each other well that's why I didn't find it hard to make him my beta.
"I know," I said softly. He looked at me with a frown, "I know this demeanor but you must be more assertive my friend"
I nodded knowing he was right but this has been me all my life but I would try. "We will start to look for your mate after homecoming?" he asked getting more comfortable on his seat.
"I have to attend the annual ball then maybe do what they call, 'road trip' after? Get to know my birth country more. Papa thinks it's a good idea. I agree also. I do miss America but Russia will always be home." I confided in my friend.
"It's a good idea. Maybe we all would find mates on this uh... road trip" I chuckled looking around the cabin; I had four of my men accompany us to the states all mate-less also. It felt like we were all on a mission. A mission to find love. I laughed even more at the thought, six male wolves that have no idea as to how to woo a woman are on a trip to find their mates. "Maybe I can ask cousin Zac for help. He found mate last year." I suggested. Zarif threw his head back laughing, "We ask baby cousin for help. Let's give up our balls while we are there" he joked. Rolling my eyes at the silliness of my friend I got up to move to my cabin to take a rest, leaving them behind my worries came back ten times bigger.
'У меня есть хорошее чувство об этом. Не волнуйся, мой друг.' (I have a good feeling about this. Do not worry my friend) Vadim said to me as I lay on the bed staring at the ceiling.
'I trust your words.' I said to him. I allowed myself to be calm for my upcoming arrival at my paternal grandparents' home. Before I knew it, I was visualizing how my mate would look. Would she be a beautiful blonde just like my mother, be lucky in love just like my parents? Or maybe a redhead feisty as the color of her hair. A dark-haired girl with kind eyes, a mate who would rule by my side. My people would love her as much as I would love her.
"I pray my mate not to give up on me" I mumbled to myself as sleep took over me.
Narrator
"Niko. Wake up. We are near."
Nikolai groaned brushing away his friend's hand, trying to stop him from tapping his head. When he didn't stop, he stilled Zarif's hand before he landed the last tap. His arm was frozen in place while he had a full motion for the rest of his body. "Come on Niko. I do not like it when you do this" Zarif exclaimed hating to see how weird his arm looks just frozen in midair. Nikolai chuckled while getting up from his bed, he stood to look at his friend as he squirmed trying hard not to look at his arm.
"Damn you Niko" he cursed. Nikolai simply walked around his friend and left the cabin when he reached his seat and he buckled in, preparing himself for the descent.
"NIKOLAI!!" Zarif's angry and panicked shout from the cabin deafened the other passengers of the jet. Some failed in muffling their laughter as this was a normal occurrence between the two friends.
With a roll of his eyes, Nikolai snapped his fingers undoing his friend's frozen state, it didn't take long for Zarif to come storming into the sitting area he was about to say something when Nikolai interrupted him, "Buckle in. We about to land."
"Stop playing with your gifts" he mumbled sitting beside Nikolai who simply shrugged.
After a smooth landing a few minutes later, it was just Nikolai and Zarif left on the jet. His men went out first to give their prince sometime to get the courage to step foot on American soil, they all knew of his nervousness. "We are going to do this," Zarif stated.
"Yes," Nikolai answered jumping out of his seat the fixing his leather jacket.
"You are not going to be a pushover. You are strong. You are brave. You do not allow cousins to intimidate you."
"I won't. I have to find my mate. She has to be proud of her brave mate."
"This pep talk sounds like we are going to war," Zarif said shaking his head while leaving the jet.
"To Saville pups it is war," Nikolai mumbled to himself following.
The prince's convoy consisted of five Mercedes-Benz GL SUVs each with the Russian flag on each of them. The route to the family castle was somewhat familiar to Nikolai the only memories he chose to remember were the times he went to visit his grandparents. They both always went all out whenever Mina and himself were visiting from New York; you would think they went missing for years and just returned home. He missed them greatly. What saddened him was the knowledge of not seeing his grandmother's green eyes so full of love and excitement while his grandfather stood by her side after all those years with love in his eyes for her and pride for his grandkids. Though he was young he knew pride when he saw it, Michael knew the secret Angelo's family kept and respected that. He was the one who taught little Nikolai how to control his gifts and moods. Just like his grandmother Emma, his emotions were tied to his growing gifts, his quiet demeanor helped a lot but it was his grandparents that helped him greatly.
"Do they know of our arrival?" his friend asked looking out the window, taking in how the sun was setting behind the tall trees outlining the forest.
"No. Papa has fixed our rooms on their wing and our entry will be orchestrated by his sentinels. I only wish to see my little sister and parents. They are the reason why I come here first." he said taking in the scenery also.
It was approximately three hours before they reached the castle; releasing a deep breath Nikolai manipulated the guards at the gate to open the gates for them. Zarif looked on in awe as he witnessed his friend controlling all ten guards, covering the sounds of the vehicles, and notifying his parents of their arrival, all with ease.
'Принять право. Пребывание на три фута друг за другом выключенным светом.' (Take a right. Stay three feet behind each other lights off.) He ordered all the drivers, his body was tense as they drove through the private driveway for Prince Angelo. Up ahead he saw the wing belonging to his family, the convoy circled the little fountain before they came to stop. Out ran the petite blonde he missed these past few months. Nikolai forgot about his fears and nerves, running out to greet his bubbly little sister. Mina ran straight into her big brother's arms, her legs latched tightly onto his waist.
His arms tightened around her taking in her scent of vanilla and almonds. "Why didn't you tell me? I had to hear it from daddy?" she scolded him with a silly grin on her face.
He took in the happiness in her green eyes and reveled in it. She was one of the main reasons why he wanted to come back home, she needed him more than she let on. "I am sorry. But its good surprise yes?" he asked.
"Yes it is" she laughed hugging him again. "I missed you so much little one," he said softly while gently stroking her hair.
"I missed you too big brother. Thank you for coming." she returned.
"Alright, you two. Let's get inside" the playful voice of their mother tore them apart with wide grins on each other's face.
Nikolai took in his mother's now pregnant belly; he jogged over to her forgetting his quiet father by her side and quickly hugged her kissing her all over her beautiful face causing her to laugh heartily. He froze and sniffed the air then knelt down before her touching her stomach.
"Hi there baby brother," he said kissing his mother's stomach, the pup moved causing his mother to gasp. "Another boy," she said in awe looking down at her firstborn with tears in her eyes.
"Thank heavens" he heard his father muttered. Laughing he went to his father who took him into a warm hug, "You could of wait to tell her on the last month my son." he said to Nikolai.
"Did not want her buying the wrong color in clothes like last time." Nikolai joked.
After warm greetings were made to the men that accompanied their son on the trip they all went inside to get situated in their rooms. Nikolai stayed with his family and talked to them into late hours of the night, it was two in the morning when they decided to call it a night. Mina followed her brother to his room, sitting on his bed while she waited until he was done in the shower.
"You are coming to the ball right?" she asked just as he came into his room.
"Yes little one." he teased.
"Ummmm.... Zarif too right?" Mina was blushing by her second question.
With a raised eyebrow he nodded 'yes' playing dumb to her obvious crush on his best friend. "Yes," she exclaimed then brought down her excitement way down.
"I mean that's great. He would love the spring festival. You think he would like to come to the fair with me in the morning?" she asked.
"Why Zarif?" he asked sitting beside her.
"Umm.... he's like a big brother yeah..."
"But I am your big brother. Why not ask me?"
"Because you would be tired. You love your sleep." Mina was trying hard to keep her composure and Nikolai decided to put her out of her misery.
"I shall ask him," he said which was a good answer seeing as she gave him an excited hug then ran out of his room.
'When will Zarif reveal it all?' Vadim asked his human as they watched the door their little sister ran through.
'When he thinks its the right time,' Nikolai answered. It was hard to keep his best friend's secret when it pertained to his little sister. Over the years, he silently observed how Mina's crush for his best friend grew to a love that has weighed heavily on her shoulders. It was the same for Zarif but he respected her dreams so much that he fears his revelation will mess those up.
Nikolai's admiration for his friend grew. He knew Zarif will treat his sister right.
Looking out the window of his room, the thought of facing his family after years of isolation was daunting. He can already feel the energy of putting up with so many different personalities draining his body.
The next few days will be a test of his patience. Ten times over.