1.
Present Day
Sienna
Standing on the balcony of my bedroom, I was lost in memories of my trip to America. It was very secretive but we were always protected. I didn't question anything I was just focused on my father, wondering if he was still alive or not. Jovian is now the Alpha as my mother said when we were finally settled here in Pine Hill, Philadelphia. It was a drastic change but the comforting thing about it was the familiar faces. I once asked my mother how was this possible, the majority of our pack members were with us. She simply smiled and said, "The Goddess watches over her children."
I was only seven, so I believed and didn't ask any more questions.
"Si?! Are you awake?" the voice of my brother jarred me out of my memories. Turning to look into my room, there he was, my brother Jovian with his wild curly brown hair and a week-old beard smiling back at me.
"Hi" I called out to him looking back out at the now rising sun. I felt his presence next to me before he kissed my temple. "It still amazes me when I look at the sunrise here in this country. It seems so different back home" he said. His words were still heavily accented with our native tongue as he wishes to never forget our heritage. Spanish was heavily spoken within our home and to pack members, but English to outsiders.
"True." I agreed, sighing deeply before going inside.
"Hermana, qué pasa?" he asked sitting beside me.
I simply turned my head to my nightstand which housed a picture of my father and me at my seventh birthday party. "I am turning eighteen Jovian and Papi still hasn't returned to us. I refuse to bury him as you and mama did." I said softly.
"We didn't Si and you know that we had to be strong for our pack, a weak alpha leaves his people vulnerable they won't see a reason to trust him with their lives. Please don't think like this. Mama knows dad isn't dead." he said with truth in his words.
My brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Remember what I told you, how strong a mate bond was?! "
I nodded my head remembering the embarrassing moment where my brother and mother tried to teach me about mates at sixteen, it was the first time my confident brother was at loss for words. Talking about the proverbial flower garden was the most hilarious thing, seeing my then twenty-four-year-old brother flustering for words.
"As the love grows between mates so does the bond, so in mama's case, she still feels his wolf. We're sure that papa is still alive. We have not given up hope. Papa is coming back to us." He voiced out those words with truth and strength that I had no problem believing. Kissing his cheek, I gave him a watery smile and nodded in assurance.
"You have to be the brave little pup papa knows you to be," he continued pulling me into a hug. We gave our selves that sibling moment till he pulled away.
His now brown eyes were now filled with sadness. "I need you to come down to the office. There is someone here you should meet," he said now squeezing my hand.
Confused at his sudden change, I followed.
Russia
"Вы уверены, что о решении вы только что сделали дорогая." (Are you sure about the decision you just made sweetheart?)
The now twenty-three-year-old Russian alpha stood on the balcony of his late grandfather's summer home. The laughter of his cousins and sister echoed beneath him against the marble walls, he loved their visits but he preferred ultimate solace. No one is asking him a frivolous question or trying to get him to attend silly parties. His mother had no qualm about his attitude, she always blames her mate his father for passing down the 'Silent Prince' gene.
He turned to the person who posed the question, his beautiful blonde haired mother Crown Princess Amelia Starkov-Saville. She was always by his side in his upbringing also his father who was now back in the States handling business, which he regrettably had to attend to. He nodded his head in answer to her and leaned over with his elbows taking in the view of the Starkov Palace.
"Вы были вдали от государств в течение четырнадцати лет. Почему такие внезапные изменения?" (You have been away from the States for fourteen years. Why the sudden change?) Amelia asked with great confusion.
'Мы должны сказать ей. Не должен беспокоиться нашего дорогого мать'(We must tell her. Must not worry our dear mother) his wolf quietly informed him. Nikolai's wolf has been pushing him to leave the confines of Russia and go back to his homeland. Since birth, he was named Russia's new alpha due to his mother passing down the position to him. Her father agreed immediately, the man loved his grandson from the moment he was placed in his arms. His summers were spent with his grandfather, learning the pack ways, a new language everything that entailed what he was to inherit.
"Uhhhhh..... My wolf feels a strong pull to come home. Also, I miss papa and Mina. You always here, but I sense your sadness when you are with me." Though American born, English was his second language, when he talks his words were heavily accented. Amelia watched her only son with his black hair and piercing blue eyes, those eyes that held so much maturity while his body showed his youth. He was a younger version of the late King Michael as everyone commented, but his parents knew it was his father he took after.
She sat on the marble bench and released a heavy sigh. "Are you afraid of this upcoming change?" she asked. Nikolai tensed visibly, he was so reserved that the outside world only knew him as the Russian Prince. Few pictures were published in magazines about him which were just about the empire his grandfather built. Nothing was wrong with him, he was just a major introvert. "Little bit. Family..... uhh.... okay but people outside of the family. Not so much. I can learn to be social? " he said scratching the back of his head nervously. Amelia smothered a giggle as she witnessed the nervousness of the Russian alpha.
"When are you planning to return?" his mother asked watching out on the lawn as Reign chased after Mina with a water gun. The kids of the royals were very close, though their different personalities clash at times.
"Not planned but you will know when I do," he returned going to sit next to her. He held her hand and kissed the palm of it then held it over his heart. "ваш сын приходит домой" (Your son is coming home) he said with a smile on his face.
Amelia was happy but she was scared of how the world would treat him, his indifference to what they have to offer. Worst yet the request his grandmother made of him.
Oh, my little Niko, your world will be changed forever she thought as she ran her fingers through his dark hair. She will always worry about him. His decision to return to America will cause a lot of eyebrows to raise and tongues to wag. Amelia knew better, her son will make it through the mess that will come at him.
Goddess bless him.