Book 1 The Hidden Princess ch1.

Emma

"How can you watch this show?" This question came from Noah. He will question my choices in shows while they're playing until he's fully interested in them. I braced myself for more questions.

"Don't be fooled, dear brother. This show is highly educational. I can learn what to do when the apocalypse descends on us," I answered, with the most serious expression on my face. That earned me a pillow thrown in my face. I guess my acting skills are still poor.

"You're going to search for a talking dog and a kingdom filled with clueless candy people?" he asked while getting comfortable on the couch beside me. I heard a scoff of disbelief from him but the look of interest shattered that.

I smiled to myself and took another mental note of how different my older brothers were. They are at an age to go discover the world of..... whatever guys do at their age yet they prefer to dote on their little sister any chance they get. They were truly a conundrum. Noah and Jonah are twins and reached the popularity level of their social life, not only at the high school they attended but in the entire pack. They have a lot of acquaintances but not many friends. It's a bit weird but nothing to worry about.

"Emma! Sweetie, it's time to train."

Oh no. One more episode. I can squeeze in one more episode before she notices then rush to the training grounds.

"Sure thing, Mom," I said as I put the TV on silent.

"One... Two... Three...." Noah began to count with a silly grin on his face. Well, that's rare. He must be highly amused at my minor predicament. It's Adventure Time. Missing an episode or scene from this cartoon and you will miss the entire plot. Waving him off, I tried to get back into focusing on the show. Ice King was being an idiot again but I missed the concept as to why. Did he kidnap a princess again?

"Putting the TV on silent doesn't help little girl."

I flinched upon hearing my mother speak again. For a moment I was shocked by the development but a mocking voice in the corner of my conscience reminded me of my situation. Momentary memory loss can happen to anyone.

"How can I forget that vital part? Looks like I have to do a recap on the show."

"You forgot about your genetic make up, interesting" The dry comment beside me amplified the mocking voice in my head.

"Heh! I know right!" Smacking his shoulder to relieve some of my embarrassment, I left the sitting room to do as I was told. Mother is very strict when it comes to these things.

Not one of my best moments.

I rushed upstairs to change into my training clothes but my phone rang distracting me for a second. Seeing the name flashing across the screen brought a smile to my face.

"Yes! I am on my way and I didn't forget." Foregoing the pleasantries, I answered the caller's unspoken questions when the call was connected.

Laughter filtered through the speaker from the other side of the line.

" How can the third-in-commands daughter be so lazy? Come on Emmy. Show some initiative," the caller responded in an amused tone.

Mason. My best friend since diapers, and one who will never sugarcoat things while speaking with me. He's a dependable guy and someone I hold in high regard. Below my father and brothers of course.

"Because this daughter prefers to be away from sweat and bruises."

"I still don't get it though you hardly train yet so strong in fighting."

"It's called Prodigy. I'm a prodigy, my dear Mase."

"Whatever you say, Emmy. Ah, crap it! Can you get here.... like now? Heather just showed up." he said in an exasperated voice.

Visualizing the scene that may be taking place at the moment, I hastened my actions with pure amusement on my face. The job he requires me to do is the duty of a best friend. How can I turn him down? "Your bill is racking up," I said listening in on the background noises on his side.

"Fine. Your favorite restaurants for a week excluding that stupid posh restaurant a town over." Desperation laced his voice and like the best friend, I am I reveled in his misery. "Deal!"

Making my way out of the house, I spotted Noah waiting for me patiently in the front yard. He turned and looked at me sternly in a silent warning. "I know but...." I started to say before he gave me the 'It doesn't matter' look. Along with my father, my brothers were strict with punctuality and constant training. I still had yet to figure out why. Our pack was well hidden from human towns and was regarded as a peaceful pack. We haven't had a rogue attack in years and no harassment from outsiders for a long time. The town was basically like any human suburb. I won't question their strict teachings but a reason will be nice.

We took a short walk to the training grounds to meet up with our brother and friends, I stood at back and looked at the scene before me. My father was training a group of five in hand-to-hand combat while others were in their wolf form partaking in mock battles.

It was a pleasant and interesting scene.

This world, my world is one filled with everything a fantasy or supernatural book entails. Werewolves and other mythical creatures were real but the humans are out of the loop of this knowledge.

Why?

The history books tell us why our kind decided to have things like that.

Our pack is a purebred pack, one of many, not as big as most but respected by others in the US. Moon Dust lives in seclusion and tends to leave the fighting for hierarchy to the major packs. Our Alpha kept it that way and we are eternally grateful to him for this. Our territory is like any other small town you can think of. The usual movie theater, cafes, shopping centers, schools, workplaces, beautiful colonial houses, and also the whole suburban feeling. Humans also live among us due to a few werewolves being their mates. Their numbers are less than twenty which is a steady outcome. We keep our identity hidden which is easy to do. We can venture outside our territory but must be careful. There's always the threat of hunters from the days of our ancestors who has descendants keeping up their work.

I guess that's one obvious reason for my training.

Looking around I found the person who needed my help apparently. As I got closer, I was able to catch the repeated response he gives to Heather when she approaches him. Probably the subject of dating as it was the same every time. Poor thing.

"Hey Mase, I'm here. Let's go train, you promised to teach me that new move." I said with much fake enthusiasm. He released a sigh of relief as Heather spun around annoyance clear in her eyes. "Beat it, brat. Grown-ups are talking," she said harshly. I wanted to point out that we were the same age but I guess that hasn't registered to her. That would be a longer conversation, I think.

"Who are the grownups?" I asked. Distracting her from Mason was an easy job. After all, we don't like each other and fall into a lot of verbal spats.

"Us," she said motioning between herself and Mason.

"Heather, look I really have to tell you this. Mason... Mason..... He's just not that into you. I think he makes it clear during your numerous advances. Please. Give up. What you two shared was fleeting which she boldly declared after. What would your admirers think? I believe the present guy you're seeing won't like your current actions. At. All."

I didn't mean to be so blunt but Mason was too much of a good guy to let down a girl no matter how tiresome that girl can be. It's a trait he sometimes hates.

She glared at me and tried to come up with a retort but failed miserably.

"You ... You... " Her face was red in embarrassment as she was unable to say anything or justified her actions. She left in a hurry but I know she will do the same again. The persistence on that one was terrifying.

Mason fell to his knees and hugged my legs in many thanks "You're the best ever! Thank you for saving me from her," he said releasing a huge sigh.

"There. There, drama king. How can you say that about the girl who turned you into a man?" I said with a smirk while patting his head.

He looked up at me with narrowed eyes. "Why do I tell you my secrets if you're gonna throw it back in my face?"

As typical best friends, since diapers, a lot of secrets have been shared. Being the beta's son and myself being the third in command's daughter gave us a jump start to our friendship. We were and still are inseparable, thick as thieves. Everyone thought as we became teenagers the friendship would end but we proved them wrong. Both of us will be 18 in a few months, finishing high school within a month and ironically we both got accepted into Brown University. He got a football scholarship while I got in with an academic scholarship.

"Because you love me more than Pb&j," I said tugging on his ear. He gave me that goofy grin that sends girls in a tailspin but I was totally immune.

"And you love me more than Nutella," he countered while getting up to throw an arm around my shoulders.

"Only you, Mase".

For the rest of the training, I partook in hand-to-hand combat training with Mason while my brothers were in wolf form training others in defending against attacks. They were the strongest fighters in the pack and also the first twins to be born into the pack in 20 years. Their strength was on par with the present Beta Wolf which was an achievement by itself. The elders said it was due to our pack being peaceful that the Moon Goddess blessed us. To me, it was pure luck.

"That's enough for today. Dismiss."

Everyone left when my father brought the training session to a close. Remaining on the field was my family, Mason and I. This gathering wasn't peculiar but my presence was questioned due to my status within the pack.

Dad waited till no one was within hearing distance then came over to me. My father was a force to be reckoned with, his powerful body screamed power along with his 6 2" height. His eyes betrayed no emotion only his family were lucky enough to see it.

"You did well today, Emmy. Ready to go for a run?" He asked me with pure adoration in his eyes. I looked at my brothers who smiled my way while Mason patted my head assuring me that the area was safe. I nodded in response and followed him to the edge of the forest.

The excitement began to bloom from within me until I was fully enveloped in it. My excitement and my wolf's matched perfectly.

Since I first shifted at 13 I always went for a run with my family but no one else. Everyone in the pack thinks that I'm a late bloomer, yes I get bullied about that but there was a reason why my family which includes the Beta and Alpha families chose to do so. The presence of my wolf was a secret. An important one. I don't know why but my parents said it's for the best.

I watched as my brothers shifted into their identical brown wolves with golden eyes, then Mason into his grey wolf with blue eyes. Lastly, my father a large reddish-brown wolf with dark eyes, all circled me as I shifted. In our 'wolf form', we are at the height of an adult human, or the equivalent height as our human bodies.

Shaking my body, I can feel the wind flow through my fur, moving them to their own accord.

Mason's wolf licked the side of my face as my brothers and father playfully bit my ears. It's been a while since I took this form and their wolves were equally excited for this run.

'Keep to the trails. We are going as far as the lake.' His message reached me through our kind's telepathic communication wave - mindlink.

'Yes, Dad!' I said as Noah and Jonah ran ahead. Mason was by my side as always as I followed them while my father brought up the back.

In human and wolf form, my growth was faster than any other she-wolf. This happens when you're blessed with such a rare wolf spirit. To record, I am the first white wolf in a century. No one cared to explain this occurrence and simply decided that I should live as a wolfless pack member.

I had questions but who should I ask? Who will answer me truthfully?

I need to know.