The Isle (Chronicles of the Irish Princess Book 1)

Shortly after Aunt Em and Uncle Don arrived, the doctor came to check on Luca. He had done another round of IV fluids with his meds infused in them while we waited. The doctor had said when the bag was changed that he should be okay with the one, but it wouldn’t hurt to have another as his recent exposure most likely did some harm to his immune system. Aunt Em had filled out all the release paperwork for Luca to go home and it wasn’t long before we all piled in the minivan to head home. Kai and I sat in the back row so that my aunt and Luca could talk. She said that for now my mom was in jail, but her boss might bail her to take her on the trip. Seems as it was Friday her arraignment wouldn’t have been until Monday so there was no way to stop her from leaving.

Kai kept playing with my hair on the ride back to the ranch. It was soothing to me, and apparently to him as his wolf had settled immensely since our departure from the hospital. Kai’s head rested on mine and I smiled. He was thinking of times when we were younger. Our trips to the river and trying to get me to jump from the rope swing that was attached to the tree limb that hung over it. His mind was like a trip down memory lane. I’m sure it was to distract us both from everything. Then his thoughts changed and he started to day dream. The images I got were of him laying with me in bed, holding me, kissing me and making me laugh.

I didn’t realize it, but my hand slid under the fabric of his shirt and rested on his chest. Kai tensed for a second then relaxed. He tilted my head up so his forehead touched mine.

Leah, I don’t want you to sleep alone tonight.

What, why, I’m fine. Sarah and I are in the same room.

Because my wolf is still shaken and so is Sarah’s. She will want to stay with Luca possibly. If she does I’m not sleeping in the guest room and leaving you alone.

C..can’t you keep him safe? You are a wolf. Protecting is kinda in that title.

I can, but my senses aren’t as attuned to Luca as hers are. If she sleeps next to him she can feel his heartbeat, his pulse, hear if his breathing is different or hear when it changes. As his mate, she can feel things I can’t. She also can comfort him emotionally way better than I can.

Okay…. So where will you sleep.

Next to you.

In that tiny twin. There’s no way we will fit.

While your Aunt was signing paperwork at the sheriff’s office your uncle and some of his pack went to your house. They moved all of your belongings from the house to your rooms and set them up to look similar to what it was. Your aunt is going to kill me for ruining this surprise for you.

I can act surprised Kai. I am surprised actually. D..did they check our things for traces of allergens?

Yes. Everything is clean. I don’t think she planned on things going the way they did.

We pulled in then and the car came to a stop in front of the door. I went up to my room to change for bed. I found what Kai told me to be true though the walls were still the same color of light blue, everything was in its usual place. I turned around to see Em and Don waiting. I hugged and thanked them both. To my surprise Sarah’s things were missing. Had she been moved to the guest room? When I scooted through our bathroom I found her bag nestled next to Luca’s dresser. It seemed as if everyone else knew what was going on. But I was still in the dark. Sarah came in to the bathroom to brush her teeth with me and talk.

“Aren’t you afraid of all this? You said yourself that Luca was being a turd.”

“Leah, he and I have been together for almost two years now….”

“So, this doesn’t bother you? Being in his bed.” I asked.

“No, because it isn’t my first time. I snuck over a lot without you knowing. Kind of the perks to living in the house across the road from you guys.” She tried not to smile, “Leah I am sorry we didn’t tell you. But it was for your own good.”

I nodded in agreement and finished brushing my teeth. Going back into my room I wasn’t surprised to see Kai’s bag on the floor. He must have been talking to my aunt or uncle. So I put on my pjs and crawled in bed. Not long after I heard the door open and some rustling. I knew it was him but I didn’t want to look. I was nervous. I heard him walk to the bathroom and lock the other door turning on the water on his way back. He came and knelt in front of me.

“I can sleep on the floor Leah.”

“No. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“You’re nervous. Anxious.”

“It’s just a lot to take in all at once. I trust you with my life. But yes I’m nervous.”

He smiled at me and kissed my head. “Leah, I won’t hurt you or do anything you don’t want me to. But I’m gonna shower really quick and then I’ll be back. Do you want me in the bed?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Alright. Ten minutes okay.”

“Okay.”

I heard the shower turn on and then off after a few minutes. I heard the soft close of the door and then felt some cool air. A warm body replaced the cold seconds later. But I didn’t turn over. He was laying on his back with his arms behind his head. Everything I had in me told me to turn over and curl into him. But I couldn’t do it.

“Leah, I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”

I rolled over to my back and looked at him, “Kai I’m scared.”

“Of what?”

“Everything. I’m a princess, my fathers alive, we have to move, you’re a werewolf, my mother tried to kill my brother and you and I are somehow bound together. I…it’s so much to take in. I don’t know anything about who I am anymore. I don’t know anything about the world I’ve been living in.”

“Leah, I promise you that all of this will make sense one day. I know it’s a lot to take in. And I understand if all of this makes you uncomfortable. But yes, we are bound together our souls call out to each other. They won’t rest until we have bound ourselves to each other. That pull to me you felt when we were younger. That has only grown stronger the longer we have waited. The longer we stay apart the mores our souls will pull together. They are like magnets.

“I know this is hard to believe after so little actual time with me, but I do love you Leah. I have for a long long time. I have only stayed away for your protection. But never again will I leave your side.”

“Y..you love me?”

“Yes, with every part of me.”

“I love you too Kai. I have for a long time. Probably longer than I should have.”

He kissed my head lightly. “Rest.”

I closed my eyes then and let my body take over to its exhaustion. In the middle of the night I woke up to some familiar voices. I found myself tangled up with Kai. My legs entangled with his. And my head on his chest. I laid there quiet. The sound of his breathing and my brothers voice almost overlapping.

“I’m worried Em. What if she’s not ready. Father said to come home when her powers arrived. But what if she isn’t ready for the life he has. For all the changes.”

“Your sister is stronger than she looks. You should have seen how she stood up to your mother last night. I thought she would have actually made her bleed.”

“Leah’s fiery attitude could have gotten us in more trouble had I not been controlling her powers last night. Her drink had the elixir in it. Yes I know I shouldn’t have. But if my mother is being subjected to the darkness of Aideen then we need to be careful.”

“I agree. But your father is requesting we leave as soon as we can. The restraining order has been fulfilled. It will hold up in other countries if it needs to. If your mother is bailed out I say we drop the charges and leave for Ireland as soon as we can. It is a necessity that we keep her safe.”

Kai rolled himself over laying me on my back with his arm over me. I felt safe like this and it wasn’t long before I was back to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning. I was surprised to learn how late in the day it was. The sun was well above the trees and we looked to see that the door to the bathroom was still shut. Sarah and Luca were still asleep also. Usually if he was awake, Luca would leave the bathroom door open. I heard Huck scratch at the door. He wanted to come snuggle with me.

Closing my eyes I took a deep breath and wished the door would open. I heard the door creek a bit and the sound of Huck’s nails on the hardwood. He jumped up and tucked into my one side giving my hand kisses.

“He is unusually needy this morning. Isn’t your brother awake yet,” Kai mumbled next to me his face in the space between my neck and shoulder.

“No, they aren’t. But with Lucas attack yesterday I’m not surprised. He needs his rest.”

Gently he kissed my shoulder, something I didn’t expect. “So we have to do everything today? Wait. How late is it?”

“Almost nine.”

“Don let us sleep in.”

“Probably for good reason.”

“Mmmm…. you’re so warm.”

“So are you. Kai, c..can I tell you something.”

“Always.”

“That was the best sleep I’ve gotten in a long time. Like really really good sleep.”

He smiled. “I know.”

“You do? How?” I blushed a deep crimson.

“You were snoring.”

The look on my face said I was mortified. Or rather that is most likely what he saw. I hardly ever snored. So he was right I had slept well. As embarrassed as I was the feeling of a good nights sleep was more powerful than my stupid girl emotions.

When I finally got up and opened my door there was a note attached to it.

‘We went to town to handle some things. Don’t worry about the animals we did all of it before we left. Might be gone a while. Enjoy the nice sunny day.

-Aunt Em’

“Huh, okay then. What do you want to do today,” I asked Kai.

“You’re asking me?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmmm….. Lemme think about that.”

We went down to the kitchen to get some food. The whole time I was wondering what he would say. There was riding horses, movies, we could go for a hike around the ranch.

“How about we go to the river and picnic this afternoon.”

“Just the two of us?”

This was not on my list of ideas. Naturally I was freaking out on the inside.

“Leah, I want to spend time with you before we get to Ireland. Once we do, the court will expect a lot out of us. Because of our bond. Yes we know each other and we are sorta close, but I don’t want things to be awkward for you.”

“You sound like Luca.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Last night, I… I heard him talking to Aunt Em about moving. He doesn’t think I can handle it. He doesn’t think that will adjust well. Y’all are all so afraid that I’m going to reject all this and no one has even asked me!” I yelled.

Kai jumped up and took my by the shoulders. “Whoa, Leah, calm down. I wasn’t saying that at all. I’m telling you that things will be different. I know it isn’t going to be easy. I haven’t been there since I was ten. It won’t be easy going back for me not to mention the pressure you and I will be under as a couple. But sweets I don’t want to be without you. I don’t want you walking into that alone. I don’t want you to be blindsided. I want to help and protect you. Not let the sharks eat you alive.”

He pulled me in and hugged me. He had just been the most honest with me that anyone ever has in almost 17 years; and I cried. I cried because he was being so sweet and I was acting like a child. I cried because he was the only one not feeding me lies. I cried because I was about to leave my whole life behind me.

“You are my whole world, my whole life Leah. I will never let you fend for yourself.”

I cried harder and he just held me and petted my hair. He did everything he could think of to sooth me and calm me down. He even started to sing. It clearly wasn’t English he was singing, but it brought me peace almost instantly.