Legend Of The Moon Princess
Episode 44

Ethan’s POV

After Terrance and I were done with our turn, Riley and Kai told us we could rest for the rest of the day. Tomorrow they would have things prepared to help us improve faster starting tomorrow. Terrance and I did about just as well as Melody, but there was still room for improvement. We got to the dining room where everyone was already sitting around for lunch time. “Is Kai not joining us for lunch again?” Star asked. Riley choked on her water she snagged from the table. “Cough… cough… W-w-what?” She asked. “Well Kai never seems to want to have lunch with us. Does he just skip this meal everyday?” Star asked. I noticed it too. Kai always leaves to go somewhere around noon and doesn’t come back for a while. Yesterday he didn’t come back until dusk. “No he eats. I always pack him a lunchbox everyday. He just sometimes wants some alone time to think things through.” Riley said. Her smile was a little more forced and I could see her eyebrow twitching.

‘Mom, is she telling the truth?’ I mind linked her. I didn’t want to distrust Riley, but Apollo and I were sensing that something was off. ‘She is… Are you doubting her for some reason, dear?’ mom replied. ‘Not really doubting, but I am concerned for her and Kai. He has been disappearing everyday before noon and it has Apollo and me on edge. Could you just mind link me if she is lying, please?’ I asked. I saw her smile and nod slightly. ‘Of course dear. Though if I didn’t know any better you almost sounded just like you fathers do when they are worried about the three of you.’ She teased and giggled out loud. I felt my face heat up. “Mom! It is not like that…” I then clap a hand over my mouth noticing I just said that out loud.

Mom started laughing and I grew more embarrassed. “Whoa what is so funny?” Terrance asked. “Nothing, mom was just teasing me privately.” I told him. “Well at least it was just to you alone. I could share everything with everyone here.” She smirked and raised an eyebrow. I wave my hands in front of me. “No thank you, I surrender.” I half shout. This makes everyone laugh. I looked over to Riley, who was holding her stomach and laughing. Apollo yipped and started wagging his tail. He always felt better seeing her and Kai either laughing or being safe. ‘I guess mom was right, we do sound like a dad when it comes to them.’ I told Apollo. ‘Hey we are not the only ones. Thor has checked in on them too with Terrance.’ He told me. Well ok, at least it was not just me then.

“So Luca, when are we heading to your pack for the ceremony and stuff?” Riley asked after she finished laughing. She was a clever one to change the topic so quickly. “Oh we will need to leave in three days, I called and told my dad all about most of the recent events. Though most I left out because that would be better explained in person.” Luca said while rubbing the back of his neck. “So I wonder how Melody would be inducted to the vampires or werebears? Once she is introduced into the Royal Moon pack, her ties with Raven Moon would be cut.” Dad questioned. Riley raised her hand. Daddy laughed. “You don’t have to raise your hand sweetheart, but go ahead.” he told her.

“That actually won’t be a problem. Since Mother Selene had gifted her with the ability to connect with another person’s inner soul, then she can be bonded to multiple groups at once and mind link them all.” Riley said. “What really?” Dad asked. Riley nodded. “Yes but she has to complete the Alpha bond in the next full moon, which is the night before we leave for the Royal Moon pack.” ‘Alpha bond?’ “What is that?” Melody asked her. “Oh… Ummm… That is something you should ask your dad’s wolves later. I am not the best person to explain.” Riley said quickly while blushing and popping some spicy popcorn chicken into her mouth. As soon as she swallowed, Riley went quiet. Then she placed her hands over her mouth.

“Riley? You ok?” Terrance asked her while setting his hand on her shoulder. She jumped out of her seat and nodded while headed to the door, still covering her mouth. Terrance and I looked at each other and then at her in concern. Riley dashed out the door, and Terrance and I followed after her. She was fast, we almost lost sight of her. She ran out into the back garden and dunked her head into the fountain. Terrance quickly gathered up her hair and held it in a ponytail for her, even if half her hair was already wet. She finally pulled her head back out and gasped for air. “What was that about?” I ask kneeling down to her level. She looked between me and Terrance. A small blush kept on her skin. She mumbled something so low that even we couldn’t hear with our wolf hearing. “What?” Terrance asked, running his fingers through her hair. She gulped and blushed a little deeper. “I-I can’t h-h-handle spicy f-f-foods well.” She said in a quiet voice. “Oh.” Terrance and I said in unison. “But why did you run? There was plenty of water in the dining room.” I told her.

Riley shook her head. “I couldn’t open my mouth inside. I would have started a fire.” She said. I looked at her confused. “But isn’t Kai the one with fire magic? You have wind, how would that start a fire?” Terrance asked. Riley took a deep breath. “When I eat spicy food, even just a little bite, it instantly gives me heartburn. That then heats up my magic power, and what happens when you mix fire and wind?” She said with a raised eyebrow. “Strong fire.” I said. Still not getting what the issue was. “I can’t control the fire that comes out, and not only that but it burns like a mother f-” Terrance clamped his hand over her mouth. “Young lady you better stop before you say something that will get you in trouble.” He told her. She looked at him wide eyed and nodded. Terrance removed his hand.

“What I heard Brandon say it when he landed on his butt.” she said, innocently. “Yeah but that doesn’t mean you need to say it.” I told her with my arms crossed. ‘Boy you two really arm turning into dads. Hahaha.’ Apollo roared with laughter. I internally rolled my eyes at him. I saw Terrance’s face and knew Thor was busting his chops too. ‘Call it what you want, but I feel protective over the twins and I know you sure as hell do too.’ I snapped at him. ‘Yeah, but Thor and I never denied that we claimed these two as ours.’ He snapped back. I couldn’t think of anything to say back to that one, so I changed the topic like Riley did earlier. “Well we will get you some water and avoid spicy food from now on. Sound good?” I asked with a smile. Riley giggled and nodded.

Terrance ruffled her hair. “Ack! Hey, stop that!” she yelped as she continued to laugh. “Why should I?” He asked with a grin on his face. Riley slipped from under his arm and jumped on his back. “Ha! Now what are you gonna do, old man?” she laughed. “Old man? I am not that much older than you, you little runt.” Terrance barked while trying to get a hold of her. She just kept wiggling around on his back. “Alright then, time for a ride back to the table. Hold on tight?” Terrance said. “Wait, what?! No…” Before she could say anything else. Terrance zoomed back towards the dining room with Riley on his back. I looked up at the sky and wondered where Kai was.

Terrance POV

I carried Riley back to the dining room. She hid her face in the back of my neck. My parents were chuckling to themself and Melody was smiling. I unhooked her arms from around my neck and set her in the chair between me and Ethan. Riley was glaring at me with her face beet red. I just smiled brightly. I can still be a bit childish, but I am far from an ‘old man’. ‘A bit childish? I think the only time you are serious is in a fight.’ Thor commented in my head. ‘No one asked you dude.’ I shot back. I grabbed some of the jello from one of the bowls and took a bite. I felt eyes on me and looked down to see Riley looking from me and my jello.

“What is that?” She asked, pointing at my bowl. “It’s called jello. Would you like to try it?” I asked her. She nodded. It was adorable how she could switch from a bad a*s warrior to acting her actual age. I scooped up some more jello and without even thinking I held it to her lips. “Here you go.” I said. She at first looked between me and the spoon. Then she quickly chomped on it. Her eyes lit up like lights on a christmas tree, and her smile grew big. “Mmmmm. That is so good. May I have some more?” She asked as she looked up at me with big puppy dog eyes. I laughed and made a bowl for her and handed it to her. She started eating as happy as can be. I went back to my own bowl, but I felt eyes on me.

I looked down the table and EVERYONE Was staring at me with big s**t eating grins on their faces. “Take a picture, it will last longer.” I snapped at them. Why the hell are they staring at me for? I thought to myself while I shoveled another spoon of jello into my mouth. “Oh trust me, sweetie. I did take a few pictures, and you are just the sweetest daddy feeding little Riley some of your jello without thinking twice.” Mom said and then giggled. I choked on my jello. “Cough… cough…” I coughed as I pounded on my chest. I felt a small hand hit my back, helping me clear my airway. “Oh my goodness, are you ok Terrance?” Riley asked. Her voice was full of concern. I coughed a bit more and then smiled at her. “I am fine. My mom just made a bad joke.” I told her. I saw a bit of hurt flash through her eyes, but then she smiled. “Oh about you acting like my dad? Hahaha, I wish I did have a dad just like you. Or Ethan. Then I would know that mother, Kai, and I would be well taken care of.” She said before returning to her jello.

The last thing Ethan or I ever wanted was to give her or Kai false hope. I mean she told us that beast humans never get a second chance mate. Even with the slight pull Ethan and I got to their mother when we saw their memories, it would be heartless to just give them hope and then fate takes it away when Ethan and I find our mate or mates. “Well on another note… Riley, I noticed that you and Kai have been wearing the same outfits everyday. Do you guys not have any other clothes?” Star asked, thankfully changing the subject. Riley shook her head. “No, we didn’t bring much with us when we came to this world. Do I smell or something?” She asked while sniffing herself. “Oh no no no. I was just curious.” Star said. Riley breathed a sigh of relief. “That is good, because I make sure to wash mine and Kai’s clothes when we go to wash up in the spring.” Riley said as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Mom had a little spit take moment when she spit out her ice tea. “I am sorry dear, but what spring?” She asked. Riley just smiled and pointed out one of the windows. “Oh Kai and I made a little hot spring, over by the mountain. I wash first and while Kai is washing himself, I take our clothes to the river and wash them.” Riley looked a little confused. “Is that not how you guys bathe here?” She asked. “Ummm no, we use something called a shower and tub. I can show you how to use them both later tonight when we get back from town.” Melody told her.

“Oh okay, have fun in town.” Riley said, finishing off her jello. “You’re coming with us girl, and so is Kai. We need to get you two some more clothes and other stuff if you guys are gonna be living with us.” Mom said. Riley looked a bit panicked. “Um, uh… but we don’t have money to get anything here. We are really off the grid, because we were not born in this world. We don’t have any papers that I have seen people use here.” Riley kept talking until I placed a finger on her lips. “Calm down okay?” I asked her. She nodded and took a deep breath in through her nose.

Dad then started talking. “We figured you and Kai wouldn’t have any documents like what we have here, so we pulled a few strings with some friends and got that taken care of. All of your paperwork is in our family vault.” Dad told her. “We also set up a bank account for you and Kai. You both will get a monthly allowance until you turn 18. You can use that allowance for what you want or need.” Papa told her. “W-w-what? We can’t take your money! Kai and I have done nothing to earn that.” Riley tried to protest. “Really? Because I seem to recall that you and Kai protected Melody and the others from Jeremiah’s uncle when he had magic they couldn’t fight against, and now you are training Melody, her mates, and her brothers. Sounds like you guys have earned it to me.” Mom said, while all three of my dads nodded.

“Well that was just part of our duty, we are her guardians.” Riley said shyly. It seemed she was not used to being the center of attention. “Well it is our duty to take care of you and Kai, like you take care of our daughter.” Mom told her Riley smiled with tears glistening her eyes. We would get her used to being a part of our family.