The Isle (Chronicles of the Irish Princess Book 1)

Monday morning began with a pink and orange sunrise. I was quick to help out Aunt Em in the kitchen packing up a small lunch for Kai and I to take with us to the pasture. Our south pasture butted up against Duck Creek. Kai had proposed that we go and have a picnic there while checking on the cows. Just the picnic though, as it was supposed to rain later on.

When we got to the first pasture we checked on Molly and a few other cows. Then we decided to sit a moment with Lunella and her baby. We had been talking about where he was going to go to college in the fall.

"I got accepted at NOKU, for Business. There was a dual enrollment program I started while in my junior year. So I'm done with all of my gen eds. My goal is to just focus on my major classes and be done in a couple years."

"That's amazing."

"What are you going to do? I got a look at some of those pictures from yesterday, you've got a lot of talent."

I blushed, "I'm still thinking about it. I might minor in it. For the longest time I've wanted to be a vet for large animals. I know that Dr. Pulson was looking to retire in the next five years, so maybe I'll take over for her? I haven't really decided much, aside from wanting to go to NOKU. I didn't know you got accepted there though."

He smiled at me and leaned over to brush the hair from my face. "I'm happy to know that you didn't decide any of that because of me."

"Not at all, it's just close to the ranch and far from my mother. That was all I wanted. Luca still hasn't decided if he's going at all. Which doesn't bother me, I know he's eager to stay on the farm full time. What hurts the most is losing my bestie to her dream college in Ireland. "

"It'll work out, I know that Sarah isn't completely sold on that yet."

I gave him a weak smile, "I hope she stays close to home. I don't want to lose my best friend. You wouldn't happen to know why her and Luca are acting so odd lately?"

"No, but knowing your brother, and how stubborn he is. I'm sure that my cousin is fixing to lose her mind if he doesn't make his own up about how he feels about her."

I rolled my eyes at that comment. "Typical Luca, to have something so good in front of him and be completely oblivious."

With a chuckle, Kai looked out into the pasture and his smile faded. He tensed up and looked angry. "Get up and go to the truck please"

I hesitated, "Kai, what is it?"

"Go please."

I started running for the tuck. When I got in, I locked the door and started looking for Kai again. I knew he wouldn't have been behind me. But there was no sign of him. I saw a wolf like animal standing at the edge of the woods that lined the back end of the pasture. My eyes widened. I knew Kai didn't have anything to protect himself with. I started to panic, my eyes darting from one side of the field to the other trying to find him. Then I heard the lock on the truck click open and watched as he hopped in next to me. He must have run around the back end of the truck making sure nothing saw him.

"There's a wolf!"

"Where?"

"At the edge of the woods," I looked and it was gone. "It was just there."

"I'll let Don know about it."

He started the tuck and threw it in drive. I kept quiet. Whatever it was, Kai was very upset and I knew better than to say anything and make matters worse. He was distant and it was scary, more so than seeing the wolf so close to the animals. I wanted to hold his hand and feel safe, but I was more afraid of upsetting him. So instead, I pulled myself into my seat and fixed my gaze out the window trying to hold back my tears.

When we got back to the ranch, I ran inside and up to my room. Sarah was no where to be found so I threw myself on my bed and bawled my eyes out. I felt a hand touch my back and jumped. Kai was in the room. I tried to push him away but I'd cried so hard I passed out instead. The last thing I saw was a flash of light.

When I came to, Aunt Em helped me sit up. She and Luca were staring at me. Sarah was over on her bed watching me closely. Kai was on my other side looking at Aunt Em.

"Are you okay at least, Kai." She said.

"Yes ma'am. It didn't hurt, just surprising. I thought it wouldn't happen until she was 18."

"We weren't sure it would happen at all, until Christmas when Luca got his. We also didn't believe she would be able to do that, no one has for ages."

"Should we call them? They will want to know. Especially the King."

"Does anyone care to tell me what is going on first?" I spoke up finding my voice. "What even happened?"

Aunt Em sighed, "Luca bring me the book, please."

Luca handed her the book and sat next to Sarah. I saw him take her hand and felt relieved inside.

"Let's give them some space," Don said from the doorway.

I felt Kai kiss my head, he felt tense and enraged, like he was on the edge of exploding. I gave him a weary look as he headed for the door. He gave me a weak smile and followed Luca from the room. I suddenly felt alone. I looked to Em, she hadn't even opened the book, not that she really needed to. Mamaw and her must have read it to me well over a thousand times when I was a child.

"What does this have to do with the storybook?"

Aunt Em opened it. "Because all the stories I told you growing up were true. This isn't a bedtime book. It's our family history. Long ago, on Lambay Island lived a king. This King had two daughters, a gift from the Goddess Carieen. They were known as the Catalan sisters, and like their goddess mother, had abilities that no human could possess. Meara, the older of the sisters, had the ability to speak to animals, and like her mother, defended anyone who harmed them. Aideen, was just the opposite of her sister, full of passion, but also had a quick temper that was shown by the destruction she left behind her. True to her name Aideen was a little fire."

"I remember all this Aunt Em, and the wolves. I know that Aideen was destroyed. Are you telling me that this isn't lore? Are we descendants of Meara?" I looked at her, "Do I have the same abilities?"

"Well, yes, but not in full. Not yet anyway, you'll get them when you turn 18. You're father never told your mom about this. He hid his powers and his past from her. He hid the possibility of your powers from her too. He loved her yes, but he was afraid that something might happen to you. So, he made us promise that you and Luca wouldn't know about them until you got them. There is always a small possibility that you may never get them, though there has yet to be a generation born without powers. You are also right that Aideen was rid of, though her body was never found, Aideen may still be out there, hiding in the spirit world. She's probably looking for a vessel trying to find a way back."

"So, what happened after with the wolves? How are we her descendants? What did Luca get out of this if I have powers or whatever?"

"Well if you would have let me finish. After the war and death of Aideen, Meara found her way to Ossory, or rather Kilkenny, as it is called now. She ran into a Priest who had encountered a couple of Wolves. Desperately wanting to help them after what the Priest had done to reverse the curse on the woman, she headed out into the wild to find them. When she did she found only the male wolf as his mate died from the turn.

"She tried to help, but instead she was gifted the couples son to look after. Though when she met him, she instantly fell in love. Knowing there was no way things would work out between them she kept her distance and settled down with a farmer. She hid her powers from him, she blessed him with twins, a boy and a girl. The boy was given the ability to protect his sister, much like his mother protected the animals and people around her. The girl was given the ability to communicate with animals."

"So I can talk to animals? Wait is that why the animals around here have been following me?"

My Aunt laughed, "Not exactly. You can understand them, what they feel, injuries, ailments, that sort of thing; and yes they can sense the presence of a healer. However, we never expected you to be able to protect them, like Meara."

"That flash of light... Oh god! I attacked Kai." I got up and ran down the stairs and out the door. I was confronted by Luca, Sarah, and a large dark chocolate brown wolf. The same wolf I'd seen by the woods.

Luca instantly stood between us. "Sis go inside."

My eyes were drawn to the wolf's big and green. "Malakai."

"Sarah, take her inside."

"She already knows, just let her talk to him. Maybe she can get him to phase back." Sarah stood eyes glowing iridescent blue.

"Wait, you're a wolf too?"

"We will tell you everything, Leah, I promise. Please talk to him. He needs to phase back."

"What happened?"

"When we left he started freaking out because of this morning. It was him you saw in the field. He saw a coyote and went into protective mode he couldn’t keep from phasing that's why he made you go to the truck."

I walked around my brother and up to the wolf. He caught my eyes and sat before slowly sliding to the ground. The wolf lay his head on the ground and I sat in front of him.

"Kai.'' The wolf licked my leg in response.

"Kai, you need to change back."

He rested his head in my lap and I could hear his thoughts. I wondered if it was a part of my abilities.

Are you okay luna?

"I'm alright."

Leah.

"Malakai."

When I change back I will need clothes. I sorta ripped the ones I had on.

"Luca, go get him some clothes."

"I'm not leaving you Leah."

"Just go!"

Kai huffed blowing warm air around me. He's afraid I'll hurt you.

"I know you won't."

Do you?

"Yes."

Luca walked past us then heading to the barn with an arm-full of clothes.

"Go, I'll be there in a minute."

With another huff he got up and followed. I got up and looked over to Sarah, she was crying.

"Sarah? What's wrong?"

"This isn't how you were supposed to find out. We all had a plan. We were going to tell you everything after Fourth of July. Leah, I'm sorry we had to lie to you, please forgive me!"

"Sarah, I'm not upset. Take a deep breath and tell me what you can?"

She cried more. "Luca and I, we've been dating almost two years. But me being a wolf and not knowing if you would get your powers. I was sworn to secrecy. Luca is my mate, my person, my soulmate, so we hid things from you. To keep you safe."

Luca ran back out and hugged her, just as I was about to throw my arms around her. "Shhhh, its all alright baby. This is how the Goddess wanted it. Calm down before you phase, we don't need to go through this again."

He pulled Sarah close setting her on the stairs. I could see Em on the phone with someone. But none of that mattered right now. I needed Kai. I needed him to explain this to me. I needed his side of things.

I found my way into the barn and patted Stella. "Malakai?"

He popped up in the stall next to Stella’s and I jumped.

"Leah, I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay."

"This isn't how I wanted to tell you. I had a plan. We all did. We never expected your abilities to show up so soon. Luca yeah, but not you. You were only just beginning to show signs of anything. I should have paid closer attention, but now you know and there's no going back. Did Emilia tell you everything?"

"Not really. I freaked and thought I hurt you and came to find you. But I'm going to assume your family or at least the Irish side of you is an Ossory wolf."

"Yes, the Ponca have ties to wolves too. They were said to be the first sign of werewolves in America. Unlike the wolves in books you probably read about, thanks Stephanie Myer."

"Di... Did you just reference Twilight?"

"Only time it will happen. My family is ancient, my mother married my father to create an alliance between Ireland and America. Two of the oldest wolf tribes in the world now live at peace with each other."

"So she was upset because you chose the Ponca over Ireland?"

"Yes. But my grandfather, the King of the Wolves and Alpha of the Irish Pack isn't. Sarah's dad is the only other alpha in the family. My grandpa wants to split things make the king of wolves a solo role and separate that from the pack. So the pack will go to my uncle and everything else will go to me one day."

"D..does that mean you need to move?" My eyes welled up with tears.

"There is more to the story that you missed. But it is better if Emilia and I explain it to you together."

He reached out to take my hand. When my fingers tangled with his, I felt safe at last. With a smile he led me back to the house. Aunt Em was waiting in the living room for us. She looked like she'd aged about 20 years in the time we were gone.

"How much did you tell her?"

"I left off at Ireland. My grandpa."

"Right, well, the King of Lambay has given me permission to tell the rest, no thanks to you."

"Who is the King of Lambay?" I blurted. "Am I related to him?"

Em took a deep breath. "Leah, you should know that your father, he didn't die. He left, it was our Uncle, Tobias, who died. He is buried here, along with your grandparents. You're father was elected King after his death and so he left. He left to protect you and Luca. He left to fulfill his duty as a member of our bloodline."