The Edge of the Forest

5 years pass

Renaldos car had pulled up the the mansion. His Father King Gregory stood on the front perron. Leading down both sides from top to bottom are the maids, buttlers, and guards. His Father insisted they all greet his son, who would be king someday.

Max exited the drivers door. He stepped back and opened the rear door of black stretch Lincoln Town car. Renaldo stepped from the car, straightening his hand sewn Italian suit jacket. He always hated not being able to drive himself. His Father insisted that he have guards with him at all times. Max was his personal guard, and assistant for the last 17 years. Renaldo hurried to his father, and greeted him as a king first and a father second. He bowed slightly.

"I'm happy to be home my King Gregory." Then he stepped closer as he shook his hand and hugged him. "Father I have missed you."

The guards opened the double wooden doors as they passed into the sitting room. The house people all went about their chores.

"Father we must attended graduation in 5 days. Hopefully that won't be an issue? Is everything in place for our outing? " " Yes, my son, your father has not gone senile just because be has gotten a few gray hairs. We will leave with the caravan day after tomorrow. Our Villa has been rented and is ready for our arrival. You've made me very proud. Finishing your college business classes way ahead of time, a doctorate in business and a masters in computer science. You will have to bring us up to speed in that area. Perhaps I should get a tutor. Just turning it on has me vexted! You will definitely be ready to step into my shoes. Perhaps I should retire early and travel as I have always wished. Your mother," he stopped for a moment remembering her, "She always wanted to see Paris. I wish I had taken her." Renaldo hugged his dad. " Father, she was just happy being with us. I do miss her dearly." " Son, there's not a day goes by that I don't think about her, even as it's been many years since the disease took her. I know she would have tears in her eyes hugging you so tight that it would wrinkle your suit. Son, you need to find your mate, I hope she's as caring, loving and beautifully unique as your mother." " Dad, Noone could ever compare to her."

" Well father I'm off to make sure they unpack, and repack everything I need for our trip. Maybe get in a run in the forest. It was hard to get out school. And I have work to attend to, see you at 7 for dinner in the main dining hall."

On the other side of town.

"Mom! Are you home? Hello? Geesh I just get home and she's not here?" Out from 3 of the doors in the house came her mother, aunt, cousins and a few people she wasn't sure she knew or remembered. "Oh my sweet girl! I could never leave when my beautiful, extremely intelligent daughter was coming home! Did you drive or fly? She hugged her mother. I drove my Ford mother. How could I fly or transport that far. You know I'm not that good at transporting. How are you mom? You sounded like you had a cold or something." " Well my sweet girl, I went and picked camomile in our favorite place made tea like we used to do and I'm doing much better. Your Auntie Clarissa has come to stay to help me out a bit." " That's great mom, I'm glad to know you're not alone. Are you going to be up for going to my graduation?" " Of course! You've made me so proud with getting your doctorate in medicine. Oh well can we call you Doctor Falicia now! I would be so happy for you to find a mate.You are part wolf. By the way. I am so sorry you had to go through that alone. I am upset with myself for not explaining what would happen, although I am no expert." "No mom it's OK. I have 2 friends at school that are wolf and one Lycan. Even 3 witches, I made it through my first change easily". My dear, where are they all from do you know? You must be careful!" I know mom. Cara, Carla, and Carol are triplets from Texas. They came to go to Northern Colorado University just as everyone else. They have no affiliations here, well except all of us that are friends. Cara is a Medical doctor, Carla is a business wizard, and carol is a computer hacker.. well at least that's how she explains it. They are fun I will introduce you!" " Ok, for now let's get you unpacked. Your party awaits! "

Falicia was way ahead of the others her age. Her mother taught her. What she didn't know she called on her uncle to transport over and explain things. It put her ahead and she graduated high school at 15. Her grades were exceptional. She never missed a day. The Northern Colorado University had everything she needed. All she ever wanted was to help people. She nursed sick animals all the time. She loved the outdoors..

The party ran a bit late but She was up with the sun, dressed in her blue sundress, her tall brown boots. and a Jean jacket, she walked off to the pond to get some camomile and Strawberries that the first ones just started to turn red. She knew every herb, fungi and plant that was there. She had planted them when she was a child. The herbs n berries that didn't grow naturally in that area, she transplanted. She laid in the grass as she did when she was young enjoying the clouds. Soon she walked up to the pines she remembered that cute, handsome boy against the tree. She remembered his name, Renaldo.

He Stretched, yawned and rolled out of bed. Weaved his way to the shower, pushing the button on his coffee pot in his mini kitchen in his room on the way. Out of the shower coffee in hand, He had dressed for a run in the woods. His mother was a werewolf, father a Lycan. So he was a bit unique. He could run as a wolf, or spar and train as a Lycan. He wanted to run so badly. At school in the north there was nowhere his guards would let him let loose and run. But he had hit the gym everyday. He only had a few Friends Carl was one. He had triplet sister's and Renaldo was male, he was so happy to be around. Living with little girl's all his life he was greatful for his male friend. He was in some classes with Renaldo ,but the last few years he went into the medical field. He had computer science doctorate also. Always said he'd get his name in the history books for creating something new in the medical industry. Renaldo was happy for a Friend that wasn't a guard in his father's employ. He did sneak out a few times with Carl, They had driven out to the Rocky mountain national park a few times. They went to the wild animal sanctuary area but was afraid of getting in trouble running at night. Carl's mother is a witch, his father a werewolf. When his mother had passed when he was so young, his father passed recently. His new step mother his father fished her out of the Rio Grande river while on their boat fishing. The nasty king on the other side the river tried to kill her and her child. She made it out. They never found her child sadly. Ramona was great and they all loved her as their own mother. They are Royalty but they try not to act like it so they fit in. Carl's witch qualities aren't great, but he has his sister's to help him out. Renaldo had invited Carl to come with him, but his mother insisted he go home until graduation.

Renaldo went downstairs. Noone was up except the kitchen staff who had just started preparing breakfast for everyone. He stepped in the kitchen, they all stopped and curtsied. One of them who had more buttons undone than she should tried to be sexy and ask him if there was anything, anything he wanted. To her disappointment he smiled and said "no".Held his coffee up "I'm good." As he walked out they all chided her on being so bold.She said" oh I'm not finished with him. I will get his attention one day!" He walked out to the gardens breathing the late spring early summer air. Closing his eyes and hearing the birds. He finished off his coffee and went to the Cabana removed his clothes and changed into his one very large black wolf. much bigger than any of the other he had ever seen. Carl taught him to fight, as he was not to do that, as a prince he was to be guarded. But he loved fitness and sparing with the guards. In his wolf he could do everything. He took off down the path as fast as he could go. Feeling the cool wet ground under his paws, smelling all the new baby animals about. As he came close to the huge white pines he found a smell that stopped him so fast he almost rolled. Mate! He slowly, as light as his paws could be, looked beyond the trees. That girl that called him cute, was grown up, laying in the grass, eyes closed with a smile on her face. He was smelling Vanilla, camomile, and mint. To him it was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She looked familiar but he didn't know how. He wondered what she'd think.

She open her eyes and sat up, sniffing the air. What is that smell? Pine, Cinnamon and maybe maple? She stood up and was walking his way. As she looked through the trees, she saw the biggest black wolf she had ever seen. She almost screamed, it was gone in a second. Mate is what was coming to her mind as she ran home.

Her mother was up. "Hey Sweety where did you run off to so early?" She held up the flowers and baggie she had collected. Her mom took it with a huge smile. "You remembered. Let's get these washed and in the dryer so we can use them." She wondered if she should tell her mom about the run in with a huge wolf, her mate. No she will wait for another day. "I went early so we could just spend today relaxing. I could use a day with just laying around doing not much of anything."

As Renaldo ran home back to the Cabana. He put his swim trunks on and dove in the deep end of the pool.

He needed cooled off. Should he tell his father? No, maybe I'll talk to Carl. I don't know what dad would think of her. I will wait till after graduation. But I have to tell Carl. He's going to flip!