The Prophesied Triplets

Book 1: Chapter 3

2 Years later...

Serafina’s POV (Age 6)

“Hahaha. Catch me if you can Papa!” I squealed as I ran through the forest faster and faster as a huge gray and black wolf was chasing me. That wolf was my papa in his wolf form. Chase was our favorite game to play together. I was a great jumper and very fast for a young one that didn’t have a wolf yet.

I ran and dogged Papa’s attempts at catching me. “Come on papa! Are you losing your touch? Hahaha.” I said in a teasing tone. Though I spoke too soon. As soon as I slowed down to jump up into a tree, Papa had gently tackled me to the ground. I squealed in shock then started laughing as I looked at Papa hovering over me.

‘So who is losing their touch now, little one?’ papa asked in our mind link. I laughed at him. “You are.” I said. Papa gave me a playful grow and then started licking me all over. I squealed again as I tried to get away from his sloppery wolf tongue.

“Hahaha. Ok, I surrender Papa. I’m sorry.” I said as I sat up. Papa moved over and sat down still in wolf form. He thumped his big fluffy tail back and forth just staring at me. “Awww please forgive me for the mean comment, Papa. You know I love you no matter what.” I said as I got up and hugged the big wolf’s neck as best I could with such little arms.

Papa purred and gave me a big slobbery lick across my face followed by a lot of little ones. “Ah, Hahaha. Stop Papa that tickles.” I squealed as he used his nose to push me over and continued licking me. My laughter filled the forest, then I heard a howl. It was Mama, it was time to come home for supper.

‘Time to go home my little one. We mustn’t keep Mama waiting for us.’ Papa said through the mind link and laid down so I could climb up on his back. I climbed up and held on to the scruff of his neck. Papa was one of the fastest wolves in the whole kingdom. Papa stood up and ran back towards our home.

“Yahoo. Faster papa faster.” I cried out. Papa growled and started going faster. I was laughing the whole way home. I loved it when I got to ride on Mama’s or Papa’s wolf. They had the softest fur and they were so strong. I couldn’t wait to have a wolf of my own.

Once we got home. Mama was out in front waiting for us. She was pregnant with my little brother, so she couldn’t shift and run with us in the forest for a while, so when she needs us she channels her wolf through her human body to howl. I was so happy to be a big sister next month.

I couldn’t wait, but I was also excited because I was going to see Andrew again. Because starting tomorrow I was going to be introduced to him as his bodyguard, just like Papa was for his majesty the King, my Uncle Julius. I was finally of age to be the prince's bodyguard, and he was finally home from that royal training school.

"Well, how was your day sweetheart? Did you finally outrun your papa?" Mama asked. I slid off Papa's back and shook my head. "Nope papa is still too fast, but I'll keep working hard to be faster. I'm going to be a great warrior just like you and Papa." I said with full determination.

Mama smiled sweetly at me and I heard Papa chuckling behind me. He had shifted back into a man before I knew it. My papa had light brown hair, with big brown eyes, he also had a scar on his face from being hit with a silver pipe when a drunk human encountered him in his wolf form. Mama was the most beautiful woman I knew.

She had sunshine blonde hair and baby blue eyes. I also had blonde hair, but my eyes were a deep forest green. Prue green eyes were a rare trait among any creature along with solid blue and red. Most creatures had a special mix of colors in their eyes or just plain brown and hazel, so Mama always told me that my eyes made me special.

“Are you excited about tomorrow sweetheart?” Mama asked while we sat down for dinner. Mama made chicken and potatoes. “I can’t wait. I have been since you and Aunt Emeline told me about it last week. I’ve been training extra hard to prove that I am just as good of a bodyguard as Papa was when he was my age.” I said while slightly bouncing in my seat.

Papa smiled at me while fixing my plate. “Are you sure that is the only reason?” He asked in a teasing tone. I smiled brightly at him. “No, I can not wait to see Andrew again. I can’t wait to show him how much I have grown and how strong I am since last time.” I said proudly. I have missed my best friend so much it hurt at times.

Mama and Papa both smiled at me. “Remember though Serafina. What are you to call Uncle Julius and Aunt Emeline when at public events?” papa asked, while he handed me a plate full of food. “I am to address them as either ‘your majesties.’ or ‘my king and queen’' I answer before taking a big bite of Mama’s potatoes.

Papa nods in approval. Uncle Julius told me all the manners a bodyguard should have when at public events, especially when visiting another kingdom. Even though the elders taught me that stuff a couple of years ago.

After dinner I help Mama clean the kitchen, then I shower and Papa and Mama tuck me into bed. “Goodnight my little one.” Papa said, kissing the top of my head. “Goodnight sweetheart.” Mama said then kissed both my cheeks. I yawned “Goodnight mama, papa. I love you both.” I said as I curled up in my blanket “We love you most.” They said in unison as they got up to leave my bedroom.

(The next morning)

As the sun starts to rise, its rays shine into my room through the window. I wake up and stretch. I jump out of bed and get dressed. I dashed downstairs and saw Uncle Tom. “Uncle Tommy!” I ran and jumped up, giving him a big hug. “Whoa, there little sprout. What are you doing up so early and so full of energy?” He said with a deep chuckle in his voice.

I saw his eyes filled with a hint of sadness as they settled on my side. I have a scar from when I saved Uncle from that demon that tried to force mark him. Uncle Tom has always felt sad about it and blames himself. “I’m starting my new bodyguard duties today. I’m a big girl now.” I told him with a huge smile on my face. Trying to change the mood in his eyes.

He laughs again and twirls me around in one of his bear hugs. “Oh, that's right. You are our big protector now. It is a big job being the bodyguard to the prince. Think you are up for the task?” He asks in a low voice like a spy chief asking an agent to fulfill their mission.

I have always liked playing spies with Uncle Tom. I stand at attention and play along. “Of course I am, I was trained by the very best!” I tried to make a serious face and give a little salute, but then Uncle Tom and I burst out laughing just as Mama and Papa were walking into the living room.

“Good morning you two. What is so funny so early in the morning?” Papa asks, looking between me and Uncle Tom. “Oh, nothing. Just some spy talk before our big girl here goes to her very important job.” Uncle Tom says with a wink my way.

I wink back and Mama starts to giggle while Papa rolls his eyes at his brother. “Well how about if my big girl helps me in the kitchen so we can get some breakfast on the table before we leave?” I jumped up and ran over to the kitchen ahead of Mama “Yes ma’am. I’m a big helper.” I helped Mama make pancakes with fresh cut strawberries. Mama, papa, and Uncle Tom all laughed at how excited I was all morning.

After breakfast the four of us got ready to go to the castle. Uncle Tom and Papa shifted into their wolf forms. Unlike Papa’s grey and black fur, Uncle Tom’s wolf, Buck, had beautiful tan fur. If the sun hit it right it would look like gold. Mama got onto Papa’s back and I got onto Uncle Tom’s back. “Mama, papa. Ready to race?” I asked, sitting on Uncle Tom’s back.

Mama laughed and whispered something into Papa’s ear. Then she started to count down. “3… 2… 1… GO!” As soon as Mama said go, Uncle Tom and Papa took off like a couple of bullets. It was about a 15 minute run from our cottage to the castle.

It was neck and neck for most of the way. Uncle Tom and Papa were both really fast wolves, but Papa jumped over a brick wall and made it across the river before Uncle Tom and I did. Uncle Tom playfully growled when we got to the castle gates. He and Papa shifted back before we went inside. “That was cheating!” he declared. “All is fair in love and war, little brother.” Papa said while giving Uncle Tom a nuggie.

They were about to start roughhousing until Mama stopped them. “Alright boys, let's go.” she said and they stopped and walked in with us. I held Mama’s hand as Papa and Uncle Tom walked in front of us. The castle had a lot of wolf statues and paintings hanging in the hallways. I always loved looking at them when we came over to the castle.

We entered the throne room where Uncle Julius and Aunt Emeline were sitting in their thrones, and next to Uncle Julius’s throne was a smaller throne, where Prince Andrew was sitting. He looked as if he was bored to be here, but as soon as his eyes landed on me he perked up with a huge smile on his face.

He looked so handsome. His jet black hair was still a bit messy, almost as if he had just woken up. His eyes were a silver grey that almost sparkled in the light.

We bow to the royal family. Then Uncle Julius comes forward with Prince Andrew alongside him. “Andrew, you remember Serafina Mayer. She is your permanent bodyguard from here on out.” Uncle Julius said while gently pushing Prince Andrew forward to face me at the same time mama pushed me forward as well.

Prince Andrew looked me up and down, then turned back to his father with a small frown on his face. I was confused at why he would be frowning at me. “No thanks, Dad. How is some little girl supposed to protect me? She doesn’t even look that strong like any other girls.” he said. I was dumbfounded.

‘EXCUSE ME!?’ I thought to myself. Everyone was shocked at what Andrew had just said. Especially since we are the best of friends and we have always known that I would be his bodyguard. “Excuse me your highness, but are you calling me weak?” I asked with a forced smile on my face.

I was trying to still remember my manners, but calling me weak was the same as calling my family weak since I was specially trained by my mama, my papa, and my Uncle Tom. Prince Andrew looked back at me and smirked because he had to look down since he was taller than me. He was even more handsome than when he first left for the royal training school, but his attitude was pissing me off.

“Yes. You are short and skinny. I doubt you have any proper muscles to lift boxes let alone to stop someone from trying to hurt me.” He said smugly and with total confidence that he was right about me. I could feel my eyebrow twitching. ‘Serafina, calm down.’ papa's mind linked me. I was still smiling but I snapped.

I knew no one had told Andrew about what happened with the female demon after he left, so I walked over to one of the giant wolf statues in the room. It was about 6 feet tall and made of pure solid stone. I was about 3’7 for my age. I turned so I could see the prince’s smug face while I bent down and grabbed the base of the statute with my right hand.

“Is this what you call weak, my prince?” I asked innocently as I lifted the 6 foot statue over my head with one hand. The prince looked so shocked you would have thought he saw a ghost. Only my family, along with the king and queen, knew I was blessed with great strength and speed for a pup my age.

After I set the statue back down gently so I wouldn't damage it or the floor. And walked straight up to the prince and got in his face and jabbed him in his chest with one of my fingers.

“I have nothing but respect for your mother and father, but for being rude and disrespectful to my family that trained me to be your shadow, you will have to earn my respect. I swear to protect you with my life Prince Andrew, but I will not hesitate to put a spoiled brat like you in his place.” I growled at him. He is not the same person I knew before he left. He had changed.

Prince Andrew looked at me with wide eyes and his mouth dropped to the floor. Though I could see his eyes filled with something else. I couldn’t describe what it was. My whole family was wide eyed as well. I had just mouthed off and disrespected the crowned prince in front of his parents. Then both Uncle Julius and Aunt Emeline burst out laughing. That shocked everyone even more.

“I knew she would be the perfect person to be Andrew’s shadow.” Aunt Emeline said. Julius agreed “I know. Serafina is the only one that can be brutally honest while also minding her manners.” he said, then he looked towards his son.

“Now Andrew. Your behavior was completely out of line. You have known that the Mayer family has always been the shadows and bodyguards of the royal family regardless of gender. First born child shall be paired with the firstborn child. That is how it has always been and always shall be.” Uncle Julius said to him.

Prince Andrew bowed his head as his father scolded him. Well it was a rocky homecoming, but I sure hope we can smooth things out along the way. From today onward I was to be with the Prince every day and go everywhere with him. The only time I would leave him was at night when he was in the castle. ‘I hope he turns back into the same boy I knew two years ago.’ I silently prayed in my heart.

Prince Andrew’s POV (Age 9)

“Andrew, honey it’s time to get up. Serafina and her family should be here soon.” Mom called from the other side of my bedroom door. I snapped my eyes open, That's right. I get to see Serafina again. The bond between us will be strong like Uncle Roland and Dad’s bond. Dad was always a person of tradition, so even though Serafina is a girl, she if the firstborn of the Mayer family. I am so excited. I dressed and dashed down to the throne room.

After breakfast, I sat next to Dad in the throne room. I was on his right hand side. I smelled Uncle Roland and his family coming. I could not wait to see Serafina again. She was so adorable when I left. It was so hard to leave her back then, but she was not old enough to come with me to the royal training school.

I mean we had to wait until Prince Victor from the dragon kingdom was old enough to attend. I was the only one that did not have my personal bodyguard with me. Prince Victor’s bodyguard and friend was a year older than him and Prince Anthony, from the tiger kingdom, was the same age as his bodyguard. With Serafina being three years younger than me, she was not old enough to go with me.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard the doors open and they were walking in. I was dumbfounded. Serafina had changed so much while I was away. My girl was walking tall alongside Uncle Roland. She had long blonde hair, but her eyes were more beautiful than I remembered. They were a deep dark forest green and when the light caught them they sparkled like emeralds.

Then my dad says something I had honestly forgotten about. “Andrew, you remember Serafina Mayer. She is your permanent bodyguard from here on out.” he said. I looked her up and down. ‘That is right, she is supposed to be my bodyguard.’ I thought to myself with a frown. I didn’t want her to get hurt because of me. Just thinking of her getting hurt made it hard for me to breathe for a moment.

Maybe if I make her cry or insult her they won't make her my bodyguard for being too much of a pup still. I still wanted to be her best friend but I couldn’t live with it if she got hurt protecting me. “No thanks, Dad. How is some little girl supposed to protect me? She doesn’t even look that strong like any other girls.” I said to my dad trying to look as smug as possible.

I internally winced as I saw everyone’s shocked expressions in the room, her gorgeous eyes went wide before she smiled at me. Though I could tell she was forcing her smile. “Excuse me, your highness, but are you calling me weak?” she asked, still forcing a smile. I nodded and insulted her a little more.

I hope I was passing off as the smug, spoiled brat. Then she walked over to one of our stone wolf statues that was about twice her size. She turned and looked at me and with one freaking hand, she lifted the statue over her flipping head. Now it was my turn to be shocked, but I couldn’t help but admire her as well.

‘Dang. Not only is she beautiful but she is strong as hell. I wanted her to be mine in every way.’ my heart screamed out. I gulped as I hoped and prayed to the gods above with all my heart and soul that this girl was my mate when we come of age. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice that Serafina had put the statue back onto the floor. Until she came up to me and got in my face and started to poke me in the chest.

“I have nothing but respect for your mother and father, but for being rude and disrespectful to my family that trained me to be your shadow, you will have to earn my respect. I swear to protect you with my life Prince Andrew, but I will not hesitate to put a spoiled brat like you in his place.” she said with fire in her beautiful green eyes.

I was dumbfounded again. I couldn’t say anything. Though I didn’t want her to call me by my title. I was and always will be just Andrew for her. Then Mom and Dad burst out laughing. Mom said she knew Serafina was perfect for me, and I couldn’t agree with her more. She wasn’t just perfect to be my bodyguard, she was perfect to be my future queen, I just had to get Serafina to see that too.