64

Rhen

I was walking down the hallway with Jedidiah close behind me and I saw my parents in the kitchen eating lunch. "Good afternoon everyone," I said and they all looked up at me. "Rhen! You look so much better! Are you feeling better?" My mom ran to me and gave me a hug. "I'm doing great mom. I actually wanted to talk to you all about something." I pulled away and sat across from them and with perfect timing River walked in the kitchen. "Rhen, you have risen from the dead." He came and gave me a hug, I missed him. "River sit, I want your opinion on this too," I said. "Okay. I'm scared." I laughed lightly at him and everyone looked at me expectantly. "I want to go to school. Please." I asked trying to stand my ground. "I don't think that's a good idea." My dad said. "Why? Jedidiah would be the one to pick me up and drop me off. I am not in danger anymore, I don't have that stupid curse. I am finally normal and that means public schooling. I will be with River, and of course Vincent and Bellamy. I will be safe. Please, please, please." I basically begged them. "I would enroll in the school but I don't exactly blend in," Jedidiah said. "Dad, I think it would be a good idea. Let the girl go to school." River said biting into an apple.

"Alright fine. Since I am being ganged upon. Fine but Jedidiah will be there to drop you off and pick you up. You also will have a class with Vincent, Bellamy or River, or all three. Stay with someone at all times, understand?" My dad said. I smiled so big and jumped up to hug him. "Thank you! Thank you! I need to call Bellamy and go school shopping. Mom you and Christina can come with us?" I asked her. "Oh yes! I would love to. I am going to call Christina right now." My mom hopped up and went into the family room. "Looks like it's just a girl's trip. Jedidiah you can stay here with River and I and help with some pack things." My dad said. "Oh come on? Dad. On a Saturday? I was going to hang out with Kailani all day, she doesn't know many people." River exclaimed. "She can come with us. I'm sure she can use some new clothes for school too." I shrugged. "Either way you are staying here with me, River." My dad was very opinionated. "Ugg fine, let me go call Kailani." He got up and walked out. "We will be ready in 30 minutes!" I yelled at him.

I got up and gave my dad a kiss on the forehead and then headed upstairs with Jedidiah behind me. I walked to my room and looked for my phone. I texted Bellamy and within seconds she was down to go shopping. I grabbed my purse and stood in front of Jedidiah. "Looks like we both are having bonding time today. You and my dad, and brother." I said fixing his shirt. "Yeah...and you girl time? Make some friends." He pulled me closer to him. "Yeah, and buy some lingerie..." He growled and pushed me against the wall. Hook. Line. Sinker. "What? It's for later of course." I said smirking at him. "This high school thing I am not too happy about." He said. I raised my hand to his face and pulled him closer to mine. "Trust me, when I say you're the only one I want. And those high school boys, are little toothpicks compared to you." I looked down at his lips and they were looking very inviting. He started leaning closer and closer and just as he was about to finally put his lips on mine. "Hey Rhen, we are ready to go," Bellamy said. "Oh wait, did I ruin a moment?" I looked over to her and gave her a small smile. Jedidiah groaned lowly in irritation, only I heard it though. "It's okay. I am coming." She smiled and walked away. I leaned up and gave Jedidiah a kiss on the cheek. "I will see you later." I smiled at him, grabbed my purse and phone and walked out of the room.

I walked downstairs and all of the girls were down there waiting for me. "Alright let's go." I smiled at them and walked over to Bellamy. "Dad, be nice." I gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked toward the door. Today is going to be fun.

*****

We made it to the mall and made a game plan in how we are doing this. Mom and Christina are going to go on there own and we three go separately. "Alright, ladies we will see you at 3." My mom said walking away with Christina. "I have never been to the mall before," I said. "Oh, you came with the right girl. Follow me. I am going to have you both styling and profiling for school on Monday." Bellamy said. She grabbed me and Kailani's hand and the first stop was American Eagle.

"This place is amazing. These jeans!" I yelled looking through them. "I don't think I have seen anything this beautiful ever," Kailai said. She and I were in a trance. "Alright ladies, let the games begin." We went straight to the jean and started to grab every pair of jeans I possibly could that was in my size. I looked over to Kailani and she only had two pairs. "Kailani go grab some more clothes girl," I said walking toward her. "These jeans are really expensive and these are the only ones I can afford." I looked at her questioningly when she said that. "Did River not give you the black card?" I asked her. "Well yes, but I really don't feel comfortable using it." She said. I rolled my eyes at her. "You are family. Our money is your money. Now grab anything and everything you want." I gave her a soft smile and walked toward the shoes. "Whoa now, this is only the first store, Rhen. We have plenty more to go. Don't go too overboard." Bellamy laughed at me. "This is my first time ever shopping. All I ever did was wear cloaks and I finally have the chance to wear real clothes and be real." I said to her. She grabbed some of the jeans and held them for me. "Okay. I get it. Today we splurge. Let's go crazy!" She yelled grabbing multiple pairs of shoes.

We were in the checkout and we realized there is no way we could carry this all. "We are going to have to take it to the car and then come back in," I said to Bellamy. "How much do you think this is going to cost?" Asked Kailani. "Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to." Bellamy laughed at Kailani as her face slightly paled. The poor retail workers face when he saw all of our clothes. "School shopping." I smiled at him.

After about 30 minutes everything was finally scanned and bagged. "The total is $5,000." He gulped looking at the price. "Cash or card?" I pulled out the black card from my wallet and handed to him. "Here you go." He took it from me and looked at it. "Wait...your name is Rhen? As in the hidden princess Rhen? I heard about it all on the news about your evil Lycan, glad you are okay Princess." I just smiled at him, took the cards back and grabbed our bags.

We put all of our bags back in the car and walked back inside. "I kind of want to stop by victoria secret," I said to the girls. "Oh? You and Jedidiah finally getting freaky?" Bellamy said wiggling her eyebrows. "That's my brother you are talking about!" Kailani faked gagged as we walked in. "Well, I could say the same to you. You are my brother's mate." I looked at her raising an eyebrow. "We haven't yet." I saw her blush and I couldn't help but laugh. "Don't be embarrassed! I haven't even kissed Jedidiah yet." I picked up a pair of red panties. "Don't worry I have known my mate for years and we still haven't--" Bellamy said, wait she has a mate? "Wait you have a mate?" I asked her. "Yeah. I have known since I was 16." Well, this is news. "Who is it? Tell me." I grabbed her arm to get her attention. "Okay but you guys have to promise not to say anything to anyone. Only a few people know about it." She led Kailani and me to the dressing room.

"Okay listen, don't freak out just let me explain." She took a deep breath and looked over at Kailani and she shrugged. "It's Vincent." Hold up. "Vincent? Your brother?" I almost threw up honestly. I heard about the moon goddess giving same-sex mates but not...incest. "Yes. Wait. No. Vincent isn't my biological brother, he was adopted by parents because they thought they couldn't have kids. Then a year later they had me. When we found out we didn't know how to act. We ignored each other and didn't tell our parents. I had no idea he was adopted, they didn't tell us. Eventually, the mate bond was so strong we had to tell them and they explained everything. We were told to keep our relationship a secret, but I wanted to tell you guys because I am tired of hiding. I want to roam free around the castle with my mate. Your parents know Rhen, and so does River. Please don't look at me any differently." I could see her eyes start to water and yet relief also. "We would never." Kailani took the words right out of my mouth. "I know this is our first time all hanging out but I can tell we are going to be close. We're family." I grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. "Now lets finish shopping."

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