Kristina unlocked the door to her apartment. The place was no palace, but hey, she was used to less. At least here she lived without her parents.

She let her long reddish-blond hair out of its ponytail. It had been a hard day. All Kriss wanted to do was take a bath and go straight to bed, but she knew that was not possible; it was, after all, her day to cook and Deed hated not eating as soon as she got home from work.

Kriss had met Deed when she'd first come to this city from her little town in the middle of nowhere in Illinois. Deed was working at the Grill in the Park the day Kriss came to town, and they'd hit it off right away. And now here Kriss was, living in New York City, working at an animal hospital as an apprentice, and going to school at the college nearby.

Kriss could still remember the first time she had ever spoken with Deed. Kriss was usually a very shy girl, thanks to twelve years of teasing from classmates. But there was something about Deed that reminded Kriss of her brother's hound dog back home on the farm or the coyotes that she would see running around in the forest behind her house. Kriss also remembered that Deed had told her that she smelled like home cooking. Kriss was used to strange things, so she just brushed it off. Kriss had actually moved to New York to stay with her brother, James, and his wife Jaime. She'd lived with them until Remie, their son, was born, then Kriss had moved in with Deed as was suggested.

Kriss looked into the refrigerator for something to cook for supper but found nothing. She really needed to do the grocery shopping, as it was her turn to do that also. Kriss walked over to the cabinets, singing one of her favorite songs:

"Little Red Riding Hood,
You sure are looking good..."

She could not remember the rest of the words so she just kept repeating them and howling as best she could. It always made Deed laugh when Kriss would sing the silly song. Kriss had been nicknamed Little Red ever since shed first sung it in front of Deed. Finally Kriss found a can of spaghetti sauce and a box of pasta, so she put on the food and went to get cleaned up.

Kriss slipped out of her scrubs and put on her satin pajamas. After, of course, saying 'hi' to her little dog and blind cat, she flopped down onto her bed and fell asleep. Soon Kriss was awakened by someone pounding on the door, so Kriss got up a little grumpy, but who wouldn't be after being woken up? At the door was Deed. She was yelling at Kriss for locking the door after coming in. Deed never carried her key because she always lost it at the publishers office when she went there, and she was there every week arguing with her publisher about something or another. Kriss had only accompanied her there once, but never went back because of all the yelling and growling that went on in the office between the two of them.

After the young girl, that was nicknamed Deed, walked in, she gave Kriss a look that could kill and Kriss had to explain that once again she was nervous about being in the apartment all alone. Deed just rolled her eyes and threw her ever present backpack on the couch as she told Kriss that the building owners would not let anything happen to her. They were very dear friends of her grandfather. After explaining it to Kriss, Deed sniffed the air and asked Kriss if something was burning. Kriss's eyes became as large as saucers and she screamed in her own little language that she had made up to keep herself from cursing. She ran into the kitchen to find the pasta boiled down dry, and the sauce burnt beyond recognition. After cleaning up the pans, Deed suggested that they just go eat at the Grill and she would pay for it with her check, like they did every time one of them burnt the food.

After devouring all of their food, the friends decided to go for a walk in the park to work off the large meal. Halfway through, Deed stopped and began sniffing the air like she did every time they walked in the park, but this time she pulled Kriss over to the bridge over the stream, and there, sitting on the edge, was a handsome young man with shaggy black hair and a long coat. As they neared the man he looked up and smiled almost like he was expecting them.

"Hello Saydee," the man spoke. His voice was deep and dripping with joy to see Deed. As the man came closer, Deed dropped her backpack and ran to the man's open arms. Kriss heard something before Deed ran over to the man: Fenil - what a name to be called!

Kriss noticed that the man had picked Deed up to hug her. When he finally released Deed, he turned to see Kriss and he took a big whiff. Kriss had to admit he was quite handsome. She smacked her hand because she had sworn when she had just gotten out of high school that she would not worry about getting a guy and would wait for her life mate instead. Kriss noticed how much this man looked like Deed - he even sniffed the air like Deed did all the time. Finally remembering Kriss, Deed introduced her friend to one of her brothers, Fenil.

Fenil took Kriss's hand and kissed it. Kriss, figuring that he was just a fan of medieval times and chivalry, thought nothing of the strange behavior. Moments after the meeting, Deed asked Fenil if everything was all right with Mom, Dad, and the rest of the family. Fenil could not hide his worry, so he just told his sister that Mom was not so good and that she had to come with him right away. Deed demanded more, so Fenil reluctantly told her that the baby was early, and that it might not live.

Deed began to cry and told Fenil that she would go straight home and get her things. Kriss and Fenil followed the girl all the way back to the apartment. Kriss had decided that she would ask if she could accompany them on the trip just in case. It was not until they all got into the apartment that Kriss noticed the strange clothing that Fenil was wearing.

Kriss went with Deed to her room and saw her knock on the back of the closet, and it opened and Deed dragged out an old trunk. When Kriss saw what was on the inside of the trunk she almost fainted: A bunch of fairy tale books, some strange clothes, and a box that Deed was pulled out first. The contents of the box was just two simple things: first, a crown, small and silver, and the second thing, which Deed actually put on, was an amulet in the shape of a tear drop. It had a howling wolf at the top, and a bird at the bottom. Deed emptied out the contents of her backpack and started shoving things from the trunk into the bag.

After getting Kriss to leave the room, Deed then put on a dress quickly enough to be fast but slow enough to cover everything. Deed then remembered she had left her charming brother with her best friend. Hopefully what she feared was not true.

Kriss was sitting on the couch with Case, her dog, on her lap, talking with Fenil. She learned that he and Deed were actually triplets and their last sister was a dancer back home, the best in the whole of the place. Fenil then, out of the blue, asked if Kriss had come from the forest. This surprised Kriss because she had not been in the forest for almost a year.

Deed came running in panting because she had run down the hall at full charge to try and stop whatever was happening in the living room. Fenil finally asked what Deed had been dreading him to ask: he asked Kriss if she would like to come home with them. So of course Kriss agreed to come with them and help out all that she could.

After growling at her brother, Deed went to help Kriss get the right things to take with her. Deed told Kriss that she should pack some skirts and dresses, not just pants. Without realizing what she was doing, Kriss threw the dagger that James had given her for Christmas into her backpack along with her medical emergency bag that she carried in her car just in case.

Deed came running back into the room huffing and puffing, probably from a fight with her brother. Fenil came wandering in after Deed sniffing everything in the apartment, and finally ending up next to the blind cat, Smidge, who hissed at the strange person in the room, which surprised Kriss because Smidge never hissed at anything other than Jessie, the hound dog back on the farm.

Deed was throwing some items into the bag. Kriss only halfway noticed the things going in - hiking boots, sun lotion - and then Kriss noticed Deed grabbing something from Kriss's closet - the dress she had made for Halloween, a medieval times dress. Scratching her head, Kriss just continued on with searching for things that she might need on the trip.

After Kriss had finished shoving things into her bag, they were off. Kriss noticed that they were walking back to the park. Finally sensing that something was wrong, Kriss asked where they were headed. Fenil just watched were he was going as he was pulling out a handkerchief. Fenil then told Kriss that they would explain later, and put the hanky over Kriss's eyes. The next thing Kriss knew was a strange sound and then the feeling of flight.

When Kriss felt the feeling of being on hard ground again, she took off the handkerchief so she could see where she had landed. When she opened her eyes, she was surrounded by mirrors. They looked just like the mirrors on Snow White, one of her favorite movies.

While looking at one of the mirrors, Kriss saw a two flashes of light behind her, and then she saw Deed and Fenil. Noting the look on Kriss's face, Deed just smiled and told her that she would explain everything after the trouble was averted.

Kriss stopped Fenil and asked him one thing - what Deed's last name was. Fenil laughed a little at his sister not telling her roommate her last name. The laugh made Kriss's heart jump and she did not understand why; sure, she had been under the effects of a crush before, but not like this. In fact, that was the reason why she had sworn to not worry about having a guy and just wait for her life mate, as she called it. Fenil could tell that she was worried or confused about something and asked her what it was that troubled her. Kriss just told him that she would explain later, first the full name.

Fenil smiled at the girl in front of him. His heart would jump every time this girl would speak. He just breathed deep and told her that Deed's full name was Saydee Rose White Wolvesson, and his was Fenil Eric White Wolvesson. Kriss liked the name. It just sounded right for him. She was about to ask why they had the same third name when they heard footsteps in the hall. The footsteps soon gave way to the sound of the door opening and bringing eight other people into the room.

Kriss noted how each one of these new people responded to Fenil and her. First were the smallest of the group, two little girls with curly golden locks going down to their knees. They whined, and then hugged Fenil. Fenil introduced them to Kriss as his youngest cousins Tally and Molly, then they both sniffed at her and ran away giggling. Next came a boy about the age of fifteen. He did not whine or hug Fenil. Instead, he did a small bow and then shook his hand. Kriss was introduced to this boy as Trever, another one of his cousins. This boy sniffed at Kriss and walked away. The next three to come up to Fenil, hugged him joyfully, and welcomed him back - these three introduced themselves: First was Wesly, then Kasandra and finally Cindy. They hugged Kriss as though she were part of the family. Fenil whispered that they were his oldest cousins, a little younger then him, but the same age all the same. The last three that approached Fenil told him that he took too long in getting Saydee, but they were glad to have him home again and away from that kingdom. Fenil introduced Kriss to this last three with a smile on his face. First was the last of the triplets, Rory, then Score and Pixil, his brothers. Each of these people hugged Kriss also, who at this time was beginning to feel a little strange - she had never really enjoyed being hugged by strangers, but these people felt right. She did not understand it.

After Kriss got finished being hugged by Rory, another person came into the room. This was an older gentleman with blond hair that had a few streaks of grey in it, but he still looked very handsome and dignified. He also hugged Fenil and then, noticing Kriss, told Fenil to introduce them. Fenil introduced Kriss to his Uncle Wendell, the king of the Fourth Kingdom. Wendell whispered something into Fenil's ear and he began to grin. Kriss hated when she knew people were talking about her but she could not get over the king thing. Wendell's face turned back into a frown when Fenil asked how his mother was doing.

Apparently Fenil's mother was having another baby and it was coming too early. Kriss asked where this woman was and Fenil told her that his mother was having the baby in the birthing room of the palace and he had to get down there right away to help out - that it was a pack or family thing, and he ran off, leaving King Wendell and Kriss to try and have a conversation alone. Wendell noticed the bag that Kriss was holding and asked what was in it. Kriss showed him the emergency bag and such, but the thing that Wendell looked at the longest was the dagger that Kriss had forgotten she had packed. Before he could ask where she got the dagger from, Wendell was interrupted by one of the mirrors. In the mirror was a very pretty woman; she had long black hair that had streaks of grey in it also. Wendell and the woman spoke in hushed voices, though Kriss could have heard every word that they said. She had always had really good hearing - it got her in trouble sometimes, so she had learned to tune out certain things and that was exactly what she was doing so these two could have a little privacy.

After Kriss heard the sound of Wendell clicking the mirror off she turned back to give her attention to the king, who looked very worried about whatever he and the black-haired woman had been talking about. Before Wendell could say anything, Kriss heard a scream from down the hallway. It sounded to Kriss like someone was in extreme pain, so she ran out of the room leaving Wendell behind her. When she got to the source of the yelling she remembered the reason why she was here - she had accompanied Deed and Fenil here because their mother was going to have a premature baby, which meant it was probably going to be a breech.

Kriss had a little experience with breech birth animals, but none with humans, but she had to help. So Kriss went up to the very strange-looking doctor and asked if preparations had been made for the baby after it was born. The doctor gave her a strange look and told her that the baby was not going to live because it was early and all he could do was help the mother give birth and then end its suffering. Kriss did not like being told something could not live and she also hated the fact that this doctor was being so gloomy about it and right in front of the mother. Letting her temper get the best of her, Kriss began yelling at the poor doctor that she knew a little about premature animals and humans were only slightly different than animals, so maybe if he would stop being so gloomy they could save this baby. It was then that Kriss noticed that the mother was looking at her and so was the father - he was nodding his head in agreement and looked like he wanted to bite someone.

The couple, seeing the woman was not having a contraction at the moment, asked her name and she told them 'Kriss.' The couple introduced themselves - the mother was named Virginia and the father was named Wolf. Kriss loved that name and she even told the man so. He smiled at her compliment and asked her if she really did think they could save the baby. Kriss nodded a small yes and told the couple that she was not one hundred percent sure but she would try everything that she knew to save the little munchkin.

Fenil had heard the entire yelling fit of Kriss's and came walking in straight to her and kneeled and said that he would help her in any way he could. Then he did some strange sign language and said "wolf's honor." After all of that, he told her he would explain everything so she would be able to work easier and would not have any surprises.

Virginia whispered to Wolf that she liked this girl's stubbornness - it reminded her a lot of herself - also she whispered to her husband that she thought their son had found the one. Wolf got a big smile and just kissed his wife on the tip of her nose and told her that he agreed.

Before walking out of the room to where Fenil had gone, Kriss stopped and apologized to the doctor, telling him that they would have to work together if there would be any hope in saving the baby. The doctor gave Kriss a smile and told her that he was sorry for acting so gloomy in front of the parents; he told her that he would do all he knew to help the baby and her. In the back of the doctor's mind he was trying to figure out where he had seen that look in the girl's eyes before.

Kriss gave the strange-looking doctor a smile and told him that if Virginia went into active labor to come and get her. Kriss only hoped that the baby was not a breech birth because she did not have any pain relievers with her to help with the pain of the baby; she would have to look in her bag to see what she had brought with her that would help. Kriss and the doctor spoke for a few seconds as Kriss told him what he should do if the baby was coming too fast for her to get back. She told the funny-looking doctor that if the baby was coming out feet first he should help the mother by gently pulling the baby as Virginia pushed - not too hard though, or it would add to the pain.

As Kriss left the room she discovered that she did not know where she was going yet, but she knew where Fenil would be - it was getting stranger every second in this place. In a small room off of one of the main guest rooms was where Fenil was sitting, scratching at his temple, trying to explain his family to this girl that, to him, smelled like a morning walk in the forest.

When Kriss entered the room she looked very worried to Fenil. She told Fenil that she needed to look in her bag before they began their talk. Kriss noticed that Fenil looked very worried about more than just his mother, but she would ask him what was wrong later. Now she needed to get that bag.

Kriss opened the old leather bag and began dragging things out. She explained some of it to him such as the IV bag and tubing. She had stolen it from the vet to carry with her just in case. Kriss found a scalpel, and other things like that, but the thing she was happy that she had with her was a heating pad and some sterile blankets. Kriss told Fenil that she was the person that would assist the doctor out in the field with animals that could not be brought into the clinic so she had taken some of this stuff home with her by mistake. She gave an evil giggle that made Fenil's heart pound even faster than it already was just being near her.

Kriss remembered that she had forgotten to tell the doctor to clean something that they could use to put the baby in after it was born; something that would keep body heat in and germs out. She did not know how they were going to purify the air - they would have to make due with what they had.

After Kriss had put all of the things back into the bag, she told Fenil that she was ready to listen. Fenil began talking. He told Kriss that he was not what he seemed - most things in this place were not what they seemed. Kriss was getting more confused by each word that came from his mouth, but she sat quietly, waiting for him to finish. Fenil continued, going on to tell Kriss that he was the grandson of an evil queen, but his mother had saved the rulers of the kingdoms from her. Fenil finally told Kriss that his family was more like a pack then she knew.

Before Fenil could finish what he was going to tell her, the doctor came running in to get her. Virginia had gone into active labor and would be delivering soon. On her way down to the birthing room, Kriss ran into Deed, who was coming the other way, probably to fetch something, but Kriss had something that needed to be done. Kriss hurriedly asked Deed if there was a small room that had a fireplace in it that was near the birthing room. Deed told her yes, though she did not understand the reason why she would need such a room. Deed told Kriss that there was a room right off of the birthing room that was used by the doctor during long deliveries.

Kriss turned to find Fenil right behind her. She giggled a little, but then she told him go get a maid or something and clean the entire room, put a fire in the fireplace, then take all the furniture out of the room except a cradle and possibly a small table and chair just in case Virginia wanted to go in there. Fenil rushed off to do the tasks that Kriss had asked him to do; he could not explain why he wanted so much to please this girl.

Kriss had sent him on this task because for some reason she could not concentrate on anything when he was around her; she had never been like this before. It made Kriss want to pull out her hair because she had spent all of her life trying to train herself to pay attention to the task at hand and it took just one little smile from Fenil to break down that training. Of course, some of that training had been to make her not care what others thought of her - that she could feel crumbling every time he would walk near her.

When Kriss walked into the birthing room, she found King Wendell, the black haired woman, and a couple of the teenagers. Kriss could not remember their names but she would have to ask them later. Right now she had to help with the birth of the baby.

Kriss could tell the kind of pain Virginia was in - and the pain Wolf was in. He had given her his writing hand. Kriss giggled that he would not be able to do much with that hand for a couple of days.

Kriss was now in pure work mode and would need all of the people to help with this, so she set to giving everyone jobs to do. Of course Wolf and Virginia already had their job, as did the doctor. Wendell was set to being the go-for man so he would not be in the room as long as the rest of them. The black haired woman was set to dab Virginia's face and possibly help Wolf out with the coaching. The two teenagers were sent to help with the cleaning and sterilizing of the room - the less people in the room, the easier for Kriss and the doctor.

After finishing with the job orders, Kriss turned her attention back to Virginia and Wolf. She told Virginia to relax just a little so the doctor could check one more time on the baby. The doctor took his cue and went over to check on the baby one last time and found they were going to have more problems then either of them had anticipated. The baby was in fact breech but it was not coming feet first; it was coming bum first. Kriss scanned her memory for what to do in this situation. When it finally came to her, she whispered to the doctor what he had to do. Because she had not really had much experience in the birth of babies, they had decided that she would tell the doctor what to do in an emergency. Kriss whispered to the doctor that he had to reach in and turn the baby so the feet came our first, it would cause some pain but would be easier on the baby in the long run.

Telling Wendell to get the gauze wrap out of her bag, Kriss walked over to Virginia to tell her what they were going to do. Kriss always believed the patient should be informed of everything happening. Kriss told Virginia, who was in extreme pain, that the baby was in fact breech but they would have to turn the baby so it would come out feet first instead of bum. Wolf looked nervous and very shaky as he asked Kriss if the baby would be all right. Kriss told him that it would be easier to deliver the baby feet first than bum, but it would cause immense pain to Virginia.

Virginia looked at Kriss with trusting eyes and told her to do all she could. Wendell found the gauze wrap and brought it over to Kriss. Kriss told Virginia to bite down on the gauze. She also told Wolf not to give Virginia his writing hand. The process was done very slowly so as not to cause Virginia too much pain - each person was busy doing what they were told to do.

After the baby was turned so it would come feet first, Virginia was told to push. The pushing went slower than usual because the doctor kept having to check to make sure about various things, like that the baby was not stuck or that Virginia was not tearing. As the baby's bum came out Kriss noticed something very strange - she saw a tail, but figured it was nothing, just a malformity that would not cause the kid any real health problems. The hips of the baby came next, then the chest; one arm then the other, and finally the hardest part of having a breech birth - the shoulders.

The head came and the little one did not cry - it was blue - but Kriss remembered that most babies were blue when first born. Kriss grabbed a suction ball and began sucking the fluid out of the baby's lungs and mouth. Wolf was looking at her with a very worried look; then the baby took its first breath, then its second. It still did not cry but Kriss figured that it would cry plenty in the time to come, so why rush it?

The baby did whimper a little, so that satisfied Kriss as a cry; at least the baby was making some noise. Kriss took the baby straight to the small room she had prepared. The baby would need to be kept warm - that is why she had told them to clean the room and build a fire in the fireplace. Kriss told Virginia that as soon as she was cleaned up, Wolf could carry her in to see their new little baby girl. Wolf fainted at the sound of a baby girl, he had always loved having a little daddy's girl around. Virginia summoned Kriss forward and whispered very tiredly a thank you - then she fell asleep. Kriss stayed in the little room with the baby the entire night; she could not believe what she had helped to do. Kriss began to sing to the little thing, no bigger then her forearm, and sighed at the sight.

The baby was given some goat's milk until Virginia woke up, then it would be given mommy's finest. Wolf came into the room a couple of times to check on his little girl, who did not yet have a name - he and Virginia had not had time to think of any. Every time Wolf came in, before he left he would thank Kriss for saving his little girl. He also said that they would all have to talk once Virginia was ready.

Kriss did not remember falling to sleep but when she woke up she was still sitting in the makeshift nursery, leaning against the crib. Kriss checked on the baby. Its heart rate was a little fast but Kriss did not see a reason to worry for just one or two beats extra per minute. The baby also had a slight fever that could be just from the warmth of the room. The baby was doing great and Kriss really had to go to the bathroom, but something in the back of her mind was telling her they didn't have indoor plumbing at this place. So Kriss decided to go for a little walk - either that or ask someone if there was a bathroom somewhere around here.

Before Kriss could leave the nursery, Wolf came in again to see the baby. Usually Kriss would give him the bottle and let him feed her while watching, but this time she figured that he could handle it. She asked Wolf if the palace had an indoor bathroom or if she would have to use the bushes outside. Wolf told her that Tony was working on it but was not being very successful. There were toilets in the palace, just no running water, so no flushing; the maids had to dump them.

Kriss told the older man that she would just go for a little walk out in the woods that she had seen outside while getting her medical bag. Before she left, Wolf told Kriss that if Fenil asked her to play hide-and-seek with him don't - it would only lead to trouble, especially seeing as they were not dating yet. It would not be right to just play hide-and-seek without getting to know each other first. Kriss was confused by this but figured it was something to do with their culture.

On her way down to find the door, Kriss ran into the two little blond girls in the hallway. They said hello and also told Kriss not to go play hide-and-seek with Fenil. Farther down the hallway, Kriss ran into Deed, who was carrying a plate of bacon and a glass of milk. They said hello and Deed jokingly told Kriss to beware if Fenil asked her to play hide-and-seek with her. Kriss could take this no longer. She had to know why they should not play a child's game. Deed told Kriss that she was conceived during one of her father's games of hide-and-seek, as were Score and Pixel. Kriss finally understood the meaning behind Wolf, the two blonds, and Deed telling her not to play hide-and-seek.

A little further down the hallway, Kriss spotted a man that she had not met yet. He was very tall, he did not have much hair, and the hair that he did have was grey or as her dad would call it, blond. The thought of her dad made Kriss almost cry but she had promised herself that she would not cry - it had been for the best when she left home.

The man came up to Kriss and asked if she was okay. Kriss saw a look in this man's eyes that she had not seen in a long time - concern for someone else. Kriss told the man that she would be fine, it had just been a long night; then she asked the man's name to add to the people that she had already met. He told her his name was Tony. Kriss figured this must be the Tony that Wolf had mentioned in the nursery. Kriss introduced herself and now it was Tony's turn to look sad. Kriss asked what was wrong and Tony told her that he used to call his wife that before she left him. Kriss asked Tony if he was Virginia'a father. He told her yes and that he was proud of it. Kriss giggled and told him that he had something new to be proud of - a new granddaughter that was waiting to meet him. Tony told her thank you, but before he left, he asked how Virginia was doing. Kriss told him fine but that she had not seen the baby yet, so he could either take Virginia to the baby or the baby to Virginia for a few minutes. Tony smiled as he walked down the hallway toward the direction that Kriss had pointed.

Outside, the air was a little chilly, but that did not bother Kriss. She had a purpose for being outside and that was what she had to see to first. Kriss had experience with using a bush, so she did not find that too hard - she had been camping so many times in her life she could not count them.

Another painful memory began to come forward, but Kriss just pushed it down. She was not going to remember that night, no sirree. After she finished her business in the bush, Kriss decided that she would explore a little in the forest; but no more memories.

After about ten minutes of walking in the forest, Kriss began to wish Fenil was there with her. She did not know why - she had always prided herself on being a good, forestry kind of person, so why was she wishing that Fenil was there with her? Kriss began talking to herself, a habit she'd had since she was in grade school; she began to talk in the language that she had made up for herself.

As if she had summoned him, Fenil came loping through the trees and tackled her. Kriss giggled at him as he pinned her down until she said 'uncle.' Then he still did not let her up - he was just staring into her eyes. It made Kriss shiver under her sweater; she had never in her life been looked at like that before. Kriss never looked anyone in the eyes because of her timidness toward people, but Fenil was different. He had the spirit of an animal.

As she stared into the eyes of Fenil, Kriss noticed the color of his eyes - a piercing green - a green that looked as though it could look into a person's soul. As Kriss thought, the tension in the moment began to swell. Kriss did not know what Fenil was going to do. Fenil finally stopped the tension of the moment by leaning down and kissing her for their first kiss. When they separated, Fenil had an even more intense look on his face. He then asked if she wanted to play a game with him. Kriss got an evil smirk on her face and asked if the game happened to be hide-and-seek. Fenil gave her a grin that almost made her want to play, but she couldn't. The memory of her promise to her dad stayed strong. No matter how hard Kriss tried, she just could not get the words out of her head. Kriss gently told Fenil that she had always promised that she would wait until she was married to play hide-and-seek. Kriss wanted to explain in the most simple terms to keep from crying. Fenil looked hard in thought and then he gave her the same evil grin that he had given her last time and told her they could still play and not go all the way. For some reason Kriss liked this idea. It had always been her fantasy to make out in the middle of the forest. But Kriss wanted to hear what Fenil had been going to tell her the day before, right before the baby was born.

Fenil looked a little disappointed and told Kriss that all would be explained at dinner that night. Fenil then added that the dinner was in her honor because she'd saved a princess that would have died if not for her. Kriss was surprised by the honor and could not think of anything to do, so she just tackled Fenil and kissed him again. All of the memories were forgotten in just a few minutes with Fenil.

A half an hour later when Kriss and Fenil finally separated, they laid in the soft grasses on the floor of the forest talking of various things. Fenil then asked Kriss where her parents were. Kriss did not want to tell him yet - she was so happy just lying there in his arms. Then Kriss told Fenil that she would tell him about them later; right now they had to get back to the palace for dinner. If dinner was going to be in her honor, Kriss would want to wear something nice, not to mention something that was not wrinkled and had dead leaves and such on it.

They sat there in the grass for a little longer, not wanting to go back to the palace and disturb that moment. Fenil was stroking Kriss's hair and kept touching her ear and neck, which sent chills down Kriss's spine. If they did not go back to the palace she was going to tackle him again and then who knew what would happen? After a much shorter kiss, Kriss told Fenil that they should get back before they sent out the dogs for them.

The look that Fenil gave Kriss was a look of confusion. He asked why Uncle Wendell would want to send out dogs to get them. Kriss had to giggle and told him that it was only an expression that some people use. Fenil jumped up and told Kriss that if she wanted to go back they should. Fenil reached out his hand to help Kriss up. Kriss took the hand that he offered her and climbed to her feet. Kriss began singing,

"Little Red Riding Hood,
You sure are looking good;
You're everything that a big bad wolf could want."

Fenil just looked at Kriss and whispered into her ear that she was what that particular big bad wolf wanted and he kissed her again. Kriss could not figure out what he meant, but the look on his face was so cute she could not resist, so she asked him if he would howl for her. Fenil told her that he would howl if she did, so they both howled for a second and then they walked off. They both sang the song the entire way back to the palace - it was a very funny sight. Now this was what Kriss called a whirlwind romance - she had just met Fenil not even twenty-four hours ago and she was already falling head over heels for him.

When they finally reached the palace, it had taken them over an hour to get back, thanks to everything. Kriss told Fenil that she would see him at supper and gave him a peck on the cheek before walking down the hall toward the nursery to see the baby.

As Kriss walked in, she hid behind one of the doors. Wolf was in the room with the baby. He was singing to the little thing as he gave it a bottle. Kriss could see a huge smile on his face as he rocked the little girl and she made gurgle sounds for him. Kriss was almost close to tears. Virginia was in the room too, sitting in the chair Kriss had taken in there for people to sit down. Virginia was watching the scene of the two of them with a smile on her face - it looked like a happy family; well part of a family. Kriss almost let the tears just come without stopping them, but she had promised that she would not let them see her cry.

Wolf looked up and told Kriss to come in and join them. Kriss did not know how Wolf had known, but she just pushed it aside with the rest of the strange things that had happened in the palace. Kriss rubbed her eyes before entering the room just in case she had let some tears seep through. The fire was beginning to get low so Kriss walked over to the fireplace and began shoving logs on - another one of her skills she had learned in the country that did her no good in the city.

Wolf asked Kriss where she had learned to actually put logs on a fire without getting burned - definitely not in the city. Kriss just turned around and told them that she did not want to talk about it, then she asked Wolf if he would like to hear his baby's heartbeat. Wolf was excited now. He had seen stethoscopes before but had never been allowed to use one when they lived in New York. Kriss showed him how to warm it up before putting it on the little girl's chest.

Kriss used it first. She needed to check the baby's heart rate anyway. It had slowed down to normal. Wolf looked almost like a little boy as he used the stethoscope. Kriss wondered, as she watched, what her babies would look like if she ever married Fenil. She hoped they would get Fenil's hair, or at least that one of them would get his eyes, which she was falling in love for.

Wolf called Kriss out of her daydream by telling Virginia that they had to get a name for the cub before dinner that night. That made one more thing for Kriss to ask Fenil about when they saw each other again. Virginia looked at Wolf for awhile then she said that they should ask the baby's living angel what her name should be. Kriss could not believe what she had just heard - she had no idea what a living angel was but when one is asked to name a baby it is a big deal.

Kriss thought about it some. Wolf told her that if she could not think of any names right then she could wait until the ritual to tell them. Virginia told Kriss that in her husband's culture they had a naming ceremony for any new pack or family members. Virginia asked Kriss if she had any questions about anything that she had encountered during her stay at the palace. Kriss asked what a living angel was. Virginia giggled a little and told Kriss that it was something like a godparent but a little more. Virginia thought about it a little and then told Kriss that Wendell was the godfather and Rebbeka, the black haired lady, was the godmother to all of their children, including the baby. A living angel was someone that watches over the child; they help in the child's life and if the godparents are not able to care for the child, the living angel steps in, kind of like another aunt. Kriss understood what it was and accepted that she had helped the little girl already by letting her temper escape and snap at the doctor about his plans.

Virginia asked Kriss if she would like to take a walk and she said she would. They went to one of the guest rooms to change and clean up for dinner. As they walked, Kriss could not help but see the regal look in this woman's eyes, but the regalness was combated with compassion for other people. As they walked down the hall, Kriss was thinking of many things - mainly about the huge honor that had just been placed on her; she would have to think about it for awhile.

They finally made it to the room that Virginia was looking for - she had picked this room out herself after she'd woke up after she slept. The room just looked like something that this girl Kriss would like - the room was not large like the rest of the rooms; it had a large fireplace and a large oak carved bed in it. The wardrobe was huge dark wood that Virginia could not figure out what it was. Everything in the room looked outdoorsy, and by the look on Kriss's face, Virginia had chosen correctly.

Before leaving, Virginia told Kriss that she would send up the seamstress. Kriss tried to object that she had a dress with her, but Virginia told Kriss that she needed a new dress. After all, the ball was not just for the baby, it was to honor her also. Virginia flashed Kriss a smile as she left. As she left Kriss's room, Virginia was also planning how she was going to get Kriss to tell them about her family. There was something in there that was troubling Kriss and Virginia was going to figure it out.

In the room, Kriss just sat around; a habit she had not done since that day - the day she refused to remember - but something about this place was making her remember. Now that she was in the sanctuary of behind a closed door, she let the floodgates rush forward; she was not a very strong girl. Kriss cried for all of the memories that would not go away. She had known long ago when this started that she was doing the right thing - it had to be the right thing. Kriss had been so sure that it was, but now that she had met Fenil - a great guy - and his huge family that accepted her without question, she was beginning to doubt herself. No, she had promised herself she would not doubt what she did; not any more.

Kriss wiped the tears that had fallen from her eyes. She was not going to let anyone see her cry, not even herself. Moments after Kriss finished her self-induced pity party for herself, as she called it, there came a knock on the door. Figuring it was the seamstress, Kriss walked over to the door and opened it. In the doorway was not a normal looking person by a long way. The person that was standing in the entryway of her room was short, with pointy ears. The woman only came up to Kriss's waist, which was not very tall. The woman had with her a huge bag of clothes - dresses to be exact. The funny looking lady quickly told Kriss to stand on the small step platform in front of the closet. The funny lady came over and stood in front of Kriss, and began dragging some of the most beautiful gowns that Kriss had ever seen out of the grubby canvas bag. Each dress was tried on and the seamstress would say yes or no about them being even thought of for the ball that night.

The dress that Kriss tried on almost last was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. It looked as though it were changing colors in front of her very eyes. First it looked deep blue, then purple, then green. The colors kept changing. Kriss instantly fell in love with the dress. When she returned from behind the screen where she was changing, she noticed that there were more than just her and the seamstress in the room. Other than the seamstress, there were three other girls Kriss recognized: Deed and the two blond girls though she could not remember their names. When Kriss came out the rest of the way, all of the girls in the room began whistling except the seamstress, and of course Deed. She just smiled, then walked over and announced that this was the dress that would make Fenil choke on his lamb.

Kriss giggled. She did not think she looked that pretty, but if Deed said she did, she had better not argue with her. After the applause died down, Deed told Kriss that they would all get ready for the meal together, if she did not mind.

Another memory began seeping to the surface, but this one she allowed to come. It was a memory of a homecoming dance when she was a junior in high school. All of her friends, including her old best friend, gathered at one house to get ready. Kriss told the girls that and they all giggled and told her that she had some experience with balls, then. Kriss then remembered that it was not even noon and they were already talking about getting ready. Kriss made a suggestion that they would have kind of an afternoon slumber party, with food and make-up and all of that little girly things. Kriss then told them all to go and get their things and meet back in her room in a half an hour.

After all of the girls left, the seamstress told Kriss that she had not fitted the girls yet for the ball and if they were all going to be in one room anyway, would she mind if she fitted them? Kriss loved the idea - it sounded like a fashion show, so Kriss told the lady that if she told the cook to send up some sandwiches and such that they would all participate in the fitting. The funny lady looked actually excited about the fashion show and ran off, leaving the first canvas bag in the room.

She returned about a half an hour later, before the rest of the girls, with three other bags. Kriss helped her set up for the ball gown fitting so they could get started right away when the girls got back. The girls returned with all of their things that each thought they would need for getting ready. All of the younger girls grumbled about having to wear the dresses but Kriss told them that it would be fun - they would have a fashion show to pick out the dresses. Deed explained to the girls what a fashion show was and they were all for it.

About four hours later, Kriss's room was scattered with many different colors and styles of ball gowns. The laughs and giggles coming from the room could be heard all the way down the hallway in Wendell's study. The cook had brought up some bacon sandwiches, which were devoured within ten minutes, and some milk; also some water. The seamstress left to go and get the dresses for Queen Rebbeka and Princess Virginia ready for them to put on - also the seamstress was going to get the hairdressers for the girls.

When the seamstress left, all of the girls just settled down on the bed and the floor to do a little of what teenage girls do best - gossip. Of course, all of the girls wanted to know about Kriss and what her life was like back when she was a little girl. The other hot topic was the guards on duty; and Wendell's knights also seemed to sneak into the conversation a lot.

It seemed to Kriss that Deed was simply catching up on all the hubbub about the castle while she was gone. Kriss learned a lot about her best friend in those hours they spent together. Of course Kriss also learned a lot about Fenil in those hours also, such as that he and Wesly had gotten grounded for a month because they went to Little Lamb Village and harassed some shepherdess' sheep. She learned that Fenil had stolen Wolf's cookbook and was going to make shepherdess pie. He'd been grounded for a week for that one.

Maybe about a half an hour later, after the seamstress left, there was a knock on the door. Deed told Kriss that it was the hairdresser and make-up artist come to pretty them up for the ball. Kriss let them in, but as she did, she saw Fenil trying to get in to see them. Kriss laughed and told him he could see her dress at the ball.

Kriss looked at her watch as she closed the door and noticed it was almost five o'clock and the ball started at six - like Wolf told her before she left - and she had not thought of any names for the baby. Then one popped into her head. It sounded perfect for the little thing and it reminded her of a conversation that she and Deed had when they'd first met. Kriss breathed a sigh of relief that she had thought of a name and it was perfect for the little thing.

Kriss's hair was piled onto her head into a maze of braids and twists that was going to take her hours to take down again. Her make-up was a very light application, and the finishing touch, a gift from Deed, the girls, and also Virginia and Rebbeka, as they told her: A small silver and pearl crown with braids of gold through it - not as big as the rest of theirs, but still quite beautiful.

Kriss could not remember feeling this beautiful in her life; she would have to thank them all in some way or another. It made her laugh when she turned around and Deed told them all again that Fenil was definitely going to choke on his lamb and probably would not be able to speak for a while, which was fine with her. Rory told them all that Fenil was probably going to want to paint Kriss's portrait because she looked so beautiful. That comment made Kriss blush - she had never been wanted for a portrait before. Of course she never had a boyfriend before either.

It was about five-fifty when all of the girls had gotten their gowns on, make-up applied, and hair piled. Kriss had to admit that they all looked beautiful. Deed was dressed in a dark purple dress with green accents; Kasandra was in a forest green with brown accents; Rory was in a very form-fitting yellow dress; Cindy was in a bluish-green dress, and the twins were in identical white and silver dresses which they hated. Each girl was given instructions by the servants and some snotty guy named Lord Rupert before they were allowed to go down to the ball. Kriss already thought Rupert was a bit odd, in her books.

Kriss giggled a little about the pink outfit Rupert was wearing and went to rejoin Deed at the entrance to the dining room. After Kriss caught up with her, Deed told Kriss that they all were to be announced - it was an annoying custom, but a custom nonetheless. Deed rolled her eyes and walked on. Kriss was beginning to get nervous. She had never liked standing in front of a large group of people before; in fact she was terrified of it and would burst into tears at even the thought of it.

Kriss took a deep breath when she heard some man yelling out, "Princess Saydee Rose White Wolvesson of the Fourth Kingdom, niece to King Wendell, honored King of the Fourth Kingdom." Kriss had to admit that was the kind of entrance to make if you had make one.

Kriss took another deep breath and prepared to enter through the large doors in front of her. The large oak doors opened and Kriss was standing, frozen to the spot, as the man yelled out, "Lady Kristina of the mythical Tenth Kingdom, living angel to the baby princess."

Kriss found that she could not move; she looked like a frightened lamb that was about to be attacked by a wolf or something. Kriss was so scared she barely felt the hand going through each of her arms, or the hands on her shoulders. When Kriss looked up she saw Virginia and Queen Rebbeka standing next to her and Wolf and King Wendell standing behind her, showing their support. Both Virginia and Rebbeka whispered in Kriss's ear that they were frightened also when they first were introduced at a function like this, and that she should just find a pair of eyes and lock on them - also don't trip. Kriss giggled, which relieved some of her fear. Kriss found those eyes to help her - they belonged to Fenil, who as Deed had predicted was standing there with his mouth open and probably drooling.

When Kriss made it to the bottom of the steps, she heard the annoying man again yell, "Princess Virginia of the Fourth Kingdom, daughter of Lady Christine and Lord Anthony; step-sister to King Wendell, King of the Fourth Kingdom, and her Husband, Prince Wolf Wolvesson of the Fourth Kingdom, son of the late Warren and Crystal Wolvesson; brother to Queen Rebbeka of the Fourth Kingdom, both members of the Four That Saved the Nine Kingdoms."

Kriss was really beginning to get bored, but she wanted to talk to Virginia and Rebbeka soon. The final introduction was the most elaborate and longest: "King Wendell Winston Walter White, son of the late King Christopher and Queen Alexandrea; brother to Queen Silver of the northern Eighth Kingdom, stepson to Lady Christine, step-brother to Princess Virginia, and one of the Four Who Saved the Nine Kingdoms," and finally, "Queen Rebbeka Luna Wolvesson White of the Fourth Kingdom, daughter to the late Warren and Crystal Wolvesson, sister to Prince Wolf."

Once Wendell and Rebbeka had descended the steps, Kriss decided that she should go find Fenil and see what he thought of the dress. As Kriss walked across the floor, many young gentlemen were telling her how beautiful she was and some of the ladies that were present were asking her where the seamstress got the material. Kriss answered each with a simple answer; she did not want to be rude, no matter what.

A few of the people that Kriss saw were very strange looking. Some, on her books, were creepy, but of course she thought a lot of people were creepy; she figured everyone had their creepy moments.

Kriss had an uncontrollable sense that she knew some of the people from somewhere. As Kriss was trying to make it across the room to where Fenil, Deed, and the rest of his siblings and cousins were standing, Kriss was grabbed. The man kept muttering that he was going to dance with an angel, then maybe more. Kriss yelled and noticed that she was only a little ways from Fenil. As Kriss fought the man to try and get his arm off of her back, a place no one was able to touch because Kriss was very sensitive on her back, Kriss glanced over and noticed that everyone was yelling for the man to stop. Kriss then noticed that Fenil was angry, as were his siblings. They all looked like they were growing fangs - their eyes were flashing like a wolf. Kriss instinctively knew that the look in Deed's eyes, not to mention Fenil's, meant trouble.

Kriss put her finger to her lips and blew Fenil a kiss, and in a little gesture, told the rest of the pack to calm down; she was going to be fine. Though Fenil did calm down, he started to walk toward Kriss and the man that she was trying to free herself from. Kriss inwardly laughed and outwardly gently asked the man if he knew Prince Fenil or his family. The man nodded his head that he did. She then asked the man what he would think would happen if someone was caught hurting Fenil's mate - Kriss did not know why she said she was Fenil's mate. The man thought about it and said that the person would be hurt badly and then thrown into jail. Kriss smiled and told the man to meet Prince Fenil's mate and that the man had about four seconds to release her before Fenil would be next to them.

As she spoke Fenil was there preparing to tear the man's arm off if he had hurt Kriss, but the man released Kriss before Fenil could get there and Fenil was busy nuzzling up to Kriss's neck. After a second of that, Fenil began to growl at the man. He asked Kriss if she would like him to tear this man to pieces for her. Kriss was fine and told Fenil that the man did not do her any harm other than a bruise on her arm so there was no need in more violence.

Kriss was confused but happy when Fenil returned to her side and guided her away from the man, who was now being handcuffed and led away to the dungeon. Wendell apologized for the rude man. Kriss told him that she was fine; she had Fenil to help her and she could not ask for better protection. Fenil and Kriss bowed to the couples that were standing on the podium that held the thrones, and left to try and get the beat of the dance that was going on. Fenil did not want to let Kriss go but he was forced to because his parents wanted to dance. Virginia borrowed her son and Wolf took Kriss.

Kriss discovered that Wolf was a really hyper guy, but very funny. He told her stories of Fenil getting caught in a field dressed up in a shepherdess costume trying to catch a sheep. Kriss could picture Fenil skipping through a field trying to look like he was a shepherdess - it made her laugh. Wolf then asked in a very pleading voice if she had thought of a name for the baby because the naming ceremony was coming soon. Kriss told Wolf that if he didn't tell Virginia, she would tell him the name. Wolf did the little wolf's honor thing for Kriss and she leaned in and whispered the first name to Wolf, who in turn whispered a middle name for Kriss and they both liked the name, so they would name the baby that.

Fenil was getting tired of dancing with his mom; he wanted his love back in his arms. Surly his dad was ready to get back to Mom - if he felt the same way about Mom as Fenil did about Kriss, then why would he want to be separated from her a second more? Kriss was laughing so hard at the little stories that Wolf was telling her that she did not notice how long she had been dancing with him until she felt a light touch on her back which sent a shiver down her spine. Wolf released his hold on Kriss's hand and gave it to Fenil, who was standing behind Kriss with his hand resting gently on her back. It did not bother her as it would have if it had been anyone else; it felt natural to have his hand touching her.

Fenil wanted to kiss her but knew that it was not appropriate for a prince to show public affection at a function like this. He silently cursed his stupid ethics teacher. He wished he could bite the little hobbit - nasty creatures in his book - big, smelly, hairy feet; yuck. Fenil was lost in his thoughts and the scent of Kriss was really starting to do something to him. Is this what his father went through every time he was this close to Mom? If so, Fenil never wanted to be separated from Kriss; not even for a second.

It was around six o'clock when the annoying man began to yell again - someone new was joining the party and the name almost made Kriss want to faint. The man yelled that the queen of all ages, the immortal queen herself, Queen Cinderella, had arrived. At the top of the steps, Kriss saw a dazzling women with red hair and a large silver crown on her head. Kriss thought that maybe her grandmother had looked like that - she had fire red hair.

Fenil began leading Kriss over to see the queen. Kriss felt nervous again; she could tell this was a very powerful and loved queen. What would she say? How should she act? The hand in her hand gave her comfort. She would do fine, and Fenil would be there with her.

Kriss then thought this woman was powerful, but she looked kind and very wise. Maybe she could tell Kriss how she had known to warn the man about Fenil, and how she had known the look in Fenil's eyes. Kriss began to remember again. She did not want to, but in this place the memories came and Kriss was unable to suppress them.

Kriss found herself being pulled from her train of thoughts when she was introduced to Queen Cinderella. Instinctively Kriss curtsied to the grand lady sitting in front of her. It seemed that everyone was waiting for Queen Cinderella to give some indication of being ready to eat. Kriss noticed how everyone, including Wendell and Rebbeka, bowed to this woman. Apparently she was a very special and honored guest at any party.

After a brief introduction to Queen Cinderella, the meal was served. Kriss was seated in between Fenil and Wolf. Fenil told Kriss that in the morning at breakfast she would have a special seat next to him at the family table. Everyone ate together no matter how busy. Kriss liked that concept and would enjoy seeing how everyone slept. It was very homey.

The meal was served. It consisted of lamb, bread, sweet butter, green beans, potatoes, and various other foods. As Kriss sat there eating the best lamb she had ever had in her life, she began to think of the happenings. Then she began to wonder, so she leaned over and asked Wolf a question of why the doctor did not know how to perform a breech delivery. Without taking his eyes off of the meat, Wolf told Kriss that in the kingdoms, doctors learn as they go like an apprentice. The head doctor was so ill the morning Virginia went into labor that he'd had to send his apprentice, who had never performed a breech delivery before.

Kriss thought about that and figured maybe this place was very much different from New York or even Potomac for that matter. Kriss almost cried again when she thought of the town she was raised in for umpteen years - maybe she should go back. No, she was not going to do that. She would have to see them again, and that was one thing; she just was not ready to do it yet. Someday, maybe. And boy, would it be fun, especially if she returned on the day of the Artesian festival. Kriss wondered how Fenil would react to it.

It would be fun just to take Fenil out to the bus stop, a campsite Kriss and her old friend Megan had built before Megan ditched Kriss for some guy. Maybe she should just go home and see them again. She had to do it sometime, why not now? Kriss did not realize it but she was talking out loud to herself. Wolf and Fenil could hear every word that she spoke in her private conversation with herself. Someone always told her that talking to herself was going to get her in trouble. Kriss did not even want to think of the person's name that used to tell her that, but it came with the memory.

Fenil looked at Kriss with a worried expression on his handsome face. No one that handsome should have to worry about the one they care about, so when Kriss saw the look she whispered for him and the rest of his family to meet her somewhere and she would tell them the whole story of her life after the ball. Fenil told her they could meet in the story room. Kriss wondered why they would have a room that was called the story room. Kriss giggled a little and asked why it was called that. Fenil told her that Uncle Wendell thought they needed a room where stories could be told, so it was called the story room. This made sense to Kriss and she told Fenil that it was a date, and he would have to tell her all about his family also.

Fenil reluctantly agreed. The last thing he wanted to do was tell Kriss of his family history or what he really was. Kriss might get frightened and run screaming straight back into New York and never talk to him again, or she might think he was a liar and hate him forever. But then Fenil thought about the man on the dance floor and the look on Kriss's face when he got over to her side, not to mention, even though he was going wolf, he could have sworn he heard Kriss call him her life mate. Fenil decided that he would wait and see. Maybe it was the fear of the man that made Kriss say it, or then again, maybe she really meant every word. Fenil began looking at Kriss; he could not take his eyes off of her and silently prayed that she'd really meant what she'd said.

The dinner went as planned, much to the joy of Lord Rupert. Kriss still thought there was something just not right about a man in a pink suit. The next thing on his little list that he kept sewn to the inside of his pocket was the naming ceremony. The plates were cleared and tables moved, and a small bassinet was brought into the middle of the room. It was a very beautiful one with pure white lace and a symbol on the top of the overhang. It was the same symbol that Kriss had seen Fenil and the rest of the family wearing.

The next thing that happened was a very old-looking lady entered the room. she was carrying the baby princess. Fenil, who was standing behind her, told Kriss that the old lady was the Wolvesson elder and she was to perform the ceremony. Wolf walked up behind Kriss and Fenil and informed Kriss that she also must go up and stand near the baby with him, Virginia, and the elder, for she must be the first to tell the baby's name.

Kriss nodded that she was coming, gave Fenil a quick peck on the cheek, and followed Wolf so she would not have to walk out alone. Virginia was already in position to walk over to the bassinet; she was just waiting for Wolf to walk out with.

Once all were around the bassinet, the old woman began speaking in a very strange language. Luckily Wolf translated it for the rest of the people in the room: "Akalia mondala fistial, Welcome small one, potialalis mksala daskalina novola, may we all be one with the moon, nedaila bestaliea votioala, we now give you a earth name, takalsi mvendla yondgel teskeinda, given to you by those that love and protect you, yiondelsa nievelani wendesls vo, chosen by your living angel to carry you to the next level in life, nedaila yoncel puiteila, we shall now tell the world of your name."

Wolf nudged Kriss to tell her to say the name into the ear of the baby, then the elder would tell the room the name. Kriss calmly walked over and was handed the small sleeping baby. As she whispered the name, she felt a connection with the baby that was in her arms. The elder then took the baby from her arms, laid her back into the bassinet, and spoke in the same language, "Mabkda banckea veound Drresalta Krrianfsa Arreadna Wrrohgte Wrrognlteha, Come all present, greet and love Destiny Kristina Angel White Wolvesson."

Kriss noticed then that the elder slipped an amulet onto Destiny's neck and said a silent saying to the little one.

After about twenty minutes of constantly being surrounded by people, Kriss was beginning to need some fresh air and alone time. Even though she had spent almost a year in New York always surrounded by hundreds of people, deep in her soul still lived the little county girl that would avoid large crowds and would shy away from people she did not know.

Kriss excused herself from a conversation with Wolf's brother, General Copper, and went to find a place where she could get some fresh air. Kriss found herself on a very large balcony, though it was only five feet from the ground. Kriss could have stayed out on that balcony for always but soon she had to go back inside. Fenil would be wondering where she was.

Soon Kriss began to feel the weight of everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours; she began to feel like she would not be able to keep her eyes open any longer. Kriss sat down to try and catch her second wind, but it did not come. Before she knew it, she was having her normal dream, but something felt different. Everything was as it always was - the two flower girls, the colors were all the same, but then Kriss finally caught what was different: first, in her normal dream, her father would lead her down the aisle, but not in this dream; and second, the groom usually did not have a face, just hair; the face would be blurred, but not this time. He had a face, but not just any face - he had the face of her new-found love, Fenil.

The dream began to fade. This made Kriss very confused. Finally something came into focus: She was in a room or a cave. Everything was white and covered with ice, though it was warm in the cave. Soon three figures came into her sight - one was tall with black hair (she reminded Kriss of her mother), the second figure was medium with auburn hair and a green cloak, and the third Kriss recognized from somewhere, though she could not put her finger on it. The third began talking to the second saying that their grandson had picked a special one. The second agreed and smiled warmly on Kriss and said that he had but she must learn more of him, his land and about herself before they could find Happy Ever After. The third one was just standing back while the others talked, but not long, for she walked up to the very confused Kriss and told her to stop worrying; she was having a vision, they called it.

The first woman said that they needed to have introductions, then they would get down to business. The first woman introduced herself as Snow White, grandmother to the one Kriss knew as Wendell. The second was called Christine, mother to the one Kriss knew as Virginia, and the third, a very jumpy lady, called herself Crystal of Wolvesson Pack. Both Christine and Snow White rolled their eyes and said that they had to put up with that all of the time.

Kriss giggled at the three women. Now that she knew she was asleep, she was fine with it all. She was used to having strange dreams and this was not going to be any different, or so she thought. What Kriss did not realize was that this was a vision, and that the reason why she had fallen to sleep was because it was the only way for the three women to speak with her without causing a disturbance at the party. Snow White, who appeared to be the leader of the three women, told Kriss that she was a scared little girl that needed guidance from someone who could help.

Kriss was confused. She did not think she was a scared little girl; in fact she thought she was brave. Christine began to speak now and told Kriss that many people could help, but she must start by telling her tale - the entire story of why she was living in New York, and why every time Kriss looked at Wolf with the baby she began to cry. Kriss knew the answer to that but was not ready to tell the great family of her problems.

Crystal, now calmed down, spoke next, asking "Isn't not wanting to talk what got you into the mess in the first place?"

Snow told Kriss that destiny had brought her to the kingdoms. She must tell the tale to Virginia and her family. They would help. Christine spoke again, this time to Snow and Crystal asking them if they would show Kriss what she was to tell the Wolvesson family. All three of the women agreed and told Kriss to quickly look into the mirror that appeared in front of her. Kriss did as the women asked and began to see what she had been trying so hard to forget with her apprenticeship and school, and now that she was seeing it again, she began to cry as the scene progressed.

The scene ended with Kriss meeting Deed at the Grill in the Park and the mirror went black. Kriss stood speechless for some moments. Snow White made the mirror disappear as quickly as it had appeared, then told Kriss that she must wake up now and go back to the party before the handsome young wolf got worried. Kriss smiled at the thought of Fenil worried over her and she was happy once again. Before Kriss was sent away, Crystal and Christine gave her a gift - a box and a letter to give to Virginia and Wolf when she saw them again. Kriss thanked them and soon found herself falling, then floating. Soon she woke up on the balcony of Wendell's castle. With the box Crystal had given her in her hand, Kriss strolled back into the party.

Though she was confused by why she still had the box and the letter, Kriss remembered what the three women had told her. She needed to tell the Wolvesson family the entire story of how she had come to be living in New York. Kriss dreaded telling them. She had been concealing it in her heart for almost a year.

She remembered every detail of the day, though she could not remember if she had cried. She could still remember the day before she had left when she had decided that it was for the best that she leave. Maybe it was destiny that had driven her the entire way because if she had not left she would still be living in Illinois and would never have met Deed or Fenil.

Kriss already could tell that she would not be able to live without them both in her life for a second - they were both such a part of her life now. Though she had only met Fenil not even forty-eight hours ago, she already was in love with him and whatever he had to tell her about his family was just fine with her as long as he never left her.

The party was still going on, though some of the people were now sitting down rubbing their feet. When Kriss walked back into the room, Fenil was the first to notice her and ran to her. He scooped her up into his arms and kissed her, telling her to never leave his side and that he missed her so intensely. Kriss could not help but laugh and then she kissed him on the lips - a short one, but loving, and then asked to be put down. Fenil reluctantly let Kriss's feet touch the floor.

Fenil was wondering if this was how Dad had felt when he first realized he was in love. Wolf had warned his children that if they got involved with a pure human not to be surprised if they had dated before. But just by her smell, Fenil could tell that Kriss was pure from the first second he'd smelled her with Deed on the bridge. He had almost thought for sure that Kriss could hear his heart that first night. Fenil just smiled at the thought that someday he would be Kriss's first and only. Deed had told him that Kriss planned to find a life mate like a wolf and by the love in her beautiful blue eyes it would be him. There were a few questions running through his mind. The first was if Kriss wanted children; he remembered his father telling him that Mom did not want kids at first. Another question was what her family was like and why she never talked about them. When he tried to investigate Kriss by asking Deed, she'd told him that Kriss was very sensitive about her family so he should not press her to tell him anything about them, but to let her tell him on her own.

Kriss was nervous about telling them all but she was even more nervous about the letter and the box that Christine and Crystal had given her. Kriss wanted to find out now but she thought better of it and just took the gifts over to a chair so she could dance with Fenil. Soon the man that had yelled out the introductions was yelling again; something about a Cinderella Waltz and that it was to begin. Kriss almost instinctively stood up and found Fenil waiting patiently, or impatiently, for her. Kriss suppressed a giggle and they were on the dance floor. Fenil was a great dancer which surprised Kriss because all of the guys that she had seen dance were like lumbering pieces of boards, but Fenil was very graceful.

Soon the guests began to leave or go to the guest rooms that Wendell had prepared for them. Kriss gulped. She knew what was coming. They had promised to meet in the story room and all secrets would be out and each would know what the other's secret was.

While Kriss had snuck outside and fallen to sleep, Fenil had told Wolf that they all needed to be in the story room after the ball so Kriss could be told the tale of their unusual family. Wolf was going to say no, but Virginia had heard Fenil tell Wolf and said that the girl was owed the entire tale of the family. If Fenil had chosen her as his mate, then she had better be told soon. Though Wolf liked an all night party, like any other wolf, that did not stop his worry that Kriss would not accept the mating, and his oldest son would be hurt like he had been after Virginia had left him in Kissingtown. Wolf agreed because it meant so much to his son, not to mention maybe Kriss would accept Fenil and then he would be a grandpa soon.

In the story room Kriss sat and waited for the entire Wolvesson family. She wanted to give the gift to Wolf and the letter to Virginia, or that was how she planned to do it after telling them to whom she had spoken in her dream.

It took the Wolvesson family about twenty minutes to get into the story room. All but the baby and the younger of Wendell's children were present because it was past their bed time and they were practically falling to sleep during the party anyway.

Kriss and Fenil sat together on one of the oversized pillows while the family got comfortable. Kriss was nervous but the presence of Fenil made her calm down a little. When every one was sitting on the same kind of oversized pillows as Fenil and Kriss were sitting on, Wendell asked why they were all in the room like it was story time. Wolf spoke up and told Wendell that Fenil had not had a chance to tell Kriss of their unusual family and now was the time. Virginia added that Kriss also had a tale to tell and must get it out while she was still willing to speak about it.

Wendell had not realized that Kriss had not heard the story of their family and apologized, which astonished Kriss, who wondered why a king would apologize to someone, but brushed it off. Deed, who was sitting on the other side of Kriss, asked who was going to tell a tale first. Kriss said that she would or she might chicken out.

First Kriss handed Virginia and Wolf the things that the three ghosts, or visions (which ever they wanted to be called), had given her. As she handed the things over she expressed that someone gave her these things and told her that they wanted her to give these things to them. Virginia gasped when she opened the envelope that Kriss had just handed her - it was a letter from her mother. As Virginia read the letter aloud for the rest of the family, she cried at her mother's words that she had always wanted to hear. The letter read,

My darling little girl,
I know it is too late, but I cannot rest until you know I love you and I always will. Even when I was in the service of the Evil Queen, I had a part of my heart that always told me that there was someone that needed me, but the mirrors would make me forget the thing that I needed was you. When I saw you again I could not recognize you, but believe me, for some reason I knew you - not through my mirrors, because Snow White protected you from them - no, I had a feeling that you were what I needed, but the mirrors' pull was too strong for me. I was so weak, that is why I tried to kill you in my bedroom. I came to the kingdoms because I was lost; I did not know what to do; I just wanted the pain to stop, but I realize now that all I needed to make the pain stop was for me to talk to you and your father, my darling husband. I have been watching you and your beautiful family. I have fallen in love with my grandchildren and wish that it could have turned out differently so I could be an active part in their lives.
You need to help this girl, the bearer of this letter. She is lost and does not know what she wants or what she needs. Listen to her and help her. You and your dear husband must help her or else she may slip into the same state that I was in before I took refuge in the arms of the swamp witch and that would be a disaster.
Please tell Anthony that I love him and will always love him. He always was a babbling fool but that is what I loved most about him. Tell him that for me, would you, and thank you for helping me see that I can be one of the good guys and helping me open my eyes - also for stopping me from doing the worst thing in the world, killing all of those people. I will always be watching.
Love, Christine.

Virginia was silent for several minutes as Wolf comforted his love and mother of his children. After Virginia quieted down, Wolf opened up the box that Kriss had handed him. First another letter fell out, then six velvet bags were laying inside, each a different color. First Wolf read the letter, which was just as astounding as the letter that Virginia had read. It said,

My handsome boy,
I can see that you have made quite a name for yourself and the Wolvesson pack. I am very proud of you as I have always been. I do wish that I could have been with you in the trial of your life but destiny wanted me elsewhere.
The velvet bags that you probably hold in your hand right now should be given to the following people: Pale blue - Virginia, purple give to Fenil; he can do with it as he wishes. Red give to Deed, yellow give to your sister, Rebbeka. Green is to go to Rory and finally, white goes to Wendell. These gifts I give to you all because you will need them later in life. I gave Wendell something because Snow felt that he needed the item in the bag. Live your life as though I was there with you, Wolf, and kiss that new granddaughter of mine for me.
Love you always, Mother.

In each of the bags was a different thing. In the one for Virginia was a beautiful silver comb with a running wolf on it. Deed received a pen, Rebbeka got a ring with an interesting stone in it. Rory got a piece of leather to tie her hair with. The gift that was given to Wendell was a hand mirror - just what he needed, another mirror, but if his grandmother wanted him to have it he would keep it.

Fenil pulled out two things - one was a ring: it was glass, and the inside of the ring was braided of hair the color of his mother's; the other thing that he pulled out was a medallion. It looked like it was a piece of a mirror with a wood backing on it that had the letter D on the back of it. The frame of the mirror was more wood. The etchings on the wood looked like it belonged on the traveling mirror. At the bottom of the mirror necklace were three flowers, the stems crossing each other. The first flower was a white rose, the second a lily, and the third Fenil recognized as a flower called a fairy wing.

After each of the people looked at the gifts that were given to each other, Virginia asked Kriss what she was told to tell them by the fairy godmothers of the Wolvesson family. Kriss took a deep breath. She had not told even Deed of the reason behind her coming to New York though it was a silly reason. She did not want to tell her until now.

Kriss began by telling the Wolvesson family that she'd come to New York to get away from home. It had been a cold day in March and Kriss had been in one of her moods. Her entire life had been like this. As a result of her problems, Kriss would argue with people for the silliest reasons, like who should take out the trash or even what they should have for dinner. Well, this was one of those days. Kriss just wanted to be left alone so she could write on her stories that she loved so much.

Kriss's dad usually respected the fact that Kriss was not just like him but today he also was in a bad mood. Kriss's dad yelled in to Kriss that they were going find a job or actually find Kriss a job. Kriss did not wish to go - she already had a job. She took care of a lady's pets when she was gone on vacation, but Dad did not see it as a good enough job. The argument ensued, Kriss yelling that she had a job, Dad yelling that she needed a new one. Then the topic changed to that Kriss, even though she was twenty years old, had never had a boyfriend or even been out on a date - that all Kriss did was sit at home with her head in the notebook or typing on the computer.

Kriss was getting really angry so she told her dad that if he didn't like that she was a bum, then she would move out and live with someone else and never return to Illinois. Kriss had threatened this many times, so her dad never thought that the next day while he and Kriss's mom were at work, Kriss would pack her car, grab the little money she had, and leave without so much as a good-bye or a note saying where she was going. Kriss drove to the nearest bus station and bought a ticket: One-way to New York City. She left the car there at the station so her parents could pick it up later.

Kriss ended up at the Grill in the Park without much money, which was when she met Deed and they became best friends. Kriss ended the story. She knew that it was a silly reason for leaving but she was too stubborn to go back, especially after she'd told her father that she would never return.

Virginia was the one to speak, and told Kriss that she must put those things behind her and call her parents. Virginia told Kriss of her mother leaving her when she was seven and how much it hurt to not have someone so important in her life, so that must be what Kriss's parents were feeling. At least she could tell them that she was okay and where she was.

Kriss saw the reasoning behind what Virginia was saying and Kriss knew she should call - even if she just left a message on the machine it would be a big step. All Kriss needed was someone to tell her that she did need to call. She also needed someone to tell her that she had been wrong to leave.

After all was finished with Kriss's story, it was Fenil's turn to tell his tale of what his family secret was. Fenil looked very nervous to Kriss and the rest of the family, so one of Fenil's cousins, Cindy maybe, whispered that she would tell the tale. She began this tale as she started every tale, that she would start at the beginning and when she got to the end she would stop.

"Long ago, in the Second Kingdom, lived a man but not a man. A wolf, he was given the name of Warren Wolvesson. He was the best known huntsman in the forest because he would use his animal instincts and senses to hunt. When Warren was of the age of twenty-one, he met a woman with hair the color of an oak tree and eyes the color of the midday sky. He fell in love with this girl. Because wolfs mate for life, he began to woo her and soon she, too, fell in love with him. But what Warren did not realize was that Crystal was the only daughter of a widower baron. But the two lovers did not care; they intended to marry and they took their vows in the forest, the wedding performed by the elder of Warren's pack.

"The baron soon found out and disowned his daughter, but she did not care. She had her one true love and was intent on living happily ever after. Crystal and Warren lived many years together in the forests of the Second Kingdom, right on the edge of the baron's land. The baron forgave Crystal, for even death cannot end true love. They agreed that Crystal would only visit her father alone or with her children - never with her husband. So it was for many years.

"Crystal and Warren had four children by the names of Wolf, Copper, Grey, and finally the baby, Rebbeka. Many years did the family live happily and without trouble until the day that the baron died and Warren was blamed: Warren was to be burned.

"Crystal rejected the advances of the mayor of the town so he made it so both would be blamed: The family was to be burned together, but the best friend of Warren, the Captain of the Guard of the Fourth Kingdom, happened to be coming to pay the family a visit. He saved the lives of the Wolvesson children but he was to late to save the parents.

"The children of Wolvesson went and lived with their aunt Rose, sister of Warren. Wolf, the eldest of the children, left home at the age of sixteen to seek his destiny. He ended up in jail for sheep worrying at the age of twenty-two and stayed in the jail until the age of twenty-seven, when the evil queen step-mother to Prince Wendell released him on the intent that he would find Prince Wendell, whom she had trapped in the body of a dog.

"What he found was much different. Though he did find the dog, he also found a girl of the age of twenty, by the name of Virginia, and her father, Tony. Together the four of them became the Four Who Saved the Nine Kingdoms. And so, dear friend, let me end with the one thing that my dear cousin has been reluctant to tell: We, the family of White Wolvesson, are in fact part wolves. And the last of my news to you is that wolves mate for life and you have been chosen to become part of this pack."

Kriss was speechless. Never in a hundred years had she thought that the man that she truly loved was a wolf. Wolf interrupted her thoughts by asking if she had any questions, and Kriss had only one: She asked Fenil the question that if he was a wolf did he have a tail.

The family laughed, as did Kriss, as Fenil turned red and told her yes. What really made him blush was when she asked to see it. He told her later, maybe, and they all left the story room and went to their rooms for a good night's sleep.

Fenil could not sleep, so he slipped out of his room to go for a walk and found himself outside of Kriss's door. He rapped lightly on the door to see if she was awake and, to his surprise, she was. The two of them stayed up almost until dawn speaking of various things of their lives growing up. Kriss fell to sleep with Fenil sitting on her bed.

When she woke, Kriss found Fenil gone but a rose on the pillow. This went on for five days until the sixth when Kriss woke to find Fenil not gone but still in the room with a rose in hand and a box in hand. Fenil asked that day if Kriss would be his bride and she accepted. They were married in a small wedding - just Fenil's family. The day after the wedding, Kriss told Fenil that they should go home and face her parents. So preparations were made. It would be happening soon.

Kriss woke up on the bus. She really had to go to the bathroom, plus she was hungry; she had not eaten since Indiana. It was almost Christmas. Kriss could not believe she had spent over seven months in the kingdoms. If the bus did not stop soon, Kriss was going to float away; sure she had just gone about an hour ago, but she did not care - plus her back was hurting from all of the bumps this driver was hitting.

Kriss thought of the past seven months and all that had happened. After Kriss had told Fenil of the impending cubs, Fenil was all for going to Illinois, not to mention Kriss's family did not even know that she was married. How was she going to tell them? That was going to be a problem. Kriss looked at the ring on her finger. Fenil had given her the glass ring as the wedding ring. Kriss looked at the man that was sitting beside her and could not help but fall in love all over again.

Kriss had called James and Jaime and told them the plan: Kriss was to go to the house, and James and Jaime were going to get Mom and Dad out of the house while Kriss got ready to surprise them. Kriss smiled at the thought of seeing Mom and Dad again. Though the argument sounded so silly now, over a year ago the subject of the argument had been so important to her. But now things had changed. With Fenil by her side, Kriss was ready to forgive and forget. Kriss just hoped that Mom and Dad felt the same way. As the bus screeched to a halt, Kriss became so nervous she could not move, but with an encouraging squeeze of the hand from Fenil they were off to see if Kriss's parents forgave her.