CH. 1: Given as a Slave

“You can’t go in there, Princess.” The guard said.

I tilted my head to the side and took another look at him. Salib had dark eyes, broad shoulders, and a charred face. He had been a guard to the royal court ever since I was a young werewolf princess roaming these walls. Now, I was the princess with the heart of a warrior.

“Open the damn door, Salib,” I said. I still reserved respect for him from the many times he had saved me in the woods while growing up. Saliba stalled. Father must have warned him not to let me in. 

“But I need to go in, Salib,” I said.

“Princess, the Beta of Devilclaw clan is here with half a dozen men to see your father.”

I seethed. “You mean, come to get the monthly tribute for their alpha, Draco.”

A few moons ago, my father had lost a duel with Draco Devilclaw. Now my clan was subjected to monthly tribute to the Devilclaw clan. We have been reduced to rubble, and Father would not fight back.

“I know that, Salib," I said. “Why do you think I want to go in?”

“But your father….”

“I don’t care what my father said!”

I was done listening to what the men had to do or say. The Devilclaw pack had come here only a week ago seeking presents. How could they return so quickly to demand gifts again?

Saliba still wouldn't budge. He shook his head. He would not break his word to my father. Well, he left me with no choice. I took a deep breath and threw a fist at his face. He dodged just in time. 

I expected him to. My elbow caught him in the chin. I followed with another heavy hand to his neck. Two quick jabs and he fell to the ground clutching his throat.

Despite being a princess, I trained with the pack warriors. I took one last look at the tall wooden doors and pushed them open. The first voice that greeted me was the Devilclaw emissary saying the most dreadful things to my father in his throne room.

“…you’re simply the weakest alpha in the wild west. I mean—”

“Hold your tongue!” I shouted. He shouldn't be speaking to my father like he was a common thief.

I balled my fists and eyed the blue-eyed werewolf in front of me. I took a lungful of air, restraining myself from punching him right between the eyes. My father, the Alpha of the Talons, sat on his throne, saying nothing. He merely stared at me in anger, as did the other three members of his court.

I watched him adjust uneasily on his throne carved from iron and bronze. It used to be a gold throne, but the Devilclaw clan had taken every gold our people had down to our jewelry. Even here in Father’s courtroom, his Beta and two other pack elders still bowed their heads in respect to this blue-eyed fool.

Respect, or was this all-out fear?

“Natalie!” Father yelled at me. His eyes were filled with bare-faced fury. I didn’t care. "You shouldn't be here."

"No," I replied. "They shouldn't be here."

The blue-eyed Beta started a slow clap, taking slow steps toward me.

“Well, well,” he chuckled, taking one long look at my father and then back at me. I didn’t bat an eye. I am the princess of the Talons, and this is my Father’s courtroom. 

I always found Father’s throne-room strange. The walkway from the door was long and coarse, especially since the Devilclaw thieves had taken all our treasures. Now it looked just as cold and dull as everywhere else in this darn castle.

“You must be Natalie, right?” the Beta asked.

“I am Princess Natalie.” I raised my head in royal flair.

"Princess, huh." He pushed back his long, flowing royal-blue robe and offered a mock bow. “I am Logan. Logan Laird, if you may. The beta of the Devilclaw clan and leader of the greatest werewolf forces in the entire Western Mountainside.”

Show off. Father’s fist flew to his chin, resting underneath it while he stared at me. I ignored his glare and faced Logan. If he feared Logan, I didn’t.

“Well, Logan. Have you not been told that you do not speak to a king with insults in his palace?” I said. He had insulted my father right here in his palace. I couldn’t take that.

"You call this a palace?" 

"It is. Your pack might have stolen our treasures, but this is still my father's throne room, King Talon."

My claws threatened to show themselves. It was a wrong move for me to show my wolf side in front of my father and his guests, so I remained put. If push turned to shove, I wouldn't care anymore.

Logan started a slow laugh. He looked down at me like he pitied me. Hell, he pointed a clawed finger at me like I was some entertainment for him. His stupid aides joined him in laughing. Father still said nothing!

“She is a ballsy one.” Logan laughed and pointed at me. "I bet she would make a fine bride."

Bride my foot. I am a warrior. 

"Does Draco know you're here, Logan?" I ask. "Does he know that you shamelessly sneak around and demand tribute you do not send to him?"

Logan stiffened. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb, Logan. It's common knowledge you keep the gold to yourself. Your Draco could barely tell bronze from copper."

"Natalie!" Father shouted. How he must fear the Devilclaw pack. It saddened me.

Logan took a few steps closer until he was only a breath away from my face. My heart thumped in my chest, more from anger than fear. I wouldn't start a fight before my father, but if it got to that, I wouldn't mind either.

"Guards," Father called. "Get her out of here."

The Talon guards walked over to bundle me out. Logan had other ideas.

"Wait." He sucked his teeth for a few seconds. "What if I solve both our problems right now?"

"What do you mean by that, Logan?" Father asked.

"You claim not to have any treasures left in your pack, and I just stomached an insult to my alpha. We could make a fair deal, that way, my alpha and our troops would stay away from your people for the next twelve moons."

Father shut his eyes for a few seconds. I could see him from the corner of my eye. "What do you want?"

Logan spun to face my father. "I want her."

He pointed at me.

Father looked at me in wide-eyed horror. He wouldn't agree to such blatant demand. I didn't wait to hear it.

"You all must be mad!" I said as I turned and walked out of the throne room.

***

I stood at the window staring at the bayou, my pack land. We used to be the most prosperous pack on the Western Mountainside. We had enough trade with the packs nearby to keep us from war and protect our allies. 

All that changed when the raving, mad Devilclaw pack swept through from the North. They consumed everything, from the Moonridge pack in the south to our allies, the Clawfenders. 

Father had challenged their alpha to a duel, hoping to restore order through the old ways. We were all rooting for him, praying to the Lycoan gods to whisper strength to his claws and grant us victory.

It wasn't meant to be. The duel lasted only for a few minutes. Draco was a wild wolf. He battered Father so badly that we were left as slaves to the Devilclaw pack. Every moon, we would send gifts to them, from treasures to foodstuff and grains. 

There was a knock on the door. I bet it was Arya, my maid and sparring partner.

"Not now, Arya," I said. "I want to be alone."

"It's your father, Natalie. Open up."

What brings Father to my room so soon?

"The door is open."

He stepped in without his guards and walked straight to meet me. Father was growing old. Even though he was an alpha, sometimes I could see through his aging eyes.

"You shouldn't have been there, Natalie."

I snorted. "Tell me something new, Father."

"Don't talk to me in that tone, Natalie."

Tone? He was giving in to everything the Devilclaw said without a fight, and I should bother about tone?

"Yes, Father," I said. "You can concern yourself with tone while our people are suffering out there."

"I'm doing this for our people. You think Draco would be this kind if he attacks again? You think he's going to allow these people to live?"

"They're suffering, Father!"

"They're alive! I have given up so much to make sure they remain that way, Natalie."

I was out of breath. Father turned toward the door. I could see the pain in his eyes. As much as I understood, I still hoped we could fight back.

"Get dressed, Natalie," Father said. "It's going to be a long journey."

What journey? What was he—

"You don't mean—"

"You're leaving with the Devilclaw pack, Natalie."

"Father, you can't do that. He is a beast. He'd—"

"I have made my decision, Natalie. It hurts me more than it hurts you, but sacrifices have to be made."

With that, he walked off, slamming my door behind him. I paced for a few minutes, then flew outside to meet him. I couldn't become a bride to Draco Devilclaw. I am the princess of the Talons, not some tribute wife.

I met Logan right outside my throne room door. He was with a couple of guards and his aides. Father was on his throne, head bent down.

"I guess you're ready," Logan said.

"Father, please." I pleaded. He wouldn't even look at my face.

"You're coming with me, princess," Logan jested. 

I turned to him and bowed my head. My dagger nestled underneath my gown. I patted it slowly.

"You win, Logan," I said. "Let's get going."

Logan smiled and led the way. He had no clue what I had in mind. We just had to get as far away from the throne room as possible. I patted my knife again, hiding my grin.