it had been three days since I escaped from my father’s pack and things weren’t getting any better. The first problem was that I was tired and hungry. The second was that I was lost, and the third was that for the first time in eighteen years, my father had sent out his wolves on a hunt unannounced, a hunt for the rogue princess, Antonella. I wasn’t sure of his exact commands to them if they found me but from the whispers I overheard a few times in the woods, it wasn’t something very good. Nala wasn’t making matters any better for me. She kept sulking and complaining about how we had been better fed at the pack house and how I had ruined everything by running away, as if it wasn’t her that advised me to run! A few times, I had to resist the urge to yell at her to shut up because she was beginning to get on my nerves.
I stopped at the base of a pine tree and sat down on the floor to rest. My feet were sore from walking for days and my mouth was dry. I wondered if there were any animals lurking around in the woods and Nala seemed to be excited at the thought of a hunt.“Yes, there are,” she screamed in my head. “A few fine gazelles. We’ve not done this before you know. This would be the perfect opportunity.”I sighed, exhausted. I didn’t like the idea of hunting down and killing a weaker animal for food but I was beginning to run out of options. I stood up and squinted at the mass expanse of land that stretched before us and some twenty miles away, I could see light.“We can hold on a little bit longer,” I said. “By the end of the day, we would have gotten to that pack. I can offer to be a slave.”“And who knows if it’s one of the packs that your evil father sieged in recent years?” Nala sighed.“Then we’d ask for a meal first,” I rolled my eyes. “Or would you rather die on an empty stomach?” I spent the rest of the day walking, and stopping at intervals to pick berries and nuts to eat while Nala complained about my poor diet. Luckily for me, I found a lake along the way and I quickly stopped to take a drink.It was already dusk when the lights came into full view. It was definitely another pack and from the distance where I stood, I could see two men patrolling the borders.“It’s now or never,” I muttered to myself and started moving towards the men.They stopped moving as soon as they sighted me and the first one shifted immediately.“Come on. She’s just a harmless lady,” the second said to his colleague.The first wolf growled and bared it’s sharp fangs at me, daring me to come any closer and I quickly raised my hands in the air as I approached to show him that I wasn’t a threat. He didn’t seem to be convinced by my gestures and he growled again in warning. I knew I was taking a huge risk but I didn’t have a choice. I needed food and a place to lay my head for the night. I took one step forward and immediately, the wolf bounded towards me.I froze in fear, not knowing what to do and just as he was about to get to me, I heard a voice.“Dan!”The wolf abandoned me halfway and turned around immediately to the sound of the voice that had called his name. He shifted back and walked in the direction of the voice.“What are you doing?”It was very dark and I couldn’t quite see his face, but from the authority etched in his voice, I guessed he was either the chief scout or the Beta of the pack.“An intruder, Alpha,” Dan replied. “She’s over there. She was about to cross the borders.”I paused, confused. Did he just call the man Alpha? My heart skipped a beat as different thoughts began to run through my brain . What was the Alpha of the pack doing at the border? Was he among the Alphas that my father had wronged and was out for vengeance? Was he searching for me or even aware of my presence?Suddenly, I felt like I was in danger. It would have been better for me at the pack house. At least, I got to eat good food, sleep in a comfortable bed and not have to worry about enemies finding me. I turned around to leave but his voice stopped me.“If you take one more step, I would be the one to kill you.”His voice sounded vaguely familiar, like I had heard it before but I couldn’t quite place a finger on where I’d heard it. I closed my eyes in anticipation of the worst as the sound of his footsteps got closer.I shrieked as I felt his cold hand on my shoulders and I turned around to meet him. Damn! He was handsome.His eyes were piercing blue and his hair, jet black. He had a strong, confident presence that radiated from his every move and his broad shoulders and taut muscular arms gave him an air of power. He flashed a smile that could light up the darkest of dungeons at me and I blushed, momentarily forgetting that my life was in danger.The expression on his face changed quickly and he put his hands in his pocket stylishly as he assessed me. I stared at the ground, too afraid to meet his cold piercing gaze."Before I question you, I strongly advise that you tell me the truth," he breathed down my neck.I closed my eyes as the scent of his cologne played with my nostrils. Excluding the fact that I was at the risk of death, it seemed almost like a normal romantic meeting."Understood?" He added.I nodded and raised my head slightly to meet his gaze."Who are you?"As much as I expected that to be the first question, nothing prepared me for it. I couldn't bring myself to tell a lie after his warning and telling the truth was equivalent to sentencing myself to death as well. Finally, I decided to tell him the truth but exclude some details.“I’m the daughter of an Alpha…” I murmured.“I know,” he replied staring me down. “You reek of royalty. What pack?”Nala was screaming all the warnings in my head at that point. She obviously didn’t want me to spill the information to him that my father was Alpha Demontes of the Black Fur pack but I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t risk telling a lie. The best I could do was say the truth and plead for mercy.“The Black Fur Pack,” I replied. “Alpha Demontes is my father.”My confession was greeted with utter silence and I looked up at him to be sure he had heard me. His gaze was sharp enough to penetrate my soul and I quickly brought my face down before things got awkward.He raised my chin up slowly until our eyes met again and I could see the reflection of the moon in his.“Don’t lie to me,” he warned. “I’m not a very patient person.”“I’m saying the truth, Alpha,” I managed to splutter.“You can’t be Antonella!” He cried and brought his clenched fists down on a wooden table beside me.It shattered to pieces on the floor and I stared at the blood dropping from his hand from where a sharp edge of the table had cut him. Strange as it was, I felt an attraction to the blood, to him, and even stranger, he knew my name. It was almost like we had met before.“Don’t lie to me,” he said again, his eyes boring into mine. “Tell me who you are and I promise I would set you free.”I could feel the hot tears begin to drop down my cheek. There was definitely no way I was going to convince him that I was the daughter of the evil Demontes. Not like I was proud of admitting to be his daughter in the first place.“I am Antonella,” I tried one last time. “I can’t convince you but I swear I am, and I know my father has done a lot of evil, to your pack and many others. I tried to stop him but I couldn’t. That is why I ran away from…”“Silence!”I kept shut immediately and watched as he walked over to meet his guards. He whispered something to them and they nodded and shifted into their wolves. They ran off leaving the two of us and another of his guards who stood not too far off from him.“Martinez!” He growled, turning to face the last guard.“Yes Alpha.”“Take her to the dungeons,” he commanded. “She would be my slave.”He stressed the word ‘slave’ and my heart skipped two beats at the thought of what he meant. I clutched my dress together as his eyes ran down my body and Martinez walked over to meet me.“Come on princess,” he whispered in my ears. “Another adventure awaits you.”He hunched me up and threw me on his back and as he led me to my doom, I turned back to give the Alpha one quick look. Our eyes met and he quickly averted his gaze and walked away but I had seen enough to know that the handsome Alpha was crying.Maybe fate is indeed a fickle mistress. I could not come to the terms of what had just happened. My arms and legs began to tremble immediately. I could not control the tears that flowed from my eyes as the whole incident flashed before my eyes again. The whole painful incident of watching my parents being murdered.Bile formed in my throat almost immediately. Anger and pain was an understatement to describe how I felt that very minute. I could not take it in anymore so I turned to return inside.“Are you fine, Alpha?” Dan questioned, with so much concern evident in his voice. No. I did not want to look weak right in front of him. I did not want to look like a weak Alpha. I looked away from him as I did not want him to see the pain sliding down my eyes in the form of tears.“I am fine” I answered with all confidence and I was grateful my voice did not fail me as it sounded as firm as it would always sound.“If there is anything…..”“I am fine!” I yelled almost immediately. My pain had
The night was cold and so, I embraced myself as that was the only way I could shield myself from the cold. My lips began to quiver as well as because of the cold. The dungeon walls were not helping either as it seemed like it aided the cold.The moon reflected into the space I was and I stood up, realizing the full moon was out. Of course, I was so weak and tired but I gathered the little strength I had left in me to walk closer to the reflection of the moon in my space.A tear fell from my eyes as I knew I was finally paying for my Father’s crime. I had no idea whom the young man was but everything about him seemed familiar. Father had often returned home with a lot of scents when I was much younger. Scents of the body of his prey. Perhaps, Father had tried to kill him or something?I silently prayed to the moon goddess within me to help me out f the mess I had gotten myself into. I had left the house simply because I was fed up with all Father was doing and his cruelty. What then ha
The clanking sound of metal coupled with the early morning sun grazing my skin made me flicker my eyes open although my eyelids were still heavy and threatened to shut itself. I was not sure of what was going on as I still could not embrace reality. My head ached and so did every other part of my body. The bed was far from okay.It was far from comfortable and I really wanted to cuss at Father for making me go through such. If only he has been nice…. I held my head as I looked up at the stranger who was at the door. Utter displeasure was registered in his eyes as he stared at me like I had done something very terrible to him.“Here is your meal” He pushed the door opened slightly and passed what I believed was my food beneath the door and then shut it immediately, perhaps so I would not escape. I stared at the meal and then at him, wondering what I was to do with it. I could not imagine how I was supposed to eat that.I looked at the food and then cringed at the sight. It was so bad.
A gazillion thoughts crossed my mind all at the same time. Even though I tried to pretend not to see it, I could see fear obvious and evident in her eyes as soon as she heard me request for the whip.“If whipping me will make you believe that I have done nothing and I have nothing against you, then so be it. Kill you if you want but there is nothing I have against you” She spoke, her voice laced with fear.I froze almost immediately on the spot as I could pretend.I was quite hurt and broken. I stormed out immediately and headed back to my room, holding my head so tight as I was beginning to lose my mind.“Do you still think she is guilty?” Fur questioned. That was the last thing I wanted to hear.“Stop! Don’t do that! Don’t say a word!” I yelled almost immediately, holding my head so tight like I would pull it off. Why was everything getting so complicated to figure out? Antonella’s presence was making things even more difficult for me to handle.There was possibly no way she could b
“Cole?” I raised my brows, staring at the stranger. He was the last person I had expected to see that minute.“Cole” I embraced him quickly, a smile on my face. I had really missed him. After I had lost my friend; Antonella while growing up, he had somehow filed the void of course, until a particular day when he suddenly went missing.My whole life seemed to have taken a new turn ever since he was gone and I had no choice but to adapt to the new life I found myself in. Cole looked up at me and I could tell he was confused. He had no idea who I was. I had changed so much. He on the other hand, still looked the same like he was when he was little.“I am sorry” Letting go of him was the best way to get rid of the awkwardness between us. He bowed and stretched forth the letter he had come to deliver to me.I still could not understand how he had ended up being a delivery man for some rogues or whoever it was that had sent the letter.Not taking my eyes off him, I took the letter and read
Just then, he started to cough out blood.What was going on? I hurriedly placed the jar of water in his mouth but more blood? My eyes widened in shock as I dropped the jar that was in my hand.“No….. No….No. Don’t do this” I pleaded with him as he spat out blood. Where was the blood from? Had he been poisoned? My eyes widened in shock as several thoughts began to run through my mind. I could not afford to lose Dave. He had always been my support.He was my go to person and the only person I could trust so much with my pack. He suddenly began to turn pale. “Get the Royal physician!” I yelled at the maid and then, she nodded. Running quickly with one of the guards.“Stay with me” I pleaded as his eyelids had gently began to close. “Stay with me. Please, do not die. I cannot afford to lose you” I pleaded with him. Leading the pack without him would be very difficult. We had began to do things together since I became the Alpha.I had chosen him specifically to help me out and he had not l
I was quite surprised to say the least. I had not expected to be given such special treatment. From the way he sounded, I could tell he was hurt and I really felt sorry for him but it was not my fault. It was my Father and not me who had offended him. I let out a sigh of relief as I sat close to the wall. Several thoughts ran through my mind. I was baffled by the fact that my wolf was upset with me when I was actually supposed to be upset with her. What was wrong with her? All this was her fault and now, she was closing up on me?“I am sorry” I managed to swallow my pride and apologized. Even though it was not my fault, I felt the need to apologize to her. She was mute for a while and it got me even more upset.“I am sorry” I repeated, acting remorseful when I really was not. I was really bored and I needed someone to talk to. Also, I needed her to help me out. We could not be locked up here forever. We had to figure a way to get out as quick as we could.“I am sorry as well” She fi
I was so upset. If it was the same poison, it was definitely Antonella's handiwork. I was broken for a second time. Maybe I was right after all. Maybe people could not be trusted. There was possibly no other way the poison could have found its way into our pack. It was what she had planned. I was disappointed as I was beginning to trust her again and now, she had let it all down.“Trust? I believe you know what kind of person she is now” I informed my wolf. It was saddening and hard to believe but the truth was glaring. I nodded as I watched the royal physician walk away. I felt so bad and wished there was something I could do but alas, there was not. I was heartbroken.“I will protect you at all cost. I will make sure nothing happens to you”No, I was not just saying it. I was really going to do as I said. My won’t was quiet. Perhaps, it had no idea of what to say anymore after realizing the woman he wanted me to trust and give a second chance was nothing but a murderer.She had trie