LeoAnother mind-numbing afternoon of meetings with the pack council finally drew to a close. As the eldest royal heir, a heavy portion of administrative duties fell to me. Necessary work, but tedious. What I craved now was entertainment - something to stir the blood after hours spent debating crop yields and settlement disputes. My thoughts turned to lovely Natalia and the spark she ignited within me. Perhaps she would provide some fun distraction from the day's monotony.With that aim in mind, I went in search of the defiant slave girl who continued plaguing my thoughts. Our charged interactions were proving surprisingly habit-forming. The way she met my gaze with subtle fire, never fully yielding or cowed despite her chains, fascinated me. Natalia was no groveling servant content with her fate. The wolf still raged within. I admired that unconquerable pride and wished to tease more of it from her. After inquiring with the kitchen overseer, I was directed toward the laundry hous
NatalieI winced as the heavy oak door creaked loudly in the silence of the deserted corridor. The main palace was still, most of its inhabitants already retired for the night. As a lowly kitchen slave, I was rarely permitted access to these opulent upper levels, reserved for the pack's nobility. But one of the fine rugs in the guest wing's main sitting room had been stained earlier today, and the head housekeeper insisted it be washed immediately to avoid offence. So as the most junior servant, the unpleasant task of scrubbing out the large rug in the dead of night inevitably fell to me. At least the silence and solitude was a respite from the chaotic confines of the kitchens.I didn't mind the tedious labor or late hour. It was a stroke of luck not to encounter any disapproving guards on my long trek here from the servants' wing. My pulse had only just settled to a normal rhythm after sneaking up several concealed back staircases.Some instinct prompted me to scan the seemingly de
DamianI scanned the sitting room with a critical eye, searching for any flaws in the pristine space. As usual, the staff had done adequate work tidying up after yesterday's informal pack gathering. The fine Calormene rug showed no hints of the wine stain from Leo's carelessness. Satisfied, I turned to review the documents spread across the massive teak desk. There was always more administrative work to be done governing the pack's affairs and expanding our influence. Father relied increasingly on me to oversee such matters as his health declined. I took the duties seriously, even if they resulted in long tedious hours of reading dreary reports. I had just settled in my chair and taken up a proposed treaty when a muffled thud from the terrace interrupted my concentration. Frowning, I set down the parchment and went to investigate the noise. Hopefully not more drunk revelers stumbling about.Pushing open the French doors, I was startled to see a lone slave girl scrubbing the large
DamianI rose with the sun as was my habit, determined to get a head start on the day's work before the rest of the pack stirred. There were always endless new matters requiring my attention and mediation as Alpha-in-training. But I welcomed the demands and responsibilities as affirmation of my leadership duties. After a light breakfast, I reviewed various administrative reports and drafts of new legislation in my private study. One proposition in particular held promise - guidelines protecting indentured servants from unwarranted abuse and allowing them to earn eventual freedom through years of loyal service. It would be controversial with traditional pack members, but seemed a fair compromise to me. The old ways served us well enough, but thoughtful change was warranted at times.I made notes on the draft to present before the council later, satisfied with the morning's progress. But there was scarce time to rest on laurels. Lunch with dignitaries from the Longclaw pack awaited th
Natalia I bit back a sigh, rolling my aching shoulders discreetly beneath the shapeless servant's dress. After being assigned to palace duties recently, the last few days had been the most challenging yet serving the impossibly demanding Alpha heir, Damian Walker. His exacting standards and temper made Lucas seem mild by comparison. My fellow slave Mary listened patiently that evening as I unloaded my daily frustrations in the safety of the servants' quarters. "Honestly Mary, I'm at my wit's end trying to anticipate Damian's wishes before he can find fault," I confessed wearily, scrubbing a grubby hand across my face. "But nothing seems to mollify him. It's like caring for a temperamental dragon with the appetite of a bird!"Mary patted my shoulder consolingly, her kind face etched with sympathy. "Patience, dear heart. You are new to his service still - in time you will learn how best to avoid rousing his ire." I managed a wan smile at her reassurance. Mary's stalwart support was
DamianI stormed down the empty palace corridor, fists clenched tight with outrage I could no longer contain. The day's endless vexations had finally tipped me over the edge into a rare open temper. That a palace slave would dare attempt to serve me dumplings, knowing full well I detested them since childhood, was beyond incompetent. It was a targeted insult, though I could not fathom the cause.Either way, such insubordination could not stand unanswered. There were protocols in place for dealing with recalcitrant servants who overstepped boundaries. I would see them enforced to the letter, and find the root of this affront.Bursting into the administrative wing, I sent for my assistant Kyle and began pacing as I awaited him. "How dare she."Speculation roiled in my mind. Surely the girl Natalia was not foolish enough to attempt such blatant sabotage. She seemed flighty at times, but not malicious."Why? Why would she it is clearly in my meal timetable." Which meant someone else wa
Damian I stormed through the vaulted palace corridors, servants scurrying out of my path. Rare temper darkened my face like thunderclouds, warding off any foolish enough to address me. There was reckoning to be had this day. None escapes justice under my authority.The object of my ire soon loomed ahead - the carved oak door leading to the head cook's domain. Normally a hub of activity, the kitchens now stood ominously silent, word of my black mood preceding me. I flung the door wide without ceremony, relishing how it crashed against the stone wall. All within jumped violently at my abrupt entrance. Stern eyes fixed on the cook where she huddled whispering with her assistants.At my thunderous expression, she paled and hastened forward, wringing her hands. "Alpha Damian! What an honor to have you visit my humble kitchens..."I cut off her sniveling pleasantries with a sharp gesture. "Enough. I have no patience for pretense when matters of discipline are at hand."The cook quailed u
DamianStormwind's hooves thundered over the packed earth as we galloped swiftly toward the forest edge. The wind lashed my face, blurring details into abstract smears of color. But my focus remained fixed straight ahead. I would not lose Natalia's trail now. Her life likely depended on my finding her before the elements or wild beasts did. Guilt gnawed at my core, sharper than the winter chill knifing through my cloak. If not for my stubborn blindness and temper, she never would have believed fleeing into danger her only choice. I had failed spectacularly in my responsibilities as Alpha.Only bringing her home safely now could begin to mend this breach. I silently prayed the gods grant us that chance. Stormwind tossed his head urgently beneath me, as if sharing my fervent wish. Natalia's loss would leave a wound beyond healing in us both.At last the shadowy tree line loomed before us. I reined Stormwind to a canter, then a brisk walk as we entered the dim undergrowth. Now stealth
MICHEAL'S POVMy gaze moved from one elder to the other as speak, uttering words I knew I was going to put down at the end of everything. They have been trying to get me to have a meeting with them for ages and this was the first meeting we are having in a while, if not I could have dismissed them and left the room.I shouldn't be here when I have far more troubles to deal with and as I followed them with my eyes, I was wondering if there was any way at all that I could follow to ease all of these positions. It has been a tradition for every pack to have an elder whereas I see no point in it. They help in no way. All they do is bring up problems that will stress you even more even when you think you are managing the pack really well. There might be no way to get rid of them but I know for a fact that I am not going to tolerate them in any way. If they were tolerated by the past rulers then they should get ready for a change."I think reducing the rate of the tax at this point will b
DAMIEN'S POVMy gaze flickered from Lucas to Leo, still not believing that they were even thinking about doing that. This just confirmed to me that they do not know the gravity of the situation we are in."We can get into the pack, grab her, and then leave the pack all in one day. We can take as much time as we desire to bring her back to this place" That was Lucas, speaking wholeheartedly to Leo."And if we can even consider this in a broader sense, we can continue living there with her instead of coming back all the way here you know" Leo added his delusions all the while I observed them with wide unbelieving eyes."That will be a wise thing to do if we can be able to pull that out smoothly," Lucas remarked."Alright, alright, you all should slow down" Having heard enough of their bullshit, I chimed in immediately.They both turned to look toward me at the same time. They were so deep in their conversation that they had forgotten that I was still in their presence."I hope you two r
NATALIA'S POVI was happy.That is the word, happiness. You can never tell just how much loneliness has affected you until you are opportune to be in the presence of people again. It just so happens to be the best feeling and almost everything you think was a problem would end up being not an actual problem and was just created by your mind overthinking because you have no other person to share your thoughts with. I have been that way for the past months, just thinking and thinking my life away. The only time I had the chance to interact with anyone was when I paid a visit to the palace or when I was off to get my food supplies in the market. It has always been a routine. Stay at home for up to a week, go out to the market and the palace, and then come back to the loom of loneliness and silence. I had no idea that it was affecting me until now that I was blessed with the presence of other living beings."What do you desire to eat today?" Cole asked after he knocked on my door and I
LUCAS'S POV"What?" I asked Leo who was suddenly looking at me like I had managed to develop a second head in three seconds.He didn't budge, and I wasn't even sure if he heard my statement. He seems to be in a haze, deep in thought. "Leo? What the hell is wrong with you?" Damien, who was more closer to him asked while tapping him on the shoulder. This seems to have made him snap out of whatever hex that had suddenly befell him. "What?" I asked again, eager to know what was on his mind. "I think I know...." He slowly muttered, still falling back in thought."You know what?" It turns out I wasn't the only one eager to hear what he wanted to say because both Damien and I spoke at the same time, this time around."I think I know where Natalia is hiding" After some painful seconds of waiting, he finally spoke again, emphasizing any word he muttered."What do you mean by that? How did you know where she was hiding? Is that even possible?" I remarked, a deep frown playing on my face. I c
LEO'S POVI do not despise her. I just don't trust her. I am still failing to believe she ended up just finding herself with no motives. Let's face it, I am a very practical person. For us to find ourselves here, we spend days on end running. The keyword there has been running. We never stopped once, encountered numerous dangers on the way and because we are warriors, we aced it. So imagine just a defenseless lady going through all of these. I see no chance of her survival. Except if she was escorted here by someone experienced, who stays hidden behind the shadows. So it makes no sense to me that Damien blindly believed her and even allowed her to stay with us. I have tried multiple times to talk him out of it but he just wouldn't budge. He kept telling me he knew Micheal and in her explanation, there was no form of deception. It's frustrating that he can't just listen to me for once and agree that there is more to what she was saying than meet the eye. It doesn't help that he has
DAMIEN’S POV“And you think everything is going to be as we left it?” Lucas inquired, looking amusingly at me.“Of course not, things are going to change drastically, and above all, your personal items are going to be used by another set of people” I clarified.“Damn man, I will hate to rearrange. It is going to take painful weeks of working” Leo winced, slumping his shoulder against the rocky wall. “You can simply just move to another wing you know, there are numerous parts in the palace and it is enormous enough for you to change wing each week for two months so there is no reason to throw a tantrum” I proclaimed with a shrug.We were currently having a casual discussion on how things were going to be when we returned back to the palace after everything died down. We haven’t really brought forth who is supposed to role but I think we have now learned our lesson and are going to cross that bridge successfully when we get to it.“Not man, I choose to stay in that part of the palace f
STEVE’S POVI sat down at the single desk and chair in my room after I was done with my duty for the day. Making sure to lock my door first, I brought the pen and paper I was going to use to write the letter and placed it in front of me on the table.I wasn't sure what to write but I knew I had to write something very convincing if I really wanted them to believe my words were genuine and not just some created tales to come between them. Micheal is wise and would definitely deny anything of that nature has been plotted if they decide to approach him so I will need to come up with words convincing enough to make them just act and not go about asking.I twirled the pen in my hand multiple times for minutes on end, staring at the blank sheet in front of me and not knowing what to write.After additional minutes of silence and thinking, I finally came up with enough words to start up with. There won't be any need to greet so as they would know it was coming from someone from a higher leve
NATALIA’S POV“I thought you were dead at first and then news began to spread around the pack that the new leader was searching vehemently for you which was so confusing at that time. We searched too, hoping to reach you before any of them. We never gave up on our search and that faithful day we got you, it was purely coincidentally and you were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. The news got to us that guards would be surveying this part of the pack today and we were out to keep watch so we caught you thinking it was a guard. It doesn't help that you were dressed in men’s attire” Kyle explained with the others sitting at each side of him.I, on the other hand, was sitting on the opposite side of them and listening attentively.“I don't understand, I thought you went out with them that night?” I asked, referring to my mates. Confusion setting in.“No, we didn't. No one did because they informed no one that they were going anywhere. It was all a work of Micheal to get them corn
NATALIA’S POVWas I okay? I wasn’t even sure. I was so consumed by an immersed amount of shock that I had no idea whether I was okay or not. I was clueless as to how I was feeling. I swallowed loudly, the feeling so foreign to me after days of not being able to do that. My eyes trailed from one of their figures to another, trying to wrap my head around the fact that they were real and in front of me. Instinctively, I reached out to touch Kyle who was the one kneeling in front of me.My hand fell on his shoulder, a more confirmation that he was alive and in front of me. I wasn't hallucinating. Damn even if I was, why will I be seeing them of all the amount of people I missed.They were real. They were frankly genuine and were standing right in front of me. But the question that was stuck in my head was how did I not think about them all this while? How did I not remember and enquire about them? Now that my mates were no more, they should be the closest thing to a parent my kid would h