The Princess's Revenge Chapter 14

Valencia’s POV

But his hand never made contact.

A larger hand—calloused and strong—clamped around Elton's wrist.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Logan's voice was so cold, it seemed to drop the temperature in the corridor by several degrees. I hadn't even heard him approach.

Elton's head whipped around, his eyes widening with shock and fury. But Logan's grip was unyielding, his gray eyes boring into Elton with lethal intensity.

"Touch her once," Logan said quietly, "and I'll remove your hand. Permanently."

The two Alphas stared at each other, the air between them crackling with barely restrained violence. Elton's Beta, Zephyr, appeared at the end of the corridor, his hand moving toward his weapon. But a warning growl from Logan—made him freeze.

"For a slave?" Elton finally managed, his voice strained. "You're threatening an Alpha over a slave? Logan, you've changed."

Logan released Elton's wrist with a sharp motion. He moved between us, positioning himself as a physical barrier.

"I'm protecting my property," Logan said. "Anyone who damages what belongs to me will pay the price. That's not personal, Elton. That's principle."

He reached back without looking, his hand finding my wrist and pulling me forward. "Come."

I didn't resist. I let him lead me away, his grip firm but not painful. Logan's pace was quick, almost punishing. I had to half-run to keep up. We climbed the stairs, went down one corridor, then another, until we finally reached the guest room.

He pulled me inside and shut the door firmly behind us.

Only then did he release my wrist.

I stood there, breathing hard, my heart still racing from the confrontation with Elton. Logan moved to the window, his back to me, his shoulders tense.

The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words.

"Why?" The question burst out of me before I could stop it.

Logan didn't turn around. "Why what?"

"Why did you do all that? Admit to killing them, turn it around on Elton, defend me in the hallway..." My voice cracked slightly. "You've made an enemy for life. He'll never stop coming after you now."

Logan's laugh was bitter. "He was already my enemy. One more reason won't change anything."

"But—"

"Enough." He finally turned to face me, and the intensity in his gray eyes made my breath catch. "You're mine. My property. No one damages what belongs to me. It's that simple."

I didn’t feel offended by being called property. Slaves are inherently property. But the way he said it was something almost like... protection.

Logan's voice got softer. "We're leaving. Now."

"Now?" I blinked in surprise. "But I thought—"

"The roads should be clear by now. The longer we stay here, the more opportunities Elton has to cause trouble." He moved toward his sword, checking the blade with practiced efficiency. "And I've had enough of this place."

He glanced at me, his gray eyes sweeping over my form. "You have nothing to pack anyway. Let's go."

Before I could respond, he strode to the door and held it open, waiting. It wasn't a request.

He set a brisk pace through the corridors, and I had to quicken my steps to keep up. We descended the main staircase and headed toward the back of the castle. The stables loomed ahead, and I could already hear the restless movements of horses within.

Valencia's POV

The landscape began to change as we rode north. Dense forest gave way to rolling hills covered in frost. Ancient pine trees stretched toward the grey sky, their branches heavy with ice that caught the morning light and sparkled. Occasionally, snow would slide from the heights above, falling with soft whispers.

By mid-afternoon, we'd climbed into proper mountain country. The path narrowed, winding between massive boulders that jutted from the earth. Wind howled through gaps in the rock.

Then we crested a ridge, and my breath caught in my throat.

Cliffwatch.

The castle rose from the mountainside like something from a dark fairy tale. Built entirely of black volcanic rock, it clung to the edge of a massive cliff, one side dropping away into a dizzying chasm that disappeared into mist below. Three other sides were protected by sheer mountain peaks, making it nearly impossible to approach except by the narrow, winding road we traveled.

Five stories tall with multiple towers, the structure should have been magnificent. And perhaps it once was. But now...

Damage scarred every surface. The roof had collapsed in several places. Windows gaped empty and dark. The eastern tower had partially fallen. Yet despite the destruction, the castle remained imposing. Massive.

"We're here," Logan's voice broke the silence, the first words he'd spoken in hours.

The massive iron gates groaned open as we approached. A group of about twenty people waited inside, clearly having been alerted to our arrival.

Logan dismounted first, then reached up to help me down. His hands gripped my waist firmly as he lifted me from the horse. But the moment my feet touched the ground, my legs buckled beneath me.

Hours of sitting astride the horse combined with severe malnutrition had left my muscles weak and unresponsive. I couldn't catch myself. I fell hard onto the cold stone, my hands scraping against the rough ground.

Laughter erupted from the crowd.

"Can't even stand on her own feet!"

"Pathetic."

"This is what Alpha brought back?"

Heat flooded my face as shame crashed over me. I tried to push myself up, but my arms trembled with the effort.

"SILENCE!"

Logan's roar cut through the mockery like a blade. The laughter died instantly, replaced by a suffocating quiet. His Alpha pressure exploded outward, so crushing that several pack members actually stumbled backward.

Before I could try to stand again, Logan bent down and scooped me into his arms. One arm slid beneath my knees, the other behind my back, lifting me against his chest as if I weighed nothing at all.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"Alpha—"

"What is he—"

"She's just a slave!"

I felt every eye snap to us. The weight of their stares was almost physical. My heart hammered against my ribs as I instinctively clutched at Logan's shirt, my face burning with embarrassment.

At the front of the group stood two figures - clearly the leadership. The first man stepped forward and dropped to one knee, though his expression showed clear shock. "Alpha, welcome home."

"Dorian," Logan acknowledged with a slight nod, his arms never loosening around me.

I studied the Beta carefully. He was perhaps thirty, with neat brown hair and sharp brown eyes. A thin scar traced his jawline.

When his gaze flicked to me in Logan's arms, something cold passed through his eyes - a flash of disgust so quick I almost missed it. But he masked it instantly, his expression returning to neutral.

Behind Dorian stood one who had to be the Gamma.

The man was around twenty-five, with auburn hair pulled back into a short tail. Amber eyes studied me with open hostility, his lip curling slightly as he took in my torn dress, the iron collar around my neck, and my position cradled in the Alpha's arms. A scar cut across his nose, and a silver ring gleamed in his left ear.

"Xander," Logan greeted him.

Xander's knee touched the ground, but his eyes never left me. "Alpha." The single word dripped with disapproval and barely concealed rage.

Logan's gaze scanned the empty space beside him, as if expecting someone else. "Where is Amara?"

Xander's expression tightened, though his hostile gaze remained fixed on me. "She is... preparing your welcome gift, Alpha. She insisted it be ready upon your arrival."

A flicker of impatience crossed Logan's face, so fast I almost missed it. My heart sank. I couldn't help but wonder about their relationship.

More murmurs rippled through the assembled crowd.

"Is that...?"

"Look at her collar. She's a slave."

"Why would Alpha carry a wolfless?"

"Disgusting."

"He's holding her like she's precious."

My face burned. I was used to hatred, to being treated like filth. But this... being presented to Logan's pack like this, cradled in his arms while they stared with open contempt... it cut deeper than I expected.

Dorian stepped forward, his voice carefully controlled despite the shock evident in his eyes. "Alpha, this is...?"

"Valencia," Logan said, his tone brooking no argument. His arms tightened around me slightly. "She's my personal attendant."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Personal attendant. The position usually reserved for someone of extreme trust and importance. I was surprised too, he never mentioned this to me.

Xander couldn't contain himself. He took a step forward, his amber eyes flashing. "Alpha, forgive me, but a wolfless cannot hold such a position. It's... it's not acceptable. And to carry her like this—"

Agreement rippled through the ranks. I saw heads nodding, heard affirmative murmurs.

I wanted to disappear. To sink into the ground and never resurface. Every word was a knife, and they wielded them expertly. And being held in Logan's arms made it all worse—made me more visible, more exposed to their judgment.

Logan's response was immediate and terrible. Alpha pressure rolled off him in waves, making everyone drop their gazes.

"My decisions require no one's approval." His voice was ice and death. "If anyone has further objections, voice them now. Otherwise, keep your opinions to yourself."

No one spoke. But the hostility didn't diminish - it only went underground, simmering beneath forced compliance.

"Dorian," Logan continued, his tone still sharp. "Show everyone back to their duties. Now."

"Yes, Alpha." Dorian's expression was carefully blank as he began dismissing the crowd.

Logan strode toward the castle entrance without waiting, still carrying me in his arms. Behind us, I could hear the shocked whispers, feel dozens of hostile eyes burning into my back.

"Alpha," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "You can put me down now. I can walk—"

"No." His grip didn't loosen.