The Prisoner’s Princess Chapter 113

Isabelle

Alex trained with Bryson and Caleb while me and Mini were out shopping with the pups. She was showing now at three months, and so far, so good. Their pack, even dad understood them staying here. There may have been more eyes and ears in Charred and CrimsonMoon, but realistically our lands were safer because of the magical barrier, divine intervention, and my mate.

The same barriers were being put in place in Crimson and CharredMoon, as well as the king’s castle, but that would take time. Absolution magic held the price of death, since there was no way to dispel it, the gods felt that a sacrifice must be traded to do something so permanent to the land. Jerold had taken full charge of the High King and his general’s accommodations, education on current affairs, and even going so far as to leave to speak with him personally. I was sure he knew what happened…. Nothing seemed to get past him, but for Mini’s sake, he kept it all secret.

If this got out, I was sure the other kings would steal her baby the day she was birthed to train her to be ‘the perfect princess’. I could understand their reasoning, but I would never help them know something like that…

“Isabelle are you ok?” Asked Mini. She walked with me holding my hand, and I smiled weakly.

“No I’m, fine, just distracted.” I half lied. She didn’t notice, and I kept this too myself. She had enough worries. Everyone wanted her pup…. It wouldn’t be fair to have her worry when she was finally in a good mood. I made sure that everything went well… I even had the Warriors watch the streets just out of sight.

We had a personal detail of guards handpicked by Bryson…. Also, we weren’t even a mile away. It put both men at ease. I could only figure that they would come check on us if they sensed anything wrong anyway. The pups happily bounced behind us, and the guards behind them. They were used to following me, and they didn’t wander off.

“I’m so hot.” She complained.

“Do you want to go back?” I asked., but she shook her head.

“No Izzy, it’s 65 degrees out. I’m just hormonal.” She said shaking her head. We’d walked down the hill to the stores, and I figured let’s just shop for the clothes first. If she got too winded, we could always link our mates to bring the car and go home. Walking was her idea anyway.

“….. Fine. But if you get tired, we’re going home.” I warned.

She sighed. “And Raakshir will hover over me like I’m going to pop now.” She whined.

“Damn I feel that. You should have seen Ven. It got so bad he almost wouldn’t let me leave the damn house.” I said rolling my eyes. I went into the clothing boutique first, and heads turned. No one expected the Luna to show up with a friend, but there were bows and generally good smiles all around. It felt good to see the pack was happy and healthy.

“Luna, welcome! I see your friend here is with pup! How exciting!” Giggled the clothing clerk. I remember the last time I was in here was when I got Bryson’s belt and boots.

“This is Luna Mini of CrimsonMoon. Ring whatever she buys on this month’s invoice. Oh, and while I’m here I will probably need another pair of boots for Bryson.” I said casually… seeing a baby shirt I could maybe put on Grace…. They always were so happy when I dressed them, but I think it was more that they didn’t understand what was happening.

I picked them up while Mini got girl’s clothes. She’d gong to the clinic a few days ago, and they confirmed the sex, so we felt it was safe to go on ahead and get mostly girl things. Boy things were just in case, and if not, she’d likely birth on a full moon. Someone around here would probably want what her pup couldn’t fit.

Bathroom. Said Kaizen suddenly, and I scooped them all up, running to the little door that said ‘bathroom’. They were potty trained but they didn’t wait long before using it. They all went no problem; I just didn’t want to deal with that fiasco of them messing the floor in a public place. They didn’t really do that, but you never say your pup would never do something. The moment you do, they’ll never ever like they never evered before. When I got out I saw Mini looking a little uncomfortable.

“I smell like a hound because I am.” She said quietly.

“Oh? I didn’t know there were dog shifters. Or I should say hound?” Said a Warrior at the checkout. “Luna Mini, was it?” She nodded. “Since you’re called a gravehound can you do anything magical?” He asked. She’d drawn the ear of everyone in the store, but the other wolves who saw her come in with me stayed their distance.

“No, we just live near cemeteries. We stop crows, coyotes, and grave robbers from messing up the place. I was born, but dogs buried in cemeteries, and humans buried at night can become one of us. It’s said that we were a gift from her son, but we hail to the Pale Lady.”

“Sorry if I’m prying too much. I’ve never left the pack. If you ever want to talk more though, please do. I feel like this is the kind of stuff I missed in school.” He said with a small bow leaving out with the uniform he bought. He didn’t see me, but he did bow to the outer guard as he left. It sounded like he was genuinely curious…. And he was also right.

I can’t remember learning too much about Other shifters. Werewolf history, shifting techniques, and stuff like that… but nothing about hounds, hyena, or any other kind of shifter. I came back to see she smelled a little nervous, and her eyes were slightly glazed.

“Caleb’s upset that I got nervous.” She smiled.

“He was just curious.” I said shaking my head. “Sorry though that he scared you.”

“No, I allowed him to get close and answer his questions. He’d never met a hound before.” She said sheepishly.

“…Um.” Bowed the cashier. “I haven’t either if it helps any.”

“Me neither. I’m from SandMoon in Colorada, there’s some crazy shit out there, but no hounds.” Mumbled Kat’s mate.

“Oh, like what?” I asked and she squinted her eyes.

“They’re called not-deer…. They look like deer from afar... but they’re not… like somethin’s wrong with ‘um. They look almost like zombies. They eat anything living. From green grass to red meat, I’ve seen a group of them strip a Rouge in about 3 minutes, and what’s left of that same Rouge shift and walk the desert until someone takes their head off. It’s why I transferred here… and found my mate.” She said with a small frown.

“You must have been attacked by those things.” I said with a little concern.

“Well yeah. The moment you leave safe pack territory, anything can happen. I was even bit by one, but I thank the Lady I didn’t die.” She said casually.

“Yeah…. I’m never leaving the pack unless you drag me by the tail.” I mumbled, deciding to drop it. Mini wasn’t scared, just crowded. She never liked attention, but she got it because she was different. They tried to be respectful though, and for that I was thankful.

I don’t think I could handle my brother or Bryson’s anger while keeping the pups from being pups.

They trotted behind me without issue, and Mini got the stuff she wanted. We got all kinds of outfits, including some really cute toys for the pups. They looked like bumble bees, and they made crinkle sounds. I also got them a book of bedtime stories.

They were full of energy, and I doubted they would ever sit still enough for this kind of thing… but I could try. It wouldn’t hurt anything. “I’m so cold.” Said Mini. I felt that… when I was with pup hormones made me hot and cold all the time.

“Do you want to go home?” I asked and she giggled.

“No, I just want my jacket.” She said, being handed a thick hoodie from one of my warriors. She thanked them, and we slowly made our way to the next shop over. Neither of us really liked pampering, but I would get us pedicures. It would give us more time to have girl time.

Thankfully, it wasn’t crowded, but I still waited in the lobby. “Luna please, come to my chair after my client.” Said one who had her hair dyed green. It would come off when she shifted, but I’m sure she didn’t care. She did it for the aesthetic.

“No I want to wait. We’re just having a bit of a spa day.” I said with a smile.

“I agree.” Said Mini.

I linked Bryson to get the pups, but we would talk while I waited. They weren’t doing anything, but they were fighting sleep, and if not, it was their nap time.

“Izzy what’s it like being a mother?” She asked.

“It’s like…the most wonderful thing I’ve ever experienced but also demanding. I love my pups as much as my mate, I would die for them, but I’m scared I’m going to make a mistake. Since I have three, I’m scared I’ll somehow pick favorites, teach them something terrible…. Or they’ll grow up to be their birthright because we didn’t see the signs….” I said looking at my hands. “But at the same time I know that’s not it… I Know I’m doing my best. They have love from us both… and they already know so much.” I smiled.

“You love them so much you don’t want to hurt them… I know they’ll be fine.” She smiled, putting her hand on mine. “I’m worried my pup will resent that I’m a hound…. Because of me she will be only half her birthright… and the runt of the royal family.” She mumbled rubbing her belly.

“As the current runt I can assure you that they won’t care about that.” I smiled, and she shook her head.

“You’re no runt Izzy.” She smiled. But I had to get this off my chest. It wouldn’t be fair to only let her see one side, the Alpha side of my family and think I was included like the males were.

“Yeah, I am. I was also a late bloomer, but no one ever made me feel left out or less. No one ever mistreated me, and no one would dare do that to your pup. But it must be said; I am the smallest and weakest of those born of my grandfather’s line. I am the only wolf of my line that could not be an Alpha. Even my Aunt Shelly WAS until she was defeated by my dad…. But even still, I wasn’t treated less. In another pack, I wouldn’t be surprised if dad would’ve married me off as the shame of my people, but they aren’t like that. No one would ever mistreat her, but it would be her own mind that you would have to soothe. I never told anyone how I felt because they thought I was happy…. I wasn’t. I was always insecure about this, but I learned to live with it.” I patted her hand that was on mine, and we were ready to get pampered.

“I don’t think people will mistreat her though… I worry what my little girl will think of herself as you said, because I feel the same sometimes.” She mumbled. “It’s rare to be a hybrid… even in the pack… she’ll be the Only hybrid, born without littermates, just as I am the only hound.”

“But she’ll have her family.” I smiled. I put my feet in the water, and oh my Lady it felt good.

Want. Said Grace, getting in the water, wagging her little tail, but her brothers looked at her questioningly.

No. Said Tyson, deciding to wrestle his brother.

Yes. She said resting on the top of my feet… I got giggles from many of the women in the salon.

“My Luna would you like me to manicure your pup as well?” She asked.

I knew she was joking, but I denied her just in case. “…. They are sharp, but I don’t think it would go well if my mate heard her complaining.”

“No I wouldn’t.” He said with crossed arms, and She wiggled with all her might, getting out the water to him, along with her brothers.

Papa! She yipped, and he picked her up.

“Lady….” He chuckled “Can I get a towel?” He asked and he was tossed one to try and dry her off.

No. She complained, wiggling and he put her down, she ran back to the water but didn’t go in. She put her front paws on the chair. No! she complained louder when he scooped them all up.

No water. He said in wolf, and she tilted her head.

Water? They all yipped what, and he lowered them to the bubbles. The boys didn’t want anything to do with it, but it seemed she wanted to go back in.

Water. He repeated.

Want Water. She huffed.

I’m not arguing with you. He raised back up to his full height. “It’s almost like she wants me to join.” He chuckled.

“I don’t think you’d fit Alpha Bryson.” Smiled Mini.

“Bryson is fine Minnetta.” He said taking the pups away.

“He called me my full name.” She mumbled.

“He does that.” I smiled. No one ever called her her full name. It was to the point to where it almost felt a little weird. He left with a wave to leave us to soak. And I had to admit…. It was nice.

“I noticed he never calls you Izzy either.” She giggled.

“He better not.” I grumbled, missing my pups and mate kind of already. In the meantime I laid back and tried to relax with my best friend. We were Lunas. It wouldn’t be so easy to have moments like this after her pup was born.