The Prisoner’s Princess Chapter 14

Isabelle

Their father, who’s name was Zack, had a really bad cut on his leg. It was obviously broken, and they had tried their best to wrap it. But with the way they had it, it wouldn’t heal well. Broken bones only take a few days to heal, but if it didn’t heal right, it could make permanent damage to the nerves and such. I wish my big sister was here... Heidi could have helped. She was half witch, and she could heal with her hands.

“I’m going to have to … well you’re not going to like it… but I need to set this bone right and splint it.” I said, seeing him grimace. He was already hurting, and I hated that I was going to have to rebreak the leg...

“Do what you have to... Adam, go boil some water.” He said wincing in pain. I got some strong sticks, and we would have to reuse the bandages. It wasn’t ideal… but if I washed the rags they used, and found a sewing kit, I could maybe close the gash too. I didn’t know what to do really, I was only going on what I had seen others do every once in a while. I had him chew on the willow bark and we both mentally braced ourselves.

Zack screamed when I took his leg, and put it straight. It had already healed a little too, which made it probably hurt more. He didn’t say anything when I stitched him up however. “Damn, lady I was Alpha of SalmonMoon…. And our field medic was gentler than you.” He said with a small dry laugh.

“Oh, really?” I asked, wanting to hear his story.

“I was Alpha there for 300 years, until an upstart of ancient blood took over my pack. I submitted, because my mate is an Omega, and my pups are young. They would have banished them… a death sentence. He took the breath out my lungs when he got my leg. It was unnatural.” He said with anger.

“I’m sorry Zackery…” She said, looking down.

“No Gabby, I was going to lose anyway. I don’t care if I lost my position…. It wouldn’t mean anything to be without you.” He said with a small smile. She had taken the dried meat and let it boil so it could rehydrate, and she chopped what looked like some wild onions.

I helped them clean up, and there was just so much to do. I tried stitching their tent, and it wouldn’t last a single rain. “Why don’t you find a pack?” I asked.

“I am a former Alpha, no pack would accept me unless I was fighting for my rank back, but I honestly don’t want to run a pack anymore… I just want my mate and children safe.” He said, getting up, limp-hopping to a thick stick that had fallen to the ground. He used it as a cane, and sat on the thick fallen, but rotted log. it was still solid on top, but the moss on the bottom had made it wet, and mushy. This place looked like it wasn’t used often, unlike the organized, well kept places Bryson moved us to, seemingly from memory.

I began to wonder what he was doing so I linked him a small ‘hey’, but I guess he was still asleep, because he didn’t respond. Oh well, I thought to myself. My wolf complained, demanding we go check on him, but we needed to help these people here. This was especially since the sun was setting.

Why do you help them? Our mate will not like this. She complained, still trying to get me to go back. She missed him as much as I did, but this was important.

There was a chance that that wolf would come back, and even worse: he could have friends. I told her firmly and marked the area with my claws as best as I could. Woman or not, I was still a Charred One, and no one could take that from me. The problem was out here, they fight dirty. I was jumped instead of one-on-one fighting. I could handle myself if it was…. I sighed, helping them get enough firewood for the night. There were plenty of fallen logs and thick branches, so it wasn’t hard, but I was missing my mate.

“Hey, want to hear a scary campfire story?” Said the teen.

His little sister nodded excitedly, but his father’s face was stern. “Don’t scare Libby.” Warned his mother, and he nodded. The soup was ready, and all there was to share was the rehydrated meats and the wild vegetables that were collected earlier. It was good, and I sipped the broth a bit while he stood up.

“They say this story is true.” He said with a spooky voice, and his sister looked like she was giggling. “There was a hulking wolf, so strong, so large, that he could fight the Charred One Himself.” He began. I blinked twice… if only they knew. “He caught him by surprise, and almost ripped him apart, but the Prince had power that could stop him. He was called The Beast. He was thrown into the depths of the Prince’s dirty, dusty dungeon for years and years… until he escaped. He stalks this very forest, killing anyone who dares to see his face. His claws are like razor blades, and his fangs are like kitchen knives. They aren’t smooth…. They’re rough… so they cut into you like you’re steak…. If you ever see him, pray to the Lady that he doesn’t see you.” He paused, getting up. “Some say that he’s never shown anyone mercy... Some say that the Lady made him without a heart... No matter how hard you beg, or far you run.... He will get you!” He said with a snarl.

It was responded by a deathly howl, making everyone but me scream.

----Bryson----

I felt the softness of my mate, and I smelled her faint scent. Every night that I had had her with me, I had real rest. Dreamless, sound sleep would hit me the moment I laid down next to her, and I just didn’t want to get up this morning. I heard the hoot of an owl. It must have been dawn, I thought. I was the biggest thing in the forest, but I still tried to keep some level of awareness for her sake. She was a fighter, but she was still no match for being out here. I was nagged by my wolf to get the campsite ready for her, so that when she gets up, he could feed her. He loved providing for her, and showing her that he was worthy of her. It always made him puff with pride in my mind. She didn’t know this though, maybe I would tell her. I thought.

I opened my eyes to see I had been holding a damn part of my sleeping bag. I growled. I didn’t think about anything other than pulling this forest apart to find her. It looked like she had dried the clothes and forgot to bury the fire…. Hours ago. It was dusk. Shit. My thoughts raced, as I frantically ran toward her old, faint scent. Or maybe… maybe the rouges jumped her? I snarled, taking off my pants and shifting into my wolf.

I picked up her scent proper, along with the smell of blood and rouges. One was most likely an Alpha. I wasn’t sure if she could take a wolf that strong, so I made sure that I ran faster. I weaved through the forest, snarling a rumble that shook the trees until I thought I heard her.

There were giggles.

She was fine… I was moments away from giving control to my wolf. I also smelled pups. It must have been another family she found, but how many times would she do this before she encountered a trap? I stopped to compose myself before shifting and dressing.

No one noticed me casually strolling to their camp, and I pursed my lips. They all screamed when they saw me, and the adults immediately showed their necks. Isabelle ran to me with a beaming smile and hugged me around my waist. I was surprised, especially when she nuzzled into my chest. “I missed you.” She said quietly, and it was hard to be mad at her with a greeting like that.

“Why did you leave?” I asked her sternly, putting my hand on her small back and patting her.

“Libby was hurt and lost, so I helped her find her parents. Bryson we can’t leave them like this… they’ll die out here.” She said sweetly, batting her innocent eyes. She reminded me of a doe when she did that, but I had to remain firm.

“No, this is not a charity.” I say, glaring at the male. He smelled like an Alpha; that he was defeated meant that he was just as much of an outcast as me. They would smell him, and instantly think of him as a threat to their pack.

“Bryson… they slashed the little girl’s throat... she will never talk again. Zack’s too injured to fend them off a second time… They need our protection, because I know they’ll be back.” She pleaded, batting her lashes. I could tell tears were about to form in those beautiful little eyes at any moment. I didn’t want to be the cause of it… also she was probably right. This seemed personal.

“…Three days.” I grumble. She jumped up and down, craning her neck up to kiss me. I gave her a tender kiss in return, and held her close to me. I relished every tingle that went through my body, and I was glad that I found her. The thought of her being in trouble worried me beyond anything I could comprehend. I couldn’t think when it was anything about her.

“Thank you, Alpha.” She whispered, and gave me one last peck on the cheek.