The Prisoner’s Princess Chapter 23

Isabelle

I patrolled around the camp in the early morning sun, It was about 9am, and I should have been paying a little more attention than I was… but Lady the hunting was good. I had got a large buck, but I would gut it later so I could feed the nasty stuff to the piglets. They were starting to get big, but they were still much too small to do anything too. I was getting attached to them as well, but I would have to make my peace with that… they were food after all.

I felt the presence of wolves invading the territory, but they didn’t worry me. They smelled like pack wolves. We were only a few miles from Halfmoon, I continued on my way, until I was stopped by them standing in front of me. I was bigger than them both. There was a grey wolf, and a blondish one who was smaller.

Identify yourself strange wolf, you are too close to Halfmoon. Linked the taller gray wolf.

I am Isabelle Ann Charred, the Charred One. Stand down. I mean no harm. I am here with my mate and small group of fellow nomads. I linked back with authority.

They nodded and followed me to my camp, and I shifted. They looked around, standing in one spot, but made sure not to look at me. It surprised them that I gutted it with my claws and gave all the insides to the piglets, then skinned it with one smooth tug. As I butchered the buck into sections for roasting and smoking, they started a little conversation with me.

“Your highness, forgive us for not showing more hospitality. Alpha Chris is already waiting to greet you. Your mother and father called about a day ago, but we expected your arrival…well…” He said hesitantly.

“In a car.” I said bluntly.

“Yes.” Said the thinner blonde man quietly, “And when we heard that you would be traveling with Bryson the Beast….” He looked fearfully at the tent, as if mentioning his name was going to summon him.

There was a snarl behind us that made us jump, and it was my mate. “Get out of here Martin before I skin your sorry hide.” He commanded, and the gray haired male shifted and ran off, but before the other one could, he grabbed him by the back of the neck.

“Sir Please don’t kill me! This is only my second day as a scout and my mate just had our pup last week!” he squealed.

Bryson chuckled darkly. “Oh, little wolf… I don’t care about that. But because my mate would see what I would do to you, I will let you live, if only to deliver a message.” He sneered. It made my hair stand on end, because my wolf became alert. “Tell Chris that if I see another pack wolf in my territory, I’m going to do to his pack what I did last time. I’m why he’s Alpha… you seem too young to know what I’m talking about, but he will. Now go.” He shoved him. The man stumbled and he ran, forgetting he could shift.

His attention then fell to me, and my heart dropped. It was my wolf’s doing, because she was submitting to our mate in my mind, and it was making me feel dread. I knew he wouldn’t do anything to me, but my wolf didn’t care.

“Little princess what am I to do with you. You led them here, and alerted no one.” He sighed annoyed. He put his hand on his forehead and shook it lightly.

“Sorry.” I said calmly, but my wolf was going nuts. I sighed internally, because I didn’t like feeling that sensation she was giving me.

“Isabelle, calm down, I can smell your fear.” He said gently, and walked slowly to me. He kneeled to my eyelevel, and put his chin on the crook of my neck. He hugged me softly, and my wolf calmed down.

“You freaked out Glitter.” I told him. I hugged him back and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He stood up, and started finishing the butchering of the deer.

“Exactly what did you do to HalfMoon?” Asked Zack.

“Killed their Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Skinned them. Hung them to dry, and I gutted a few warriors, I don’t remember, more than 15…. And used their entrails for the rope.” He admitted without hesitation. He extended his claws and scratched his hair. “Oh, and I set their prison on fire for imprisoning me.” He said with a small growl.

“Holy shit.” I mumbled, and he looked at me with a little bit of concern. His red eyes examined me intensely, and I had to look away. “Bryson promise me you’ll behave. Do what you have to, but I don’t think you’ll have to.” I told him.

“I promise I will try.” He said honestly.

“And Ven.” I said sternly.

“Shit. Fine Little Mate.” Grumbled his wolf.

“Um Also I was invited to go into their pack…” I said quietly.

He snarled loud enough that everyone showed their necks, and I did too on reflex. It was something you couldn’t help. He seemed to calm down on seeing me submit, and put his clawed hand on the top of my head. “Look at me.” He commanded softly.

“Bryson they won’t try anything.” I protested, looking at his eyes. They danced in the light like rubies, and I saw the concern in them.

“I know…. but the Lady doesn’t give Beasts mates. That I have you….”

“Alpha please. I will go into town and by supplies. I will link you, and if I don’t come back by 5…. Feel free to show them your might…” I said the last part with a small shiver. I was never one for blood and guts, but my mate really didn’t mind. I had no doubt that if I came back at 5:01, that the town would already be burned to the ground.

He looked at me, and his eyes flashed rapidly from black to red, until they landed black. Ven took a deep, agitated breath. “You Will be back by 5pm, my little mate…. or I will kill them all. Do you understand this?” He said with a small snarl, and cupped his clawed hand under my chin. I could get lost in his eyes…. They were like two black marbles, that led to the void. He leaned to my eyelevel, and waited for me to respond.

“Yes Alpha.” I said, unable to look anywhere but my mate’s serious face. Glitter took over and licked my mate’s wolf on his cheek, and he growled approvingly, though I didn’t have any intention on tasting the pure male that he was. He tasted like power, testosterone, and what I could only describe as Alpha. I don’t know why I was surprised… that he even tasted like one, aroused me more than it should have, but thankfully I could hide it…

“Sorry.” I said taking control. Why will you not let me appease our mate. He is angry. Complained my wolf, who really just wanted him to mate us again. He’s always angry you fluffy little liar. Now come on, so I can get more supplies for the pack, I scolded. She huffed in my mind, but Ven looked very pleased. He liked that she showed him submission and lust.

“You need no permission to taste what is yours little mate.” He kissed me back hungrily, and held a devilish smirk on his face, because he made me blush like a tomato…. He pulled away, and I took the opportunity to leave before I went and stayed in the tent with my mate, instead of talk to Alpha Chris. I rummaged into my bag, and pulled out 2 manilla folders of my identification paperwork, ID, and royal sealed papers, showing that I was a princess. I didn’t know if I needed any of it since mom and dad had called in advance, but I took it anyway.

I put it all in a blue satchel, with my card that dad gave me, and went into town. I figured Bryson wouldn’t have money, since he didn’t interact with humans or wolves much… but also, I never asked. I never thought about it until this point. I pondered on this, looking around the healthy forest with old trees, until I got to the pack border.

The Alpha of this territory smelled… weak. He held the scent of an Alpha, but one that I bet I could probably take. It wasn’t a bad thing for me, but it was for his people, as someone could snatch this place up if they wanted. I wondered why Bryson didn’t do as such, but he would have never met me….

“Miss Charred, thank you for meeting us. I’m Beta Henry.” Said a man whose face had thick, but healed claw marks on his face. His eyes looked aflame with hatred, but he carried a false smile and a curt bow. My wolf growled in my head. She didn’t like him, but was appeased by his submission.

“A pleasure.” I said with a nod, and I was escorted on ATV to the packhouse. It was about 11am when I got there, and their packhouse was nice. It was a large 4 story building that was rounded in the front with big bay windows, like a large mansion. It had pillars that were white, and nice double doors that looked like they were oak wood. I went inside to see that the ceiling was high, with white walls and crown modeling. I wasn’t surprised, but it did look very nice.

I walked up the top stairs to the Alpha floor, and inside the office was a short, grey haired, light brown eyed man who looked like he was afraid of me. “welcome, Isabelle.” He said with a warm smile, but it was a false one. They were nervous because of Bryson most likely, but I knew we could be friends if we got to know each other. I put all my paperwork on the desk for him to read, and he passed me 2 manilla folders to put in my bag. It was labeled. ‘Bryson Charred, The Beast, the Bloodborne One. Pardoned by King Ashital, The Charred One.’ I had never heard that last title… also where was his last name? I intended on taking his since he was my mate, but it didn’t matter, as long as I had his papers.

Also, what had he done to be pardoned… by my grandfather? It had to be Bad. He had to have done something that was worth execution, but no one could kill him. So not only was he a prisoner…. He was a fugitive. An outcast turned away, but I could also see their side of things too… because I had seen for myself what he could do so easily, without hesitation.

“Thank you.” I told him with a genuine smile, while he read my official paperwork.

“You’re welcome, your highness… I just never thought the King was real until I saw that sent by an Omega this morning. Feel free to shop in our pack for supplies, and you may stay in the packhouse if you like.” He said, and his Beta gave me a shopping cart wagon with a bow. It was large, and didn’t fit in the door, but that was what I needed.

“Sorry, it sounds nice, but my pack comes first, small as it is… also my mate wants me home by 5, so I should hurry and buy what I need before I break my promise.” I said with a smile, and took the wagon. I put all the papers in my satchel, strapped it around my shoulders, and happily walked out the packhouse. I really didn’t want to talk to them. I could see through the fakeness of their greetings, but they were neutral.

I got outside and waved at all the new faces, and they waved back. No one stopped me, because since warriors and such saw me leave out the packhouse, they probably assumed I was pack now. It really didn’t matter, as I was just here for food. I didn’t have a shopping list, but I had an idea of what we were out. I stopped by the clothes store and got Bryson some more shoes. We had plenty clothes, but he needed some hiking boots.

The store bell dinged, and the shopkeeper looked at me strangely. “Welcome, and welcome to the pack…. I assume you want new clothes, so you don’t smell like a Rouge?” Said the woman nicely, but she scrunched her nose. I smelled like a Rouge?! I hid my shock, and tried to dismiss the sinking feeling in my gut that people thought I was a Rouge…. I wasn’t! I was a nomad. I didn’t commit any crimes, nor would I ever…