The Prisoner’s Princess Chapter 24

Isabelle

Bryson what size boots do you ware? I linked him.

16, but 15 is also fine. Also get me an extra-large belt. He linked back.

“No, I’m just passing through. I’m a nomad with my mate and a small pack.” I said nicely.

“Oh, what’s the pack name?” She asked, pulling out some men’s boots. I went blank, we never came up with a name. We didn’t need one, it was only 11 of us.

“We don’t have one, but that doesn’t matter out there. Can I get a size 16 pair of boots, and an extra-large belt?” I asked nicely, and she looked at me questioningly. She searched, putting the belt on the counter, but she only had one pair of brown boots left. I’d hoped they would have had black, but these had steel toes, and I was sure he would like that. I noticed some black leather dye, and I had an idea. “I’ll pay extra if you change the color please.” I asked nicely. She smiled and added the charge to the register.

“It’ll be ready by 3, that’ll be $185.56 for the Trainman’s Hikers and the belt.” She said sweetly, and I gave her my dad’s card, and my ID.

There was fear in her eyes when she read the names, and she bowed deeply. “Your Highness forgive me.” She said quietly, and I shook my head.

“It’s fine, I can’t be mad at something you didn’t know.” I said calmly, and I put the belt in the bag with the receipt.

“I remember the fairy tales I was told as a pup… I never thought I would meet a descendent of the King… or that he was real...” She said in shock, and I left her to ponder that.

The next store was the grocery store. It looked allot like the Charred Mart in my home pack, but theirs was named Half Mart. Cute. I got my little wagon and filled it to the brim with spices, canned vegetables, and lean meat. We could smoke and dry the lean meat ourselves, and if I got enough, I wouldn’t have to come back for a while. I was in there at least an hour and a half, but I got everything I needed.

I noticed a warrior behind me in the next aisle over, half glaring at me like I was going to steal something, and it started to piss me off. I wasn’t worried about it, but it was still the point of the fact that I was a patron too… I hate smelling like Rouge. Everyone thinks you’re a delinquent.

I walked to the self check out machine to buy my things. I scanned the items until they couldn’t fit on the little ledge for food, and then I started scanning them and putting them in the wagon. I was almost done, but the dark tan haired girl came with about 4 warriors behind her. She was in a grocery store uniform, and if she were her wolf, her tail would be too high.

“The Rouge is stealing.” She said loudly and confidently. Glitter was roused from her nap. Shit.

I raised an eyebrow. “And just how would you suppose that, when I just bought $300 of food?” I wasn’t done checking out at the self check out. I had to hold in a growl because Glitter growled in my head. We steal nothing. We are Luna. If it is something we want, it is ours already. She snarled. I sighed internally.

“Ma’am you need to come with us.” Said the Warrior on the left.

“I am here as a guest. And I will Not have this nonsense hold me up, I got shit to do. I have 3 more stores I need to visit before I need to go home Lady Damnit.” I growled, and Glitter was with me. She was quiet until they roused her up… but with her angry…. This could get nasty. She was a proud wolf.

“Come with us, we only want to ask you some questions.” Snarled the one who stood foremost in the front. He was offended by my attitude, and I was offended I was accused. It had drawn a crowd, and I had no idea how to diffuse this.

“Let me check out first. And if I walk through the scanner on the way out, it’ll beep won’t it?” I commanded as a Luna, and their wolves submitted, which made them submit. They were confused how I could do that, seeing as how I was miniature to the average wolf… and also, I was a Rouge in their eyes.

I scanned the last cans of chili beans, and then I swiped my card. My receipt came out, and I put the damn thing in my purse. They were taken aback by the fact that my eyes were red, and they seemed to be more humbled. “My apologies miss, Yakal seemed so sure.” He said, offering to hold my wagon, but I declined.

“Next time use your noggins. Why and how would a Rouge be invited by your Alpha to shop… and just stroll around without an escort?” I had to stop myself from face palming, and I left out after that. I dragged my wagon out the store, and went to the coffee shop to buy beans, and see If they had a metal coffee filter that would fit Zack’s pot.

----Bryson-----

“Alpha I have the perimeter secure, but I did pick up the scent of the Rouge pack. It’s faint, but it’s there.” Said Beta Zackery.

I grunted standing up and stretched my back. I figured as much. They want my blood, or my mate’s blood, so of course they would follow. My mind was made up that I’d go talk to him, so that he would know of the coming threat, but first, I needed to help my pack.

I chopped wood while the small pups chased each other near me, but my mind was worried for my mate. She was from a pack, but by now she would smell like Rouge…. I couldn’t tell because to me she smells of wildflowers in May, but to someone else it may be different. They better not hurt her, or her feelings. I grumbled to myself, and my wolf growled in my head.

I had tried to stay away, and I said I would give her time to be herself with people like her…. would she come back? Would this make her long to be in a pack? Would the moment she had a chance to see what she missed; would she leave me?

I did as much busy work as I could until about 3:30, I couldn’t stand it. I picked up her scent, and followed it. I shifted and ran to their border, and crossed it, while holding my jeans in my mouth. I didn’t like this. Things in my life never came easy… and this was too simple. No one stopped me, no one questioned me, and no one even linked me to stop.

I shifted and put on my pants once I saw the homes. I strolled casually down the street, but the warriors would not speak to me. They looked like they linked each other of my location, but they were too scared to fight me. Some even bowed to me, and women pulled their children into their homes. I walked into the packhouse, thinking that at least someone would attack me there, I was in their innermost part of their pack. No one challenged.

I walked up the stairs into Chris’s office and he was there waiting for me it seemed. That he made no move toward me, and that he showed submission by inaction would make him loose face to his people. I sat in the chair across from him; that was his problem.

“Chris, we need to talk.” I said casually.

“What do you want to talk about? That you killed my father, my uncle, my cousins… and all the countless others? Do you want to talk about how my sister went mad from seeing her mate the way you did him… Fuck you.” He said without a snarl. My wolf was roused, but I managed to keep him at bay for the moment. I would not stop him if he killed him.

“Good times. I came because there’s a group of Rouges pillaging the countryside. I am here for my mate’s sake.” I said calmly. My wolf was livid, but he would have to be so.

“What does that have to do with me?” He yelled suspiciously.

“There’s a giant bat winged snake that spews poison acid and lightning. Sound like a reason enough?” I told him, I had heard his from the blind man, and I knew he wasn’t lying. No one goes through this much effort to get one wolf. I would double back, but then it would leave my mate unprotected from these idiots… and they might try something if they realized that I was gone.

“Then for the safety of the pack, I’ll do what I can, but I will not give you my wolves.” He paused to get up, and close the door. He sat back down, and continued. “That ‘thing’ is called Grahkes, the Flayed One. It’s poison is supposed to strip the meat off your bones, and was put to sleep by the King of Vampires. He stole his blood, and replaced it with water with the help of witches. It’s said that the blood spilled on the earth is absorbed by him, and one day he will have enough to revive.” He looked at his feet, realizing his words, and submitting to the hostile nature of my wolf.

How much of the wolves I killed contributed to this? Shit. “I’ll just take them then, and I’m taking this too.” I said, taking his cased guitar. My mate would probably like the surprise.

I walked into the living room of the packhouse, and I cleared my throat. “I want 30 of you at my camp by sundown.” I commanded to no one in particular, and I strapped the guitar case around my back, and walked down the sidewalk. It was almost sundown by the look of the sun. About 4:45.