The Prisoner’s Princess Chapter 28

Bryson

“If you have any value to your life and limb, you would be wise to tell Alpha what you know.” Said Beta Zackary.

There were 7 in total, and most of them weren’t too badly injured. They were all young men, no older than their 70’s, kneeling on the floor on their knees. Two of my men were behind them, ready to kill them if they tried anything. The leader of them spoke up. “I saw all the pelts… we know the stories. You will kill us anyway, so why should we help you?” He said, trying to look ready to die, but I could see the look in his eyes. He was one snarl away from pissing himself.

I walked to him, and glared. “Where is your base?” I asked. He was silent, and I was in no mood for games. I let my claws fully extend, and I was about to kill him myself where he kneeled, until a boy stood up.

“It’s in a clearing about a full day and night’s run from here near Serpent’s Hill. Just east of it by an hour sir.” Said a young teenager.

“Be Quiet Little Brother!” Screamed their leader.

“I don’t want you to die big brother.” He mumbled.

“Enough. What is the progress of your Master’s mental health?” I interrogate.

“He now throws anyone who fails him in the pit.” Said their leader.

“Then that means all of you are as good as snake shit, aren’t you?” I commented casually, and I sat in a chair.

“Master wouldn’t do that!” Said one timidly.

“Do you really believe that, or are you lying to yourself, because denial is a better bedfellow?” I asked him seriously. He held his head low, and said nothing. “I want a full report of what your mission was.” I commanded to no one in particular.

The young teen that stood up earlier cleared his throat. “We were briefed that there were only ten of you and a baby. We were to kill all of you and bring your bodies to the pit… and collect all the blood we could into any containers we found.” He said truthfully.

I hummed leaning back into my chair. I wanted to kill them all, just to feel the blood on my claws, but that was my wolf’s doing. He was still Livid and thrashed in my head. His anger becomes my rage. “And what should I do with you?” I said with a raised eyebrow.

“Sir, I know I cannot speak for everyone…. But pack life… it sounds better than being thrown into a hole to be snake food… or made into a flag.” he said honestly, and showed his neck.

“I would rather die.” Sneered their leader, but he shook like a scared fawn found in a meadow.

“Brother no! Alpha Bryson please spare him.” Begged the youth, who had my respect.

“If he does not wish to live as pack, I cannot stop his choice. But he will not leave this tent.” I stood back up, and stood in front of the kneeling men.

“How do we know you won’t mistreat us…” Said one, who was covered in old scars with the new.

“I don’t use my pack as a punching bag, trust me it’s enough of you sent by your ‘master’ for that.” I said bluntly, and his eyes could not meet my gaze.

Of the 7, only 4 decided to join, and I let Ven have the others. With him calmer, I could now think clearly. I sat in the chair again and heard the story of them all one by one.

First was the young teenager, who’s dull brown hair and eyes told me he had seen horrors he was not ready for. “Headhunters…. They killed my family sir. We never had a pack; we lived among humans and we were so careful…. But they saw me shift after I got off work at The Burger Palace. I didn’t think. I had done it every day but they killed everyone except me and my brother, because we ran…” He said somberly. His brother sat sulking crossed legged slightly behind my back, but I saw a tear roll down his cheek.

“I swore I would be there for my little brother…. So I oath my blood for his sake.” He said, looking at the floor.

“I cannot lie Alpha…. I am not a good person.” Said the one sitting next to the brothers. “I am a murderer, but I have never killed pack. Though, I was exiled when they found out I carved up the Rouges so beautifully.” He said with a humorless laugh.

There were disgusted growls from the warriors in the room, and I gave him a hard glare. “Then you must give an additional oath. You must vow to keep your grubby paws off pack, and off any wolf unless I give permission.” I said with a snarl, and the oath was given without hesitation. It seemed the isolation of exile, and the environment of his old pack contributed to his madness, but he would calm down after a while I hoped. If not, I would kill him for breaking his oath it was simple.

“I… I got caught up in all this shit after I mated with Alpha’s son. We aren’t mates, but we had planned on being mark mates. Alpha Henderson claimed I manipulated him. He didn’t kick me out, as I didn’t break any laws… but fuck did he make my life a living hell.” He snarled. “I got scooped up with Master’s band and …. I stayed because I was safe. I hate the wild… but there is no point in going back.” He said looking at the open door.

“Well hopefully you might find your true mate here.” I said flatly. I felt pity for the man, as he became an outcast for something he couldn’t really help.

“I am here because I left my pack. I hated how my Alpha only valued strength. If you were weak, you were nothing to him, even though I was his grandson. I’m the Grandson of Alpha Pine of Pinemoon.” He said, and my blood boiled. I hated that man, but I would not make his life difficult, because of his lineage. I allowed him to oath, and that was settled.

The warriors cleaned up the mess Ven made in the tent, and I shifted to do a border patrol. I knew I would find nothing…. But I just needed to breathe. I caught the scent of a deer, and I followed it. It was using a game trail. The hunting here was much better than other areas, as the pack wolves of Halfmoon didn’t venture this far out into the forest, and this forest was old. I had seen many spirits and magical creatures here, as this area was deep into the forests of Missoura. This was no exception. I saw an old friend.

He was white. I had seen this buck before, and I shook my fur, and revealed myself to it. He turned his massive head, and shook his antlers that held reflective light blue disks hanging from them tied with rope. It was Elion, the Forest Guardian. I had given him my blood a hundred years ago, as some moron shot him with an arrow, not respecting the spirit of the forest. Every wild place had one… but hey were not always deer. They were always white though.

You summon me. He linked in my head and I shifted.

“I do not old one…but there is trouble on my heart.” I told him.

Speak King of the Forest. He said with a bow.

“Never have I been looked to for leadership old one, never has anyone held value to me… or questioned me so fervently.” I told him, and he stomped his feet.

You follow your destiny. This is your birthright. He said plainly, and disappeared into the forest, with no sign of hoof or fur. I hate spirits… that wasn’t helpful at all.

------Isabelle------

I was still steamed, and I looked angrily at the meeting tent while I helped the women with their children. He wasn’t in there anymore, but I almost felt unwelcome on that side. The giggles of laughing children doing their homework distracted me. Most parents bought pens and paper, so the school age children were being taught what they could by the teachers that came. They had brought their lesson plans and some of their books, so no one was behind. There were also more new faces now and again. I noticed that there were 8 more, making the pack 185 since the last time I did a head count. Some of them were Rouges that sensed a new pack, and others were from Halfmoon.

Speak of the Horned One, and he might get called up. My phone rang from my back pocket. I was expecting my mom to call, but it was Alpha Chris. “Hello.” I said, trying to sound friendly.

“Why are you stealing my wolves.” He said with a small growl.

“We steal nothing.” I snarled loudly, getting some of the women’s attention. “It was your own doing. You did nothing when my mate dominated you, so they wish to follow the superior male.” I said with a small growl.

He snarled just as loud, challenging me. “You overstep she wolf. There will be repercussions if you continue with your propaganda… there are still 576 of us little girl.” He snarled. It was his way of trying to show he held power over us, but I would not be intimidated.

“And only about a third of that will be warriors, you intimidate no one. Now run along, it’s your bedtime.” I snarled louder than him, and hung up in his face.

Some of the Warriors heard the conversation, the ones meant to protect the women and children, and one left to go talk to Bryson.

I didn’t bother linking that ram horned honey gobbler. I was still mad at him, and I didn’t want to talk to him. We are not around father anymore; you can call him real curse names… but I would not anger Alpha more. She whined. She was right, but this was a habit that I didn’t mind keeping.