The Prisoner’s Princess Chapter 79

Bryson

I gasped, feeling the crawling rot of my body as it became stronger. I felt pain now. I really didn’t like it, but I had the determination to work through it. The nerves in my body felt as if they were on fire, and the bile in my stomach was putrid black liquid. I had been buried and wrapped in cloth, that tore easily like paper, but the earth seemed to wish me to stay down.

I gathered my strength, feeling my lungs working now, wanting air, and I dug. I didn’t know which direction, but I assumed I was buried face up, and I clawed at the earth until I reached the surface.

I coughed worms, but my body was restored. It had been healed of all the decay, except the large whole where my heart was. It hurt like nothing I’d ever experienced before …. But slowly it too was closing. I bled black, then red blood out of it.

“Ah!” Screamed a warrior, getting ready to run away, but I held my hand up to stop him. he looked like a teenager, sporting a side shaved in his warrior uniform. At the moment, I could only see in black and white.

“Be calm Warrior.” I told him, though my vocal cords felt weak still… it sounded like an undead rasping whisper. He looked about ready to piss his pants, wondering should he obey or not.

“Alpha don’t eat my brains, I’m just 15 man!” He begged and I chuckled, shaking my head.

“…. I don’t know why you would think that…? I’m not undead but my body has been dead long enough to rot, though I was revived by my father.” I said allot clearer, and my chest was almost closed now. I coughed hard, then vomited one more time. He could have healed my body first… fuck. At least now I could see in color.

“Alpha… you’ve been dead 4 months…” He said looking me in the eyes fearfully.

“Shit… how is my family and the pack?” I demanded, but my anger scared him too much to talk anymore. He’d passed out. I walked off to the direction of the pack, if HalfMoon wasn’t hers anymore, I would kill whoever ran that packhouse, and all the others to give my mate the empire she deserved. She never asked for it… but I know it was one thing she always wanted.

The walk was uneventful other than my wolf being nowhere to be seen in my mind. I figured as much. My father, and that place terrified him. I made my way to the river… my mate would not like that I smelled of so much decay. My senses were still developing, but even I knew that I smelled foul. Skin sluffed off me, to reveal fresh healthy skin and hair. I walked slowly into the water… this stream was close to where I made camp at BeastMoon. I loved my mate that she chose to have me rest somewhere away from everyone.

I bathed the stink of rot and death off me, making sure to wash my horns… that area was exceptionally greasy. After I was done, I braided my hair, as it was longer than I remember. I tried letting my claws extend to get a clean shave, but they would not. My wolf wasn’t there, so weren’t my powers… I wondered how long I would go like this, but I made my piece with it.

I was now cold and wet, but I did not feel normal. I shivered, which was strange. I was usually hot, but tonight, I felt like I would freeze to death or something…. Was that possible? Had I been made frail? My wolf did not respond to me, and this alerted a concern. He should be at least out enough to feel or see in my mind… but he was not there.

I felt my heartbeat again, and I was warm. I had also fond a rabbit, but I caught it… much faster than I used to. It didn’t have a chance, but something bothered me. I didn’t kill it. It just died in my hands, and the impact of me grabbing it snapped its spine. I had eaten it fur and all in about two minutes…. I wanted more but I also needed to be careful with my bloodlust…

The new forest guardian appeared to me and bowed deeply. Osalbum, the Stag of Bone graced me with his now white pelt. “Master.” He said as if he were afraid of me.

“Guardian Osalbum, have I summoned you?” I asked and he nodded.

“I sensed the unnatural life of the dead… and I feared you were possessed, my king. I have guarded your blood and bone as best as I could from Grahkes for four moons…. And I am so very tired.” He said, laying down. I walked over to him, and gently petted his head. He had protected me all this time on his own, but no one knew. I didn’t want to kill him on accident. I had no idea what had been done to me. I was a little worried I’d crush him, but thankfully, it seems a if my control was the returning. I made note not to touch him too roughly…

“Rest, for I am now alive.” I told him, and he nodded.

“Yes, my king…” He dissolved into nothingness, and I made my way to the packhouse. I felt so strange…. I hated it. I felt as though at any moment I would die again, but I knew my father wasn’t the kind to go back on his word, or make plots and schemes. He reminded me of myself… an outcast.

The moon gave me strength, though it was not full. It was a little past half, but it was a deep bright yellow, almost orange. “My mother…thank you.” I whispered. The Pale Lady empowered me, but it was not enough to rouse my wolf. He was most likely going through the same effects of revival as me.

The grass on my feet was cold… the earth was slightly damp from the chill of the night, but I did not know what season it was. I died in spring… so it could be summer or early fall? It didn’t matter. looked around as I walked slowly. I thought of Isabelle as I did so… I hope she wouldn’t be too mad at me.

Wolves were shifted, running in formation. They crashed into each other, then composed themselves running to me and surrounding me. One shifted, I believe his name was Cory. We glared at each other for a second, and I raised an eyebrow.

“Please… tell me you are Alpha… and not some horror possessing him.” He said with a bow, though not a low one in case he had to run.

“No, I am alive.” I said with a small frown, and he bowed deeply.

“Oh, thank the fucking Lady Moon….” He said relieved. The others shifted, bending the knee to me, though they were happy about it. They all were.

“Please, let us escort you home.” Said Mitch, a warrior who had light brown hair. I remembered him… he had helped me with Grahkes.

“I wish to see my Luna.” I told them, and they looked at each other, debating on who would tell me something I didn’t want to hear with their body language. Cory stepped forward.

“Luna and your pups are with her father…” He said quietly, thinking that I would be upset. However, I had planned that from the start.

“Good.” I told him, with a nod. They were confused, and I didn’t explain why. I simply started walking again. We were wasting time. I knew my mate was safe but I needed her. She’d been my motivation… her and my children were why I would live without my wolf until he returned…and my pack. It touched me that my pack waited for me even though no one knew if I returned.

I got tossed a pair of shorts by a warrior, and I got my keys the moment I went into the house. I didn’t want to talk with anyone, but Beta and Gamma stopped me anyway.

“Alpha thank the Lady. Sir do you wish to rest?” Asked Zackery, and I jingled my keys.

“No, but thank you both for protecting the pack. I know it must have been inconvenient.” I told him, looking at his tired body. He had a fresh cut on his left arm, meaning that he must have had to defeat a challenger.

“Yes Alpha, though Ryan has been very helpful defending the north border. He saved Alex’s life yesterday. He wants to make amends for his poor judgment.” Said Zackery. He was asking me without saying it that he didn’t want me to kill him. I wouldn’t… but if I see his face anytime soon, I think I would crush his skull.

“Some upstart from another pack wanted to try his mettle at being Alpha here.” He said looking ashamed. “I almost had him, but I just wasn’t strong enough. I insisted I help. Zack has been fighting nonstop, and we didn’t want to get the prince involved… or let Luna know either.”

“You are young. I don’t think you’ve turned 17 yet have you? Your body will grow, and the fights you win and lose now will strengthen you. But be careful. Next time take others. Don’t just run off to play hero.” I said, giving him a firm pat on the shoulder. Now that I lived, I would train the boy myself.