The Prisoner’s Princess Chapter 83

Bryson

“I swear to you that you will awake in our bed. I promise you this.” I had to stop myself, because I knew she might not appreciate the mannerisms of a lovesick man born before the Revolutionary War.

“You sound nothing like my dreams.” She said giggling softly, hugging my chest. I picked her up while she held the basket and I kissed her gently.

“What do I sound like?” I asked, and she shook her head on my shoulder, hiccupping lightly. I carried her as well as the pups in the basket all at once to be placed in bed.

“Like you were born 200 years ago.” She giggled, and I was silently glad that I chose not to tell her sweet nothings.

She snuggled into bed with the pups refusing to stay in the pup bed, opting to sleep on her instead. I was a little jealous… I needed to summon my wolf while they got to snuggle up. I internally sighed, kissing her on the forehead, and I left downstairs, being greeted by my warriors, who thought I would shift, but they would be left disappointed. For now, at least.

I made my way to the Clearing of Challenge, and sat in the middle of the field, closing my eyes. I had never done this before, but it felt natural. I thought of my wolf. Ven… I did miss him. He was another part of my soul. Without him, I could not shift… I would never feel what I truly was on soft soil, hunting fresh meat…. I thought of how I had horns as my wolf, but I still had those. Why? I wanted to touch them, but I had to try and sit still if I wanted this to work. I had to summon my wolf. I had doubts… maybe this was too soon to try?

I saw a flash of the fearful, pleading souls in Hell, and I felt compassion for them…. They went to Hell, but they repented… why was I thinking of them? Why did I care?

“Why did you summon me?” Asked a voice I didn’t think I would hear for a while…

“Father… I didn’t. I don’t think anyway.” I said, opening my eyes to see he sat directly across from me. He had a blackish red aura that surrounded him, but he smiled softly at me. It reminded me of how I looked at my pups.

“You have been tapping your foot on the ground. What troubles you?” He asked, looking up at the moon, and I felt stronger… almost as if it were full but it wasn’t.

“I saw the souls of the damned when I tried to summon my wolf, why?” I asked.

“Your heart has been softened. Do not worry for them. I will figure something out, but I cannot help you with this thing you attempt. It is up to your mother to decide to return him or not.” He said quietly, as if he would hurt me if he spoke full volume. His presence destressed the soul, and that he made an attempt to calm me showed he wasn’t what the Lord of Light’s law made him to be.

“Wait… is that why my wolf is gone, so you could be summoned?” I asked, and his small smile widened slightly.

“No, but I assumed this would happen. You were created by two gods, by two gods you are made whole.” He said, pointing to my heart. “It is nice to see my mate, even if it is only her radiance…Now we have two offspring, and soon we will have more grandchildren. Arviel did not interfere because he knows I will kill my own blood if I try things the old way…” He sighed, looking down. I patted his shoulder.

“You sound troubled…. I’m sure it’ll work out for you now that you’ve changed.” I said to cheer him up, but he gave me a dry laugh.

“I have reaped countless realms. Our war has raged so long, even the Lord of Time cannot remember its beginning… I will not stop trying, though this time for your sake it will be peaceful. I promise this.” He disappeared, and I stood up, hearing a rustle in the wind.

I stretched, feeling stronger, but no wolf. I made my way back to the packhouse, although now it was silent. I suspect that someone saw me, but I didn’t care. It didn’t take long to spot a blonde Warrior, who stood in the middle of the living room, somewhat blocking the stairs.

“I swore I would follow you…. but Alpha now I am not so sure….” said the Warrior nervously.

“Yale be quiet!” Whispered his mate, putting his hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged him off.

“I won’t Darrel! I know what I saw.” He said fearfully, and I could see the light my eyes created…

“He saw correctly. My wolf is dormant, but my intention was to bring him back, not summon my father.” I said taking a step forward, but they all kneeled. They thought I was upset with them, but that wasn’t who I was… not anymore. Not since I found my mate. “Stand my warriors.” I commanded them, and hesitantly they did.

“An Alpha without a wolf…” Whispered Warrior Darrel, who was afraid for the pups and non-warriors… I couldn’t blame him.

“You all swore to the pack, and I did as well. I swore to each and every one of you, that I would be the best Alpha I could. I cannot change what I am, only what I do. All I do is for my mate, pack and pups.”

“He is the Destroyer, the Horned One…. The Adversary. Alpha you must understand why we are nervous. We are not born of gods and kings… we are humble folk. I don’t understand why you worry for us.” Said Warrior Yale in confusion, but I walked to him, putting a pat on his shoulder. He flinched. My power as a child of the Horned One came out on its own, I assume because there wasn’t a wolf to suppress it.

“I worry because you are pack. I worry because my pups are sleeping upstairs with my mate, just as you left for your patrol for yours. I will not ask you to trust or follow me because I tell you to, I want you to choose for yourself.” I told him, and he was absolutely terrified I’d touched his shoulder. It was out of my hands. It was up to him to trust me.

“All of you to your posts.” Commanded Zackery, sounding more like an Alpha than I remember ever hearing.

“Beta, are you not concerned?” Asked Warrior Yale, and Zackery slapped him on the back of the head.

“Of course I’m terrified, but why should it stop me from following him? He’s done nothing to warrant this fear other than being born who he is.” He said stubbornly, and stood next to me. I never knew he feared me, but I could understand it.

“Even if he sacrifices us to his father?” He asked, and there were murmurs. I growled like a human. Even though it had no bite, they were still fearful because of the red glow my eyes created.

“I would never-” I was cut off, which made me feel like I used to. Anger. For their sake… I let Zackery speak.

“All Alpha has done is for the pack. It would break his oath, and everything he stands for. If you fear he would betray not only his pack, but his mate, leave. No one will stop you.” He said standing tall, but he bowed his head to me. “Forgive me Alpha…. I’m protective of you.” He said sheepishly but I gave him a pat on the shoulder before going upstairs. I didn’t know what to tell him, or any of them after that.

I was a monster; I always have been…. But hearing them voice their fears about me hurt. I didn’t think that I would ever worry for others, or what they thought of me… but now… I did. I held onto my sleeping mate, not tired myself. My heart sank seeing the moon set, because I wasn’t ready for the day, but the pups were. I got their milk, and left a small note for my mate. I was only going downstairs, but I didn’t want her to worry. I also wanted her to rest, because she seemed so upset before she went to bed.

I took them outside, so they could play a little. They wrestled with each other, but they were picking on Grace. I knew I shouldn’t have, but I broke it up. There was no reason. They were pulling on her ears, and I didn’t have the heart to let them continue. They didn’t have teeth just yet, but she complained all the same.

Ow! She squealed in perfect wolf, and I blinked twice. They all copied her afterword’s, and I was proud. My instincts felt as if they were back, but I could not act on the desire to howl.

“Oh little ones…. I wish I could tell you how proud you make me.” I said picking them all up, but they immediately continued their rough play in my arms. I felt like half a man. I knew if they were learning wolf, they had to understand English too, but speaking wolf had meaning…. I heard the snarl of a Warrior, bounding down the halls. I put them behind me, ready to kill whoever it was having the nerve to be aggressive around my pups, but it was my mate.

My babies. I heard they were in trouble. She snarled, looking at me, then relaxing. She shifted, hugging the pups, then giving them kisses while I got a pull over dress for her.