The Prisoner’s Princess Chapter 86

Isabelle

I sighed, staring at my mate’s form. I was still ever so slightly upset at him that he would treat me like I was only a pup, but for now I would ogle him. I was outside with him; he was training with Alex and a few warriors while I had the little ones. He put no weight into anything he’d done, as if he were afraid that he would hurt them. He probably would, and I half imagined that they were grateful that he wasn’t being rough. The pups copied their father, wiggling on each other and nipping anything that moved to wrestle, but falling over in the grass. “My money’s on the lil’ one.” Said Jerold, and I realized I didn’t even notice him. He sat on the porch with me, watching my mate.

I hugged him, but for some reason he was stern, allowing no joy, nor did he hug me back. “Why the long face Uncle Jerold?” I asked him, attempting to pat my hand on his to console him, but he only snorted. It was weird he didn’t have Noah with him, even though he was in uniform.

“I’m here for business, not pleasure Izzy.” He said getting up, and patting me on the back. “Bryson I must have words with you.” He looked like he was serious, but my mate walked to him, and shook his wrist.

“I know why you have come, let us speak in my office.” He said, seeing that the warriors were concerned. I got up and the pups followed me, but I had to carry them up the stairs. They didn’t have the coordination to do that yet. They wouldn’t for a while.

I sat in my Luna chair, and let them play on the floor while those two looked upset for a while… saying nothing. “I would have called, but I wanted to be here first.” Said Uncle Jerold flatly, breaking the silence.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, but he glared at me not to interrupt him.

“Bryson, I came because I felt an Old One’s presence. A new one… one I had never had to fight before.” He glared at him, but my mate’s expression remained neutral but stern.

“I have no intention on destroying the world, not while my family is in it.” He said looking at me lovingly, but returned his attention to Uncle.

“That’s good… but the council will not be satisfied with this…. Especially since you are the Horned One’s Champion… I’m here to collect you, that you may plead your case.” He said looking disappointed in us, like we’d done something wrong.

“Bryson would never do something like that! You didn’t…. did you?” I asked quietly, but he leaned back in his chair.

“I have made no deals with my father. He let me have this life for free… but if I die again I will. For my mate’s sake.” He looked at me with an expression only seen in private… he really would sacrifice his freedom if it meant he could be with me… but I didn’t want that.

“Then I have no choice but to let the other kings hear. They will not be satisfied with just my word, but I will take you in as an officer, not a King. You will only be held 24 hours since you can’t be imprisoned for words.” He said getting up, and Bryson walked out with him. I put the pups in their basket, but lately they didn’t want to stay in it.

“You will stay here, and I will return. I promise this.” He said like an Alpha, but he held my hand, supporting the basket with me until we got into the living room. He kissed me one more time, and I could not hide my worry from the pack

“Be safe.” I told him, and he gave me a small smile.

“Always little mate.” He said softly, letting go of my hand. Glitter refused to let me leave the packhouse…. I watched him walk out the door. My pups were unaware of what was happening, but for their sake I would not shed tears.

He was just leaving…. But I still felt like I’d lost him. My wolf felt that way, and consoling her was the only thing I could do besides focus my attention on the little ones. They were the only things that kept me sane. That and the fact I still felt the bond. He wasn’t dead… and if he really was an Old One, then killing him would serve no purpose…. But imprisoning him until his body was skin and bone would work…. As much as I wanted to hate the King who I called Uncle my entire life… I couldn’t. I can’t be mad at Jerold… he did this to protect my mate.

If anyone else would have come, they may have hurt him, muzzled him, or worse.

I sat on the couch, not knowing what to do, not hearing what Zack had to say, because there was only worry for my mate at this point. I knew my grandfather as well as a few others would make sure he was ok, but I didn’t know what to really do. My mate was gone, but the scent of him and minotaur still lingered. I put my hands on my forehead, feeling a light tap on my shoulder.

“Ma’am?” A large minotaur in officer’s uniform, with blond hair and a long dark streak running along his temple stood behind me. He pulled his hat off, and extended his hand toward me. “I’m Officer Jackson. I’ve been assigned to watch you and the pups until things are settled.”

I shook his wrist, “You can just call me Isabelle. Thank you for your time.” I chose to stay where I was, because honestly, I wasn’t feeling very social, but for his sake I wouldn’t be difficult.

Zack looked at the door sternly, “That’s enough, everyone to your posts.” He snarled, and the nosy wolves left the living room.

“No need to snarl at them on my part, sir.” Officer Jackson looked stoic, but me and Beta smiled at him. It seemed he didn’t know that Zack meant nothing by it, that this was a normal way to command the pack.

“This is normal, also feel free to let your horns out.” I tried to show more hospitality. There was no need to be an ass… it wasn’t his fault, and it wouldn’t change anything.

He let out his horns, letting them stretch out from his head once his hat was off, and I noticed that his were different from Uncle Jerold’s. This guy’s horns were wide and straight. “Thank you, ma’am. I’d have hated to do this assignment completely subdued the entire time.”

Minitours were creatures of battle; their horns were an outward show of strength. To keep them put away for long periods gave them headaches, and it was also uncomfortable. I was happy though that he was able to relax, even if it was the smallest bit. I could feel that the pack was restless, upset for the disruption, but since he left peacefully, most thought it was just business.

“Maybe take the pups upstairs Luna. The pack is secured.” Said Zack, who motioned Gabby to grab my hand, and we went to my office. It was still office hours, and I wouldn’t let this stop me from being the Luna they needed. The pups and pack still needed me… and I needed them to distract me from the plight of my mate.

“Well Luna, it seems you’re ok… but if you need me, I’m just downstairs.” She said with a small concerned smile, but it wasn’t needed.

“Thank you, Gabby, but I’m ok.” I watched her leave, but she hesitated. Right now, we needed to make sure that the pack was not only physically secure, but mentally too. Losing an Alpha, in any way, was stressful. It took away the stability of many wolves’ lives, but he wasn’t gone forever. I cracked my knuckles, and I began typing, but I heard a quiet ‘ma’am’ of the officer in destress.

The pups were jumping on his legs, gumming him to death, but he looked like he’d never interacted with pups before. “Ma’am… I don’t really know what to do here.” He complained, and I giggled, picking them up and guiding them to my desk.

“Don’t worry, my pups don’t have teeth yet.” I grabbed the wiggly pups who complained that they wanted down, so they could continue to ‘play’ with their new friend, but I wouldn’t let them keep that up.

“It isn’t that… I don’t really deal with children.” He said quietly, looking at them questioningly.

“Well, would you like to learn?” I asked him, because I could tell they were hungry by the way they were nibbling that they wanted to eat.

“Why not? What would you like me to do?” He asked, and I put a bottle in his hands. I then put my most behaved pup in his hands, Grace. She was ready to be fed, and I showed him how, and he let her eat. “Ma’am, thank you for the opportunity. When I heard that I would be watching pups, I imagined small babies with human form, but honestly this is better.” He said with the first smile I’d seen from him, and it made me smile.

“Well, you’re welcome. You did great.” I told him, seeing him put her down. She ate too much, wiggling with a full tubby belly, but she would sleep it off. I had them go to bed, and they slept soundly, but I knew they would be awake soon, and ready to play again. They were my anchor in all this. I didn’t know what I would do without them. Then a fear creeped up within me… one that made my wolf completely silent … what if they got taken from me too?