The Prisoner’s Princess Chapter 92

Bryson

Rage. Betrayal. Blood.

Those were the only feelings and desires I felt, but I continued to walk as calmly as possible. It wouldn’t be wise to unleash that near these weak wolves, but there was a clarity to this feeling… I knew I could handle it. I didn’t know how I knew that… I just knew it would be ok. They were probably outcasts, seen as scum by the other Alphas. This feeling did not care. Not until he saw the condition they lived in.

They didn’t look like they had much either. A few ratty tents, a fire… and what looked like a central area from one of my old camp sites. I wondered if anyone used them now that by now my scent was off the place, and the pelts would be rotted away now that I thought of it.

There were screams, along with she wolves grabbing their children when they saw their men were captured, but I roared, rattling the trees.

“Stop.” I commanded, and for the most part, the females did as I said. “I have not come to spill blood.” I sneered, fighting my rage that I knew my warriors could smell by now. I certainly felt it. Each heart beat felt like the pound of a drum, but I wouldn’t allow it. It reminded me of when I first shifted… but right now wasn’t the time. I wasn’t sure what would happen if I did, but I would when I was alone.

“Mercy Alpha Bryson.” Kneeled a she wolf, who smelled like their Beta.

“Is this all of you?” I asked with crossed arms, and she nodded. My head at this point was throbbing, and it made me growl a low rumble.

“There’s 139 of us sir…” She mumbled, and I hummed. For now, I would have to deal with them all later.

“Listen, because I will not repeat myself. Right now, I would like All of you to leave your things, and go with my warriors. I will remain here.” I said walking forward.

“But Alpha?! We can’t leave you-” I cut Paul off with my glare. My eyes were black with my wolf.

“Leave.” I commanded pinching the bridge of my nose, and he reluctantly followed. Paul was a good wolf, I was just a little pissed at him, and Zackery for hiding this. Ven on the other hand was trying to come out, and I didn’t know if they could sense it too.

“Everyone, evacuate to the prison holding area, and Warrior Dan, get the she wolves and pups, the rest of you come with me.” He commanded, and when they were out of my sight. I started to lose my form.

Their partners ran to them, ushering them with my warriors, while I had started to change. They were fearful, even my warriors, and I couldn’t blame them. I could feel my joints rearranging, and my eyes created their own crimson light. It meant that they were all black, save my pupils.

My coughs turned to snarls, and I raked the ground deeply with my hands, feeling them pop as I did so. The campfire went out on its own, leaving me in only the pale quarter-moonlight. It was more painful than coming back to life, but slowly my skin became furred hide, and my clawed hands became paws. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling myself become the monster I missed. I snarled deeply, though it sounded much deeper than I could remember.

Bryson. He said as if he were a ghost. I stood there as a wolf, barely in control if not for my strong will.

Ven welcome back old friend. I told him, feeling my muscles spasm before feeling nothing.

The Lady makes us whole…. She is very stubborn. She does not wish for us to kill the innocent in Her name, but she did not make me promise… he said sounding more normal, but I couldn’t understand one thing.

Why, after all this time, did she return you? I asked, taking steps sniffing the air. There was someone hiding in the tents, though I wished they had left with the others. I could hear their breathing… and smell their fear. I growled for her to come out, and her wolf complied, shaking as she did so. I could only expect as much.

“Bryson the Beast….” She mumbled quietly, putting her hands to her mouth. Apparently my name had become a curse word. Ven finally answered my question, laughing as he did so.

I asked mother every day. Every night I would make trouble. None could best me for I am the King of the Forest. He snorted… she let him return because he was acting like a spoiled toddler…

It worked, did it not? He chuckled, but I mentally facepalmed...

Meanwhile the girl stood there full of shock and fear. She’d never seen a wolf like me… one with horns. She was in the tent that smelled of the blonde wolf. She looked like his photocopy, though she smelled young, possibly just about the age of shifting.

I shook my neck popping my bones. Come with me, I growled in wolf, and she shifted into a much smaller version of her father. She only went to my knees.

… I smell my dad’s blood on you…. I knew we shouldn’t have come here… she linked quietly, walking behind me.

I made it quick, though for your sake I will go another route. I linked back trying to console her, but Ven snorted. I’d become soft, but it wasn’t a bad thing. She was just a pup that lost her father, and she’s probably an orphan now.

…thank you Old One. she linked to my surprise.

Is that what I feel like to you pup? I asked turning around. She winced in fear.

I didn’t mean to offend. She took steps back and I internally sighed.

Follow me. I will take you to your people.

We’re rouges sir; they were only ‘my people’ as long as there was meat and money. She said quietly but bitterly. I knew that sentiment well, seeing as how I was considered as such until recently.

Hopefully they will become pack, then they can be our people. I said, going at a small trot to stretch my legs a bit. She had to run to keep up.

You would do that?! I mean… She wanted to link more, but whatever the second part was, I had cut her off.

All who oath can become my pack. I said firmly, and it was something Ven agreed with.

You are so merciful… Thank you Olde One. I saw her bow her head out the corner of my eye, but I could hear her thoughts. She was too scared to try and run away, but also scared for her fellow Rouges. She didn’t have a particular bond with any of them, except her father.

I saw all of them huddled in a ring of Warriors. Some were shifted, while others sat naked with their loved ones. I could hear Zackery barking orders, rubbing his eyes.

“All who value your lives, do not resist. We will not hurt you, as your Alpha was defeated in combat, so now you belong to ours.” He said it clearly, though they worried for their futures. I could only assume my reputation for being demented and cruel flew around packs….

It felt good to be my wolf, but from the screams of them seeing my horns, and size, I thought it was best to shift. I had even made my Beta nervous. He should be. Growled Ven. I am gone a few days and everyone acts like you are not stronger than a simple wolf.

Ven you were gone almost a year. I retort.

Oh…. He said quietly.

“He really is the son of the Horned One.” Said one.

“Look! Lady Above!” Said a she wolf, though all this fear made my wolf cackle. It was like old times in a way.

“He rounded us up to be a sacrifice…” Said another, and I cut them off right there.

“Enough!” I boomed, and they became silent. The girl was about to run, but I got her by the scruff, and carried her to sit with her people.

Please don’t skin me! She screamed in wolf, her eyes were squeezed shut, but I’d already put her down.

“None of you are here to die, though if you do it’s because you cannot follow instructions.” I grumbled the last part, though they could hear me just fine. “You will be given until sunrise to decide what you want to do. If you wish to join, so be it, if not, you may leave. I don’t see any of you individually becoming a threat.”

“Just like that?” Asked a wolf, holding his naked mate and shifted pup.

“I don’t care if you were banished, too old, or weak for a conventional pack. You were led here by an idiot, and I’m not petty. If you no longer wish to be Rouges, struggling to get by, oath your loyalty in blood that you are not a threat. I will sit here, and if you are ready to approach, then come.” I sat in the grass cross legged.

An incredibly small shifted silver wolf came first. His tail was between his legs, kneeled as low as he could, pretty much crawl to me. He shifted, and bit his wrist.

“I don’t want to go back out there… I oath that I will be good pack, and useful…. I’m not formally trained but I am a medic.” He said quietly. He was a very small wolf for an adult male, and it could have been why he took up such a profession.

“Good, sit over there. Someone bring me my phone. Zackery we will share words later.” I commanded, and three Warriors ran off.