The Alpha's Unwanted Princess

Chapter Six~The Connection

It felt as if the ground beneath her feet shifted making her fall to her knees. Her family's faces flashing before her eyes as she could hardly breathe. She started gasping for air and the whole world around her became faded. She could hear voices and someone calling her name but all she could think about was her family lying dead in the forest. She had to find them! She pushed herself to her feet and took off running. Just making it past Nikolai when he rapidly reached out and stopped her, grabbing hold of her in his arms as she struggled to break free.  

“Stop Roxanne! It’s not worth it!”

She froze for a moment, taking in his words before shoving against him harder.

“Why? Because they are Silver Moon Royals? Better dead than alive?” she spat. 

“That’s not what I—” Roxanne kneed him hard in the groin, cutting off his words and causing him to release her.

The moment he let go she took off running, changing into her wolf form without hesitation. Her new shirt and trousers were torn to shreds as her wolf burst free, charging towards the forest’s edge. She heard Nikolai call her name one last time before she passed into the darkness of the forest, everything going silent. It was near pitch black in the forest, in her human form she would have been completely blind but with her wolf eyes, she could see just fine. The forest was dense but she stuck to the traveling path that had been forged through the forest. It was the same path she had used when she had traveled here and she knew her father would have used it too, not knowing that the creatures and been more aggressive lately.

Even though the forest was dark, she knew her white fur was not the best camouflage. She assumed the creatures had just as good of eyesight as she did in her wolf form. She would never make it far this way, she was like a beacon calling out to be attacked. She diverted off the path, heading into the dense woods hoping to find the stream she knew ran through there.  Her wolf ears picked up the water and she headed in that direction until she found it. She dropped down and rolled in it, her pure white fur now covered in mud from the bottom of the stream.

She hoped now she would blend in better and headed back towards the path. She stayed in the cover of the trees, racing between them as fast as she could without making too much noise. After a while, she caught a familiar scent in the air.

Blood.

She ran faster in the direction of the scent, sprinting up a hill that dipped down into a ravine. When she reached the top she halted, looking down and feeling her heart nearly stop at what she saw. It was her family's carriage, laying on its side and looking to have fallen down the ravine and broken its axel. She was just about to run down the hill when a large wolf stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

She took a step back. He was huge, much bigger than she was. It was hard to see the color of his fur in the darkness but she could see his glowing amber eyes. She knew it was Nikolai and he did not look happy.

We need to get out of here. His voice commanded in her mind.

That is my family's carriage down there! I need to see if they are in there!

It does not feel right. We need to go. he commanded again this time shoving his head against her and pushing her back.

She growled and took a step back, making it look like she was going to comply but then jumping as hard as she could. She pushed him with her paws and used the leverage to make herself fly higher into the air, up and over him. She did not predict her landing very well, however, and ended up tumbling down into the ravine. She felt a sharp pain radiate up her front right paw as she landed awkwardly on the ground. She let out a whimper but was quick to recover, determined to look inside the carriage.

She jumped up to look down into the open side door. Another whimper escaping her not just from the pain in her paw but also at the sight of the inside of the carriage. It was covered in blood. She heard Nikolai approaching, his stride determined to reach her as fast as he could. He was taller than she was and only needed to go onto his hind legs to look down into the carriage. He did not say a word and only leaned down to sniff the blood, even licking it.

This is deer’s blood.   

Roxanne looked towards him in shock, the realization of what was happening then coming a bit too late. She heard footsteps approaching from the top of the hill. Roxanne looked up and saw only a glimpse of what looked like hooded figures before a rain of arrows came flying into the ravine. Before Roxanne could even think to move Nikolai pushed her into the carriage, the door slamming behind her. She heard each arrow striking the side of the carriage along with a strangled growl. 

Nikolai! 

She jumped up, pushing open the door and crawling out of the turned-over carriage. She smelled fresh blood and went into a panic. She looked up over the hill and whoever had been there was now gone. She looked down and saw Nikolai, three arrows sticking out of his side.

Nikolai! She called out again not liking that he did not respond.

She jumped down beside him, he was still breathing but not well. He was such a large wolf and they were at the bottom of the ravine, but she had to get him out of here. She grabbed hold of his neck with her teeth and started to pull him up the hill. He let out a whimper from the movement but then she saw him trying to help her, doing his best to help push himself up the hill along with her help. They made it to the top but it seemed Nikolai had used all his strength and passed out.

She looked towards the wounds, why weren’t they healing? She leaned down and sniffed and a familiar scent filled her nose. It was the same scent Gertrude had shown her. It was wolfsbane. Suddenly, she heard a wolf approaching from behind her. She turned ready to protect Nikolai from another attack but the dark wolf she quickly recognized as Roland, having seen him in his wolf form before.

Roland! The Alpha is injured! It was a trap!

Roland stopped a few feet from her, looking down at his Alpha and then back to her. Something in his eyes made her feel uneasy.

Princess, step away from the Alpha.

She was confused by the disdainful tone in his voice but still did as he said. Moving out of his way as he approached the Alpha. He looked over the injuries and then back towards her as a group of soldiers in full wolf armor approached.

Take the Princess. 

The soldiers approached her and she had the urge to run but stood her ground. One of the soldiers holding what looked like a collar in his mouth.

Wait, what’s going on? She was about to turn around but the soldiers quickly surrounded her.

The one soldier holding the collar threw it around her neck and grabbed hold of the chain that was connected to it, giving it a pull. The collar tightened and she realized the inside of it was covered in dulled spikes, causing it to dig into her neck. Through the pain, she still struggled to get away until one of the soldiers reached out and struck her so hard with his paw that everything went dark.

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Roxanne awoke, confused why her whole body felt stiff and cold. She opened her eyes sluggishly and at first, was blinded by a bright light. It took her eyes a few moments to adjust but the room around her began to come into focus.

This was not her room in the castle.

Her body was aching from having been laying on a cold ground, the room around her seeming to be made of stone from top to bottom. On the far wall was a door with a small window and above her was a barred skylight where the sun was shining down, blinding her. Was this… the dungeon?      

A knock from the door made her jump, the whole room had been silent when the sudden loud noise came out of nowhere. She looked down and she had changed back into her human form, a dress no better than torn rags having been put on her.

“Princess, you awake?” A familiar voice asked.

Roland? She got to her feet and rushed towards the door, looking through the tiny window.

“What happened? Where am I?” she demanded.

It was dark in the hallway but Roland stepped into the light provided by a weak lamp on the wall. He looked very solemn as he stared at her. On no, Nikolai!

“Is the Alpha okay?” she quickly asked.

Roland looked to have been about to say something but stopped when she asked her question. For a moment a look of confusion passed over his face but he quickly concealed it and went back to the solemn look he had before.

“The Alpha is getting the treatment you did from Gertrude but the amount of wolfsbane in the arrows was much higher than what you received. Gertrude is working her hardest but is still unsure if it will work.” Roland replied.

Roxanne felt tears come to her eyes. This was her fault. She should not have run blindly into the forest. She should have been smarter and asked Nikolai for help but she had been untrusting of him. She had let her prejudice get in the way and now he was paying for it. Maybe even with his life! Her heart started to hurt and she placed her hand over her chest. Her anguish and guilt causing her physical pain. She leaned against the door and slide to the floor. This pain was like nothing she had ever experienced in her life.

“Princess? Are you okay? What is happening?” Roland demanded as she heard the sound of keys jingling and the lock being turned.

The door opened and Roxanne fell back, her body going weak. What is happening to me? Suddenly she began feeling the same pain she had before when Gertrude had given her the treatment. Her body began to burn up and she started convulsing, her body trying to change without her consent. She let out a scream and she could have sworn she heard Nikolai screaming as well. Was he close by or had that been only in her mind?

“Kai! Go get Gertrude! Something is wrong with the Princess!” Roland shouted.

“But, Isn’t Gertrude with the Alpha?” The soldier asked.

“She gave the Alpha the treatment and locked him up for the night! He is in a holding cell above us. She was worried he might get violent and hurt himself or others so we chained him in there. Now! Stop asking questions and go! Gertrude is in the Kitchen!” Roland said, sounding annoyed.

Another pain shot through Roxanne’s body and she could feel fur breaking out on her arm, the bones in it breaking as it tried to transform but found resistance. She screamed and once again she swore she heard Nikolai’s scream as well. 

“What in the Moon—” Roland whispered just as the sound of footsteps rushing toward them could be heard.

“Princess? What is wrong? Where does it hurt?” Gertrude asked, looking truly concerned.

“Every...where” Roxanne gasped just as another pain came and this time breaking the bones in her other arm.

She screamed louder this time as the pain kept going, the breaking of bones radiating up her arm and shoulder and across her collar bone. Once again Nikolai’s scream ringing in her ears. This was the same pain she had been through before when she had the wolfsbane treatment. Was I poisoned too?

Gertrude’s eyes widened as she watched the princess and head both her and Alpha scream at the exact same time.

“This… cannot be happening,” Gertrude whispered, looking to be in pure shock.

“Why? What is happening?” Roland demanded, sounding desperate.

Gertrude did not answer him but watched again as another wave of pain went through the Princess and their screams echoed together through the building. She turned to Roland.

“Grab the Princess and come with me.”

Roland complied quickly, just wanting Gertrude to do something. He picked up Roxanne and could feel how Roxanne’s whole body seemed to be on fire. 

“She is burning up!” Roland exclaimed.

Gertrude led him to the stairs that went to the upper floor of the building. It was a narrow, winding staircase and Roland had trouble carrying the Princess through it. At one point a pain struck her and he had to stop so she would not hit her head against the wall. Once they made it to the upper level Roxanne could see a long room lined with chains and shackles. At the far end were steel bars and behind them she saw Nikolai chained up, his whole body covered in sweat.

Gertrude headed towards the cell and went to unlock the door, the Alpha lifting his head at the noise.

“What is going on?” He demanded, his voice strained.

Roland walked forward and was almost to where the Alpha was when another wave of pain hit. This one was a little less severe but Roxanne still heard bones cracking, this time in her back. She screamed and just then she heard Nikolai scream as well. Were… they feeling the same pain?

“What is happening?” Roland whispered in confusion ad he walked into the cell and sat Roxanne down on the ground across from the Alpha.  

“Something I have only ever read about…” Gertrude said.

Roxanne looked towards Nikolai, he was staring at her so intently. He seemed conflicted yet relieved at the same time. Roxanne was about to ask him why he was looking at her like that when a sudden pain shot right down her spine. Roxanne let out a surprised scream but then Gertrude reached out and grabbed her hand, placing it on the Alpha’s shoulder. The searing pain subsiding rapidly into just a dull ache. Roxanne tried to move her hand away but Gertrude held it there. Nikolai staring at Roxanne in amazement.

“The pain, it’s…lessened,” Nikolai whispered.

“Just as I thought,” Gertrude began. “You two are true mates.”