The Alpha's Unwanted Princess

Chapter One ~ The Meeting

Nikolai growled, glaring at the messenger. The young wolf had run as fast as he could from the gates with the news.

"You're sure she was alone? You didn't see any sign of Roland or the others?" Nikolai demanded. 

This was bad, Roland was not just his Beta but also his most trusted friend. To lose him only to gain this worthless Silver Moon princess, was ridiculous! The young wolf nodded, trembling. At seeing the pup shaking Nikolai forced himself to relax. He was not mad at him.

"Thank you for bringing me this news, Evan. Please, go and get a snack from my kitchen." His tone was much milder and the small wolf padded away.

One of his servants ducked in to tell him that the princess was waiting for him in the great hall. Nikolai tensed, this was it, it was time to meet his doo—ah, duty. He nodded and took in a deep breath, his face settling into a cold expression. He would have the truth from her, no matter what it took. The servant stepped to the side to let him through the large doors that lead towards the great hall.

He stepped into the room, ready to shout that he demanded to know what had happened but the words died on his lips. The princess had her back to him, sitting on a table in the middle of the hall. Gertrude, their healer, was sewing up three large claw marks on her back. He could see that they were still bleeding and the only way to make sure she did not bleed out was to close them with thread. Usually, they would have healed if they had been caused by anything else but these invisible creatures somehow made injuries that took much longer to recover from. It was why they could take down a werewolf with one single blow and why they were losing more soldiers at an alarming rate every day.

He stood there, watching. He was surprised that the princess did not even make a sound as Gertrude sewed the needle through her skin. It was not the most painful but still not the most pleasant either yet, the princess did not even seem to flinch. Gertrude sewed up the last claw mark with quick fingers before standing back to admire her work.

“Now, don’t go undoing my fine work. You have to keep these in for a few days and then I will be back to take them out.” She instructed.

She had been very brisk and stern towards the princess. Not at all in a way someone should treat their future Luna. Nikolai expected the princess to correct Gertrude about her attitude but instead, she only thanked her with a small voice as she slowly lifted the cloak back up around her shoulders. Being careful of the sewn-up wounds on her back. He waited until Gertrude had left before finally stepping forward.  

"I believe you have some news for me?" He was deliberately rude, walking towards her until he was standing right before her. Forcing her to look up at him. 

She stood the moment he approached, turning around to look him directly in the eyes. She did not even bat an eyelash at his rudeness. Her eyes burning like molten silver, back at him.

"We were attacked by an unseen force. It took down the two soldiers beside me and Roland ordered Colin to get me out of there. I do not know what happened, but whatever it was followed Colin and me. It took him while he was behind me protecting my back. The next thing I knew a loud piercing screech blindsided me and it attacked me. It did not hurt me, though, as badly as I saw it do to your men... Almost as if it did not intend to kill me. Like it wanted me alive…"

By the end of her explanation, she was looking off as if she had just realized that whatever it was that had attacked them was not just a blood-thirsty killer but had intelligence.

"I pray that your men are alright. I worry for their safety." He was surprised to hear genuine concern in her voice.

Nikolai listened carefully but could detect nothing but the truth in her voice. He was still suspicious, however, how she had been the only one to make it to the castle. He saw that fire in her eyes diminish slightly but she still stood her ground. It couldn't be easy, standing up to the Blood Moon Alpha this way in his own kingdom. Especially with the way he towered over her. She was small for a she-wolf but she emitted an air of nobility that demanded respect. It made her seem much taller than she actually was. She had the typical coloring of Silver Moon Royals with silver hair, eyes, and pale skin. Her looks reminding him of things better left forgotten.    

He turned his mind back to what she had told him. Poor Colin…He had been very young for an escort but he had been so eager to volunteer. Colin had lost his entire family to the creatures that lurked in the Black Forest when he was just a pup. He lived in the castle and both Nikolai and Roland and taken him under their wing. Treating him like a young brother.

"Evan!" He barked. the scruffy boy skidding into the room, mouth half stuffed with bread and cheese.

"Go down and find Commander Trimack. Tell him to send out a four-wolf squad to do a quick screen for survivors. In and out, that's what you tell him alright? I don't want to lose any more warriors." Evan nodded, gulping down the rest of his meal as he bolted for the door.

Nikolai scrutinized his bride-to-be closely. She looked drained, tired, but there was a steely determination in her eyes that he found himself admiring.

"You must be tired." He said, at last, his voice losing the edge it had had before.

"There is a room prepared for you, I will tell the servants to draw you a bath" He gestured for her to follow him as he went back into the hallway he had come from.

“I do not need a bath, Alpha Nikolai. Gertrude told me not to soak my wounds but I would appreciate some warm water and a cloth to at least clean up the blood.” She said while she followed him down the hallway.

Nikolai nodded in understanding, shocked to hear her use his name. When the Elders had come to him with the proposition of a truce he had hardly listened. There had already been whispers of a possible treaty between the two packs and he could understand how him marrying the Silver Princess would be the assurance needed to make sure this tenuous accord held. He had already accepted his fate so when the Elders had spoken about the Princess and told him her name he had merely nodded in agreement. He could not for the life of him remember what it was and he was not about to ask her. 

They walked down the hall towards the stairway that led to the upper floor. The Blood Moon Castle was really more of a military fortress. The walls were rather stark, a mixture of stone and wood, with a few tapestries depicting great battles from their history hanging on the walls. They passed by a particularly gruesome one where an Alpha from many years ago was holding the severed head of a Silver Moon Royal. He heard her footsteps stop and made his way to the front of the stairs before turning around to look at her.

She looked up at the tapestry but he could not read the emotion on her face. She stared at it as if it were just any other work of art before slowly looking away and back towards him. He could have sworn that for a moment he had caught a glimpse of some deep emotion but he could not say exactly what it was. It had disappeared faster than his brain could comprehend it.

She began walking towards him when suddenly a loud commotion came from behind her. He looked past her to see a soldier charging down the hallway.

"Alpha! Roland and his men have returned. They all seem to be injured." The soldier yelled.

Nikolai did not hesitate, leaving the princess standing there while he ran back down the hallway with the soldier back towards the great hall that led out onto the square in the center of the castle. There he was met with the sight of Roland holding up one of the soldiers while the other was still in wolf form with a small wolf laying over his back. It was Colin and he did not look like he was in very good shape. Nikolai walked down the steps and headed towards Roland who was handing off the injured soldier he had been carrying to another soldier.

"Roland. Glad to see you alive." Niko said as he placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

"And you, Niko, as always." He replied before his eyes moved past Nikolai to stare behind him. "I'm happy you managed to get here, Princess. It was touch and go there for a while. Would've been a shame had you been lost too after all that."

Nikolai turned to see the Princess standing at the top of the steps. She was still wearing the oversized cloak, clutching it to her tiny frame as her silver locks blew across her face. She had probably run after him and he had not even noticed. Just like how he had not noticed before just how dirty her face was like she had been pushed to the ground. Tiny scratches on her chin were already starting to heal along with a large bruise across her cheek. He had been too busy interrogating her earlier that he had missed just how injured she actually was.

"I would have been lost if it had not been for you, Beta Roland."

Nikolai had been friends with Roland since they were both pups and he did not miss the shy nod and slight reddening of his friend's cheeks at the Princess’ words. It was then they both heard a groan coming from beside them and turned to see that Colin had opened his eyes. Roland rushed over to the fallen soldier and placed his hand on the young wolf's neck, stroking it in comfort.

“I am glad to see you awake. Let’s get you to Gertrude and get you seen to, boy.” Roland said as the young wolf's form changed back into that of a young soldier.

Roland helped him down off the wolf’s back who then limped away towards the soldier's barracks just outside the castle square. He put Colin’s arm over his shoulder to hold him steady before looking back to Nikolai.

"Thank you, Roland. You and the others are to be given a week to rest and recuperate. For the more injured, make sure they stay here. They can help in the castle, but will not be seeing action until their wounds are fully healed." Nikolai ordered.

"I would think that after how long you have known me you would know I never rest. I plan to be up and running by tomorrow morning." Roland replied before giving his Alpha a salute and leading Colin away towards the barracks.

Nikolai stood there until the soldiers had disappeared around the corner. He turned back towards the great hall and saw that the Princess was still standing at the top of the steps, watching them go as well. He suddenly felt a little sheepish that he had doubted her story. He had let his prejudice cloud his judgment and it may have been unfair to her. However, he was far from trusting a Silver Moon wolf but at least for now, he knew she had been truthful.

He caught her shivering slightly and wrapping the cloak tighter around herself. She was not in her wolf form and the Blood Moon Kingdom was much colder than her home was. The castle itself resided on top of a mountain so it was never really warm here. It also did not help that he knew she was not wearing a stitch of clothing underneath that cloak. She was probably freezing yet, she did not say a word.

“Let’s head inside now and show you to your room. I will make sure the servants bring you up some warm water and wood for the hearth in your room.” He said while grabbing ahold of her elbow gently to lead her back the way they had come.

“Thank you, Alpha Nikolai,” she said in nearly a whisper, unable to hide the slight shiver in her voice.

He just nodded in return as they finally made it back to the stairway they had been at before, this time ascending to the top floor of the castle. He showed her to her room which was right next to his, a door connecting the two rooms. It was a traditional design for the Alpha and his Luna. He watched her walk through the door and close it gently behind her making a note to himself to ask Roland later what her name was.