The Taken Princess

Chapter 2

Zeke’s pov

I looked at my son, pride filled my chest. Yes he was young, fourteen tomorrow, but this is the best time to start teaching him how to be a king. He will start off slow, be part of minor decisions. Each year he will learn new things, the first thing I need him to learn is how to listen to other people. A King is only as good as the men he surrounds himself with.

“Come on, let’s go to the pack’s hospital and check on Asyra.” Ryken said as he clapped me on the shoulder. I knew my strong baby girl will be fine physically, however, my real concern is how she handles the attack mentally. She is a young pup who has already gone through shifting early, now she is being attacked by a rogue in her own backyard. Thank the goddess Zac was there or only she knows what could have happened to Asyra.

“She was alway a strong one, Zeke. She will be just fine, she will only need time.” Zane said, trying to calm the worry that rose in my chest as we neared the hospital.

I mentally nodded my head as we entered the hospital wing of the castle. It wasn’t long after the packs merged that we made the decision to move to the castle. It provided more space for the pack members and allowed us to be closer to borders wherever we are. Jace and I share responsibility of alpha, he watches over the pack house, I watch over the castle and outer villages.

I sighed when I walked into her room, I walked over to my daughter who was sleeping. She had a bandage on her arm and she had a bandage around her chest. “What is the bandage on her arm from?” Zac asked.

Jane looked down and twiddled her fingers in her lap. “Do not worry, that was only an accident. I tripped on the stairs and out of reflex grew my claws out to hold onto her more securely. I didn’t even trip that bad, I easily regained my balance. I overreacted.” She looked down to the floor and then grabbed Asyra’s hand gently rubbing her thumb over her small knuckles.

My mate, always blaming herself even though she is an amazing mother to our children. “My darling, do not say that. You did what any mother would have done had they felt they would fall when their child was hurt. You did beautifully, my love.” She smiled at me then looked back at our gorgeous daughter.

We could already see her wounds healing, she had always healed pretty fast. However she had never truly had severe injuries like this before. “Mom, how bad are her injuries?” Zac asked.

She let out a deep sigh, “Well he crushed all the ribs on her left side, perforated a lung, and damaged her spleen. Thankfully her wolf has healed her vital organs already. They thought they would have to do surgery but we watched her spleen heal on the ultrasound.” Oh wow, my poor baby girl. Whoever did this, will pay. I thought to myself.

“We have the rogue in the dungeons correct?” I asked Zac.

“Yes we do, he was given wolfsbane and propofol. He will be out for a couple of hours, I figured we could go down there tonight after dinner when grandma can watch Asyra. I am sure grandpa will want to be there too.” I smiled at him, I have trained him well so far, I can’t wait to see what he will do after all of his training is completed.

I slapped him on the shoulder, “Good work my boy! I am so proud of you.” I looked around, “Where is Luca?” Normally he is rarely without his sister.

“He is in his room, he could feel her pain, Tasha is with him, she was hoping she could ease his pain or teach him how to block her out.” Jane said not taking her eyes off of Asyra. He has never felt her pain before.

“Do you think his wolf is waking up?” It has been said that some twins can feel each other's pain after their wolves wake up.

“It is a possibility. However Tasha was going to try and help him calm down, Jeremy is there too. Alex and Axel are with them also.” I walked over to Jane and wrapped my arms around her shoulders from behind. “I think you should go speak with him, he could use his fathers comfort right now.” I kissed the side of her head and squeezed her gently.

“Yes my dear I will go see him. Zac, Ryken, I would like you both to be prepared for interrogation after dinner. Make sure you tell Sara.” They both nodded at me and I left to go check on Luca. I walked the many halls of the castle until I finally came to stand outside his bedroom door. I could hear Tasha and Jeremy; they both sounded worried.

“Luca you need to calm down, take a breath.” Tasha said,

“She is healing, his pain should be dissipating not growing.” I heard Jeremy say to her. As I reached for the handle I heard Luca scream. I slammed the door open and saw Luca on the floor writhing in pain. Alex and Axel ran from the room scared.

“What is going on?” I ran to him and pulled him into my arms. He was sweating and extremely hot, I heard a snap as he cried out again. “He is shifting!” I picked him up and ran as fast as I could outside to lay him in the grass. I knew they were following me but I didn’t care, all I cared about at this moment was my son and his first shift.

“Dad, it hurts!” His bones kept snapping and rearranging, when Asyra shifted Luca was there to help her through it, but now she is injured and can’t help him.

“I know Luca, just keep breathing, it will pass.” I saw movement out of the corner of my eye when I saw Zac carrying Asyra and she was awake. “You should not be here!” I scolded her. I looked up and her mother put her hand on my shoulder calming me.

“It’s okay, she needs this as much as he does.” She turned to Jeremy and Tasha, “the boys ran into their room.” Tasha sighed in relief and nodded her head.

“I felt him shifting, I need to be here daddy.” Oh man, she said daddy. She knows that she has me wrapped around her cute little paw. I kept Luca on my lap as Zac kept Asyra on his. Luca reached out to her and she took his hand. She winced in pain but held on to him. I saw relief flood over his face as fur started to form on his skin. I knew he would soon be done shifting.

After about twenty minutes Luca was fully shifted. Jane gasped in shock, he was the exact opposite of Asyra’s wolf. Hers is white with black paws and a black crescent moon on the back of her neck, her wolfs eyes are ice blue like her mothers. Lucas wolf is all black with white paw and a white crescent on the back of his neck. His eyes were also ice blue, I looked at Asyra as she smiled then fell back asleep. She is exhausted from healing and helping him shift.

“Luca, your wolf is the exact opposite of Asyra’s.” Zac hollered out to him, he did try to take a step forward but stumbled. “Hey bro, take it easy! You need to learn how to walk all over again.” Zac laughed at his brother's clumsiness.

“Be nice Zac, I remember the first time you shifted. You tumbled down so many times.” Jane smiled at him and he just shook his head laughing.

“Ha ha ha mom, I am going to bring Asyra back to the hospital. I will see you both at supper.” He stood up off the ground effortlessly while holding onto his sleeping sister. Jane walked up to Luca who was playing with his tail.

“How does it feel?” Her voice was soft as she spoke to him. He must be mind linking her as she spoke again, “Well you will get there, you just need to practice and not over push yourself.” He nodded his head. “Now, go over there behind that tree with the X and get yourself a pair of shorts and shift. You think of your human form to shift back.” He nodded his head and turned to walk away.

He stumbled a few times as he walked over to the tree. Jane plopped onto the ground next to me as he disappeared behind the tree. “Well today has been eventful.” She said, turning her gaze to me. I could hear Jeremy and Tasha leaving to give us privacy.

I let out a sigh, “It has been, after dinner I will find out who sent this rogue. Ryken will help me and I want Zac to be there to witness it.” She turned her gaze to me, I could see the worry in her eyes.

“What method will you be using?” I know she doesn’t like the methods Ryken uses, which is why he doesn’t interrogate often. However after Asyra being attacked I think it necessary.

She laid her head on my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her closer to my side. I kissed her on the top of her head. “We will not show any mercy to the wolf who attacked our daughter.”

She nodded her head, “he deserves it, that is our daughter and she has done nothing to anyone to deserve an attack.” Wow, I am shocked, Zane was too. I could see his jaw hanging open at what she said. I looked at her surprised, she let out a laugh when she saw my face. “What?” she said in between her giggles.

“I am just stunned, normally you fight for them to not be hurt or for us to go easy on them. Why the change of heart?” I asked with a smile.

“None of them purposely went after our children before.” She turned her gaze back to the tree as Luca came out from behind the tree, he was holding his shorts up as they were too big. “I want to be there during the interrogation.”

I nodded my head, “Okay, it won’t be pretty.” She looked back at me and kissed me on the cheek.

“I am betting on it.” She stood up and walked towards Luca, “Come on buddy, dinner should be ready soon. You did a fantastic job by the way.” She smiled at our son as she gave him one of her motherly hugs. I watched Luca’s face relax as he melted into her embrace.

“Mama, you won’t believe it!” She gave him a questioning gaze, “My wolf's name is Vince!” She looked at me stunned, suddenly I felt a warm presence behind me and I knew who it was. Jane smiled at the person standing behind me.

“Hello my darlings, I need to talk to you about Luca’s wolf.” I stood up and gave a slight bow to the Moon Goddess. Jane ushered Luca towards me and I wrapped one of my arms around her.

“It is nice to see you again Selene. What news do you have about his wolf?” She smiled at us as she walked closer. She knelt down so she was looking up at Luca.

“Your wolf is very special, he was your grandfather’s wolf.” She said as she put her hand on his shoulder.

His eyes lit up in excitement, “You mean the one who saved Mama from the mean vampire?” She nodded her head, I looked at Jane and saw tears sliding down her cheeks. She never got to say thank you to them for saving her.

She turned her gaze to Jane, “He remembers everything but he will not speak of it until Luca is older and can handle everything.” She stood up and brushed the tears from Jane’s eyes. “Now I know this must seem odd and be difficult but he is needed here, for some reason he has also been drawn to Luca. He feels the need to protect Asyra, I fear something is coming but I cannot see what.”

I looked at Jane as her face turned from sadness to determination. Someone is after our daughter but we have no clue as to who or why. Selene cannot see it which makes me wonder if it is not from this realm. “What do we do?”

She looked at me, with sadness on her face, “I do not know, I have seen something building for the last four years but I didn’t know who or what. I now know after Vince told me he could feel her in danger that I decided to grace Luca with his wolf.” She looked around, “Where is Asyra?”

“She was attacked a little bit ago by a rogue, she is in really rough shape.” The Moon Goddess looked at her funny.

“I did not see an attack, why didn’t you try to heal her?” She asked, worry evident on her face.

“I did try, as soon as I got to her I tried but it did not work.” Selene's eyes widened in realization.

“That was no rogue, did you kill him?” I shook my head, “I wish to speak with him.”

I motioned for her to follow me, I guess dinner will have to wait. “Luca, go get changed and meet grandma in the dining hall.” Jane said to him. He took off running holding his pants up with one hand. “I will link Ryken, he will want to be part of this.”

We made our way to the dungeon, I walked to the cell where he was. He sat in the corner chains on his ankles and hands but the silver had no effect on him. He looked up at me and glared. “Oh if it isn’t the great King Zeke Greyfang.” He spat my name with venom, he had an accent but couldn’t place it off the top of my head. I glared at him as Ryken came running to meet us.

“Hello Selene, I hope you have been well.” She nodded at him and turned back to the prisoner.

“Who sent you?” Her voice was deep and filled with authority aimed at him, only it had no effect on him. The dull light from the torches made him look dirty.

He scoffed at her, “You may be a goddess woman, however you are not my god.” He smirked at us, showing that he wasn’t threatened by her power.

Her face relaxed, “It cannot be, your kind died out thousands of years ago.” He looked worried now. “You are a Hamrammr.” I looked at her confused by what she just said. The man in the cells laughed and looked down at the floor.

Ryken looked shocked, “A what?” Jane asked, also confused.

“He is of an ancient species, long thought to be extinct. They are an old Icelandic creature that can turn into any creature they have recently eaten.” My stomach turned.

“So you mean to tell me he recently ate a brown rogue?” Jane asked, she nodded her head as the prisoner glared at her. “Okay that is really disgusting.”

“Answer me, who sent you?” He just glared, “I will summon Odin to deal with you if you do not.”

“Odin does not care for your kind.” He scoffed and turned away from us looking blankly at the wall.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Odin wanted peace just as much as I did. We both worked closely together to achieve it. He wanted the White Wolf and her mate in charge, and you could have mortally injured one of their offsprings. NOW SPEAK!” Her voice echoed through the dungeon causing dust to fall, other wolves in the cells whimpered and coward away into the corner of their cells.

He flinched but stared her down, “I don’t know who sent me. I was told to meet in a clearing and eat the wolf. There was a potion for me to drink which would keep my scent hidden. They told me the girl was the target, they said they didn’t want her killed, just minorly injured. I overestimated the power of the shape I had taken.” He growled out.

“So someone really is after Asyra.” Jane whispered before turning and running out of the dungeon. I so wanted to go with her but I knew I needed to stay here and listen to all he had to say.

The Moon Goddess sighed and turned around to leave as well, “Odin will deal with you. I will inform him of what you have done.” I watched as he shook with fear.

“Why would you attack a ten year old little girl? If she hadn’t had her wolf already, you would have killed her.” I growled at him, his gaze shifted to me momentarily before he rested his elbows on his knees. He sighed as the chains jingled, defeat in his eyes.

He cleared his throat before he spoke, he was visibly upset but with himself. “I was only given a picture of the target, I did not know she was that young. Going after kids is not something I do.” He has done things like this before?

“How could you not tell she was a child? What is it that you do?” I asked him, I was unsure if I actually wanted to know or not.

“I am a bounty hunter, most of us are. I was told that she suffered from a condition that stunted her growth.” His voice was thick with emotion.

Wait, what? “Zeke, did he just say most of us?” Zane said surprised.

“Hold up, most of you are?” He nodded his head.

“Our kind has very few left, we are hidden in the mountains. We live off the land, there are less than fifty of our kind left now. Very few know of us, I am surprised your goddess didn’t know if she worked closely with Odin.” He sighed again, “Look if I had known she was so young I never would have gone for her, I was told that she was a mate to someone and she was kidnapped. I didn’t think it was a child of yours.” His answer sounded genuine.

“She is not even of mating age yet, are you sure you don’t know who sent you?” He shook his head. “I need to speak to my wife before I make this official.” I sighed, “I will pay you to find who was after her, but I need to wait until after the coronation.”

His eyes lit up, “You would trust me to do that?” I put my hand over my eyes. Was I really willing to trust the man who tried to take my daughter?

I sighed and looked back at the man. “We will see, I need to talk with my mate, her mother.” He bowed his head in respect before I began to walk away.

“Your highness?” I turned to look at him, “Thank you for not killing me, I am sure my family will be thankful for that.” I nodded my head and walked out of the dungeon. I need to talk to Jane before anything else happens.

“You do know Jane will be furious if you actually go along with that. What is to stop him from trying to take her?” Zane said skeptically.

“I plan on offering them a place in this pack as long as they help keep Asyra and the pack safe.” Right now they are hiding in the mountains, maybe they would like to be part of a pack that would help them.

“I just hope Jane doesn’t try to kill us when we discuss this with her.” Zane said and I sighed, knowing full well she would be very upset.