The Lost Graystone Princess

Daisy Louise Harmony Thompson POV (Name given as part of Witness Protection program)

“Hi, welcome to Sneakz Burger Emporium. I’m Daisy. How can I help you today?” I spoke through the mic of the drive-through headset.

“Ah yeah, can I please have one of your Sneakz Classic Sizzle Steak Burgers?” A woman’s voice came back through the headset's earpiece.

“Sure can. Which sauce would you like on your Sneakz Classic Steak Burger?” I replied.

“Ah, now that’s tough, as I’ve never been here before. What would you recommend?” The woman spoke again.

“Although it does depend on your personal preferences, if it were for myself, I would most likely go for Uncle Mateo’s Secret Sauce. However, this sauce has three versions: light and tangy, mild, and hot. Any of these can make the burger taste different. Since it's your first time here, I recommend you try the light and tangy.” I reply.

That’s when a male voice chimes in through the mic, “What’s the Volcanic Sauce like?”

I had groaned internally, knowing all too well where this was heading because it was hardly ever sold to anyone. Besides, it’s more suited to were-beast than humans, not to say that they can’t handle it. It's just that they are more likely to end up hospitalised from the Volcanic Sauce and then try to blame us for selling it to them, even though we go out of our way to warn customers against it beforehand.

This is also because, in some rare cases, the sauce can be fatal to humans, and a family tried to sue the company over it. However, all of our drive-through conversations are recorded for training and customer quality purposes, and the warning is written on the top right-hand corner of the drive-through menu to cover us in those moments.

I had to do my best to compose myself for the very conversation that was about to happen. I knew I had to explain why I hadn’t suggested the Volcanic Sauce as a potential option; I was ready to face-palm, knowing how this would go.

“Sir, the Volcanic Sauce option wouldn’t be a choice that I would generally suggest to anyone…” I paused to what humans would call to take a breath, but I used the second to sniff the air, and I looked back at Uncle Mateo, who was doing the same thing; as I looked at him, I could tell he couldn’t smell anything that suggested that the male voice had come from a were-creature of any species. Still, some use masking sprays to hide their scent for one reason: common for wolves on the run or who had to be hidden like me. As I began again, “… as it isn’t for the faint of heart and has been known to hospitalise and even can be fatal to people in rare cases. Reasons vary from case to case, but most range from being too spicy for the person's digestive system to having an allergic reaction due to one or more of the ingredients that make up the sauce. I would advise against trying that one, but if you were to go for it, I would have to advise the kitchen to only put a small amount of the Volcanic Sauce on the burger for your safety. Or the other option is that we could put it into a container on the side so that you can test your tolerance first. Then, you can add it to the burger as you see fit. This is only a recommendation at the end of the day, as I don’t know how well you tolerate spicy foods normally, so at the end of the day, it's your call.” I replied softly and tried to let out the breath I was holding, knowing it wouldn’t come out until I knew his answer.

I wasn’t sure if it would be my lucky day, but the woman’s voice made a weird noise and said, “Ah, give us a moment, deary. We need to think about what sauce to use for a second.”

“No worries at all. Let me know when you're ready to finish making your order,” I said once more before turning off the mic on the end of my headset. The breath that I was holding only half came out, as it seemed to know that this wasn’t the end of the conversation regarding the Volcanic Sauce; however, for the moment, there was at least a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel—well, I can only hope there was.

For some unknown reason, our warning about the sauce was like some weird dare to try it and disregard the warnings completely, like the cartoons I had seen growing up in the human world, where there is a warning label not to push the red button. Still, the cartoon character feels compelled to push it to discover what will happen if they do, which usually means 99% doom to everything around them.

I could have sworn I heard a growl from a were-beast coming from the other end of the headset. I know the growl didn’t come from the woman in the car, as it wasn’t a female growl. Also, humans don’t growl, and I could smell her as a human, so it was easy to rule her out.

‘Nah, can’t be. Come on, you're just hearing things. You are still on edge after that rogue wolf came into the diner three weeks ago and said weird things about your late father’s old pack and something regarding a rogue Alpha, rogue king, or something along those lines.’ I tried to swallow my thoughts and feelings, but I subconsciously took my wolf pendant between my thumb and index fingers. Something I was told never to do, as someone might work out who I am and what the pendant meant.

Luckily, that rogue wolf was high on ice, so once Uncle Mateo’s security restrained him and removed him from prying eyes, Alpha Logan’s men came and took him. He went to Alpha Logan’s pack, as it was the closest pack to the human territory to where this Burger joint stands, which rogues should know better if they were hunters, let alone go near unless they were clean and on their best manners. Especially one that borders on another pack’s territory.

I had to breathe, calm, and compose myself, but when I looked at Uncle Mateo’s face, I knew I wasn’t hearing things. His wolf, Sneakz, was trying to get out and deal with the situation; after all, he had been my protector for as long as I could remember. I also had to hand over the headset to another female staff member and head into the stockroom, which hid a special safe room in case the wolf was there for me.

But now, other members of Uncle Mateo’s security had also been quick to move, and one of them was a female trained to work as a staff member who was the one to take my place in these situations.

Her name is Millie. She looks and sounds similar to me, so most people hardly notice, but she knows just what to say if, by some chance, they do realise the difference. However, a were-beast most likely will, but the differences are barely noticeable to a human.

That’s when the front doorbell went off; as customers entered the door, it was none other than Alpha Maison without his twin brother, Alpha Jackson and their Alpha unit. Great, that's one more problem we don’t need right now. Alpha Maison is the eldest one of Alpha Logan’s sons, and since both Maison and Jackson are twins, they are the heirs of the pack that I happen to have to live in with my adoptive human parents and Uncle Mateo. Which is meant to be for my protection, so I have been told by just about everyone. I wondered if my day could worsen when I noticed Maison watching me. His unit must have seen it because they began to make fun of him. This allowed me to get to my safe room in the diner, where I was closely followed by one of Uncle Mateo’s guards.

“GROWL,” roared from outside of the diner.

‘What the hell is going on? Has someone found me?’ The thought that ran through me, along with fear, seemed to get Maison’s attention. I have no idea why, though he hated me for some reason. ‘No, it's nothing. He probably also heard growls from outside, which got his attention.’

My safe room also had cameras and an auto, so I knew what was happening outside. This was so my guard, and I knew if and when it was safe to come out, and if the sh*t hit the fan, we were to take the hidden passage back to Alpha Logan’s pack from a panel only I knew about besides Alpha Logan and Uncle Mateo.

Although Uncle Mateo trusted his guards, he knew he could only trust them to a point. Each of them had been a rogue at some point in their lives, either exiled, on the run or even just liked living independently from pack life for one reason or another.

Also, Uncle Mateo knew that those who had been a rogue from one point in their life were easier to turn for the right price if it meant they could live another day. Like most humans, rogues could be easily swayed by money, or for some rogues, being offered a chance to join a pack after exile would be more than enough to get them to do something they normally wouldn’t do.

That is not to say that rogues aren’t nice people. Most generally are nice people; they have had a hard life, either growing up or after being kicked out of their old pack. And for many of them, it isn’t their fault. However, that’s all hearsay, as we rarely get the whole story from either party for varying reasons.

Today, my designated guard was a new guy named Thomas. He had only been with us a short time, so going with him was risky, but I knew I had to.

As I handed the headset to Millie and followed Thomas just as I was meant to, little did I know that this moment in my life was about to change it.

Meanwhile, back in the dining area of the dinner, Maison’s wolf Nightshade stirred. She’s in danger; they're looking for her. -

'Whose looking for her?' Maison asked his wolf, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room.

-I don't know, but their scent is all wrong. Too many chemicals. Trying to hide something. -

Maison's jaw tightened. He hated it when Nightshade was cryptic, but he understood why. Wolf instincts weren't always clear-cut explanations – sometimes they were just feelings, impressions that couldn't be put into words. And right now, Nightshade was practically howling alarm bells.

In the safe room, I sat on the edge of a small cot, watching the security feeds while Thomas positioned himself by the door.

"So, you're new," I said, trying to distract myself from the tension. "How long have you been working for Uncle Mateo?"

Thomas shifted his weight, not quite meeting my eyes. "About three weeks. I was passing through and needed work."

Something about his answer felt rehearsed. I'd met plenty of rogues in my time with Uncle Mateo, and they all had their stories. Some were open books, others kept their pasts locked tight. Thomas seemed to be the latter.

"Where were you before?" I pressed, watching his reaction carefully.

He shrugged. "Around. East coast mostly."

I nodded like this satisfied me, but my senses were on high alert. Uncle Mateo had taught me to trust my instincts, and they were sending mixed signals right now. Thomas wasn't giving off any immediate threat markers, but something felt... off.

The security feed showed Millie handling the drive-through perfectly, her movements a practised mirror of my own. The car with the suspicious customers was pulling forward to the window. I leaned closer to the monitor.

"Can we get audio on that?" I asked.

Thomas hesitated before reaching for the control panel. "I don't think that's part of the protocol."

"It is if I say it is," I replied, not bothering to hide the edge in my voice. Uncle Mateo had been very clear about my authority in these situations.

After another moment's hesitation, Thomas flipped a switch, and sound filled the room.

"—just want to know if anyone unusual has been working here lately," a male voice said. The same one that had asked about the Volcanic Sauce.

Millie's laugh was perfectly casual. "Define unusual. We get all sorts here."

"Young woman, early twenties. Might be wearing a wolf pendant."

My blood turned to ice. I instinctively reached for my necklace, which I'd tucked under my uniform the moment I'd entered the safe room.

"Sir, I'm going to need you to pull around to the parking lot. There seems to be an issue with your order."

Millie's voice was still pleasant, but I recognised the code phrase. She was alerting the security team.

I turned to Thomas, who was watching the screen with unusual intensity.

"So, Thomas, tell me about yourself?” I asked as I watched him. Something was really off with him, like he was looking for some kind of opening to make his move.

“I moved into a nearby town about a month ago. I had security training, so when I applied, my application made its way to the top of the pile, and now, I’m here,” Thomas said, trying to come up with an excitable answer.

The cameras showed Uncle Mateo moving casually toward Maison, wiping his hands on his apron as if he were checking on a valued customer. I knew better. That particular wiping motion was his signal that things were escalating.

"Miss, please," Thomas insisted, his hand touching my elbow.

I jerked away instinctively, then froze. Thomas's scent had changed—subtle, but unmistakable. A hint of adrenaline mixed with... anticipation? My wolf, Star, stirred inside me, hackles rising.

"Who sent you?" I whispered, backing away from him.

Thomas's eyes widened in feigned innocence. "I don't know what you're—"

"Cut the crap. You're not one of Uncle Mateo's men." My hand moved to my pendant, fingers closing around it. "Your scent changed the moment we entered this room."

A slow smile spread across Thomas's face, revealing teeth that were just a little too sharp. "Smart girl. Smarter than your father, at least."

My blood ran cold. "You knew my father?"

"Not personally. But I know who's looking for his daughter." He took a step toward me. "And they pay very, very well."

Star snarled inside me, begging to be released, but I held her back. Transforming in this confined space would be suicide, especially against an opponent whose capabilities I didn't know.

On the monitor behind Thomas, I saw Maison suddenly rigid, his head snapping toward the stockroom door. He could sense something was wrong. Our eyes met through the camera, and for once, the hostility in his gaze was replaced with something else: determination.

Thomas noticed my attention shift and glanced back at the monitor. "Your Alpha boyfriend won't reach you in time, princess."

"He's not my boyfriend," I muttered, searching frantically for a weapon. "And I'm nobody's princess."

"That's where you're wrong," Thomas chuckled, advancing slowly. "You have no idea who you really are, do you? What does that pendant actually mean?"

My hand reached my pendant instinctively. But what Thomas didn’t know was that while it looked like I was looking for a weapon, I knew I didn’t need one. I had two flick blades attached to my wrists just for a moment like this one.

“Well, enlighten me on what it means; my parents bought it at a flea market,” I said coolly.

Thomas laughed, the sound harsh and mocking. "A flea market? Is that what they told you?" His eyes gleamed with a predatory light. "That pendant marks you as royal blood, little wolf. The last surviving heir of the Northern Territories."

I kept my expression neutral despite the shock rippling through me. Uncle Mateo had never mentioned anything about royal blood or Northern Territories. The pendant had been with me since before I could remember—a constant companion I was told never to remove.

"You're delusional," I said, slowly shifting my weight to the balls of my feet. "But even if that were true, what makes you think I'd go anywhere with you?"

"Because you don't have a choice." Thomas's form seemed to ripple, his muscles tensing beneath his uniform. "Dead or alive, the bounty pays the same."

In one fluid motion, I flicked my wrists, releasing both hidden blades. Thomas's eyes widened in genuine surprise.

"Seems Uncle Mateo taught you more than how to flip burgers," he growled.

"You have no idea," I replied, dropping into a fighting stance.

He lunged at me with surprising speed, but I was ready. I sidestepped, slashing at his arm as he passed. He howled in pain as the silver-edged blade cut through his sleeve and skin.

"Silver?" he spat, clutching his arm where the wound sizzled. "You little—"

A thunderous crash interrupted him as the door to the safe room burst inward. Maison stood in the doorway, his grey eyes blazing with fury, claws already extended.

"Step away from her," he commanded, his voice carrying the unmistakable authority of an Alpha heir.

Thomas snarled, caught between two opponents. "This isn't your fight, Maison. The girl doesn't belong to your pack."

"Later," I hissed, gesturing for him to follow me. "We don't know if he was working alone."

The tunnel was narrow, forcing us to move in single file. I took the lead, knowing every twist and turn by heart from the countless drills Uncle Mateo had put me through. Behind me, Maison's breathing was controlled but heavy, his wolf still close to the surface.

"She's in my territory," Maison replied coolly. "That makes it my fight."

I rolled my eyes despite the tension. "I don't belong to anyone, thanks."

Thomas's gaze darted between us, calculating his odds. Then, with a movement too quick for human eyes to follow, he lunged—not at me or Maison, but at the control panel on the wall.

Before either of us could react, he slammed his fist into it, and the room plunged into darkness.

"Daisy, down!" Maison shouted.

I dropped instinctively, feeling the rush of air as something—or someone—passed over me. A sickening crunch followed by a gurgle told me Maison had connected with his target.

Emergency lights flickered on, bathing the room in an eerie red glow. Thomas lay crumpled against the far wall, his neck at an unnatural angle. Maison stood over him, breathing heavily, blood dripping from his claws.

"You killed him," I whispered, rising slowly to my feet. I walked over to the hidden panel that even the guards didn’t know about. The escape door opened, “We must go now tell your father, this door will take us back behind pack walls.”

Maison stared at me in shock. "You knew about this passage? All this time?"

"How long have you had silver blades?" he asked, his voice echoing slightly off the concrete walls.

"Since I was twelve," I replied without looking back. "Uncle Mateo believes in being prepared."

"For rogue wolves hunting you specifically?"

I paused, the weight of Thomas's words pressing down on me. Royal blood. Northern Territories. The pendant that I'd been told was merely a trinket from a flea market.

"I don't know what this is about," I admitted softly. "But it's not the first time someone's come looking for me."

The tunnel opened into a wider chamber with multiple branching paths. I headed straight for the one marked with a small, almost imperceptible scratch on the wall.

"Your father's going to have questions," Maison said. "A lot of them."

"Join the club," I muttered. "Starting with why a bounty hunter infiltrated Uncle Mateo's security team without anyone noticing."

Maison fell silent for a moment. "Nightshade knew something was wrong. He sensed it the moment we walked in."

I glanced back at him, surprised by the admission. Wolves rarely shared their internal conversations with outsiders. "Your wolf has good instincts."

"He's been... agitated around you for a while."

That explained some of Maison's hostility over the years. If his wolf had sensed something unusual about me, something that might threaten their pack...

"We're almost there," I said, changing the subject. A faint glow appeared ahead, signalling the end of the tunnel.

The exit opened into a small clearing behind Alpha Logan's pack house, concealed by dense shrubbery. I pushed aside the branches carefully, scanning the area before stepping out.

Maison emerged behind me, immediately taking out his phone. "I need to alert my father."

"Wait," I said, grabbing his wrist. "I need to know what you're going to tell him."

His eyes narrowed. "The truth. That a rogue infiltrated Mateo's security, tried to abduct you, and mentioned something about royal blood and the Northern Territories."

I swallowed hard. "And what if I told you I have no idea what any of that means?"

"I'd say you're either lying or Uncle Mateo has kept you in the dark for a very long time." His grey eyes studied me intently. "Which is it, Daisy?”

Before I could answer, Luna Mara appeared at the open entrance, “Thank the Goddess you're safe.”

Luna Mara's presence was overwhelming, even from a distance. Alpha Logan's mate carried herself with the effortless authority that came from decades as the pack's Luna. Her silver-streaked dark hair was pulled back in a severe bun, but her eyes—the same piercing grey as Maison's—were wide with concern.

"Mother," Maison acknowledged with a slight bow of his head. "How did you know we were here?"

"A mother always knows when her son is in danger," she replied, but her gaze was fixed on me. "And the pendant... it's active."

I glanced down, startled to find my wolf pendant glowing with a faint blue light. I hadn't even noticed.

"What's happening?" I whispered, fighting the urge to rip it from my neck.

Luna Mara approached slowly, as if afraid I might bolt. "Mateo called. He said there was an incident at the diner." Her eyes flicked to Maison. "Where is the rogue?"

"Dead," Maison answered flatly. "He tried to take Daisy. Said something about her being royal blood from the Northern Territories."

Luna Mara's face paled. "Inside. Both of you. Now."

She turned without waiting for a response, her movements sharp and urgent. Maison followed immediately, but I hesitated, my hand closing around the pendant.

"I could run," I thought, staring at the dense forest beyond the clearing. But to where? And from what?

"Daisy." Maison had paused, looking back at me. For once, there was no contempt in his expression—just something that might almost be concern. "Whatever this is, running won't solve it."

I reluctantly followed them into the pack house. Unlike the public areas where pack gatherings were held, this section was private, reserved for the Alpha family and their closest advisors. I'd never been invited here before.

Luna Mara led us to a study lined with books and maps. Alpha Logan and Uncle Mateo were already there, but their usual easy-going demeanour had vanished, replaced by a tight-lipped grimness.

"Marabelle," Uncle Mateo breathed when he saw me.

I froze. "What did you call me?"

The room fell silent. Alpha Logan moved to stand beside his mate, both of them watching me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

"Sit down, child," Alpha Logan said, gesturing to a chair. "It's time you learned who you really are."

"My name is Daisy," I insisted, remaining standing. "Daisy Louise Harmony Thompson."

Uncle Mateo shook his head. "That's the name we gave you fifteen years ago when we went into hiding. Your real name is Marabelle Daisy Graystone."

The name hit me like a physical blow. Somewhere deep inside, Star stirred in recognition.

"Graystone?" I whispered the name, echoing through my mind like a half-forgotten melody. "As in..."

"The royal family of the Northern Territories," Alpha Logan finished, his voice grave. "The last ruling pack before the Great Division."

My legs suddenly felt weak, and I sank into the chair despite my earlier resistance. "That's impossible. My parents were killed in a car accident when I was three. You told me they were ordinary wolves who got caught in a territory dispute."

Uncle Mateo's weathered face creased with pain. "That was a necessary lie, one of many I've told to keep you safe." He knelt before me, taking my trembling hands in his. "Your parents were King Edward and Queen Isobel Graystone. They weren't killed in an accident—they were assassinated."

The room spun around me. Star howled in anguish inside my mind, a sound of grief and recognition that told me the truth before my conscious mind could accept it.

"The pendant," Luna Mara said softly. "It's the Royal Sigil of the Northern Territories. It glows only in the presence of true Graystone blood."

I looked down at the glowing blue pendant. "But it's never done this before."

"Because it was dormant," Alpha Logan explained. "Mateo used an ancient spell to suppress its power until you came of age."

"Which was supposed to be next month," Uncle Mateo added, shooting Alpha Logan a pointed look. "On your twenty-first birthday."

Maison, who had been silently observing from the corner, finally spoke. "The bounty hunter said, 'dead or alive.' Why would anyone put a bounty on someone who doesn't even know who they are?"

Alpha Logan and Luna Mara exchanged a look that sent chills down my spine.

"Because as the last surviving Graystone," Luna Mara said carefully, "Marabelle is the rightful queen of the Northern Territories."

"And the holder of the deciding vote on the High Council," Alpha Logan added. "The territories have been in limbo for nearly two decades, with various factions fighting for control. If you were to return and claim your birthright..."

"It would upset the balance of power throughout all the wolf kingdoms," Maison finished, understanding dawning on his face. "That's why Nightshade has been so agitated around her. He sensed the royal blood."

I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. "This is insane. I'm not a queen. I'm a drive-through attendant at a burger joint who occasionally has to hide from rogue wolves!"

"A cover we carefully cultivated," Uncle Mateo said. "Hiding you in plain sight, where no one would think to look for royalty."

The pieces were starting to fit together—Uncle Mateo's overprotectiveness, the safe rooms, the weapon training, and the masking spray, among other medications.

“But why am I sensing there is more to all this? There has to have been a reason to kill my family beyond my royal blood and Council issues.” I stated.

“Your brother, Crown Prince Kenneth Arthur Graystone, was about to come of age and take the throne. A Sliver Stone pack that had been negating a pack alliance wanted a marriage argument between you and their heir, Marc Stone. Your father wouldn’t agree; he wanted you to find your true mate, not be forced into a political marriage, so the Silver Stone pack attacked ours.” Mateo replied.

"And my brother? What happened to him?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Uncle Mateo's face darkened. "He was with your parents when the attack happened. We thought everyone had been killed, until I found you, hidden in a secret compartment your mother had built beneath the nursery floor."

A memory flashed through my mind—darkness, the smell of smoke, my mother's tear-stained face as she whispered words I couldn't remember.

"The Silver Stone pack claimed responsibility publicly," Alpha Logan added. "They said it was retribution for broken promises. They've controlled most of the Northern Territories since then, though without a legitimate heir, they've never been able to claim the throne officially."

I touched the pendant again, feeling its warmth against my fingertips. "So, Thomas—"

"Was likely hired by them," Luna Mara finished. "They've been searching for you for years. There have been rumours of a surviving Graystone, but no one knew for certain. Until now."

"Which means we need to move quickly," Maison said, pacing the room with barely contained energy. "If one found her, others will follow."

I looked at him, surprised by his sudden concern. "Why do you care? Over the years, you've made it pretty clear that you don't like me."

Maison stopped pacing, his grey eyes meeting mine. "I didn't trust you. Nightshade sensed something different about you, something powerful that could threaten our pack. But now..."

"Now you know I'm just another political pawn," I said bitterly.

"No," Maison replied firmly. "Now I know you're a queen without a throne, and my father's oldest ally. That changes things."

Alpha Logan nodded gravely. "Our packs have been allies for generations. Your father and I fought side by side in the Border Wars. When he fell, I promised to protect his bloodline if any survived."

The weight of history pressed down on me—a history I knew nothing about, a legacy I never asked for. "What happens now?"

"Not if we do this right," Alpha Logan said. "The Northern Territories have been in chaos for too long. Many would welcome the return of legitimate rule."

"And many wouldn't," I countered.

Luna Mara's expression softened. "This is why we wanted to wait until your twenty-first birthday. The transition would be smoother with proper preparation."

I laughed humourlessly. "Well, sorry to disappoint, but it seems the Silver Stone pack had other plans."

"We still have time," Maison said unexpectedly. "No one else knows for sure that you are really alive. But if they’re still hoping for the political marriage, however, it might be easier if we find your mate.”

I stared at Maison in disbelief. "My mate? You think finding my mate will solve this political nightmare?"