Chapter Two: We're Going To Earth

Claire Dean stood outside the building, with rain splattering on her. Dave had just won again, but she was frustrated that she couldn't fully transform until she was 18. Dave was her age mate, but two months older. She couldn't help but admire the effect of his transformation.

"You'll get better soon, my lady," Dave said, bowing and handing her his dagger. She looked at it and threw it away, stomping inside the building and heading to her dad's throne room.

Claire was the only daughter of the Alpha, and the building was surprisingly different from what one would expect. It was cold, with a cave-like structure and past heroes and stories imprinted on its walls. For generations, they had hidden outside the four walls of Shadowbrook. After a human interrupted their existence, they closed all portals that could make the humans easily trace them.

As she walked into the throne room, she saw her father and other werewolves bickering about things that mattered to them. Sensing her presence, they all excused themselves as her father turned to her. Claire wondered how such a beautiful man could be the Alpha, and her father refused to tell her anything about how he ended up there.

"Dad? I'm tired of waiting until I'm 18. Do you have anything else to keep me occupied in the meantime?" Claire asked, grabbing a chair to sit on. Besides being entirely a werewolf, she had powers too, something her father had kept a secret from the pack for a while.

"Someone's in a rush," her father said, smiling at her.

"This is not a joke. Is there any way to end this? I'm getting jealous of Dave," Claire said, crossing her legs.

"Enjoy this stage, because the wolf you're becoming would bore you out," her father said, suddenly appearing behind her, causing her to shudder in surprise.

"You know this wouldn't have happened if you married a wolf instead," Claire said, standing up and walking towards the chess set.

"Selene, I've missed her," her father said, smiling.

Claire looked at him with uninterested arched eyebrows. She only saw her mom through the veiled mirror, and no doubt, she was excessively pretty. Her father said he went on a mission years back and amid that mission, he met her mom. Claire was the result of their lovemaking. However, when her mom discovered who he was, she ended the affair. Not long after discovering that she was pregnant with Claire, her mom hid her from him and three months after she was born, Claire began manifesting her witch self. Afraid that her identity would be exposed, her mother gave her up to her father to raise and hide her identity from the world.

"You know that I can't do anything about it. Be patient, my dear," her father said, knocking down the Queen on the chessboard.

"Dad!" Claire yelled. He had just ruined the game she was playing by herself.

"How about you explore yourself and your last days being a half-human?" her father said, walking back to his throne.

"No, thank you. I'll pass," Claire said, noticing that the rain was hitting the ceiling vigorously, making her wonder if Mother Nature was in a brawl or something.

"Choose from amongst my men to be your guide," her father said.

"I'll stick to Dave. He's more my size," Claire said.

"Good choice," her father said, closing his eyes, and Dave walked in.

"My Lord, you called me?" Dave said, bowing.

"From this moment forward, you are responsible for the safety of the princess. Should any harm come to her, I shall hold you accountable. Keep her secure," he ordered.

"Understood, master. I shall do my utmost," the servant replied, bowing once again. "Is she just a child who requires protection?" he wondered to himself.

"Dad, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself," the princess retorted, rolling her eyes as she spoke to her father.

"Is that so? Then how did you fail to notice that your dagger was missing?" he questioned, pointing out that he had taken it from her.

"How did you... when did you..." she stammered.

"Cloning," he declared. While her father had some trace of powers, they were not as potent as hers. She was truly special, and he intended to keep her to fight in his army and potentially marry a wealthy duke to lead the pack after he was gone. However, that was not what she wanted for herself.

"Cloning... what is that?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, cloning. I duplicated it without your knowledge and took your dagger without you noticing. Is this how you intend to protect yourself?" he teased.

"Argh!" she yelled in frustration, storming out of the room.

"Daddy loves you!" he called after her, but she pretended not to hear.

"Damn those laws," she muttered, entering her room and kicking the door shut.

As she lay on her bed, she sensed a presence nearby.

"Dave, I want to be alone now," she said, gesturing for him to leave.

"But, Mistress, your father instructed me to be on guard for you at all times," Dave's voice echoed in the room.

"I will only say this once, so you had better listen carefully. Leave my room immediately," she ordered her voice barely above a whisper.

"But..." he began.

"No buts," she interrupted, sighing as he left.

"I am so angry," she thought to herself.

Walking to her window, which offered a perfect view of her father's kingdom, she contemplated the human world. She had spent a lot of time studying humans and had concluded that they were a confused and selfish group of people.

They lived knowing that they would die and be loved at the risk of being abandoned. She wondered how one could truly know who had their back in such a place. Was this the kind of place her father wanted her to visit and have fun? It felt like a battlefield to her.

Soon, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," she said, turning to see two housekeepers. One held some jewels, and the other held a beautiful robe.

"What is the occasion?" she asked.

"Your father, my Lord, has requested that we dress you for your assignment," the red-haired girl replied, looking to her companion for confirmation.

"Assignment? What assignment?" she asked, beginning to feel confused.

"Your visit to the training grounds," the girl answered. Was her father serious about this?

"Argh!" she yelled in annoyance.

"Don't just stand there, get me dressed, you fools!" she cursed, as they quickly got her ready.

"On your way out, please ask for Dave," she instructed them as they left.

"We are going to Earth. Let's go," she told Dave as he entered the room.

"What? But that is dangerous, my lady," he protested, but she shot him a glare, and he sighed, opening the portal as they walked through it