Turning Tables on the Princess

“Which is the only thing I want.” He finished.It was his vow that he’d have me that set me with determination.He will not. My face hardened. Making me seem far sterner than I usually was.I’m leaving this damn place before he has the chance.I knew enough about Alaric to feel intimidated and to know he didn’t bluff. He meant what he said.Then tonight, just as dark was beginning to fall, the camp exploded in chaos.Draven and Alaric returned from a hunt with Edrick on a makeshift gurney. Bleeding everywhere.Fury, Edrick’s Beta, jogged from his hut and swore at the sight of the Alpha. “I told him I needed to go with you boys. Damn him!”Fury followed them into Rebekah’s hut.It was one of the only times I ever knew of, that The Healer let males beyond her threshold.Despite all of Rebekah, efforts, Edrick was soon dead.Our Alpha was dead.Killed by the Alpha of the NightHunters and his son.Edrick had managed to slaughter the Alpha but only to scar the adult son.The camp was awhir

I looked over my pale shoulder and through the strands of my straight blonde hair, watching the silvery wolf emerge from the trees so close behind me. Loping through the grass. I forced my legs to go faster. Carrying me at a nearly inhuman pace that should’ve lent a clue as to what I really was.If anyone knew anything. I was counting on the fact that they were simple humans who did not.Most wolves abhorred the company of humans. Knowing they were more powerful, faster and more animalistic, they tended to keep their distance.Which also keeps them from hunting us as zealously as the mages do.The wolf behind me was cutting the distance.Heading for me.He leapt and his teeth barely missed strands of my knee length hair as he tried to catch it without taking out my legs entirely.Trying not to hurt me at least. I could appreciate that.He could’ve torn my leg out from under me and injured me.But he wants me for a mate. And doesn’t want me broken.At least not until he’s done with me.

It was a normal morning. I rose and my maid tended me in my morning rituals. Brushing my hair until it was a soft yellow halo framing my face. She then plaited it. Weaving in some shining white pearls. Next, she dusted my lips with a bit of rouge to freshen my face.She pulled a sky blue dress of fine silk over my head and helped gather my hair from beneath it. Tightening the laces until I felt I couldn’t breathe. Then helping me into the matching slippers.The fire was still needed to warm my room because though the sun was up, it was a moggy, damp morning. And the castle seemed to encourage the dampness to cling. Building the chill.I grabbed a gold silk wrap with tassels on the edges and pulled it around my shoulders. Emerging from my room with a purposeful walk.I’m starved. I had every intention of heading straight to the Dining Hall to retrieve some breakfast when I was stopped in my tracks.A knight was passing me in the corridor. He wore full armor, but his helmet was tucked u

Alaric.Asking me how long I’d thought I could hide from him.A lot longer than I had, it appeared.“What do you want?” I lurched off the wall but met his solid chest. He had me caged in such a way, he was inescapable. His breath warm next to me. Still tainted with the hint of some wine.And far too close.“I’ll call for my Guards.” I gave him a hard shove but found his body utterly unrelenting. I tried to twist away but he caught my elbows and held me to him.“Do you think any of them would hear you before I silenced you?”Silenced? Killed or knocked me unconscious?As far as his question, no.He’s far too fast.“What do you want, Alaric?” I said acidly. Working hard to hide the fact that he had me trembling so hard that I felt like my legs would give out.“You know what I want.” His yellow eyes slid down my face and neck to the low cut of my dress. “You ran away because you knew.”“No.” I denied. A bit too quickly. “I didn’t want to be claimed by wolves.”He frowned and gave me a si

Things changed the day that I was eating in the banquet room.I’d settled down to some eggs and steaming linked, sausage for breakfast. The Dining Hall was relatively empty.As it usually is when I come to breakfast. It seemed I was generally the only early riser. Which was why I did it so often. I liked the peace of being the only one in this great hall, save for the guards near the mantle and door and a sprinkling of servants cleaning, I was the only occupant.I sawed at the bit of sausage with my knife and took a delicate bite. Savoring the spicy, tangy flavor.Nearly oblivious to the presence of the servants working diligently around the room. A man feeding logs into the fire and a few maids dusting. A servant stoking the fire, threw in the last log a bit carelessly. Which was what first drew my attention to him.Servants are not usually so careless for fear of reprisal. My blue gaze flitted over to him in time to see him spinning round and leaping into a full tilt run. Nearing