Princess and her Rogue Twins

Camila One after another, the jeweller keeps showing me engagement jewellery, but I am not really interested. The reason? I don't know much, just...I feel like I have withdrawn from life. I rest my head on the back of the sofa and stare at the ceiling while Mom continues to negotiate over the price of a diamond necklace she has selected. Preparing for an engagement is more work than I thought. It's exhausting. But all's well that ends well. The only thing that I love about it is how the whole pack has been roaring with life as of late, thanks to their princess getting engaged. Otherwise, the bleary clouds of war kept hanging over our pack. Not just ours, but others as well, because of the hatred between werewolves and rogues. I am not saying it's unjustified, considering how cruel rogues are, but unnecessary bloodshed is always wrong. And so is excessive hatred. On cue, I glance at the young, frail girl walking timidly towards me with a tray full of cups of coffee. She is wearing a muzzle on her face, her arms are fully sleeved with gloves covering her hands, and her feet are covered under her dull black gown. It's because she is a rogue we have captured. She isn't the only one. Several rogues move like ghosts within our pack, just like shadows, because that is what we have decided their purpose is. To lick our shoes and always stay beneath us, cowering in fear. Day and night, they suffer the horrors of their lives within our pack walls, bearing the brunt of what their people in the higher positions do. Many packs have replaced their omegas with them, following us. It's pitiful, honestly. I don't like such excessive forms of abuse, but I am the princess of the NorthStar pack, the strongest of all. I can never tell my true thoughts to anyone. I pick up my cup of coffee from the tray and, just before she can move over to Mom, her hands start shaking terribly and slowly the tray slips, shattering every cup that was on it. Crash The loud smashing sound drowns the whole room in silence, and within seconds, Mom's fierce glare sends her falling on the ground. Her knees succumb to these very broken cups as she starts pleading for her life. "I am sorry, your supreme highness. I am so sorry!" She begs, terrified, causing me to frown. I don't like this at all. I shut my eyes, not wanting to be in this place for any second longer. The dress around her knees has been soaked with her blood. Her arms have also gotten tiny cuts because of the glass shards. This is terrible. She is begging repeatedly until Mom's snarl shuts her up. "Do you even realise what you have done, wench!?" She growls, making it worse. "Your disgraceful self dares to bring a bad omen to my precious child's life? HOW DARE YOU!?" She yells. Shivers run down my spine because of how angry she is. She orders two omegas who serve her closely to hold the rogue girl's arms. They act upon her orders immediately and lift her from the ground. Without wasting a second, Mom steps forward and slaps her face harshly. Her pointed nail scratches the girl's left cheek, bringing tears to her eyes. Fresh blood drips from her face, making me nauseous. I clench my fist, forced to watch all of this unfold. I want Mom to stop, but I don't know how to say it. She lifts her hand for another slap, but thankfully, someone knocks on the door, drawing all our attention away. I turn around, and see it's Jeff, Dad's secretary. I quickly hold Mom's hand and whisper. "Stop punishing this girl now. Jeff is here. Send her away." She is still bristling with anger, but decides to heed my advice. She waves her hand at the omegas with contempt and tells me to go first. Discipling rogues in broad daylight isn't a shameful act as it should be, but still, for appearances' sake, Mom decided to follow my advice. I watch her order more servants to clear the room from the corner of my eye. I am sure her head must be aching right now. She is going to appease the jeweller now, asking him to forget everything, which he will without the need to be asked, since it's an opportunity to do business with the Luna of the NorthStar pack for her eldest daughter's engagement. Mom isn't a cruel person by nature, but as a ruler, she has seen and known much more than I have. So she doesn't have thoughts of pitying rogues like me, but she is less harsh than Dad. Anyway, the current crisis has been handled. I don a polite smile as I walk towards the door to attend to Jeff. He beams at me, and I motion for him to follow me to the sitting room, adjacent to the living room, where we were picking out the jewellery. "Hello, Jeff. What brings you to our ladies' party?" I question, sitting on the sofa opposite him. He laughs. "I should apologise first because I am here to take away the main attraction of your party, princess." He says playfully. I raise one of my eyebrows, urging him to continue. "Alpha has called for you, princess. He has something to show you." "Right now?" He nods, and here we are. In my dad's office. I didn't expect him to call me during the day. "Dad, you called?" I ask He looks up from his laptop and smiles. "You are here, dear. Come, sit." He gestures towards the small sofa in the corner of his room. I follow him there, and together we sit side by side. What is going on? It is scaring me a bit for some reason. I glance at Jeff, but he is busy beaming at both of us. Couldn't he have given me some hint beforehand? What does Dad want to show me? "Mila, dear." Dad calls my name in his deep, affectionate voice. I grow alert and look at him. "Now that you will be moving to another pack after your wedding with Joshua, as your father, I will be constantly worried about you day and night." He says somberly. His worry for me reflects in his eyes, touching me somewhere deeply. "That's why I have decided to assign you a personal bodyguard," He says. My eyes widen a little. "Why, all of a sudden? Aren't you going to already send a significant piece of warriors with me?" I question hesitatingly. He nods, "Yes, I will, but I believe that you will also need a personal bodyguard because of how uncertain our pack's current situation is, someone who will stay as your shadow. A tamed shadow, and I have a perfect man for that." He glances at Jeff when he finishes. Jeff starts moving right away and opens the door to another room that is connected to Dad's office, which he uses for important meetings and drags a man out of it. He is similar to the rogue girl from the living room earlier.... no, to every rogue that wanders in this pack. He has a muzzle on his face, but that's it. He is wearing a tailored black suit, and his overall appearance is tidy, but is that the only thing I notice? No. I gaze at how well the tailored suit fits his body, hugging him perfectly from everywhere, but his eyes....his piercing grey eyes are rather unsettling. They are like a blade themselves, and the way he is staring at me gives rise to goosebumps on my skin. "This is Rowan, a rogue." Dad introduces him. "He will be your personal bodyguard. I have personally trained him," He continues proudly, and leans in, placing a warm hand on my shoulder. "You may treat him as you want. He won't be able to do anything because I have completely tamed him," He murmurs. A knot forms in my stomach after listening to my dad. By completely taming him, he means he has broken him, but I maintain my composure. "He will start serving you from today. Everywhere you go, he will be there with you, but don't worry, he won't bother you." Dad explains his functions, but I can't hear a word because I can't look away from his eyes, not because they are mesmerising. They are haunting, and the way the air has chilled after he stepped into the room is also affecting me. I don't want a personal bodyguard, and I definitely don't want him. "Then, I wish you the best, dear." Dad kisses my forehead. I manage to smile a little. "Just remember that I am always here for you, Mila." He smiles, and I try mimicking one just like his before he lets me go, but not alone. Rowan is following me like baggage I never asked for. It's uncomfortable and disturbing. I wanted to stay away from rogues, but now dad has dropped just one in my lap—a six-foot-tall, rugged, dangerous man who smells of ash and iron. A very peculiarly strong steely scent, just like his eyes. I am occupied by my thoughts when suddenly a strong arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back. Against a strong, rock-solid chest. "Careful, princess." A gravelly, low, even voice mutters in my ear, causing me to gasp. My hands fly to the arm holding me captive as the bustling sound of the people, drifting through the open window, right in front of me, hurries around the packhouse, filling our surroundings, along with the fast beating of my heart. "There's a window in front of you."