The Alpha’s Wild Princess

4

“What?” I asked.

“I can’t leave unless you dismiss me, Alpha.” His tone was solemn and deferential. I realized he was right. Even though Douglas was like a father to me, I was now the Alpha and would command respect even from the oldest within the pack.

"You're dismissed," I said and he nodded once before walking out of the study to join the other elders. I got up to my feet and walked toward the massive painting on the wall above the fireplace. It was a painting of Alexander, his golden-haired son, and his dark-haired daughter. It was clear whoever had painted it had done so hurriedly because I could not help but stare closely at Prairie's features. I'd only seen her for a few minutes, but it looked nothing like her.

Her features were not as severe, and her eyes were a cerulean shade of blue. Not a light blue or gray-blue, but a deeper shade than anything I'd ever seen with light flecks when the sun flashed into them.

She was hauntingly beautiful, even when she was trying to kill some of my best men. I hated that I'd taken notice, but it was impossible not to. Her dark hair hung low and full down her back, and her pale complexion gave her a ghost-like appearance. I needed to figure out how to get rid of her as soon as possible or there would be no doubt that she was bound to mess with my head.

I stepped out of the study forcing thoughts of her out of my head, but the second I left, a guard rushed towards me from the west wing panic on his face,

“What is it?” I asked before he spoke.

“It’s the Princess.”

Before he could say more, I was making my way toward the room she was being kept in as fast as I'd ever moved. I heard the guard walking close behind, but I didn't pay him any more attention, afraid that she might have hurt herself before we could decide on what her fate would be (or that was what I told myself).

Ryland Score was in the corner with another Were, a guard. And there was blood on his shirt, dripping from his face, or was that his ear? Ryland was helping to stave the blood, and they were both growling at the closed door.

"What the f**k is going on here?" I asked no one in particular. Ryland came to me first, hands still covered in blood,

“Who the hell is inside that room, a rabid animal? She attacked Cole and growls at anyone who attempts to open the door.”

“It’s Lonsdale’s daughter, why did she attack you?” I snapped at the guard who whimpered in response, his eyes full of guilt. When he said nothing, I knew instantly he had probably done something to warrant the attack.

Ignoring Ryland and the other two men, I opened the door and walked in, closing it behind me. She was on the bed, and unlike what Ryland had just said, she did not growl. When she turned to me, the first thing I noted was the wild look in her eyes, and the next was that her fingers were bloodstained.

"Tell your men to keep their f*****g hands to themselves, or I'll cut them off." She said the words so calmly I almost found it hard to believe that she was the same person who had attacked another Were only moments ago.

"My men touched you," I asked, anger bubbling inside me. As I closed the distance between us, I expected her to move away, but she stood her ground, her chin rising in defiance, but she didn't say anything in response to my question.

It annoyed me how unrepentant she was. Her family had just been defeated, but there was no molecule of surrender in her posture. She looked like she would not hesitate to tear my head from my body if she could, and for the life of me, I found that admirable.

"Did he touch you?" I asked again, my words pointed. She blinked once and then looked away before she answered,

“He came with food, and I was laying down on the bed, but I felt his hands on my waist, lifting my dress.”

I growled without thinking, and she looked up at me, eyes wide,

"My sentiments exactly," she said, and it felt like we'd agreed on something. Our eyes held longer than a few moments until a loud knock on the door broke it off.

“It won’t happen again,” I said before walking out.

Ryland was at the door, and Douglas was there waiting too, "The elders are waiting," Douglas said.

Glancing at the bleeding Were, he looked away, and I could smell his guilt from a mile away,

"Take him away. I'll deal with him later," I said to Ryland, who looked like he wanted to say more but decided against it before taking the man away. The second guard remained at the door and I walked away with Douglas in tow.

The elders, all thirteen of them, including Douglas, were waiting impatiently in the lobby. Their murmurs quieted when I walked in. They were the heads of the biggest families in the pack, and they reported to the Alpha on the state of matters within the pack.

They had served Lonsdale, and a few of them were still loyal to him. I could tell who they were, but they were wise enough not to step out of line. However, there was no doubt they could start a rebellion if given the chance.

I took my seat at the head of the round table, and I stared at all thirteen of them. A few looked away, while others met my gaze and held it. I could tell which ones had submitted to me as their Alpha and those that were still holding onto the old leadership.

"Douglas should not be here, he is not a member of the elder Council," said Magnimus. The same man who had agreed to stand with me at the reservation was pointing an accusing finger at Douglas and a few of the elders seemed to concur.

"Douglas will be my chief adviser going forward, and anyone who has an issue with that will take it up with me," I announced, making my first appointment as Alpha. I didn't miss the shock on Magnimus' face. I knew he had been the last adviser to Alexander, and had probably expected to be mine as well.

Murmurs of 'yes, Alpha' came from the rest of the elders, and when I glanced at Magnimus, he looked like he wanted to say more but managed to refrain and nodded as well..

“Good,” I said, ending the matter.

“Now, I called you all here to discuss the pressing matter of Alexander’s daughter. I don’t know how y’all did things in the past, but I would like your input on the matter before I make my decision.”

There was a short pause, and I didn't miss the knowing looks a few of them gave to each other before Magnimus spoke on their behalf.

“We have spoken about the matter, Alpha, and we think it would be better, as a matter of diplomacy, for you to marry the girl.”

Their words seemed to fly over my head until I realized just what they were asking of me. Another elder, Sebastian, from one of the wealthiest families, and a distant relative of the late Alpha spoke next,

“You say that you want to unite the pack and broker peace. Killing Prairie, or banishing her, does not come across as very peaceful.”