The Midnight Prince

Into the Wild

(Drago)

Birds chirp above me in the branches of the pine trees I’ve made my bed between. The earth is soft and cool under the shade, and the trees keep me well hidden from any prey that might wander by. My nose twitches to assess my surroundings seeing what’s changed since I fell asleep. Mud, pine needles, bird poop and hatchling sparrows swirl around my nostrils. My stomach growls and I rise slowly, stretching out the long, ebony legs that have carried me so far into the wilderness. The mountain range that cups the north, east and west of our territory are difficult to climb, so I’ve just been lolling along the bottom of them for several days now, pushing deeper into parts of the state that rarely go explored. It’s peaceful here, a nice simple life away from the stress and drama of royal life. Away from Slate and Kaylee.

Shaking off my sleep and the leaves stuck in my fur, I start a slow trot down the path I came up on and follow the Caribou trail along the tree line. It’s calving season, which means the mothers will be extra protective and observant. I won’t be able to sneak up on one, not that it matters much. I’m a monstrous freak to the animals in the forest, surpassing even the biggest timber wolves.

I won’t be hunting their precious calves anyway. I want a challenge.

Their smell gets stronger and old hoof prints in the dirt get deeper, indicting they’re fresh. Still warm droppings are scattered along the path. Excitement buzzes in my ears and my pace quickens.

A caribou calls out in the distance, and I start loping up the hillside so that I can come down on them, and the mountain above prevents the wind from carrying my scent over to them. The small herd comes into view; roughly two dozen cows and their calves and several bucks, the largest one at the head of the group. He will be my meal.

I settle into the brush and watch them, building a plan inside my head for how I want to attack.

Something to my left catches my eye. Turning my head, I catch a glimpse of an orange blur dart behind a tree only several yards off, how could I have let it get so close undetected? A low growl rumbles in my chest, warning whatever it is that there’s a predator lying in wait for a meal. A scrawny wolf comes belly crawling out of the brush towards me. It’s Shae, Chance’s wolf. Even in wolf form, the poor thing can’t escape her flaming hair. Shae’s fur is some of the most unique I’ve ever seen. Covering her entire top half of her body is ginger colored blanket with a darker red saddle across her back. Her underbelly and legs are blonde. Nearly the same shade as the pine trees around us, green-gray eyes offer only submission. Looks like I wasn’t able to sneak up on our great Alpha after all. Shae jokes and comes to lay beside me and watch the caribou. Which one are we hunting? She pants with eagerness.

We are not hunting anything. You are going home. I came out here to be alone. I reply gruffly. How did you even find me?

If wolves could roll their eyes, that’s what she’d be doing now. You’re not as smart as you think you are, I just followed the curve of the mountains. You wouldn’t hide out in the valley where we patrol and hunt, you’d get as far away as possible. But even werewolves can’t fly, so I knew you’d be right along the edge. Didn’t take long to pick up your scent then.

Flint seems impressed by his sister’s intelligence. I, however, find it infuriating. The caribou seem completely unaware at our presence along the ridge. How is everything at home?

Shae shifts her weight. Mom’s been a mess, worrying about you. She wants to talk to you.

I snort, blowing out hot air in annoyance. Yeah, she wants to convince me that Kaylee and Slate deserve to be happy and I should just accept that without banishing them. Flint’s anger begins to intertwine with mine. She cheated, with Slate. She chose my baby brother over us. If that’s not treason, I don’t know what is.

There’s a moment of uncomfortable silence before Shae speaks again. Are you going to banish them?

I sigh, wishing I knew what the right thing to say was. Why are you here?

I was sent to give you a message from Naana, she said there’s an important task she needs you for and to come home now.

This peaks my interest. My appetite has withered away with the mention of Kaylee anyway. I suppose it is time to return to the world and face what comes next.

Have Slate and Kaylee made it official in my absence? It wouldn’t surprise me, seems like they were already fawning over each other before I was even out of the picture.

Shae tilts her head as if to shrug. I wouldn’t know, I won’t talk to Slate, or Kaylee. I think they’re both major assholes for what they did.

I leave the topic alone, not wanting to upset Flint any further.

Slightly disappointed that we won’t get to hunt a buck today, the both of us begin our track down the hillside and into the valley below. Shae keeps to my left flank, following me loyally home. An idea for later pops into my head. I might know a subtle way for my revenge.

(Flint)

The trek home took nearly a day, we didn’t reach my home until very early the following morning, just as the sun was stretching above the mountains.

Shae went home and left me to enter my house alone. Taking a long breath, I begin counting the steps it takes to reach the front door. Typing the pin in, I let the large oak door swing open and step inside. It smells different now, lacking the harmonious perfumes that once danced about the air. A deep ache throbs in my chest. I will never hold my girl again. She is gone to me forever. My house will never feel like a home without Kaylee.

Shaking off the disgusting self pity, I move to the table where I had left my cell phone. Turning it on, the screen lights up with missed calls, emails, and text messages. Most of them are work related. Twenty-seven messages are from my mom.

Flint, where are you? Call me.

Hey Honey, Anaana just told me that you were going out to the woods to think. Call me when you get home. Love you.

I know you don’t have your phone but you’re my son and I just wanted to let you know I love you and miss you like crazy.

Flint it’s been days now without a word. The patrols haven’t even seen you. I’d hope if you were planning on fleeing the country you’d at least tell me first. Call me when you get home. Love you.

Hey baby boy, just missing you and wanted to say I love you.

The list goes on, each message carrying the same theme. I do feel bad for disappearing. I was kidnapped when I was a kid, so she worries a lot about me and tends to stick to my side a little more than the others. Hey mom. I’m home. Please don’t blow up my phone or freak out. I will call you later once I’m done settling back in. Love you. I press send and immediately get a text back.

Okay, please call soon or I will have to hunt you down and embarrass you.

I chuckle to myself and flip through my emails and texts. None are from Slate or Kaylee. I’m not sure if I’m upset or relieved.

Searching for clothes to wear was another difficult hurdle to overcome. The closet is eerily empty without all of Kaylee’s stuff hanging inside and shoes strewn throughout the floor. I push the thought out of my mind and continue through the motions of getting ready.

Once clean and in a black button up and slacks, I get into my car and drive to the Crest. I’m greeted by Mia, my mother’s secretary, who offers to escort me up to Anaana’s office but I decline.

87, 88, 89 I mumble to myself with every step towards her door.

I let it swing open and come inside, finding Na sitting at her desk typing away. Her fingers pause over the keys as she sees me for the first time in a week. “Flint, I’m so happy you’re home. How was your trip?” She comes to where I’m standing and wraps me in an awkward hug.

“It was alright. Chance said we had something we needed to talk about?”

“Yes, there’s been an incident with the Shawnee Pack in southern Illinois. They’ve had multiple incidents with rogues burning their crops and affecting their way of life. The Shawnee are hard working, honest people and don’t normally ask for help from us. They’ve suggested the presence of royal wolves would frighten their intruders away. So, I’m going to send you and a handful of others down there for the rest of summer to get this sorted for them.”

I plop down onto her office couch and look out the window, admiring the view from here. The mountains are still snow covered, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them without their shimmering white blanket, and I probably never will. It’s too cold at that altitude for anything to melt.

“So I’m supposed to spend six weeks in Hicksville USA? And who is going with me?” Conflicting thought rattles. On one hand, I do not want to spend my summer off in some random pack hunting down redneck rogues that like to play with fire- but on the other hand it would be nice to stay away from the messy situation with Kaylee and Slate for a tad longer. They’re still sweating about if you’re going to banish them or not too. If we go then they have to sit with that fear for the entire summer. Drago purrs, clearly pleased with the thought.

“Normally the Beta goes with but I’m not quite sure what you want to do about that yet…” Naa trails off, leaving it for me to decide. Slate has always been my Beta. We decided that from the moment we knew what it meant. A Beta stands at an Alpha’s flank, watching his back and helping him make decisions. He is sworn to protect his Alpha no matter what. Slate is a bullshit excuse for a Beta now, he couldn’t even protect me from his self.

An idea from earlier pops into my head and I decide to try it out. “I want Chance to go in his place.”