The Imprisoned Princess

Wade

I’m brushing Adelaide’s luscious brown locks. She broke her arm two days ago training for the first time. I nearly tore the head off of the warrior. Normally she should be pretty much healed by now according to Xander... but she fell up the stairs and re-broke the healing bone. So here I am being the best mate in the whole world, helping her get dressed... I’m not complaining. “There you go, darling.” I kiss her temple gently.

“Thank you,” she says in her small childlike voice.

I miss her strong confident voice, I miss the fire that usually burns inside her. I remind myself though that I just need to be patient. I’m coming to the end of my month here though. I need to go back to my pack and I want to take her with me... but I can’t while she’s still like this. I have no idea how I’m going to break it to her I’m leaving. She’s grown to rely on me the last few weeks.

I get her sat at the table to eat breakfast. Marc walks in rubbing his head “Morning,” he grumbles, we’ve become somewhat friends over the last three weeks, I trust him now, and I think he trusts me. We definitely got off on the wrong foot first anyway. “Morning, can I ask you something?” I gesture to the hall, he nods and turns back around “Marc, what did Adelaide use to do for fun. Like before everything?” he screwed his face up in thought.

“I think she thought she did this in secret,” he lets out a small laugh. “But midnight feasts with Jesse, they’d hall up in her room after raiding every cupboard and watch movies,” came his reply, I smile

“Thanks man, I just think she needs to do something that was normal for her,” and midnight snacks with movies with her best friend is something I can set up for her.

“Good idea, you still planning on leaving?” I rub the back of my neck at the question,

“I have to. My pack can’t be run by Trey forever,” My voice comes out strained, I don’t really want to leave. “What if there’s an alternative?” I look at him questioningly, what could possibly be an alternative? The only thing I’ve thought of is moving my pack closer, even then, Adelaide needs her family. “Well,” Marc starts, “I need a Beta when I’m crowned. And... well, I wanted to ask you.” Marc shrugged like it was no big deal.

“That’s generous Marc... but I don’t know. I have a pack and I’m an Alpha... two Alpha males? Won’t that cause conflict with us?”

“Don’t disregard it quickly. Think about it,” I nod. I will think about it, but it’s a bit of a step down going from Alpha to Beta, even if it is Royal Beta. And what would happen to my pack?

By the time I get back into the private sitting room Adelaide has finished her breakfast and looking around lost. A small sigh escapes my lips as I get into her eye line. She relaxes and takes her bowl to the sink. She does things independently but it’s like she needs reassurance. I don’t even say anything or gesture, but if she sees me she knows what to do again. I rub under my eyes “What’s wrong?” her small voice is in front of me

“I’m fine,” I smile as she presses her forehead against my chest.

I gently wrap my arms around her “Dels,”

“Mhm.”

“Do you remember what the man looked like that hurt you?” She instantly stiffened like she does every time I asked. I hum in my chest which relaxes her again as she leans further into my chest I breathe in her scent that I’ve grown accustomed to. “You know he won’t breathe another day as soon as I know.” What she says next stops me in my tracks.

“But you’ll leave.” I stare down at her as she’s pressed herself so forcefully into me her voice is barely audible. I doubt a human would have heard. “Why would I leave?”

“You’ll leave to kill him, I don’t want you to leave.” I push her gently away so I can look into her sad golden eyes that no longer glow.

I gently rub my nose against hers, “I’ll get someone to bring him here. You won’t have to see him, but I won’t be going anywhere.” She looks like she’s deep in thought, her forehead creasing then relaxing as she works something out in her head. “He has a scar,” she whispers.

“Where?” She reaches a finger to my face and traces from the bridge of my nose to my cheekbone. I kiss her fingertip “Well done.” Goddess, I want to kiss her, but I’ve refrained from anything but forehead and cheek kisses. I don’t think she’s ready for physical intimacy yet.

I settle for the next best thing and pull her into my chest so I can protect her from the world. And for the first time, she slips her hands around my waist. My heart flutters at her reciprocating the hug, I feel her tighten her grip, her nails digging into my back. “I know who it is my darling, he’ll pay.” She nods against my chest

“I want to see him.” I push her away from me a little too forcibly

“No, you don’t need to do that to yourself.” I see a flash of fear pass in her eyes,

“I need to.” Goddess, I want to cry how damn cute she is.

“We’ll talk about it when he gets here.” I cup her cheeks and kiss her forehead gently.

“Wade.”

“Yeah, baby?”

“I don’t want to be scared anymore.” And before I know what’s happened her lips are on mine. They mold perfectly against my lips, they’re like the jigsaw piece I’ve been missing my whole life. My eyes are wide for a split second in shock before I gently wrap my arms around her waist pulling her closer. Her arms wrap around my neck and I allow her to deepen the kiss. My wolf is somersaulting in my head, then he’s scratching to get out. I push him back I can’t lose control of this. She needs gentle, not lusty amorous wolf. Who I may add, has been wanting to pounce on her since I got here.

My hands roam slightly down and my fingertips graze her perfectly round backside. She gasps allowing me to slowly slip my tongue in her mouth. Oh, she tastes AMAZING. I can’t help but let a moan escape at the taste of her mouth, she’s perfect in every way. I never want to let her go, I never want this kiss to end. But it does as she yanks on my hair, I let out a hiss at the sudden pain, but then that turns into a quiet moan as she trails her lips along my jaw. Her fingers still laced in my hair forcing my neck to the side. “Dels,” I gasp trying to warn her but she continues her trail of kisses, as she’s now going down my neck.

I grit my teeth it feels amazing but my wolf is threatening to break out, I can’t let him, he’ll ravish her which I don’t think she’s ready for. “Adelaide, not now.” I can feel her teeth against my shoulder I want her to, but I know she’s getting caught up. She hasn’t listened and is continuing to suck, lick, kiss, and graze her teeth against my skin. “Stop,” I push her gently away, I can see the tiny difference in her eyes, she’s panting and that wasn’t her. She blinks a few times and a small amount of anger seems to burn.

I wait while she obviously has an argument with her wolf, she argues with her a lot. I think it’s adorable, her little face concentrates and she usually shows some anger, and then just like now, she blinks and looks at me. “Sorry,” she’s still a little breathless.

“It’s OK, I just didn’t want you to regret it.”

“Thank you,” her voice the strongest it’s been in weeks. I smile down to her. I can’t help it, I swoop down and peck her lips. “I’ve got some things to do today, but do you fancy spending some time with Jesse tonight?”

“Yeah... I um... I need to see the doctor. I think my arm feels OK.”

“Good, well you go get that cast off, then do whatever you want. Remember you’re the princess you can do anything." She nods. I know she won’t do anything though, she’ll come back here and just... wait.

We part ways, I head towards Xander’s office, her towards the infirmary. I walk straight past Rose the receptionist with red hair, she barely even looks up as she’s used to me now. I give a customary knock before walking straight into his circular office. “Hello Wade,” he smiles up from the paperwork he’s filling in. “Morning, mind if I use the phone?” He waves his hand gesturing to go ahead.

“Trey?”

“Wade, how you doing?”

“It’s doing. Look I need James to come here, royal appointment. The King has requested him personally from my recommendation.” I see Xander glance to me his eyebrow slightly raised. I ignore him. “Err, well yeah obviously that’s fine. Does the King want anybody else?”

“No, just him.” I can’t tell Trey why, he’ll kill him on the spot. I trust Trey, but not when it comes to the person who hurt Adelaide so terribly. I catch up with what’s happened the past week since I last rang, then we bid each other see you laters.

Xander looks up when I put the phone down “Can I ask what that was about?”

“Adelaide told me who hurt her. Well, she described him.”

Xander sucks in a sharp breath, “And his name’s James.”

I nod “He has a scar.” I trace where Adelaide’s fingers traced over my face. Xander’s face darkens in rage instantly. I knew he knew him. He was one of the wolves who left Xander to be in dad’s pack.

Xander’s knuckles turn white as he grips the edge of his desk. “He’ll pay Xander,” I say gently, not wanting him to lash out.

“He was one of my best men,” he growled through gritted teeth

“I know.”

“He was in my family wing with my children!” he roared making me cower. His roar vibrating my own chest. I barely registered someone who came in until I saw Queen Elsbeth on the King’s lap. She was saying soothing words, pushing his head into her neck and stroking his face when I finally took it in.

After a few minutes, he calmed. Elsbeth gave me a small knowing smile as she slid off Xander’s lap “Sorry,” Xander muttered to Elsbeth.

“What brought that on?” she asked, her smooth voice the epitome of a Queen.

“I’ll tell you later I’ve got some things to sort out first.”

“OK, Bumble Bee.” She gave him a peck on the lips before retreating. I tried to keep a straight face with his nickname... the King of Wolv-

“Stop smirking.”

“Sorry Sir,” I straighten my face. Now back to business.