Chapter 4

"We have a problem," Isaac states as Felix walks into his office. Seeing the perturbed look on his alpha's face was never a good sign.

"Is it about Amelia?" He asks worriedly, taking a seat in the chair across from his alpha's desk. Isaac nods.

"She's the princess," he says in a low voice. Felix's eyes widen with surprise.

"What?" Isaac nods, leaning back in his chair and running his hands over his face and through his hair.

"I don't know what to do," he growls. "I can't reject her; my wolf is already pissed at me for telling her that she needs to go back and take her place on the throne."

"She has to," Felix says urgently. "Once she takes it back, things will look up for everyone."

"That's the problem," he says, fixing his friend with a look of concern. "Once the king was killed, the Veredans absorbed his knights. She has no fighters or back up."

"Shit," Felix mutters. "So, we're all that she has?" Isaac nods.

���I am not putting this pack through their war again," Isaac states firmly. "I already told her that and she agreed with me."

"What are you going to do?" Felix asks. Isaac remains silent, his eyes fixed on his desk, his hands in front of his mouth, deep in thought. What was he going to do? He can't just send her out, she was nearly killed once before. And also, she's his mate. He can't send her out. He wondered if they would come back to see if she was alive…

"Beef up the patrols where we found her," Isaac states. "I'm worried they'll come back."

"You think they will?"

"They tried to kill the princess, the rightful heir to the throne. They disposed of her here, on our territory."

"A message?" Felix's eyebrows shoot up. Isaac remains silent.

"Maybe, but I don't know for what purpose," he says, his voice muffled by his hands. "They know Jackson is dead."

"Maybe they want to bring you to their side," Felix says. "They know she's the princess. They know that we would find out about that." His eyes widen with realization and Isaac's jaw clenches as he realizes the same.

"That we're harboring and assisting the rightful heir to the throne," he says, meeting Felix's fearful gaze. "And that would be cause for an attack."

"Fuck," Felix mutters, running his hands over his face. "Conniving little shits."

"Only if they can prove it," Isaac says, standing up. Felix follows suit. "We need to put her in the cellar."

"You can't put your mate in the cellar!" Felix says harshly. "And she's still recovering. Lady Willa will kill you for putting her patient in the cellar!"

"It's to protect her and this pack," Isaac says, heading for the door. With Felix on his heels, they hurry to Lady Willa's cabin.

It's a humid morning, the sun nearly at its highest peak. Ameila is sitting up in bed, eating a small bowl of oats. It's bland, but she knows Jada tried her best to flavor it.

"I hope it's okay," Jada says nervously. Amelia smiles at the young apprentice and nods.

"It's good, thank you, Jada." She smiles and nods, heading back into the kitchen. She's spoken to Amelia for a while and thinks it's very interesting that she speaks so elegantly. Amelia was disappointed when she woke up and Isaac wasn't here. Like he said he was going to be. But she reassured herself that he's the alpha. He probably had something to take care of and she was sure he would have wanted to be here when she woke up. She finishes her oats, sipping her healing tea as Willa comes in from outside.

"How are we feeling this morning?" She asks, setting her basket of herbs on the table for Jada to sort, clean, and bottle. Amelia smiles and nods.

"Very good, thank you," Willa takes her now empty bowl, placing it on the table before helping her lay down to assess her injury. Amelia watches as the aged and wise healing mage places her cool hands on her stomach.

"It seems to be healing nicely," she says happily. "You still need to rest and-"

She's interrupted by Alpha Isaac and Beta Felix bursting through the door. Ameila's heart soars when she sees her mate, so tall and handsome. But she's quickly overcome with worry by the determination etched on his face.

"Sorry Lady Willa, but we need to move Amelia," Isaac says, coming to her beside.

"What? Why? What's going on?" Lady Willa demands. Amelia sucks in a breath as Isaac scoops her up in his arms. Their eyes meet and he gives her a smile, but the worry in his eyes is impossible to erase.

"I'll explain," Felix says as Isaac leaves the cabin with his mate in his arms.

"What's going on?" Amelia asks as her arms wrap around his neck. The humid air is uncomfortable against her skin, but his touch on her body makes her shiver.

"I'm concerned they're going to come back for you," he says. "To see if you lived or not."

"Oh," she says softly. His eyes glance at her and he hates the worried look on her face.

"I also think they knew we would find out you were the princess and have a reason to attack us for harboring and assisting you," he continues and she swallows the ball of fear in her throat. Her heart aches. This is all her fault. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if something happened to his pack, and all because of her. She knows what the Veredans are capable of.

"You should just send me off then," she says softly. "You don't deserve this." He stops his pace immediately. Her breath catches by the persistence and fire in his eyes.

"Don't talk like that," he says sternly. He resumes his pace towards the pack house. "We'll find a way."

"And if there isn't one?" He doesn't answer, his jaw clenched. He holds her tighter in his arms and she looks up in awe at the pack house. It's a three story building with granite rocks. It's a fortress. Seeing the pack house, it makes her feel small by it's grand size.

As they near the pack house, Isaac has an idea. The last place he wants to put his mate is in the cold, musty cellar. She'd be more comfortable in one of the many rooms in the house and in case they do come looking for her, she'd be able to get to the basement to hide if need be.

"Lady Willa is screaming at me," Felix sighs to his alpha via the pack link.

"She's going to stay in my room and if they show, she'll hide in the cellar." Isaac replies, hoping this calms the mage. Isaac pushes open the back door and into the kitchen. Vanessa jumps at the sudden intrusion, about to yell at what Enforcer is trying to sneak a snack before their patrol. But all she sees is her brother, carrying a girl in his arms. He has a determined look on his face. She doesn't say anything, knowing she'll get an answer later until her eyes land on the girl in his arms and instantly recognizes her.

It's Princess Amelia.

Vanessa was a courier and liaison for the pack during the alliance. She traveled to the kingdom many times and met with the king and princess on multiple occasions. She had forged a small friendship with the princess, having late night conversations and lunches with her during her stay at the castle. She quickly gets up from her seat at the table and hurries behind them.

"Amelia?" Isaac freezes in his tracks at his sister's voice and the recognition in her tone makes him curse. Amelia looks behind her, eyes lighting up at the familiar face standing before her.

"Vanessa," a smile spreads across her face and Isaac turns around. "I'm so happy to see you." Vanessa looks at her brother.

"When were you going to tell me your mate is the princess?" She whispers harshly as she approaches her brother. Amelia looks at Isaac who looks to be in quite a predicament. He didn't tell her?

"I'm trying to keep that a secret, V, if you don't mind," he says, eyes glaring at her for even speaking her title in such an open space.

"Where are you taking her?" Vanessa asks and Isaac glances at his mate's expecting gaze.

"Upstairs. We think the Veredans placed her on our lands to bring us back into the war." Her eyes widen and Isaac turns back around, heading for the stairs.

"Shit," Vanessa whispers, following her brother up the stairs. Amelia looks back over his shoulder at Vanessa.

"It's so good to see you," Amelia says and Vanessa grins. "I had been wondering about you since I left the castle."

"Oh, I've been alright, Your Highness," she says. "I appreciate your concern."

"Since you two know each other, V, I'm tasking you with being her protector," Isaac says, turning down a hallway. Vanessa wasn't surprised where they were headed. Of course he'd take her to his room.

"I can do that," Amelia smiles at her friend. She can see the resemblance between the two, their bone structure very similar. Yet Vanessa had long dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. Isaac pushes open his door, signaling for Vanessa to wait outside.

"This is nice," Amelia remarks, looking around the room as he places her at the head of the bed. The walls are a deep dark blue and the bed is significantly more appealing than the cot in Willa's cabin. Isaac smiles, sitting by her and brushing the hair out of her eyes.

"This is my room," he says and she laughs. She isn't surprised. Were's are extremely territorial, especially with their mates. She's happy to be here, in his room, though. Isaac's wolf whines for his mate as she laughs.

"Of course," she says, eyes bright. He smiles at her, staring at her as she looks around the room, eyes taking in every feature. He moves in closer to her, his hand coming up and caressing her cheek. Her eyes fall on him, his chestnut gaze seeming to see right into her soul. Their connection sparks and Isaac can't help himself but kiss her, laying claim to his mates lips.

A wave of euphoria crashes through her at the mere touch. Her eyes close, taking in every moment. Kissing him was gentle, slow, and felt as easy as breathing. It calmed her anxious mind and soothed her broken heart. She didn't want him to stop, finding peace in his touch, but she had to pull away because even though it was as easy as breathing, she forgot how to.

His forehead rests against hers as she catches her breath. Even Isaac himself struggles to fill his lungs again. How could he have been so afraid of this? His mate? She leans into his touch, her eyes opening slowly. One gaze into her evergreen eyes has his wolf howling and whining, needing and wanting more of her.

She had never seen such a lustful look in a man's eyes before. It didn't scare her though, in fact it made her shiver. He kisses her suddenly again, this time harder and with more passion than the first. This sends shockwaves of warmth and need through her body as he crowds her space, her hands coming up and touching his face, her hands quickly weaving themselves into his hair.

Isaac pulls away, burying his face into her neck, breathing in her scent as she gasps softly at his sudden intimacy. He had to control himself. As much as he wanted to mate her, he couldn't yet. But he'd be okay with just staying in her arms like this.

"Are you okay?" She whispers softly, lips aching softly from his kisses. He nods against her, but doesn't make a move to get up. She smiles and pulls him close to her. She gasps as his arms wrap around her, careful of her abdomen as he lays beside her, holding her against him. He pulls back to look into her face, pushing the hair out of her eyes. A touch of pink atones her cheeks and her eyes are wide.

"I'm sorry," he says gently. "I got carried away." She smiles at him.

"I know," she pecks his lips, enjoying the surprise on his face. "I'm sure it's not hard to do when it comes to you." Isaac can't help but laugh and Amelia stares at him, his smile sending her stomach swirling with butterflies.

"I need to go," he says sadly and she frowns. He quickly brings his hand up, brushing his thumb over her lips. "Don't look at me like that. I'll be back tonight, I promise." She nods, knowing his job as alpha comes first. To reassure her, he kisses her gently.

"Vanessa will be here to keep you company until I come back. She'll be the one to take you to the cellar if something goes wrong, okay?" She nods again and he has an even harder time leaving as she buries her face into his chest. He holds her for a few moments, brushing her hair through his fingers.

Amelia feels herself beginning to drift off to sleep, which she welcomes. Being in his arms is warmer than any bed she had ever slept in and any fire than she had ever been in front of. Isaac is shocked when he realizes she's fallen asleep. He kisses her forehead, before untangling himself out of her arms. He covers her with his blankets, watching her curl up into them.

He stares at her longingly before exiting the room.

~*~

His fingers drum the desk, his head resting on his cheek as he stares at the map in front of him. The previous servants called this room The King's Study, but Gale hated that name. In fact, he liked to call it his War Room, because here, he would finally have control over everything he ever wanted. The walls were made of a deep, dark oak with books lining the shelves. Of course, these books had no use to him, but the decor was nice. In the middle of the room was a table, at least 13 feet long. The previous servants said that the king used it as a "collaborative" table.

How silly of them.

There's a knock on the door. The servant opens the door and in come two men, their new knight insignias send a wave of power over the new king. His general fidgets in the seat next to him.

"Did you find her?" He asks as his men come into the large space. They drop to their knees, bowing their heads before their king.

"Her body isn't there, Your Majesty," one of them says, watching anxiously as his king's hand tightens into a fist. "We watched the area for three days and the alpha has increased patrols, sir." The king's eyes jump to the knight, meeting his fearful gaze. He smiles.

Good. Be afraid.

"Well," he sighs, sitting up and stretching his limbs. "That just means he has her."

"You think so, Your Majesty?" His general asks. The king looks at the man.

"Yes, of course. Alpha Isaac is a naive man who would nurse an injured fruit fly back to health," he laughs, waving his hand. "Of course he'd tell his men to bring her back to his pack."

"What should we do then, My King?" Gale loved that phrase. My King. It made him… Excited.

"He's harboring a fugitive," he says coyly. "And what do we do to those who provide refuge to those who object to us?"

"We kill them, sir," his general says. Gale smiles.

He'd kill them all.