Freedom

Lacey wasted no time. Even though she had just eaten, she was itching to run. Leaving her plate on the table, she wanted to seize the opportunity before Julien changed his mind. Lacey hurried from the room, through the foyer, and out the huge double doors of the castle.

Outside, she stood on the porch and took a deep breath of fresh air, letting it fill her lungs. Then she ran toward the edge of the forest. Alone, she stripped off her clothes and hid them in a tree. Then she ran through the trees and leapt into the air, letting the shimmers run down her arms and over her body, and the red haze with black edges overtake her vision, landing on her huge white paws. Lacey dug into the lichen and pushed harder, propelling herself forward into the deep forest, enjoying the feel of the fresh air rush through her fur, and the feel of her muscles elongating, finally free.

As she ran, she suddenly realized that she was nearly to Canada, so she stood at the top of a mountain, watching the view below and the sun high in the sky, glad to have been given this great gift. Lacey loved being a wolf-shifter, protecting the tribe and the surrounding communities. It was what she was born to do. Now, she just had to prove it to Julien by being the best Warrior Trainer that he ever had. Knowing it was time, she started heading back when she came across a herd of white-tailed deer.

Even though she had just eaten a steak back at the castle, her wolf needed to hunt. And she could use the sustenance. So, she spotted a lone buck and stalked closer, her footfalls silent against the soft, rich earth.

The deer lifted its head and started to bolt, but she was quicker. Lacey had him pinned in two bounds and quickly snapped its neck as her teeth sank into its flesh, not wanting it to cause any more pain than necessary. Lacey sank her teeth into the animal through its thick hide and pulled off a slab of steaming meat.

When she had eaten her fill, she left the rest of the carcass for the lesser predators, knowing it wouldn't go to waste. A free meal was always welcome in the wild. Lacey hurried to get back to the castle, not wanting to take advantage of having her newfound freedom. Now that her stomach was full, she could think more clearly and started planning training strategies in her head, glad that Julien was finally starting to come around.

Soon, she was back to where she had hidden her clothes, and quickly dressed. Then she walked purposefully toward the castle. When she was within earshot, she said to the other shifters on either side of the castle, knowing they could hear her without looking at them. "We start training at dawn. Spread the word."

"Yes, Princess," they all said nearly in unison and she walked inside without giving them a second look.

***

The next morning, the men and women met her on the practice lawn in their human forms. "My name is Princess Lacey Taregan, but you may call me Lacey."

Creases formed between their eyes as they looked at each other and then back at her, obviously they weren't used to the informality.

"And for those of you who haven't heard...." She paced in front of them with her hands clasped behind her back. "I am your new Warrior Trainer. You will do as I say without question. If you do this, then you will be a force to be reckoned with." She looked each warrior in the eye. "You will train not only in your wolf forms, but in your human forms, as well."

A negative rumble resonated throughout the pack.

"Silence!" she ordered. "You will become excellent archers and swordsmen, along with learning strategies for attack and defense in your wolf forms." She looked over the ranks of the pack. "Do you have any questions?"

"Yes, I do." The shifter with dark blond hair that she had seen from the window stepped forward with his hand up, giving her a cocky grin. "I’m Brock, by the way. We all know that you are to be the Alpha Queen, but what makes you suitable to be our Warrior Trainer?"

Within a flash, she closed the distance between them and flipped him to the ground face down with his arm pulled back with her fist pulled back and aimed at his throat.

The warriors gasped.

"Any more questions?" When no one answered, she released Brock and helped him up. "Now. You will respect me not only as your future Alpha Queen and the alpha’s future mate, but as the warrior that I am. I’ve seen many battles and I’ve earned the respect. Is that understood?"

A rumble of agreement resonated throughout the pack, clearly impressed with her skills.

"Good," she replied. "Now. Let's get started. Today, you will work in your human forms."

"Oh, man!" a young man gasped, kicking at the ground. He was in his teens and reminded her of Tima back home. "I finally joined the pack… just to work in my human form?"

"Don't worry, young warrior." She patted his shoulder. "You will be working in your wolf form soon enough." Then she looked at him and smiled. "What is your name?"

He looked down, not meeting her gaze. "Koi." It was apparent that he was eager to get away.

Throughout the day, she tried to be friendly to members of the pack while keeping an air of authority, but no one would talk to her outside of orders and training. Then it dawned on her that it was because she was Julien's future mate and belonged to him. Lacey guessed that no one wanted to die yet... at least not for just talking to her.