The Princess’s Broken Alpha

The trees were zipping past but she wasn't slowing down as the cold air beat against her face. In just a couple of weeks it would start to snow. It would be Christmas here. She could tell it would be beautiful with the snow falling on the trees and coating the ground sparkling white. She loved the feel of snuggling up warm in cold weather. If all being well she would be snuggling up with Zion. If only he'd want her as much as she wanted him. She was excited to spend it here with him. She came to a small pond and sat at the edge feeling the cold seep up her back.

This will be her first Christmas away from home. The first Christmas away from her dad and probably would feel like a real Christmas. She felt remorse for being away from home so long but her aunt would hold everything down until she got back to her duties. Was everything going well? If there was anything going wrong she's sure her aunt would have called her. She missed the decorating and everything that came with Christmas. The dazzling lights and maybe this year she would have it in a family setting. She would always buy Castor some cheesy gift that said best friends forever just to watch him grimace. She felt the prickling apprehension that she would soon be found and instinctively looked over her shoulder.

There was also the matter of telling him who she was but she didn't know how to tell him. She hated having to hold back from him but she would find a way soon.

The crackling of leaves alerted her and she knew the scent.

"You're late" she said sternly.

Samuel huffed at her.

"I reached faster than yesterday."

This is the second day in a row they both had left out early for jogging. He crouched beside her. She had a feeling Samuel was trailing her, watching her every move. What did he expect her to be up to in the woods? "Samuel, what happened to Zi's first mate?"

"Zi?" he questioned, raising his eyebrows high and a light blush crept on her cheeks.

"You'd have to talk about that with him Anastasia" he focused on the trees over the water.

"When is that?"

"If he wants to tell you then it's his business. He's had a very hard time and quite frankly I don't know if you're the best thing for him." he said straightforwardly, and his words caught her off guard. Before she could ask why he dived in.

"He's a man that can't walk. Who is to say the minute he doesn't fit into your pretty little fantasy you won't just up and leave? When people start to laugh that you're with a werewolf with no legs you won't be embarrassed?"

His words cut into her razor sharp but she understood the love he had for his brother. He was being protective but she had no intention of hurting him.

"It's not fair to judge. You don't know what I've been through nor who I am"

She got up and looked down at him.

"Don't follow me another morning or you won't like it" her eyes flashed a golden orange and he nodded and smiled not able to conceal his displeasure.

She decided to head back as the sun started to creep up the horizon. She noticed that there were a few houses at the end of the block that were unoccupied and one far off almost into the forest. A few wolves were out hustling to training and other daily activities. She finally reached the main building and as she walked through the main door she heard a loud crash in the kitchen. Julie was scrambling to pick up the pieces of a broken glass while a teenage boy who looked a bit younger tried to stop her running for a broom. Kiarra walked around the counter and picked up some big pieces that were hidden from view under the counter.

When Julie looked up to see who it was she all but almost screamed. Was she that scary?

Her eyes widened and her lip trembled as she looked at her. The boy with the broom froze and looked like he was about to pass out.

"Hi?" said Kiarra.

Julie fought to find words as she stared at their guest. She felt like she was about to have a stroke. Her hands started to shake as she shuffled backwards a bit. Her grey eyes looked at Kiarra suspiciously.

"Do you need help?" She asked noticing they were stacking out a mountain of dishes, glass and cutlery. They were both awkwardly silent. Kiarra continued.

"It is impolite not to answer someone when they are talking to you"

"Yes ma'am" the boy blurted out.

"I'm sorry. We could use some help." Julie finally answered.

They got to work silently and Kiarra started off asking some light questions and before you know it they warmed up to her bombarding her with questions and chatting endlessly so much she felt like she would soon get a whiplash. Julie was actually very social and nice.

"I didn't think you'd be nice" she said as Kiarra put out the last of dishes.

"Why?"

"Well the Lycans before you were scary."

"The ones who visited?"

"Yeah a tall man with bright red hair and a blonde haired woman."

Definitely Jackson and she couldn't pinpoint who the blonde woman was. That means she had evaded him for now. It must be rubbing his ego raw.

"What happened?" Kiarra asked.

Julie hesitated and looked a Raul who's name she learned mid convo. They looked back at her exchanging glances unsure whether they should say something.

"The red hair guy threatened to kill me and almost snapped my neck if Alpha Zion didn't shift because the blonde woman wanted him to do it for fun. It was sick. They treated him like some circus animal. He did it for me but it wasn't enough he kicked him down and spat on him. They also said some horrible things to him", Julie rushed out.

Kiarra felt like all the blood had drained out of her. She wanted to rip Jackson to pieces. No wonder everyone acted like that around her. She felt like her heart was tearing. What made it even worse was that they did all this while representing the council. Jackson had ruined it for her from the very beginning.

"I'm so sorry" she told Julie not knowing if it would make a difference.

"It's okay. He really is the best though and I think what he did makes him very brave." Julie says defensively, her admiration high for her Alpha.

"Yeah I have to second that. Even though he put me on kitchen duty" put in Raul.

She smiled at them.

"Are you going to be our Luna?"

They both looked at her and a moment passed before she answered.

"That's a good question but I'm afraid I don't have the answer."

The question is would he want to be king? She felt a grappling fear building within her. Would he accept her and the life that came with it? The questions hung in her mind as she made her way to her room.