Chapter 3

Who is he? I wondered—he looked different from others not just in appearance but in demeanor too. Lord Xendorite. I tossed and turned in my bed. At night, this place gets cold. I shivered; even the extra firewood did not warm the chambers. Finally, unable to sleep, I picked my sword from the wooden stand attached to the wall and walked out, parting the curtains. I walked past the deserted hall. Soon I realize as I settle here that wolves don’t have the culture of keeping servants, though there are guards in the outside and a few in wolf form patrol the streets. There were some helpers to cook and clean, but no one waits on you. Oddly, it felt comfortable that no one was watching all day long. Even Nora, the helper they assigned to me, had the same space as me and was sleeping next to mine. She was a sweet girl of 15 years of age but had no wolf of her own. She is always wary of approaching those who have wolves.

I went out on the porch and picked up the lantern to see clearly through the darkness. The huts were not in any particular system or block like those in the human city. It was like people made their own place with their own regards. Our location was close to the courthouse, where Alpha King resides. A low grunt and a crack sound echoed.

I jumped, was startled, and turned to see a pair of big, light brown eyes with silver in them catching the moonlight, and the wolf's size was double my size. My lips parted as I sucked in breath. Its snow-white fur caught the moonlight and the light of the flaming torch. The wolf stepped forward from the forest lane; my eyes locked with his, and my feet were fixed to the wooden floor. Something tugged at my heart, which expanded inside of me. Goosebumps erupted all over my body, and I suddenly realized I was underdressed. My nipples hardened through my thin shift, and I turned away, feeling the heat spread through me. I cover myself with my arms only when I look up and see that the wolf has disappeared.

I let go of the breath I didn’t know I was holding, breathing harder. I put down the lantern and walked inside. Feeling no longer cold but strangely thirsty, hungry, and with an unusual ache somewhere deep in a place I didn’t know existed.

I woke up with a strange sense that someone was watching over me, and when I turned to the window blocking the sun from blinding my eyes, I saw a flash of silver, and I stood up quickly, running towards the window, but there was nothing but a silent forest, gathering the morning dew from wild flowers and the silent morning chill. I let out a breath. What is it? I touch the center of my heart; am I nervous? Or there was something that kept tugging at my heart for some reason. The dull ache I felt last night is now clawing inside of me. I felt cold.

"Your Highness,"

I jumped and turned to look at Nora, who had clothes and water for cleansing in a small tub.

"There is an announment; everyone is gathered at the courthouse."

"Alright," I nodded.

She looked around as I said nothing else, and she put down the bowl.

"Would you like me to help you clean? I know princesses are used to it," she said. "It was nice of her to offer; princesses are used to it, but I don’t remember the last time someone took care of my things or thought about someone touching me, I wondered. I won't be able to bear it.

"No, I will be fine; I am used to doing things on my own," I said with a polite smile.

"All right," she said with a cheerful smile and an awkward curtsy.She left, and I let out a stifled breath.

"If you keep being on pins and needles, how will you fight?" Sansa was leaning against the door. I smiled, finally seeing a familiar face. After we sailed through mortal land to Witch Hollow, the witch chief insisted that Sansa come with us to the lunar valley after his failed attempt to convince my father to back this wolf-human alliance. First, when I was informed of it, but now I know why this alliance suddenly became vital for my father and even more vital for the wolves when I reached the Witch Hollow. Sansa was appalled by the fact that I didn’t even know the reason why I was being sold to the wolves.

*"They have not told you."

*Without hesitating, I replied, "My father deemed it irrelevant."

*"Vampires and werewolves are desperate for silver because Lycans have infiltrated the woodlands of the Lunar Valley and are about to overrun the city; if you marry the wolf prince, then the wolves, vampires, and humans will unite, and by an indirect alliance, even the witches will stand in support."

*The thing is, my father has never taken an interest in this side of the island. We have the sea between us and the Lycans, and the sirens in the sea are as vicious as they are beautiful.

*"What does my father stand to gain, outside the obvious, by getting rid of me?"

"I've heard, and I can't verify this, but..." She turned to me and said, "The wolf king vowed to teach humanity the technique of soul magic."

To my total surprise, Soul magic is a holy point of conflict between witches and wolves. The moon god, a god of blood and flesh who was born among the wolves as the silver wolf, is the source of the wolves' magic. Wiccans put all their faith in the powers and mysteries of the natural world. I never imagined that my father would try to get to the top in such an odd way. Having access to magic, what would people do with it?

To realize that this was just a way to put me as far as possible from the mortal landing, so I will never fight my claim to the throne. My father truly just hates me.

"We have to hurry, let go," Sansa pulled me out of my thoughts and quickly went to the washing area, cleansed myself, and put on a light blue dress.

Nora followed us as we proceeded to the court hall; many gathered and looked at me with a strange look. I felt an invisible veil between them and me; I was an enemy. I hear the mummers under their breath. I made my way through the crowd to the front.

The Alpha King stepped out on the porch with the Alpha Prince, then my father, my stepmother, and my half brother stepped beside them as well, and him. My eyes landed on him, and he was looking back; I felt that ache and hollowness again.

"The Mortal Princess has challenged the Alpha Prince to a duel—in mortal terms, on our terms, to fight; to win her hand, he must conquer her in the field."

The collective Mummers filled the air with Alpha King’s words. More shocked and outraged whispers.

"Alpha Prince has accepted!"

Cheers filled the air.

"Tonight is the full moon night; after paying homage to the moon god, the duel challenge will proceed!"

"Huh?" Sansa scoffed. I looked at her, asking silently what was the matter.

"Tonight, every wolf will be stronger than any ordinary day, and they choose tonight, Alpha Prince." Fight the human opponent; it is an unfair fight," Sansa said.

As cheers filled the air once again, my blood ran cold. I am doomed.