chapter 42

    I never knew my family. I was told that I was found abandoned within the forest, but the way I am treated says a different story. Instead of living a life like everyone else I was forced into being a servant. I grew up in a bland life. I was not taught how to have emotions, how to feel loved, or what it was like to have a family. I was walking as if I were made of stone. I am still not trusted within this pack, and I am forced to wear this metal bracelet to keep me from my wolf.

    "Good morning Alpha, Luna, Shall I clean the room while you two have breakfast?" The Luna rolled her eyes as she walked past me. "Yes, then maintain the gardens on the main entrance. We have very important guests coming."

    "Yes, Alpha," I said as I bowed waiting until he left. The Lune has expensive tastes in clothes and jewelry. The clothes and such are beautiful but too much for my own taste. After cleaning up I headed outside to the main entrance and began tending to the roses. Most of them were dying due to the lack of treatment, but I cared for them the best I could. A car had soon pulled up as I tried to get some color back to the roses. 

    "Your majesty! Welcome to Moonstone pack." Alpha said as he shook the hands of the King. Luna and the Queen hugged. "It is wonderful to see you again. I have tea set up in the garden while we wait for his highness to show."

    "Jen, please show our guests to the garden. I need to speak with my husband for a moment." "Yes, Luna." Jen stood up and bowed extending her arm to let the royals through the doorway. The Luna whispered into her husband’s ears and then they both looked at me as I continue planting the roses.

    "Marine," The Alpha called for me. I wiped my hands off as I stood up. "Yes, Alpha?" I said as I bowed. "Come with me."

    "Yes, Alpha." I already knew where we were going. The shed outside into the forest looked like any storage. Inside the walls were soundproof, for an average wolf. The floors covered in stains of blood, most of it mine. The Royals believed in a fair trial of judgment. The accused is meant to be held until the Royal guards come to retrieve them and then they shall be judged before the council and the Royals themselves. Our pack does not listen to these rules very much, and even so, I still complied with the Alpha.

    "Marine. The Luna has accused you of thievery," He sighed, " Although you may not have done this, what the Luna says goes." My arms were bound to the shackles that were bolted into the walls. "Yes, Alpha," I said as I hung my head. With a wave of his hand, the whip cracked against my back. I stood there, my face wavering ever so slightly.

    Once the lashes stopped the doctor was rushed in to put a 'special' paste over my wounds and bandaged my body. I was helped to my room to clean myself up and back to the garden I went. I could feel the eyes of the other servants on me. Everyone stood facing the driveway, and slowly a car pulled in. The Royals' eyes kept wavering back and forth from me and the car. As the door was opened, we servants bowed and waited till he was noticed to resume our work. "Callan, sweetie you have finally arrived," his mother, the Queen< said as she opened her arms for a hug.

    "Mother, please," he said as he took her hand and kissed the top of it. We were soon back to work, but half of us were to prepare dinner. The evening went as anyone could have expected until I was the one who had to bring fresh towels to his Highness Callan’s room. I knocked on his door, "Your highness? I have fresh towels."

    "Come in." I opened the door while he stood at the window. "Just leave them on the bed." I laid them down, "Yes your Highness." I bowed and was headed towards the door to leave when he spoke again.

    "Are you hurt?" I turned to his direction. "No, your Highness. Now please excuse me, Your Highness." As I put my hand on the door handle, he was in front of me with his hand on mine.

    "Where is your wolf?"

        "Excuse me Your Highness for my rudeness but that is not your concern."

    "Then I will be rude too. There is something that I feel when you are around. I do not know what it is, but I will find out," he said as he let go of my hand and brushed against my bracelet. "Gah! What is that?" He grabbed my forearm. I tried to pull my arm back but only tore through the paste that was placed over the wounds. "Your Highness I must attend to other matters." 

     "Okay but one more question." He had already annoyed me from what he had just done, but I nodded anyway. "Have you ever shifted?" For once my expression faltered. "No," I said and quickly left.