Sold To The Alpha
A Lost Princess Chapter 52

As the party of warriors made their way back into Oak Ridge pack, Justin sent word to his Beta, Leo to apprehend Felicity's father and place him in the packs prison with a twenty four hour guard. The injured warriors were quickly collected by Dr Nat and his team

who hurried them into the packs clinic to attend to their wounds.

Justin lead the rest of the group toward the pack house, Hazel running down the steps to greet them, hugging her husband tightly before stepping back and turning a surprised gaze to the hand cuffed Graham who stood silently between two of the warriors, Felicity at his side. 'Well this looks like a story' Hazel murmured as she ushered everyone up the steps and into the dining room, mind linking to the kitchen to prepare some food as everyone took a seat around one of the tables.

Looking expectantly at her husband, Hazel sat back as Justin began to fill her in with exactly what had happened since they had left Oak Ridge and found Graham and Felicity.

Once finished Hazel turned her gaze to Rowan, 'so you gave up your freedom for my niece?' she asked

'Yes Luna' Rowan replied, his eyes not wavering from hers.

ng her leveled gaze on the warrior.

Nodding, Hazel gave a small smile, 'I cannot help you with your predicament Rowan, I am sorry, you have been sought by the council of collectors for some time now and neither I nor my husband have authority within their realm, I do thank you for your help with returning our pack member and also for helping to bring my niece home to us!' she said softly.

Rowan returned the Luna's smile, 'I knew what I was doing when I decided to return to the cabin Luna Everything I receive at the Council was earned by my actions, I am just thankful that the Alpha and Sebastian have allowed me to see Isabella safe before handing me over.'

Rising from his chair, Rowan turned to Riley giving him a small respectful bow, 'take care of her Alpha, she is irreplaceable' he said quietly before turning to Sebastian and nodding that he was ready to leave.

'Leo, please escort Sebastian and Rowan through the barrier, make sure they reach the base of the mountain safely! Justin ordered as he stood to shake both men's hands.

Watching as Sebastian took a hold of Rowan's arm, Isabella's face tightened as the warrior was led toward the dining room door.

'Wait!' she shouted suddenly, jumping up from her chair, racing over to Rowan she pulled him into a tight hug, the handcuffed man leaning into her hair as he allowed her scent to envelop him one more time.

Releasing him, Isabella met his gaze, 'take care of yourself Rowan' she whispered, 'there is someone out there waiting for you too replace them, please keep that thought with you!'

Rowan smiled tenderly at the girl who held his heart, 'Thank you Bella but I don't think I will be replaceing my mate where the Council have decided to send me! he replied sadly before he turned back to the door and disappeared from view.

Returning to her seat next to Riley, Isabella silently drew comfort from her mate's arms as Hazel turned to Graham who looked at his hands nonplussed.

'Graham' Hazel called softly, drawing the man's attention to her, 'you were wrongly accused and banished by the Empress, but the choices you made after you left are not easy to forgive.'

Graham flicked his eyes to Felicity momentarily before returning them to the Luna, 'I do not ask for forgiveness Luna, I would do anything for my wife, she needed me to save her, I did what I felt was necessary to reach that goal, should I die today, I shall die happy because my angel will never be hurt by that bastard again. he said with conviction.

Hazel nodded, understanding in her eyes as she watched the older man, so at peace with his world.

'May I ask you a question?' The Luna asked tentatively, Graham shrugged in reply, tilting his head slightly to indicate he was listening.

'Why now? Why did you come for Felicity now? It has been fourteen years since you left!

Graham raised his eyes to the ceiling as he sighed, 'I wanted to come back sooner but there were always obstacles, first there were Rogues, lots of them. They could smell that I was a Rogue as well but they also knew that I had once been part of a pack, you can't remove that scent from your body. Unlike other Rogues, I was not cast out because I was a bad apple, nor was I born to Rogue parents so I did not share their ideals on how life should be led. Lets just say that my disinclination to band together with these people made me a lot of enemies and painted a target on my back.

I refused to be part of anything that was trying to destroy anyone's packs, even though my own had cast me out it didn't turn me against pack life. I spent years teaching Rogues that though I was alone I was not defenceless, it took time but finally they left me in peace, stopped pursuing me.

One day I stumbled upon the farm that the Alpha found me at, it was run by a human. I was near starved, wounds covered my body from my last fight, when I collapsed near one of his sheds. The man's name was William but he preferred Bill, he was a good man, he came across me when out checking his animals. Graham's face lit up slightly at the memory of the human who found him.

'He took me into his home, cared for me, helped me regain my strength. He asked about my past and I told him the truth, he in turn told me his story, his wife had passed years earlier, they had not been blessed with children, each baby they brought into the world never managed to take a first breath before they were gone. He said he was dying of cancer, the farm had become too much for him but still he struggled on as he didn't know what to do with his animals. I started to help him care for his stock, repaying him for the care he had provided me. I watched as my friend became weaker and weaker until finally the Goddess called him home, I buried him at the edge of his property before I organised for the local farmers to come and buy his animals and machinery, making sure they only went to the best homes just as Bill would have wanted.

Bill had told me that the farm was mine once he was gone as he had no-one else to leave it too so I remained there alone with just my thoughts for company'

Looking at the people around him, Graham swallowed dryly before continuing, 'Once Bill was gone I had nothing to take my mind from Felicity and her fate, Bill always said that you shouldn't give up on the ones you love and I knew he was right. I started to plan, how was I going to get to her what about the barrier?, I couldn't get a member of the pack they never came out alone and I was worried that if I was spotted near the pack you would figure out why I was there.

As time passed, my anger at the Empress started to eat away at me and I remembered that she had a daughter, another white wolf who could cross the barrier around my old clan, the reason she had visited our clan in the first place. I had an idea, a way to get to Felicity and return some of the pain that the Empress had caused me.

I made my way to Silver Cross and I spent months watching the boundary, studying the guard movements, the gates, who came in, who went out. One thing was clear, the Empress' daughter, who was now nearly a teenager, was heavily guarded as was her brother, neither child left the grounds without their parents or the Beta, even clothes shopping was done under the eyes of a pair of the packs warriors.

I began to feel defeated, maybe getting to the Empress' daughter was just impossible.

Heading back to the farm, I stopped at a tavern that seemed to be frequented by various unsavoury characters. Sitting in my booth, my hood up hiding my face that bore the scars you can see now, I overheard a group of men at the next table, talking about a collector named Rowan who could get you anything you needed for the right price. I had a new mission, replace this Rowan and offer him whatever he wanted in exchange for him Collecting Isabella for me.

Finding a rogue collector is not an easy task, people don't want to tell a stranger about the ghost that lives on the wrong side of the Council but over the years I managed to obtain peoples trust through drink and shady deals until I finally got an audience with the illusive Rowan.

He agreed to the job, cost me handsomely, pretty much every penny that Bill had given me. Told me he would bring her to me and gave me the directions to a derelict house saying it was the perfect place to hide her. I then used my contacts to put me in touch with a witch from the High Coven, who made me the potion that would make Isabella susceptible to my words.

Rowan and I planned what I needed to do with the princess once I had her, built the gym and made sure the house was habitable for when she finally arrived.

I admit as the time ticked by I was losing hope at ever getting my hands on Isabella but then Rowan had a lead, one of his men had managed to work his way in with a black haired girl who lived in the pack, a friend of Isabella's. He plied her with drinks, slipping a pill into one that would loosen her tongue and cause her to forget everything that happened that night. He showered her with attention, asking about her friends until she spilt the information that Isabella had turned eighteen and not found her mate, that they were coming back unchaperoned that weekend.

The girl returned to the pack completely unaware that she was going to be the reason that her friend was going to be taken!

Graham returned his gaze to his lap as Felicity reached for his hand protectively.

Isabella opened and shut her mouth noiselessly, shaking her head at the knowledge that this man had tricked one of her best friends into putting her at risk.

'Darcy didn't do it on purpose Bella' Riley murmured into her ear.

'I know, I don't blame her, she would never intentionally have given information about me, I know she wouldn't' Bella replied sadly, 'this is going to destroy her Riles' she added her eyes widening in horror.

Riley shook his head sadly, 'maybe don't tell her babe' he offered, 'what good will it do anyone to let her know that one misjudgement caused all your pain?'

Hazel looked toward her husband who's face was a sea of indecisiveness, 'maybe we should get Aaron and Charity on the phone?' she said concerned, 'this is their daughter, they have the right to decide what happens as much as we have.' Isabella straightened up in her chair, 'No' she said firmly

Turning to the teenager surprised, Hazel tried to placate the stony faced girl across from her. 'Sweetie, this man took you, Uncle Justin and I have no right to decide.."

'Nor do my parents' Isabella interrupted, 'No disrespect Aunt Hazel, but I am eighteen years old, a fully grown adult with a mate. I am the one who was kidnapped by Graham so I think it's only fair that where I am concerned, I get to decide his punishment for his crime against me!'

Hazel stared at her husband who just shrugged his shoulders with a slight grin, 'I have already had this argument babe, and I lost, you are on your own.' he muttered with a chuckle.

Studying the girls stubborn expression, Hazel slowly nodded in agreement, 'I think that is fair Bella, you are to decide the punishment Graham will receive for his crimes against you, Oak Ridge will decide his punishment for his crime against our pack. Turning to the silent werewolf Hazel lowered her tone, 'do you feel that this is fair Graham?' she asked, the older man nodded his head, not raising his gaze.

Contemplating carefully for a while, her eyes closed, Hazel finally opened her eyes, raising her voice to be heard by everyone. 'Graham, for the crime of breaking into our pack and conspiring to take one of our members, I sentence you to joining the Oak Ridge pack. You will swear allegiance to the Alpha and myself, you will help the pack members to fix all of the damage that Isabella inflicted on our property whilst under your spell and you will join our guard using your skill and determination to protect our pack from enemies who try to harm us.'

Graham raised his head shocked, 'what about the fact I kidnapped Felicity?' he croaked, 'or the attack on the pack? Plus I hurt pack members at the farm'

Hazel shook her head, 'according to Felicity, you did not kidnap her, she left of her own free will, and whilst on our territory at no point did you attempt to attack anyone, you collected Felicity and left, the people who attacked us are Isabella who was not in her right mind and Rowan who has been sent back to the council for retribution. As for the farm, at the time you believed that you were protecting your wife from harm, no mate can be punished for putting the safety of their love before all others!

Felicity tightened her grip on Graham's hand as she sobbed unashamedly, 'thank you Luna' she whispered.

'Do you accept your punishment Graham?' Justin asked sternly.

Swallowing hard Graham nodded, stunned into silence. Turning to Isabella, Hazel indicated for the teen to take her turn, standing up, Isabella paced around the table for a moment before stopping on the opposite side of the table to the man who held her captive. 'Graham, for the crime of paying someone to kidnap me I sentence you to a lifetime devoted to making Felicity as happy as she can possibly be if at any point a tear falls from her eyes due to you I will come back and make you suffer. For the crime of drugging me and causing me to hurt one of the most important people in my life and leaving me no option but to reject the love of my life, I sentence you to giving Felicity at least two babies, no less. You will love those children more than the air you breathe and you will make me their god mother, that is non negotiable, I think I earned it. Finally for the crime of threatening my brother's life whilst I was with you, to make me do as you wanted, I sentence you too making dinner for the entire pack once every month for the next ten years, and should I ever come to visit, you will serve me your mum's apple pie that she would make for your birthday!'

Graham's shoulders started to shake as the tears began to flow from his eyes, Felicity holding tightly as she choked out her thanks to the princess.

As his already reddening eyes reached Isabella's Graham reached out his hands toward her, silently begging her to take them. Reaching out, Isabella grabbed the older man's hand's in her own. 'I'm sorry Bella' he whispered, 'I am so sorry, please forgive me.' Isabella smiled down at the man who had once sent fear through her, 'I already have Graham, don't make me regret it, look after Felicity like your life depends on it, because believe me, it does!

As Leo stepped back into the room, Justin indicated to him to join them, as the Beta approached the table Justin addressed him, 'Leo, Graham will be joining our pack, please could you take him and Felicity to the clinic so that Dr Nat can check them over and then come to my office so I can fill you in on everything that has happened.'

'Yes Alpha' Leo replied as he carefully helped the injured man from his seat, Felicity jumping up and putting her arms gingerly around her mate, supporting him as they left the room.

'You are a fine Alpha Izzy' Justin said as Isabella blushed slightly,

'One day Uncle Justin, one day I will be.' she replied modestly.

Standing up Justin pulled the girl into his arms, 'No izzy, not one day, you are already there.' he murmured as he kissed her hair before releasing her back to her mate who was waiting patiently to take her to their room.