Yes, Your Highness (18+)

16

•──⋅☾ Sasha ☽⋅──•

I had barely settled in when my phone buzzed incessantly with spam texts from Rajah. It had only been a day since I'd last spoken to him, but here he was, relentless in his concern about Stephanie. His messages were a mix of frantic inquiries and half-formed thoughts about how Riley was pushing for her return, almost as if the world depended on it. I rolled my eyes, exasperated, and told Rajah that she would be back home soon enough. Truthfully, I believed all she needed was some fresh air and a break from the suffocating village life. If Rajah ever found out that I had brought her up to this secluded cabin, I couldn't imagine the endless teasing and questioning I would have to endure.

Meanwhile, Scarlet was in the kitchen, comfortably nestled in her usual spot at the table, savoring a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee. The rich aroma wafted through the air, a comforting reminder of home. Just as I was about to delve deeper into my thoughts, Dmitri stomped down the wooden stairs, each thud reverberating off the walls. He leaned against the doorframe, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to the tension bubbling inside me. "Time?" he asked inquisitively, glancing at me with an eyebrow raised.

"It's about eight in the morning," I responded, my eyes momentarily drifting from the window to gauge the day outside. Sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow through the glass, but my mood was anything but bright. Dmitri nodded, scratching the back of his head in that endearing way he always did, and ambled into the kitchen, joining Scarlet at the table.

From the opposite side of the cabin, Luke's voice boomed through the quietness, laced with urgency. "Yo, babe! Have you seen Kyle? I've been looking everywhere!" His tone was exasperated, as if losing Kyle felt like a personal failure. Scarlet let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes dramatically. 

"I haven't," she shot back, her voice thick with annoyance. "He should've been back by now. Probably just sleeping somewhere." I couldn't help but think of Kyle, who hadn't crossed my mind at all the previous night. Knowing him, he was likely indulging in some solo adventure, far removed from our chaotic cabin life. Kyle wasn't a werewolf, so perhaps solitude was exactly what he craved.

Inside this cabin, we housed a few individuals who were just like him—lost souls abandoned by their packs. My brother Derek, however, was a different story. He had never been cast aside; instead, he had chosen to leave, convinced he was the runt of our pack—a label I didn't believe he deserved. Seeking out his own 'colony' felt more like betrayal to me, but blood is thicker than water. No matter his decisions, he was still my brother, and I would stand by him.

Back to Rajah, his relentless texting was beginning to gnaw at my patience. Just as I was about to mute my notifications, the phone rang, and I sighed as I answered. "Raj. Baby, you need to chill," I said, trying to keep my tone light, even though I could hear Hedrick's voice in the background, piercing through the line with all the grace of a bull in a china shop. He was yelling about something, likely throwing a tantrum akin to a spoiled child. 

"Sasha, you must come back. Immediately." The urgency in Rajah's voice made my heart race. I hesitated, feeling the tension in my chest grow tighter. He continued, ranting about how Hedrick was causing a scene over something only I could resolve, dragging my thoughts into a spiral of dread.

At least it wasn't Riley whining this time. His voice echoed on the other end, laced with frustration, and I could have sworn I heard a low growl as he spoke. "Alright, I'll go grab her, and we should be back before sunset," I assured them, trying to sound confident, and Rajah begrudgingly agreed, insisting I "don't be late." The call ended, but a knot of anxiety remained lodged in my stomach. I couldn't shake the feeling that if I brought her back, something terrible could happen again.