The Princess And The Alpha *Excerpt Only*

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I stared at that worn out book for what felt like forever. I knew one of my parents had put it there and they weren't particularly inclined to have me running to Ryan. But I still wanted to know what that book said about my mate, the man that was now locked in a cell somewhere underground. I knew it was a trap, I knew that book would say nothing kind or sweet about the man who laughed with me at one in the morning. Still, it felt like it took all my strength to pull myself away from the book.

I reminded myself not to make haste choices. That book wasn't going to make me feel more stable about my mate. I needed to shower and once the steam calmed me down enough I would make the decision if I wanted to read what that book said or not.

I shut the door on my bathroom. It felt like it took far too much effort to separate myself from that old journal and I took a deep breath to settle my heart rate slightly. I looked at myself in the mirror, naked and dusty from the barn. I looked nothing like a princess then. No professionally done make up. No flowing gown. No glittering crown. Just a tired girl who was filthy and feeling the effect of being away from her mate. I almost laughed out loud at what I saw.

If all those men who had desperately tried to sway my heart weeks ago saw me now they would run for the hills. They didn't want the rough, wild girl who attempted to tame horses and hated having women yank on corsets and paint on foundation. They wanted the regal elegant woman who floated on painful heels and giggled softly.

I knew that I had been raised to be a princess and eventually a queen. But I had never been discouraged from doing the things I truly loved, like riding rescue horses or gardening. Well, as long as it wasn't in the public eye. And I knew that I could be both the dazzling queen and the argumentative, sassy brat. So why did I have to be one outside of the castle where on lookers could judge and another inside the castle when no one could see?

Tired of thinking about it, I sighed and spun away from the mirror. I jumped in the shower before my thoughts could take me elsewhere. The hot water turned my skin red as it rinsed away all of the dirt and sweat from the day. I smiled a little bit to myself when I realized my personal shopper had picked up some of the lemon scented body wash I loved. I hummed quietly in the shower, cleaning away until my whole body smelt like lavender, lemons, and was smooth to the touch.

Then, with my mind made up, I purposefully walked back into my bedroom, dried myself off and got dressed. I wore athletic leggings and one of my work out shirts. I knew my parents would disprove once they saw me, this clothing was only for my training with my mother. But I felt like I was going to war and it made me feel more confident. I could do this, I wasn't a little girl anymore. I was going to be the queen soon, they needed to respect that.

Evidently, they didn't.

"Where are you going dressed like that?" my mother demanded the instant I stepped into the great hall. My two guards were tailing me closely. It seemed like my parents were waiting for me, both of them quietly reading newspaper. They didn't have guests or alternate duties to attend to which was terribly rare.

"I want you to tell me where Ryan is." I snapped back.

"In a cell underground." My dad answered casually. He didn't even lift his eyes off the page; it was like we were talking about napkin etiquette, not my mate.

"Tell me where he is." I said again.

"I just did."

"Fine." I huffed.

"Where are you going?" my dad shouted as I turned to walk away.

I didn't bother answering; I thought it was pretty clear. And if my parents thought they could keep me away from the man I was destined to be with they were wrong.

I didn't even make it to the front door before I heard the rushed click of heels coming after me. I slowly spun to see my mother nearly sprinting down the hall, her stunning dress bunched in her hands.

"Adeline, what are you doing?" she asked. Her face was red and I couldn't tell if it was because she had been crying or if it was because she was absolutely furious. Either way it was uncharacterist for my mother.

"I'm going to see Ryan."

"You are not! You have to think about the whole werewolf community. He's a rogue, the bloody alpha of rogues. He can't be a king, it will cause anarchy all thorough the world. The werewolf world has very strict rules and they are not to be taken lightly or broken. Did you read that book? Did you read about all the things he has done?"

"The strict rules that say that women can't be alphas?" I growled, "The rules that say that powerful alphas should be mated to equally powerful lunas? Those rules mom? The rules that you broke even though everyone told you it was going to be terrible for your pack, that you would have a war on your hands in seconds?"

My mother blinked, her mouth flopped open like she was taken aback. Then a solid expression of frustration crossed her face. "This isn't the same, Adeline. If things hadn't turned out well for my pack they would've been taken in by surrounding packs. The whole community was not at stake."

"So it's different because I'm a princess." I challenged.

"Yes."

"Well, then if that's the case maybe I'll just have to decide if I want to be Ryan's mate or the next queen. Now, if you'll excuse me I have important things to discuss with my mate."

I stared at my mother, daring her to send the guards after me. and she stared back, knowing entirely well that she could have me drug back to my room no matter how much I fought the guards. She was the queen after all, she could do whatever she wanted. Then her shoulders slumped and she gave out a little sigh.

"I knew that having a child with my stubbornness would kill me one day." She muttered. With that she turned away from me and gestured for the guards to stand down. Her heels clicked softly against the marble flooring as she walked away, leaving me stunned.

Unfortunately, though I had clearly had a small victory with my mother I hadn't figured out where they were keeping Ryan. And all the guards I asked simply told me that the king wished to keep it unknown. I knew I couldn't use my command tone on them, if my father had done the same I would be over powered and it would be completely ineffective. So I wandered around the grounds aimlessly, using logic to guide me.

I knew they wouldn't keep him in the standard cells. I already located them and they would be too close to the palace. They wouldn't put him near the barns either, in case I stumbled upon him, and they would have him as far away from his pack as they possibly could so that he would have to run over the entire royal lands before he even got close to his territory line. So that guided me to the back of the royal lands, far away from everyone and everything.

And that's where I caught his scent.

I had to lap around the area a few times, unable to pin point it right away. It was fairly weak; however I did eventually find a little trap door in the ground, covered in moss and mud. I yanked it open and descended the stairs so quickly I nearly fell on my face.

"Princess!" a guard gasped, instantly coming between myself and the cells.

"It's alright, my parents know I'm here." I said softly, "I just want to see my mate."

The guard looked unsure for a second, like he was debating dragging me back to the palace. But he eventually nodded and stepped aside.

"Ryan." I whispered softly.

"Addy." He rasped out back.

I gasped, seeing him slowly walking towards the bars of the cell. I was both mortified and relieved all at once. His conditions were appalling, but he wasn't beat up as bad I expected. I thought I would see black eyes and broken bones that hadn't healed properly. But he looked fine, a little skinnier, but alright.

I fell to my knees outside the cell, reaching my hands between the bars so I could touch his skin. And once my hands touched his I knew there was a good chance I would give up my title just to be with him, no matter what the book said.

****Thanks for the votes and comments on the last chapter! It totally motivated me to write this one, hope you guys like it!****