Alpha's Little Princess Wants Revenge

Elsie's POV

It wasn't a journey filled with a bed of roses, but I got home eventually. Barely anyone recognized me, their once beloved princess, adored for many years. All they saw was a battered, unkempt looking stray who escaped prison by chance.

My shoes were worn out, my feet had scraped the stone-filled road tirelessly until they almost felt numb. The sole of my feet burned, every joint in my body ached, my entire legs burned but I barely felt any of it.

I was going to see my mate after so long, and even if I felt mad at him, I couldn't wait to rush into his wide open arms and find the solace I've been deprived of for too long. That was all that mattered right now. Later, I would sulk about the pain and Finn would take care of me… or at least that was what I told myself until the conversation between the guards and I.

There were new faces… ones I knew nothing about, and they wouldn't let me in, so I asked for a familiar face. My late father's most trusted guard, Midas. He came immediately, but not just as a random guard. He had become the head guard, one of the generals. I felt relieved to my bones but it only lasted for a millisecond until I saw the slight look of displeasure when his eyes met mine.

“Princess Elsie…” he trailed off.

He had stopped calling me Elsie the moment my father died— He always called me Luna but right now…

It doesn't matter anyway. Princess or Luna. I'm right here, back home to my mate.

“It has been a long time, Midas. You look… good and well” I muttered amidst the discomfort that raked through my entire body.

He smiled awkwardly… the smile not even reaching his lashes. “It has.” He added, tone almost dismissive… or was it just me?

“The guards won't let me in, probably because they don't know me. But I know you would, so I called for you” I explained and he sighed, almost like my presence alone was a thorn in his side.

“I wouldn't” his response came. Sharp. Unrestrained.

“What?!” I exclaimed, feeling utterly confused and betrayed at his response.

“You don't really mean you're going to keep me locked out of my own house, do you?” I asked, hoping he laughed it off and say ‘Of course not, I was just pulling your legs’

“No one is allowed into the pack house without the Alpha's permission” he added and I scoffed, a full blown laugh almost erupting from my lips but I held back.

“I am no stranger in this palace, Midas. This is my house, this is where I grew up with the man that brought you into this palace! Is five years really enough to forget all that?” I half yelled, deeply sad that even after five years of extreme tribulation, things still aren't working in my favor the one day I needed them to work desperately.

I saw guilt flash in his eyes for a millisecond before he faced me again and repeated “I cannot let you in. It's the Alpha's order”

“That you should lock his mate out?” I pressed, confused about the entire scenario unfolding in front of me.

“Everyone… including you” he affirmed and my stomach sank but I held onto the sliver of hope.

He probably forgot that he bailed me out before giving such orders to keep strangers away… my theory didn't make sense to me but I still held onto it anyway. Finn wouldn't give a direct order to keep his mate out of the palace, out of her own home. Midas took his order the wrong way. I kept telling myself even though doubt crept onto the surface.

My defiant gaze flickered between the new guards as Midas turned to leave. I silently calculated my escape with the distance Midas would have gone if I were to execute my plan. I could outsmart these ones quite easily but it wouldn't be so easy with Midas lurking around. Especially not without my wolf.

He had always known my tricks of getting what I wanted even before I executed them in the past. Once he reached a safe distance, I took a long escape route, diverting the guards attention to blocking the path and once I succeeded in stealing their attention, I bolted back to the original path I had in mind.

With sore shaky feet and burning throat, I raced through the steps till I missed the guards. They might be stronger… but no one knew the palace and its walls as much as I do. No one except Margot, my sister.

Smiling at the small victory, I wandered through every entrance, my smile faltering with every artwork I saw on the walls of the palace.

They had been replaced.

My father's favorite paintings, which were also my favorite, had been replaced by Margot's terrible taste in artwork.

I felt a lump grow in my chest at the indescribable feeling of betrayal at the little change in all the artworks. However, my hope remained, unwavering, but it only lasted until I incessantly walked in on Finn and Margot in an extremely compromising position with Finn’s hand invisibly deep in Margot's skirt as she grind her hips against him sensually, her legs parting easily for his wandering hands.

I blinked back hot tears, my heart clogging with a pang of pain that threatened to consume me.

That was it?

The reason why Finn never showed up for five years?

The thought of Margot being the reason my mate hadn't come to see me pushed bile to my throat, forcing the hard restrained tears out of my eyes.

“Finn…” I trailed off, my voice a broken whisper. One that was clear enough to have his wide eyes rounding on me.