Chapter 2 Preposition

• Rosalind's POV
• Our kingdom, the Southern Gate Pack, was divided into two. The North and the South. Each ruled by a different prince.
• Things like that don't matter when you are on the street struggling for yours and your sibling's life.
• Until you met said prince and he saved your life.
• He looked at Ronny like he was filth and I wondered at how I had been unable to recognize it at first. That arrogant tilt to the chin, that gaze. The look of a prince who had the works at his feet.
• "I doubt a man like you can be of service to me. You seem to only be good at abusing women."
• His words were cold and clipped a sharp contrast to the way he had spoken to me and I watched Ronny shiver. His fear had a sharp acrid scent.
• "My prince, I promise it is not what you think. This woman is a slut and a thief unworthy of your supremacy's time. An omega who is unworthy of your presence."
• Ouch. That was uncalled for but I was an omega so this was normal behaviour.
• The prince growled. He actually sounded pissed on my behalf. I was ashamed to admit I have never been more turned on by a sound. This was crazy.
• Ronny backed away a few steps as though scared for his life, it was almost funny. Almost.
• The prince seemed to get a hold of his temper.
• "I will decide who is worthy of my time. A thief you said? What did she steal?"
• Ronny looked around shiftily, his movements all but announcing his lie.
• "Some bronze, my prince."
• "Bronze?" The prince seemed amused now. "And where were you when she was stealing this?"
• Ronny seemed more on the defensive side now. "Right there in the shop."
• "Watching her steal from you?"
• I stifled a grin at the panic on Ronnie's face. Oh, he hadn't thought that answer through. The crowd began to murmur obviously seeing the holes in his story now.
• Not that it had mattered to them a few seconds ago when they seemed intent on me being a slut and a whore.
• "No, she distracted me with her feminine wiles." Ronny sounded panicked now raising his voice to be heard over the murmurs.
• The prince arched an eyebrow and somehow even that looked even perfect. What was wrong with me? My wolf stirred in my chest and I could barely hear his next words over my heartbeat.
• "Was this before or after she slashed your face open and you tore her dress?"
• Ronny seemed to realize his gig was up and fell to the ground in supplication.
• "My prince have mercy!"
• The prince glared at him like he wanted to kill him and I saw his hands become claws.
• Impulsively, I took his hand. He looked at me with those hazel eyes and I was lost. We stared at each other for a few more seconds and his claws retracted.
• "It is not me you should ask but her. You will not only apologise to her in front of everyone but you will give her this bronze you claim she stole."
• Ronny obviously wanted to do nothing of that sorry but seeing the prince's countenance, he stood up and moved close to me.
• "I'm sorry." He muttered under his breath.
• This didn't satisfy the prince.
• "On your knees." The prince instructed.
• "But… but she is an omega?!" He seemed confused.
• I was as well. Omegas were treated as dirt. We were the lowest on the trophic chain where strength meant everything. Asking Ronny to kneel for me was unthinkable.
• The murmurs from the crowd rose. The prince could have cared less.
• "She is a citizen of this kingdom who you have accused unjustly. If you disagree with this, I can always have you executed."
• Ronny fell flat on his face grasping at my feet immediately. The fear of death would do that to a man. The crowd went silent. This was history being made.
• "Forgive me, I beg of you."
• "Tell me. Should I spare his life?" The prince asked me like my opinion actually mattered.
• I thought of how Ronny had backhanded me, almost raped me and somehow still found a way to pin the blame on me. Of how he would have ruined my reputation and made me a pleasure worker to feed his ego.
• I thought of the numerous women he must have done this to. But this was the districts where justice was a mirage and no one was an innocent here for long.
• If I did as I pleased, Bastien and I would be targeted. The prince would be in his castle soon enough leaving me to bear the consequences.
• "Please spare him, my prince."
• ******
• I was in a limousine. A black limousine. I had never seen anything like it in these parts. It felt soft and expensive. I felt out of place.
• "My prince, if you would permit me to leave, I do not wish to inconvenience you."
• I lowered my gaze as I spoke. There was a lesser chance of me swooning at his looks and the reaction of my body to him if I did so.
• "You can call me by my name though." He sounded amused.
• I looked up surprised again. He was nothing like the ruthless prince I had imagined from people's tales. The Northern prince was as frosty as ice, they said. I had never met anyone from the South but I imagined he would be the same as his brother.
• His hazel eyes twinkled with humour and his smile was simply breathtaking. I lowered my gaze again hastily.
• "That wouldn't be proper, my prince."
• Besides I didn't know his name. It wasn't exactly common knowledge. His smile faded slightly.
• "I suppose not." He looked at my hand that clutched his jacket to my bruised nape. He produced an ointment from one of the car compartments.
• "May I?"
• He wanted to apply ointment on me? A prince treating an omega? I must have hurt my head badly when Ronny backhanded me.
• I nodded and stayed still as he pushed down the jacket to see the full extent of my bruises. I heard his sharp intake of breath at the sight.
• "I should have killed him."
• "My prince."
• What else could I say to such a declaration that made me feel warm all over?
• "You are a good person for forgiving him so swiftly." He said softly, his voice as soothing as a lullaby with the most striking chord.
• I could listen to his voice all day. No, I couldn't. He was a prince, I wasn't even fit to wipe the dirt off his shoes.
• I tried to change the topic.
• "Thank you for everything."
• "I only did my duty." He dabbed the ointment on the bruises on my neck.
• I sucked in a breath sharply. His touch was doing things to me. If he didn't stop touching me, the scent of my arousal would soon be evident.
• "I can do this myself–"
• "I insist." He kept applying it as he spoke. "From what I can gather, that Ronny fellow is the worst of wolves. Why did you work for him?"
• What a question. It made the disparity in our classes obvious. Someone from the districts would not need to ask such needless questions.
• "Here in the districts, an orphan girl like me has two options. Menial work or the pleasure houses. Ronny is the best-paying among the contractors for menial work. So what if he abuses one or two women here and there?"
• He looked shocked. "That is illegal. There are many job opportunities created yearly for the districts and we also give out aids–"
• I laughed. "Job opportunities? Aids? My prince, those things never reach down here in the trenches."
• "Impossible. The council approved a budget weeks ago for this same purpose."
• This wasn't new. So the council siphoned some money meant for the low-class people. It was the way of the elite. I was only surprised the prince was unaware of this.
• "Those things are for the cities, the metropolis. The districts are the places the council forgets. And here anything goes."
• He still looked disturbed but it was getting late and Bastien would be worried sick.
• "I really appreciate your help but I must leave, my prince. I need to get home. If you would grant me your permission."
• The prince seemed… reluctant to let me go.
• "But… what will you do now? I wouldn't recommend you go back to working for Ronny."
• I smiled faintly. "I will find other work."
• "But you said you had to take care of your sibling and that Ronnie paid the best. How will you cope without his patronage?"
• "I will survive like I always have. Thank you for your concern."
• I reached for the door. The prince held my hand.
• "I could help you out."
• "Help me out?"
• "Tell me how much you need to be comfortable and I will have my men…"
• "Take your hand off me."