House Astor: A Short Story

Home.

Her pack had lived here for centuries. What had once been a beautiful empty cavern, was now an even more beautiful city, carved into the rock and crystals of the cave, fashioned around a clear pool of water that spread to the rock's edge, crashing over in gorgeous waterfall's. It had taken many decades to create the home they lived in now, when the first ancestors stumbled upon this beauty. And now it was Tatiana of House Astor, daughter of King Issac home.

She knew every stone road carved between the shops and homes. She knew every secret path, every hall within the walls of the cavern. Only a portion of the city remained in the cavern. More was built into the walls, pathways to get across the city, underneath it, or above it. They had centuries to build their magnificent city, including the palace that had been carved in the
The doors to the palace rarely opened unless they were having guests, or were opening the palace to their people, their clan. Tatiana slipped through and thanked them, then strode off.

She needed no guard, nor no weapon. She was a werewolf, of pure royal blood. At her command any in her clan would bend to her will, as she was Alphaborn. Meaning she was her father's daughter, and heir to his throne. But even without this stature, Tatiana was a strong willed wolf, and let no one bully her. As she stepped through the streets many bowed or wished her a well morning, all recognizing her for the princess she was. She never halted in her steps though, leaving passing words of thanks as she walked by. The young wolf was on a mission, and she knew her time was limited.

Stepping up to a store front, she smiled at the sign before stepping in, the door creaking open. There was one person she could not go without seeing, one of the few in this clan that saw her for just Tatiana, not for the royal blood pumping through her