Hunter vs Hunted Moonlight

A/N: Hi there! I'm Kari and welcome to my world! This is the first original story that I have ever written and I'm super excited to be sharing it with you. If you love it, drop a vote! If you have some comments on it, don't be afraid to speak out! I'm always listening for feedback and can't wait to see where this story goes. Without further ado, welcome to the Kingdom of Malmore.

Donovan

The King growled at his head of security slamming the file he had in his hand on the desk, "Fifteen years, full funding, full resources, and this is all you have to show for?! Absolutely nothing?!"

The Panther lowered his head in submission, "I apologize, Sire, but we have looked everywhere for the cub and have found no trace of her anywhere, much less alive."

Donovan hissed through his teeth, "Then look harder. That little brat has to be out there somewhere, I don't care if you bring back a picture of a rotting corpse or a skeleton. I want results. Now leave and go do something productive and useful."

The Panther and the three other shifters with him bowed and exited the room quietly.

"My love, why fret over your brother's missing child? It's been fifteen years, she has to be dead by now." A voice off to the side purred.

He looked over to where his wife stood by the window overlooking the palace grounds. She slinked her way over to him and draped herself on his side.

He closed his eyes, annoyed at having to explain himself again, "We don't know that for sure. I need to know if she's dead. With the possibility of her still being alive, my claim to the throne is invalid. Then all of this would be lost, " He whirled around and grabbed his wife by the throat, "And the only way my claim would be solidified is if you give me an heir, BUT YOU HAVE FAILED TO GIVE ME EVEN THAT!" He tossed her aside, her body slamming up against the wall and crumbling to the floor.

"I-I-I'm sorry my love, I've tried-" She whimpered, curling in on herself and averting her eyes, voice small and thick with fear.

He roared at her, feeling his claws and teeth lengthening, "I am not your love. I am your Alpha you stupid bitch! You don't even deserve to be called bitch, because a true bitch breeds" He stalked over to her, pulling her up by her neck and snapping his teeth close to her face.

She struggled to breathe and croaked out, "I'm...I'm sorry Alpha."

He tightened his grip, his claws pricking her skin and drawing blood, "So should I find another bitch to carry my heir? One stronger than your pathetic existence, one that will spread her legs for me and breed my son, one that wont lose every single child I put in her?!"

He snarled and tightened his hand around her neck. He could feel his shift very close to taking over, being fueled by the thick waves of fear rolling off his wife. She was terrified of him, her eyes wide and her hands struggling to free her from his death grip. His snarl turned into a grin as he enjoyed how she struggled to get away, how fragile she felt under his claws, how with one flex of his hand he could kill her.

"Alpha...please..." She went limp, eyes submitting to him.

With a growl, he released his hold on her, watching with red eyes as she slumped down to the ground. She kept her eyes down but bared her throat, the ultimate sign of submission a wolf could give. He let out a low rumble, pleased by how easily she would submit to him. He ran a clawed hand along her throat, enjoying the slight tremble of fear she gave.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, I let my temper get the best of me. But you must understand, I need you to breed an heir, that's the only way we can continue to be King and Queen. The other Kingdoms keep asking questions about the death of my brother, about the legitimacy of my reign, they won't surrender to me. I have to take them by force, which spills so much precious shifter blood, if I had an heir, they would bow down to me without hesitation, and chant "Long live King Donovan, long live the Prince". Isn't that what you want, sweetheart? To be praised as the Queen that provided the next heir?" He purred, kneeling down to his wife, petting her hair and pulling her into his lap.

She curled into his touch, "I try my Alpha. I try to bear your heir...I will try harder for you, my King."

He cradled her like a baby, and stood up, easily lifting her with him, "You need your rest before we try again. I need my Queen to be fully rested and healthy to carry my son."

His wife was curled against his chest, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Donovan rumbled low in his throat and carried her out of his study to the hallway. Servants saw him and quickly averted their eyes and bowed to him as he made his way to his room. A fox maid he had never seen before opened the door for him, head bowed and stance submissive. He placed his wife on their bed, tucking the blankets around her and placing a brief kiss on her forehead.

"I expect my Queen to be well rested when I return. I will be back after dinner, you are to ask the servants for your food and stay here at all times, understood?" Donovan raised an eyebrow, trying to read her expression if she was going to continue to be submissive, or if she was going to have to be put back in her place again.

She continued to look down at the comforter, "Yes, Alpha."

He exited the room and locked the door behind him, "Make sure she doesn't leave this room, bring her lunch and dinner and use the servant's entrance for fuck's sake. I will be back late, make sure my dinner is brought here instead of the dining hall, " He commanded the young fox standing next to his door.

The fox nodded and bowed her head, "I understand, Alpha. Is there anything else you would like me to do?"

Donovan touched the young girl's cheek and forced her to lift her head and meet his eyes, "Such a pretty and submissive young thing. You're new here aren't you? What do I call you?"

Her expression paled and heartbeat quickened, "Vixen, your majesty. I just arrived yesterday...to replace the other maid that fell."

Donovan smiled, remembering the memory vividly, "Ah yes, such a shame that the human fell. They're so breakable...but you my sweet Vixen. You aren't so breakable are you?, " He hummed and continued to stroke her cheek, seemingly in a trance by how soft her skin was, "No...if only you were the right species to breed my heir...but I can't have a Halfling ruling my kingdom...no matter, I can still have my fun with you." He grabbed her chin roughly, eliciting a gasp from her and the sweet smell of fear to taint the air.

"Donovan! Let the poor girl go, we barely have enough help as it is. I don't want you scaring off another one." A voice called out to him from the stairs.

He let out a low growl before letting go of the maid, "Jameson, why don't you ever let me have my fun?"

Jameson walked up to him with a smile plastered on his face, "Because it is my job to make sure your...appetite doesn't get you in trouble." The Spark was dressed professionally, a black suit with a small pendant signifying his status as the King's Spark. "Run along little one. Do as you're told before the big, bad wolf eats you up."

The fox bowed and quickly disappeared down the hallway. Donovan's gaze followed her until Jameson cleared his throat.

"Yes, Jameson?" He bit out, annoyed at his adviser.

"Deadlines my King, deadlines. Lots to do in so little time, you will have more time later to harass your servants but for now, if you may follow me we have a guest in the downstairs study." With a snap of his fingers, a large booklet appeared in his hands. He opened it and began rambling off the meetings and press coverage they would have to do that day.

The words droned out to background noise as he studied the portraits along the hallway. All the past Kings and Queens looked down on him, their eyes staring blankly back at the pair as they made their way to the study. Donovan paused as he reached his brother's portrait, steely brown eyes holding him in place. His brother was dressed in his uniform, making his tanned skin appear darker as the dark blue jacket and slacks blended with his skin. Marcus' medals were pinned on his chest, his rank and shifting form on his arm, a dark furred cape draped on one shoulder, and his crown shining brightly on his head. His brother was standing with a hand resting on his wife's shoulder. A fair skinned woman with pale hazel eyes, her long dark hair pulled back, revealing her heart shaped face and slender neck. She was dressed in a lavish gown made of royal blue cloth to match her husband's uniform. Her crown laid delicately on her head, and a soft smile on her lips.

Donovan hated both of them.

"King Marcus and Queen Mae, a tragedy they were lost so soon into their reign, so young and full of life. Shame they didn't have a child, but then I would be advising a child...no matter, I don't like children anyway. And can you imagine having all of the Kingdoms united under a child's rule? Headache after headache, and the crown would have either been rich or bled dry." Jameson never lifted his eyes from the agenda in his hands, merely rambling his thoughts to avoid complete silence.

"The child would have been of age by now, you wouldn't be advising a child but a ruler of a united kingdom to wage a war against the rebels. Jameson, are you trying to anger me?" Donovan turned his gaze from the portrait to the Spark standing next to him.

Jameson flicked his eyes up to the King, snapping the booklet shut and tucking it under his arm, "Not intentionally, but you could have at least clued me into your grand plan to murder your brother and his supposedly dead wife so that I could create a nice front for you. Instead, you acted on your own and now here we are, meeting with the Tacoma Princess to beg her to unite with us to go up against the Greenland King and continue your rampage across the land until you are King of everything. This could have been much easier with much less bloodshed and much less headaches on my part, Donovan."

He growled, "Watch your tone with me, Spark. I am still your King."

Jameson rolled his eyes, "You don't scare me, Donovan. And you would be dead without me. Need I remind you, I was the one who helped you poison your father, locate your brother, and keep your mother locked in a tower? I'm the only reason why your pretty little head is still on your shoulders with a crown on it. Without me, you would have been over thrown three times and killed about a hundred more times, twenty-five of those by your own mother. Go ahead, kill me, and see how long you will survive."

Donovan swallowed hard, without the clever Spark, he would be killed in an instant. He owed much of his success and power to his advisor, and while everyone else was replaceable, Jameson wasn't. "Why are we meeting with the Tacoma brat instead of the King?"

His advisor sighed, clearly annoyed that everything he said had no effect on the power hungry king, "King Ryder and Queen Ann are busy dealing with matters in their own kingdom. They sent Amelia so that she may gain experience to take over when her parents step down. Amelia is a Halfling, half fox and half human and you are not to comment. She may seem young and impressionable, but she has her mother's wit and her father's sharp tongue. If we want Tacoma, we have to be civil, Donny."

He growled and continued down the hallway, his cape fluttering out behind him, "And after we meet with the Halfling?"

Jameson caught up quickly, opening the agenda again, "Let's see, after Amelia we have to plan your birthday tournament at the King's Arena, I have a list of fighters for you to choose from, and they are a really great bunch if I do say so myself. Then we break for lunch, have an interview about the anniversary of the death of your brother, and a meeting with the council about the treaties with the other kingdoms. After the meeting you are free to do as you wish, but please do keep away from the young girl."

The King rolled his eyes, he hated having to put up his front of a heart broken little brother and cry false tears for Marcus. But having to deal with fake emotions and with the dusty, old, Council of Elders, Donovan wished he could kill them all with a swipe of his claws. "Having to deal with all of the treaties falling through, I haven't been able to keep up with the askar fights like I normally do. And you know how much I love my askars, make sure you clear that week of the tournament Jameson. I want to be completely dedicated to the fights, not distracted by any of this mess with the kingdoms. Bring the folder of the fighters to the Dining Hall, I'll look them over while I enjoy my meal. Cut the amount of time I have to spend in the interview and I will meet with the Council as they wish."

His Spark quickly noted the changes and called over a servant that was standing off to the side. "Take this to the reporter in the throne room, and tell the chefs in the kitchen to have lunch served in the Hall."

Once they were alone, they continued in silence down until they came up to the closed door of one of the various studies located in the palace. Donovan hesitated, not wanting to go in and beg the Halfling just yet. He took a deep breath and calmed his inner wolf, silencing all the rumbling growls in the back of his mind. He could feel Jameson's eyes observing him, hand on the doorknob, waiting to see the fa?ade King appear.

He nodded once at Jameson, signaling him he was ready. Jameson opened the door and held it open for Donovan to walk through. He saw the Halfling princess laughing and speaking to the guards about a recent scandal dealing with a prince from the Rantock Islands. He focused his gaze on the guards and cleared his throat, catching the attention of the room.

"Princess Amelia, are these guards bothering you?" Donovan's voice chilled the air in the room.

The guards stiffened, immediately bowing and returning to their positions near the doors and windows. He flicked his attention to the princess, seeing her once warm smile harden into what Donovan called "the royal smile". The Halfling was fair skinned, with her red hair was in soft curls, framing her face and making her green eyes appear colder. She smoothed out the folds of her dress, but her eyes never leaving Donovan's. She was going to be a challenge.

"King Donovan, no these guards were not bothering me at all. They were merely keeping me company while I waited. I assume you did not expect to find me here?" She addressed him, her smile never wavering, and becoming more and more confident that she had caught the King off guard.

Donovan strode to the desk and sat down in his seat, gesturing for Amelia to take the chair in front of his. "Oh no, I was well aware of your presence here rather than your parents. Jameson could sense you the minute you walked in the door; it's rather handy having a Spark as an assistant. Please, sit. We have lots to discuss, with so little time."

He noticed her confidence slip a little as she sat in front of him, her hands clasped in her lap. "My father mentioned a treaty that you were proposing. A temporary treaty, giving you full use of my army so that you may overthrow King Bishop from Greenland?"

Donovan smiled coldly, "Yes that is correct, but it is not yet your army, Miss Amelia. You are not yet Queen." He enjoyed the game the little Halfling started.

Her eyes hardened, "I do believe they are still just as much my army as they are my parent's army. It's why they were comfortable with sending me, rather than postponing this meeting, Your Highness. Now, I do believe the use of my army is only beneficial to one side, and that is yours. Why should my kingdom help yours if this is your war, not mine."

He leaned back in his chair, "I merely wish to unite the kingdoms as my brother had wanted. This land was never meant to stand alone, not with the increase of attacks of the Roanoke clan. Together we stand a chance to finally eliminate our common enemy. With them gone, all of the exports and imports will no longer be harassed or stolen by those thieves. Plus your forests will be safe to begin the lumber industry again. That can't be accomplished without Tacoma's help. Besides, do you really want Sir Bishop to continue the weapons trade between his armory and the Roanokes?"

She nodded once, "You bring up valid points, but do you have proof that Greenland is supplying the Roanokes? My father heard that it was you funneling them weapons."

He raised an eyebrow, "And where did that rumor come from?" He glanced at Jameson who was standing off to the side, watching the encounter closely. Jameson caught his glance and nodded, opening the drawer in which the swords he planted on a Roanoke were stored.

Amelia noticed the movement and focused her attention on Jameson, "We heard the servants talking one night. It appears one of yours transferred with one of mine. We thought nothing of it at first, but it doesn't harm anyone to be safe."

Jameson placed the weapons on the desk in between them. "These were confiscated two days ago from the port, three of them tried to hijack a ship headed to the Islands. Notice the markings on the pommel? Traditional Roanoke markings, nothing different, it was the markings on the blade itself that we found interesting. Normally, blacksmiths leave their own mark when making the blade, and when they are stolen, the blades are reheated and the mark hammered out. These had the Greenland court blacksmith symbol still stamped on to them, and when we questioned the hijackers, all they said was that "Bishop sent his greetings" and refused to speak."

Donovan waved Jameson away after his explanation, "So you see Miss Amelia, it is not I who supplies the Roanokes, but Bishop. If he continues with this, it won't be long before he declares war and allies with the Roanokes. And I will not stand down to a King who works with thieves."

Amelia nodded again, "I'm sorry King Donovan, I didn't mean to offend you, but you do have very valid points. If you wish to have access to my army, you must understand that my kingdom will not unite with you. I will not surrender my crown to you. You may use my army but that is all. And you will only be using half of my army, I do not see why you would need full use of mine if you have yours and the Terra's army under your command."