This is a little story I've been working on for a few weeks. It is a finished piece and I will be uploading chapters (7) at weekly intervals. Please enjoy.

Chapter One – The Wolf Within the Child

"Bring me the wolf child." The Dark Queen ordered her servant who stood in the corner of the room. The young woman jumped to action quickly and Regina lounged comfortably in her throne. She tapped her fingers on the intricately carved wood as she waited. Moments later when the servant returned she was led by a jumping and giggling young girl with long, thick, dark hair who looked much older than her age. The six year old was all long limbs and bony joints. Her recent growth spurts causing her to look more grown than she was.

"Regina!" She exclaimed with excitement and tried to run toward her but she was yanked back by the silver collar around her neck. She fell backwards and grunted loudly. She was not easily deterred as she stood up again and urged the servant forward. Regina contained the smile that threatened to spill over her lips as she stood from her chair.

"Hello child." She greeted. The youth smiled broadly. The Dark Queen looked over the child and noticed her face was streaked with dirt and her dress was torn, her hair was matted and she had a split lip but she seemed unfazed by her physical distress.

"You were running in my woods again, little one. I warned you." She eyed the girl.

"I know! I got away from Granny; she never lets me have any fun." She pouted slightly.

"What is your name, child?" The Queen asked.

"Everyone calls me Red." She answered.

"Well, I shall call you Ruby; because you are as beautiful as the very gem it is named." Regina made a show of reaching behind the girl's ear and brushing back her hair only to bring her hand in front of her face with a small ruby ring clutched between her fingers.

"Here, it's a gift, a ruby for Ruby." The Queen smiled. Ruby grinned widely and allowed the Queen to slip it onto her finger.

"Oh! It's so beautiful; thank you!" She exclaimed.

"Now Ruby, this is a very special gift, when you wear this ring it will allow you to control when you turn into a wolf." Regina informed her as the girl inspected the ring. "You will not be able to remove it. Only I will have that ability."

"I won't change during wolfstime?" Ruby asked softly.

"No child, with my gift you can change any time you choose." The Queen took a few steps back.

"I want you to change into a wolf now, Ruby. Think about it, how it feels." She instructed. The girl looked at the Queen blankly.

"What is it?" Regina questioned trying to reign in her annoyance.

"I don't want to hurt anyone." Ruby pouted. Regina softened immediately.

"Dear, you won't hurt anyone. I'm going to teach you how to control the wolf, and that starts by controlling when you turn. Can you be a brave girl now?" Ruby's face changed and the Queen could see how determined the young girl was.

"I am a brave girl." She insisted.

"Good, now, I want you to turn into a wolf." Regina backed up again. Ruby closed her eyes and clenched her fists and concentrated very hard on changing. Unfortunately, nothing happened. Regina sighed. She held her hand out for the end of the leash and the servant gave it over.

"Millie, bring Anita here, I think it's about time we had a little family reunion." The Queen ordered and Millie followed the instructions immediately and thus the Queen was left with the little girl who could change into a wolf. Ruby stared up at her with interest on her features.

"Granny says I need to call you Your Majesty when I address you." She said quietly. Regina smirked.

"Your Granny is a wise woman." She replied to the girl.

"But, I like your name." Ruby insisted. Regina concealed the smirk on her lips.

"I hereby give you permission to call me Regina." The Queen nodded her head softly.

"Oh, thank you Regina!" Ruby squealed and threw her thin arms around the Queen's waist. Regina couldn't hold in her laughter and she chuckled as she patted the girl's head.

"You're very welcome, my dear."

"Rose Red?" Both the little girl and the Queen turned at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. A thin and pale woman stood at the door beside Millie. Her face was completely shocked as she stared at Ruby. The girl was frightened and stepped slightly behind the Queen's skirts.

"Ruby, come out darling, this is someone I want you to meet." Regina guided the girl out.

"You named my daughter?" Anita's face suddenly transformed to anger.

"Anita, I've merely given your daughter a lovely nickname." Regina said regally.

"Who gave you any right?" Anita stormed forward before suddenly being lifted into the air. She struggled against the invisible bonds before coming to the conclusion that it was futile.

"I have every right to do as I wish. I am your Queen and it would be in your best interest to remember that!" Regina's voice was low with anger.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Anita bowed her head; her black hair fell in front of her face. Regina smiled pleasantly as she lowered the woman to the ground. As Anita's feet touched the floor she flipped her hair back and her eyes were bright yellow.

"Control yourself, Anita." Regina nodded to the young girl standing partially behind her shielded by her skirts. The woman froze and her eyes darted to Ruby. She straightened her back and lifted her chin defiantly.

"Of course." She responded as her eyes faded back to hazel. Regina turned to face Ruby.

"Child, this woman, this is Anita. She is your mother." The Queen told the girl. Ruby's brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced back and forth between Regina and Anita.

"My mother died."

"No baby!" Anita stepped forward and spoke softly. "I am alive; your grandmother has been lying to you to keep you from me." She insisted. Ruby shuffled closer to the Queen and grabbed at her skirt.

"I don't believe her." She sounded as if she were about to cry. Regina bent down and locked eyes with the child.

"Do you believe me? Do you trust me, Ruby? You know I would do nothing to hurt you, correct?" Regina asked her quietly. Ruby looked past the Queen at the strange and nodded her head unsurely.

"I trust you, Regina." She said. The Queen nodded and straightened up.

"Good, then you trust me when I say that this woman is your mother. She can help you change into a wolf." Anita's nostrils flared at the information.

"You want me to teach my daughter, a child, how to change on command?" The woman said in outrage; seemingly just noticing the collar and leash linking the girl to the Queen.

"You are treating her like an animal." Anita hissed. Her eyes turned yellow again and Regina could tell it was too late to compose the woman. She briefly considered transporting Ruby and herself away from the room but on a second thought she decided to let the events play out. Anita launched herself at Regina but before she could do anything the leash was ripped from her hand and there was a sound of an impact and squealing and snarling. Before Regina's eyes two wolves fought each other. Ruby may have been a child, but a six year old wolf is full grown and she fought easily with her mother. There was a loud squeal and the injured wolf backed up and Ruby stood in front of Regina in a protective stance. Both wolves changed back and Regina waved her hand so that both were clothed. Anita had a large gash in her side and she covered the bleeding wounds on her cheek with her hand. The little girl continued to stand in front of Regina glaring at her mother.

"You dare harm my Queen!" The girl yelled. Regina stared at the back of her head in shock. "You are not my mother." She hissed. Anita, if possible, looked even more wounded by the child's words than gouge under her ribs.

"Millie!" Regina barked. "Take Anita and bandage her wounds before sending her back to her rooms." She ordered. The girl jumped to action quickly and Anita followed from the room.

"I did it! I changed! Did you see me?" Ruby swirled around and started jumping up and down.

"I did see you, child, you did a very good job." She watched Ruby look down at her dress and slide her hands over the rich material.

"This is a very pretty dress." She complimented.

"Ruby," The Queen said bending down to be at eye level with her. "I have a proposition for you."

"A proposition?" Ruby asked, unfamiliar with the word.

"Like a deal." She explained. "I want you to stay here, in my castle, you can have all the pretty dresses you want and I will raise you as a princess, would you like that?"

"Oh yes!" Ruby grinned. "I would love that! I've always wanted to be a princess," she said overjoyed before pausing, "but what about Granny?" The girl asked.

"Your Granny will be provided for; I will give her an abundance of wealth." The Queen promised. Ruby seemed to think it over.

"Will I be allowed to see her?" The girl worried.

"You may visit your grandmother once a month." The Queen nodded her head once.

"And you'll teach me how to control my wolf?" She asked. Regina smiled, dazzling the young girl.

"Of course, dear." Regina assured. The girl smiled back at her.

"Okay!" She answered. "I'll stay here with you!" She threw her arms around Regina's neck and the Queen let out a hearty laugh. She hadn't felt a laugh this real since him.

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