The Alpha’s Prize

~Hunter

Sinking to my knees, I thrust my head under the surface of the water, scrubbing at my face and neck.

What a miserable few days it has been, running for my life.

Emerging above the surface, I tilt my head back, letting the dappled light shift over my face as I breathe in the balmy mid-afternoon air.

I'm in another Pack now, far from him.

He will be tracking me though. I need to keep moving.

I continue walking, weaving through the woods, grateful for the easy terrain. The lush forest floor has slowly morphed into flat grass, blissful to wander over.

My destination is still unknown. As far away as possible, and although I'm tired, far is still weeks away on foot.

My wary legs, blistering feet and sunburnt skin is irrelevant. No distance put between us will ever be enough.

"Hey!"

I pause, my breath catching in my throat.

Dread, cold and bitter claws my skin as I slowly turn toward the origin of the voice, assuming the worst.

A girl stands a few feet from me, staring at me with widened eyes. She looks more fearful of me than I her. Her hands are braced out in front of her, one holding a dagger.

"You can't be out here, it's a restricted area," she says uneasily, trying to force some confidence into her voice, although it wavers regardless.

I back up a tentative step. This is not good.

I’m weak - too weak to fight. Her figure is lithe, void of muscle and tone. And yet, the true fear at the sight of me allows me to conclude that I don’t want to risk a confrontation.

Backtracking, however, would hurt my progress immensely, and give him time to gain on me...

I flinch, ready to flee, but the emergence of another figure appearing at the girl's side has me stopping.

It's a man, tall and dressed in gear I am envious of. I could do with that, to track through here elusively, and having that bow he wields wouldn't hurt either.

But with it loaded and pointing straight at me, I'd be lucky to get out of here with my life, let alone with any of his belongings.

"Stop right now, otherwise you will have to speak to the law of these lands," he growls, the pure authority of his tone rumbling through me.

Both their accents are vaguely similar to mine, although it's altered to suit their differing Pack.

I can't respond, any excuse lost on my lips.

They don't appear to recgonise me, thankfully. My hair is stark white - a trait my mother gifted me. Now it's a curse, considering it was what I was known for as the Alpha’s daughter in my home Pack.

Now, I keep it pinned back beneath my hood.

"What's your name?" the girl asks tentatively.

"I don't have one," I respond after a moment of tense silence. I’m biding my time.

The pair exchange glances.

The man looks more than willing to shoot me, his stance and impressive stature suggesting he is a skilled fighter…

And a merciless one too. His arms and fingers don’t so much as tremble from the exertion of holding that position.

"Everyone has a name. Lie to us again and I will shoot you," the man growls.

"Kaan, stop," the girl admonishes softly.

Related, I realise. They are related - likely brother and sister, considering they share a sharp, stunning facial bone structure, and their eyes are a similar green colour.

I take a slow step back. "Are you the authorities?"

The two exchange another glance, and the girl's lips quirk up slightly. "To some extent."

"I will leave. Which way shall I go?"

The man's gaze drops, blatantly looking over me as if he can decipher where I came from. He probably could too, but he makes no indication that he recognises me.

"The way you came," he mutters.

I look back from where I came, the soft grass trampled from my footsteps. I can't backtrack, not when my absence will be noted by now.

"I can't..." I say quietly.

It's not like I can explain it to them either. No one can be trusted to keep this information in their confidence, and if they really are the authorities, they will report my whereabouts straight to those pursuing me.

"You cannot cross into this territory this way. You must do so further down the border," Kaan explains, still keeping that arrow pointed straight at me.

Where he not such a terrifying sight, I may have found him attractive.

"You can't just let me through me?" I'm ready to beg.

The girl looks up at her brother. "Come on Kaan, she's not doing any harm."

"Anyone out in these parts alone, without authorisation, cannot be harmless," he tells her, never once lightening his gaze as it pins me.

It sounds as though he is teaching her, although she can't be much younger than him. In fact, she looks around my age.

"I can assure you I mean no harm. I'm only passing through this territory," I assure him.

"Tell us where you come from, and we will consider letting you through," the girl offers.

I shake my head. Lying comes to mind, but it's not followed by anything substantial enough to offer them. And with that arrow pointed straight at me, it's hard to think of anything other than getting out of this alive.

"I can't..." I repeat.

Kaan tilts his head slightly at the girl, almost looking to see if she would be upset if he shot me. "I'm afraid we are going to have to arrest you."

No. I can't let that happen.

I don't think, as I turn, dashing into the forest.

I can hear them pursuing me with hurried steps, although they are hardly as desperate as I am, as I jump over fallen logs, pushing through the underbrush as I make a frantic dash for my escape.

I'm almost convinced I'm successful, as the sound of their footsteps vanish, until something hits me in the back, and I go flying forward, landing amidst the grass, pain blooming from...from where I've been shot.

He shot me.

In the back, a burning sensation grows from the wound, the pain so overwhelming I can feel darkness creeping into my vision.

"No," I grit out, crawling through the grass, dragging the limp end of my body forward.

It's no use, my vision turning blurry, vibrant greens and mellow browns melting into one before darkness swallows me whole, and I fall unconscious.