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.

~Hunter

I awake slowly, my numb arm rolling under me as I turn, blinking through the mellow light that guides me back into a state of wakefulness.

Distantly, I feel pain in my middle back, pressing in as more consciousness dawns on me. My senses are too distracted to truly accept the pain, a cloying scent of flowers muddled with dirt surrounding me.

"Oh...You're awake."

I blink, feeling the soft press of a pillow beneath my head, of blankets draped over me. I'm not outside...I'm not in the forest.

I'm inside. Trapped.

My attempts to sit up are quickly thwarted by the stabbing pain in my back.

I was shot, by an arrow, and by the chemical taste on the back of my tongue, it was laced with poison.

"What's going on," I grit out, as a face pops into my vision from the side of the bed.

It's the girl from the forest. I growl, trying to move, but the pain in my back is so overwhelming I'm left paralysed.

"Woah, you should calm down, you don't want to exert so much energy," she warns, patting my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me.

"You poisoned me," I grit out. That has to explain the inexplicable burning sensation in my back.

"No, Kaan did...my brother, I mean," she tells me, flustered. "You have had an antidote."

So they are siblings. Wonderful.

"How long have I been out?" I question.

Turning my head, I see a myriad of flower bouquets tucked into crystal vases littered all about the room. It looks like a funeral, like my death was assured, and yet I'm conscious.

Unfortunately, because that smell is hideous.

"About a week and a half." The girl admits, chewing the edge of her nail.

She appears so meek, so unnerved by me.

I stiffen, my eyes widening. Over a week? They will be right on my tail by now...

"I need to leave," I insist, trying to drag my wary body from the bed, but it protests wildly. Pain racks over my limbs, so intense my head spins as I weakly sink back into the pillow.

"No, you're weak, it's going to take you some time to build your strength up again," Taysa explains. "The poison is serious, and we got the antidote to you late."

"I feel fine..."

No, I don't. But I'll crawl from his place if I have to.

I mean, what kind of hell dimension have I fell into that includes a room full of tacky flowers and a lingering girl who is part of the reason I'm here in the first place?

"Your immune system will be so weak, you'll walk outside and get sick instantly. If you even have the strength to walk out of here."

I feel over my person, noting the frail gown draped over me and the lack of my personal belongings.

"Where are my weapons?"

"Kaan took them away," Tay admits. "Not that you can use them..."

I grit my teeth tightly. The exact last person I need to have their hands on my weapons. He shot me in the spine, and soon, he's going to pay.

"I'm going to find your brother, and I'm going to kill him," I announce.

"No, he shot you because he is protective of me, that's all," she insists, looking panicked. "No one is going to hurt you anymore, and maybe I can get him to consider apologising."

Consider apologising? He shot me!

"I'm still going to kill him," I growl. I want to wrap my hands around his neck and end his life for putting me in this position.

Tay blinks, grasping at a way to distract me. "Do you have a name?"

I already decided on my new name before I even left.

"Hunter."

"I'm Taysa," she greets, as if I haven't already heard her brother say it. "I'm sorry if I'm a lot to handle, I can't remember the last time I spoke to someone may age."

"Seriously?"

"Mother and father don't like me mixing with others...Like, that don't have Alpha blood, you know?" She admits, twirling the end of her fawn brown hair around her finger.

My entire world seems to slow down as a million thoughts stream through my brain.

"You're related to an Alpha?"

"Well, yeah, did you not know?" She asks, face blank. "I'm the Alpha's sister, and my brother is the Alpha."

This can't be happening.

"I need to leave," I whisper, scrambling through the sheets, although my legs refuse to move at natural pace, as if I'm dragging them through mud.

"You can't leave, you know that. It's going to take a bit of rehabilitation for you to feel good enough to leave," she babbles. "My parents don't mind that you're here, they are very upset at Kaan for shooting you, as it looks bad on them."

I sink deep into the pillows. "Great."

"Kaan only became Alpha within the last year. My parents still think they can control him," Taysa mutters, picking at a stray string on the duvet.

I scrunch my nose up. I've been in close contact with Alpha's my entire life...

How could I not tell he was one?

"He seems to know what he's doing," I mumble, wiggling my toes, trying to will more movement into my body. A miraculous recovery would be great right now.

"Yes...he can be harsh, but he's the kindest man I know," she assures me.

I roll my eyes. "Kind people don't shoot others in the back."

This injury could take weeks to recover from. The problem is, I don't have weeks. I have hours, if not minutes to escape. There will never be enough distance put between him and I, even if I run forever.

"He's defensive of his Pack," Taysa exclaims uneasily, rubbing her arm.

I narrow my eyes, examining her face. She is avoiding eye contact, like there is more she wants to say, but is resisting the urge.

"Hmm. I know the type."

"His future mate, or wife or whatever is going to be very lucky." Her once averted gaze is now pinned on me, grinning wryly.

"What are you hinting at?" I question.

"Nothing!" She wipes her mouth, trying to smother her smile, although she doesn't seem to have much luck. "You are very beautiful by the way."

My eyes flutter closed. This girl is either genuinely nice or insane. Either way, I don't have time to figure it out.

"I need to get out of here," I mutter.

"Stay?" She pouts. "I don't have any other friends, except for my sister but even she doesn't like to put up with me."

Hmm. I wonder why.

I realise I'm being harsh, but I don't know this girl, and I don't particularly care to get to know her. Her large doe eyes and easy smile is warm enough, but my intentions are to leave swiftly with no trace left behind.

"Any other siblings I should know about?" Sounds like this family can't get anymore nightmarish.

"No, just Kaan and Azura," Tay explains. "Azura is mute though, so I wouldn't try talking to her. She's also illiterate."

"I guess I have no other choice but to stay here. But the moment I'm better, I'm leaving," I mutter.

Not after killing your brother, though.

She grins, smoothing her hands over the edge of the quilt atop me. "Of course."

"And I'm kicking your brother's ass the second I see him," I add.

"Honestly, I'd love to see it."

And see she will.

~Hunter

I stare at the ceiling, jaw tightly clenched.

This went wrong. So terribly wrong.

I'm stuck here, at the mercy of a ditzy girl in the home of others related to the Alpha. There is someone that can't know where I am, and the longer I am here, the more at risk I am of being hunted down again.

I feel as though I'm just sitting, waiting for him to show up.

The moment I'm healed, I'm out of here, but not before killing the Alpha.

I don't know this Alpha, but I know that they will happily hand me over to my pursuers. And because I'm injured, I won't be able to escape him either...

The bedroom door opening has me sitting up.

It's him...Kaan.

The hunting attire he was once wearing is gone, replaced by a neatly pressed tunic. He looks more like an Alpha, with his deep brown curls neatly placed, his skin smooth and unmarred.

It's the hidden muscle I noted beneath his clothing that deceived me into thinking he was more than a royal.

"Come any closer and I kill you," I warn, pressing my back into the wood-carved headboard.

He stalks in, thumb playing with a silver ring on his index finger. His sharp green eyes survey me, likely not impressed by my bed-ridden state.

I'm more concerned for him finishing me off than terrible I currently look.

"Don't be so dramatic," he mutters, looking around the room distastefully.

By the way his nose scrunches up, he isn't impressed by the cloying smell in here coming from all the wilting flowers. To be fair, neither am I.

"You shot me. You're the reason I'm stuck here," I snap. I get the feeling he's as arrogant as every Alpha I've ever met, and feels entitled to kill me if I become a liability.

"You were in dangerous lands. I was telling you to leave, or to announce yourself."

"If they are so dangerous, why were you out there?" What could possibly be dangerous here? I've heard little about this small Kingdom for a reason.

I was hoping I would just pass through it. So much for that.

"My sister and I were hunting," he comments. I watch him pluck a petal from a blush pink rose. He runs it between his fingers as he watches me.

"Hunting for innocent people to shoot in the back?" I retort.

His lips curve up ever so slightly. "Animals, actually. My sister doesn't know much about the forbidden lands, and as the Alpha's sister, she needed to learn."

Forbidden lands? That sounds ominous, despite the environment being anything such.

Still, an animal hunter doesn't carry poisonous arrows. There was something else out there that they were hunting.

"What is so forbidden about that land? It looked fine to me."

I'm not interested in chatting with him, but I am curious. At home we had no such thing, but varying Pack's operate differently.

He gives me a hard look. "Am I supposed to believe that you are completely unaware of the lands your entered into."

I clutch the sheets tightly. "Shooting me in the back was not a fair reaction."

He raises his brows.

"I suppose I could have chased you down, grabbed you and brought you back here, although I doubt the civilians of this pack would appreciate me carrying a kicking and screaming criminal over my shoulder."

"I'm going to kill you," I tell him coldly.

My idle threats don't faze him. I don't seem very intimidating right now, but once I'm committed to something, I'm not going to easily back down.

"I wouldn't, if I were you." He smirks a little, looking over me. "You're the one in the bed, and I'm the one with your weapons."

My mouth dries. Shit.

He doesn't have my weapons on him now, as far as I can tell. He is wearing an ambigious black jacket that could have my favourite dagger tucked beneath it...

"So you just came here to taunt me?"

"I came here to see you, to ascertain why you were in our lands," he muses, stalking closer. If I didn't have my wits about me, I would lash out I an attempt to harm him.

I swallow tightly. Under no circumstances can I reveal my true intentions for passing through that forbidden territory.

"I'm not from here. I had no idea I was trespassing," I tell him, trying not to convey my raising panic.

He narrows his deep green eyes.

"Where have you come from?"

"I'm not telling you." I can't tell him.

If the truth is revealed, I'll be sent back. I may even be sold once he realises the value of what is sitting in this bed. I don't think I'm inherently anymore valuable than anyone else, but to my the man I'm running from...apparently I'm priceless.

"What are you doing here?" He presses.

"Again, I'm not going to tell you." I grit my teeth, holding his gaze with a ferocity to match his. Everything about him is calm and stoic, although I can see him contemplating snuffing me out with a pillow.

"What if my family decided to have you arrested? Then you will be forced to talk," he notes.

Being shoved deep into a prison could be a bad thing. I would be sitting, waiting to be found. It could be a good thing, however, as I may be able to disappear into the endless shadows of a prison, never to be accounted for again.

Either way, in a prison would be better then being near him.

"Arrest me then. You would be doing me a favour," I comment snidely.

He lets out a long breath, his frustration mounting. "What is going on?"

"Please just leave me alone. Once I'm healed you will never see me again." I turn my head, looking out the window, trying to signal that this conversation needs to end.

"I still require answers," he pushes.

"Why?"

"It is expected of me to keep this territory safe." He doesn't seem so amused anymore.

I hold back an eye roll. I've been surrounded by men sporting the same attitude my whole life. Protecting their Pack is of upmost importance, and nothing else compares.

"Because you're an Alpha, huh?"

"You speak so lowly of us Alpha's. Do you come from a lawless place?" I can't tell if that's an insult or a genuine curiosity.

"I come from a place I want to return to, which I shall do the moment I feel better," I mutter.

Tugging the duvet up to my chin, I consider pulling it over my head so I can drown in the darkness. Kaan freaks me out, and not just because he's capable of overpowering me at this point...

It's because he's capable of revealing my secret.

"I recommend never returning here again." His voice sounds a little more distant as he backs away to the door.

I peak out from under the covers. "I just want to heal and get out of here."

The irritating part of this exchange is that I'm telling the truth. I have no interest in this Pack and in Kaan and his sister. I truly want to get out of here as quickly as possible.

"Tay is fragile, she isn't exposed to other girls her age very often, so watch how you act around her," he demands.

I nearly roll my eyes. Ideally I don't see his sister again through this healing process.

"She's the one forcing herself on me," I tell him through gritted teeth. "Have you really not spoken to others your age for years?"

His brows crease.

"It wouldn't be right for the royals to integrate with the general public," he says after a long moment of silence.

I slap a hand over my eyes. He sounds indoctrinated, but he also sounds careful with what he is saying. I sense there is just as much deception and secrets going on here as there was at home.

"I hate this place so much already," I mumble.

"Stay in your bed, say little to Taysa, and leave as soon as you're better," he orders in a tone that is purely Alpha. "Otherwise I'll kill you."

I narrow my eyes on him. "Not unless I get you first."

His lips tilt up as he gives me a final look. "Challenge accepted."