Mated to the Alpha of the North

My name is Willow Anders, and this is my story. It does not start out happy, but I must remain optimistic for the future. This cannot be my life. I refuse.

I used to dream of the day when someone, anyone would rescue me from this horrid existence and the truly vile Alpha Zeke of the Southern Province, but I had given up on that a long time ago.

It did not used to be like this. I reminded myself of happier times when the encroaching storm clouds got too heavy to bear, back to when my parents were still alive.

Luna, I was so naive back then. Things were not perfect, even I knew that.

The bears were still infringing, but, on our little farm, I could pretend everything was still alright, at least for a little longer. That was, until the day everything changed.

The unthinkable had happened. I shuddered, remembering that dark day as if it had occurred only yesterday.

I returned home from exploring the nearby caves to find my home invaded and my parents murdered. I still saw their panic-stricken eyes where they lie mutilated on the bloodied ground. The image glued itself to my eyelids, even as I fled for my own life.

I transformed into my wolf mid-stride, the pain of transformation near obsolete with my adrenaline rushing, and continued at the same punishing pace, just barely managing to evade capture, or something far worse.

I heard the bears roar with displeasure at their near miss. However, the sound of their lumbering footfalls quickly faded away the more distance I placed between us.

I kept running for what felt like days, but, in reality, was probably only several hours. The sound of heavy paws on the soft earth behind me disappeared long ago, but I kept running until my wolf was about ready to collapse.

The trees and surrounding foliage were beginning to all converge into a green and brown mass of bleariness. It seemed the adrenaline was finally fading, and I was about to crash back down into reality.

I began to ascertain my surroundings more thoroughly and started to look for a safe place to rest. I had allowed my senses to roam while I sprinted through the forest.

I knew I had been alone for some time, but the image stuck to my eyelids had me constantly keeping one eye open, despite my perceived safety.

My paws ached something fierce, and I was nearing the point of exhaustion. Nevertheless, I continued trudging forward, never letting my guard down, though I did notice I had slowed to a near walk due to my fatigue.

After a few more minutes, the stream I had been utilizing as a guide and to hide my scent, led to a scenic waterfall that nearly took my already short-winded breath away.

The water rushed swiftly down from about 50 feet above me and cascaded down in rivulets that had long ago been carved into the rocks it quickly flowed over. I scanned the gorgeous view in front of me until I located the opening I suspected.

It was barely detectable, and no one but a wolf would have noticed the small opening that was concealed in the rockface behind the silvery water. I instantly searched for the safest route to the entrance and began the daunting climb to my temporary sanctuary without wasting anymore time.

As I sloshed through the water and ascended the rockface, still as my wolf, I counted myself lucky again that I was so familiar with the hidden caves found beyond some of the waterfalls, located only in the Northern Province.

I could safely rest here while I decided on my next best course of action. I had plenty of fresh water, and my wolf could hunt for any sustenance we may need. Realistically though, I knew this safe haven would only temporarily provide me respite.

These caves were supposed to be a secret that only a select few guarded fiercely, and I felt confident it would remain that way, at least a little longer.

Nonetheless, the bears that overran my home would be close behind me. I may be faster, but even my father could not overcome the sheer number and brute force of the bears on his own. Really, I only had one choice left: to the Southern Province I went.

The trip took me about a week. I was not sure how long it should have taken, but I had to be careful to travel when the forest was less occupied. I knew I could not trust anyone, and I definitely did not want to run into the bears again.

I decided to stay in my wolf form for the most part, mainly because she was less needy if I was being honest, and the unrelenting wave of anger and grief seemed easier to handle in that form.

Wolves handled loss differently, and I had never been so thankful to have my wolf than I was now. She provided a way for me to cope while I traveled to safety. I would break down later when I was able, I reasoned to myself, but I knew I was putting off the inevitable. Every step forward reminded me that this was it. My last hope. My family and home were gone now.

Yet, I was not sure I would have made the arduous trek had I known what awaited me, but then again, I did not have much of a choice. I was 17 when I arrived, heavily bleeding and running for my life. The trip was dangerous, especially for a young girl all alone.

I stayed hidden and used my wit to remain safe on my journey, but it seemed my luck was about to run dry. I thought I would make it. I was so close to the boundary of the Southern Province. Unfortunately, the bears were also much closer than I had anticipated.

One bear crashed out of the undergrowth from the right. I quickly pivoted, attempting to stay out of range. However, the pain radiating from my back, left leg told me I was too slow to evade the bear's massive paw.

I yowled in pain, swiftly dodging the next blow and darting in the other direction. A second bear appeared, endeavoring to steer me back towards my original assailant.

I rapidly twirled 90 degrees, wincing in pain at the sudden motion, and took off for the Southern boundary, praying there would be someone there to assist me.

I heard the bears roar in frustration and anger as they crashed through the thick forest behind me. I kept running, but I knew they were gaining ground, my injury having slowed me down.

I could hear branches cracking in front of and behind me. I prayed the bears had not circled me and were not about to finish me off.

Suddenly, I felt blinding pain spiraling out from my right side, which, in turn, caused me to quickly collapse into a heap on the forest floor, despite my best efforts to keep upright. The pain was too intense.

My wolf retreated, leaving me lying naked on the forest floor bleeding out. I did not even have the wherewithal to care that I was naked in front of Luna only knows who.

My last vision was of half a dozen wolves, surrounding me before I lost consciousness, the sound of snarling fading into the ether as I was pulled under into a thankfully blissful darkness.