The Alphas 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.