The Alphas prize

The figure stopped a few feet from me, and their eyes were the only thing I could make out, nothing more. This person clearly wanted to conceal their identity, keeping enough distance between us that I could only see what they wanted me to see.

My wolf snarled at the figure, warning me of the dangers that lurked mere inches from us. “Who are you? What do you want?” I asked them, attempting to conceal the unease in my tone.

They remained silent for a moment, staring at me with calculating eyes. “Going beyond this point will bring you nothing but misfortune, my dear; it would be a wise decision for you to turn around and go back home.” The voice was soft yet firm and feminine, telling me the person was a woman.

I narrowed my eyes, knowing they were trying to deter me, trying to stop me from getting what I needed. “I am looking for a cure, and it’s in the forest of the damned. Nothing and no one will stop me from getting it, not even you.” I stood my ground, not letting her affect me or my decision.

She let a deep and sinister chuckle. “Foolish girl, the forest will test you, like no other before, pushing you and your wolf to the absolute limit and even if you get past that, obtaining the cure you seek is no easy task. So you are better off just to turn around and go back home.” She said casually.

I snorted. “Try as you might, but it won’t work, and you don’t scare me. I am going into that fucking forest, and I will get that fucking cure. The one I love needs it, and it's mine, come hell or high water. When it comes to those that I love and care for, I will do terrifying things to anyone or anything that crosses my path.” I growled out as a grin spread across my lips. I was done being told I couldn’t do this. I was sick of people underestimating me, thinking I was too weak mentally and physically to do this.

Her eyes narrowed as the colour of her irises brightened, almost as if staring into my very soul. “Fine then, but heed my warning and enter at your own peril.” Her tone was deadly and angry, clearly not pleased that she couldn’t persuade me to leave this place.

Before I could even respond, she disappeared into the fog, taking it with her. The sun started to shine through the trees again, near blinding me, and Gunnar was standing before me now, his hands clasped around my arms, as he shook me violently.

“Freja, Freja.” He said frantically, worry in his tone.

I wiggled in his hold. “Stop shaking me, would you? You are making me dizzy.” I told him as I pushed him away from me.

Gunnar glared at me. “For fuck sakes Freja, you scared the shit out of me. You were like a statue, not blinking, not moving, nothing. I didn’t know what the fuck was going on.” He said in a huff.

I pursed my lips. “Honestly, I can’t explain what happened. I was here with you one minute, and the next, you were gone, and this awful fog started to surround me, then this creepy woman appeared.” I told him truthfully.

He wrinkled his nose. “That’s fucked up, and what woman? Did she say anything?” Gunnar asked curiously.

I sighed. “I don’t know who she was; I could only see her eyes and nothing else. The woman was trying to get me to leave here, to turn around and go back home, but I essentially told her to shove that suggestion up her ass.” I said with a cheeky smile.

Gunnar shook his head. “Of course you did.” He groaned out.

I looked behind me. “Come on, the forest is just ahead; we are almost there.” I turned around and started to walk in the direction my wolf was urging me to go in, but Gunnar gripped my arm, stopping me from continuing.

I looked back at him, with a bewildered expression, curious as to why he stopped me.

He stared at me intently, then into the direction of where I was headed. “How do you know? What if it's not?”

I turned my head back, looking into the wooded area, and my wolf chuffed, telling me to trust her, to let her guide me. “Just trust me,” I said softly, subtly asking him not to question my intuition.

His features held no expression as he once again glanced out into the distance. “Ok, I trust you, but I want you to follow behind me, understood?” He said sternly, a brow raised.

I held back a smirk and saluted him. “Yes, sir,” I said sarcastically. I knew this wasn’t the time to be joking around, but I may break if I didn’t try to make the best out of a shitty situation.

his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as he groaned loudly. Then, without saying another word, he moved past me and started walking straight ahead, going off the path

mostly surrounded by large, withering trees that looked melancholy and decayed. I felt a surge of dread course through my bones, and my wolf snarled, letting me know danger lurked around us. After that, everything became eerily silent around us, no birds, no crickets, nothing. The sun was gone, and the moon barely peeked

Gunnar looked over his shoulder at me, a troubled expression on his face. “I don’t hear anything, but I know for sure that we aren’t alone. Be on full alert.” Gunnar said in a

eyes scanned the area before I nodded my head in agreement, not saying a word in response, as I was hyper-focused. Then, suddenly, my wolfs hackled raised, and she crouched down into attacked

seemed soft, almost appearing to be a swamp. Gunnar and I

and turned my head away. “Omg, that smells fucking horrible, like rotting, death,”

his nose. “Yea, no shit! But we have to find a way across, and from what I can see, the only way is to go through

black goo; it bubbled, and puffs of green smoke emerged. “We can’t fucking walk through this shit; it will either

choice do we have? We either walk through this or go back home.” He

carry us across. I looked to Gunnar. “Come help me with this; we can use it as a bridge to get across that shit,”

brow and looked at me with an unsettling expression. “This thing is going to snap into a thousand

threw my hands in the air. “Do you have another suggestion?” I asked him, irritation in

it back to the swamp. Gunnar stood the log up straight in the air and pushed it forward; it

do, it will only weaken the log more, putting you at higher risk of falling into the swamp.” He said, hesitantly and I knew he didn’t want to do this, as he didn’t trust

log, but Gunnar stopped me. “Crawl across it

good choice, as it would lessen the chances of the decaying wood snapping beneath me. I got down on my hands and knees, trying to balance myself on the log. My wolf

safety when the wood began to crack and make unsettling sounds. I froze, not moving an inch, fearing it would split at any moment, plunging me into the dark abyss

move!”

I’m doing?” The wood groaned beneath my hands, causing my heart to pound in my chest.

to help me get across safely, not to let me fall. I laid down on my belly, hoping that would relieve some of the pressure on the wood, but the wood continued to splinter and creak, ready to give way. Then, suddenly, a log came crashing down beside me, and I could hear a pair of boots stomping along the wood. I turned my head to

hand. That thing isn’t going to hold you much

stepped onto the other log, very hesitantly, afraid it wouldn’t hold both of our weight. Before I knew it,

on my feet, standing up straight and turned to face Gunnar. He was standing there, still as could

up at Gunnar and pursed my

much. Now, let's keep going; the sooner we get out of this death trap, the better.” Gunnar was irritated, and his tone made

looking over it.

but no such luck. “The map says the tree should be just up ahead,” I told Gunnar, and we started walking,

ever, no animals, no bugs, no nothing. There were also no signs of life around us, no carcasses, no droppings, not even the trees had life. This place gave me the creeps, and I wanted more than anything just to get the

gazed into the distance and could swear green leaves were growing on a tree. My head whipped to Gunnar, and his gaze met mine,

going to take a wild guess that it is. Since everything else around us is dead.” I said quietly, not wanting us to be heard. I sucked in a sharp breath as my nerves skyrocketed through me, and I began to doubt myself, unsure if I could do

do this, Freja, and no matter what happens, I am here, by your side, till the very end.” He

couldn’t have asked for a better brother

him. “Ok, enough of the emotional bullshit; let's go and get this over with.” Before I started to cry, I needed a distraction and my determination to get that damn cure was

side by side and nodded at each other, then started to walk towards the colourful and lively-looking tree. One that stood out, among all the decaying rot that surrounded it. As we neared the tree, the

causing our clothes to ruffle. We looked around frantically, trying

fuck was that?”