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.

without saying another word, he moved past me and started walking straight ahead, going off the path and

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 through the thick, dark clouds that loomed above us.

shoulder at me, a troubled expression on his face. “I don’t hear anything, but I know for sure that we aren’t alone.

suddenly, my wolfs hackled raised, and she crouched down into attacked mode, a deadly snarl rumbling up from her belly. Things felt eerie, making my skin crawl, and just then, a cold breeze swept

into this seemingly abandoned wasteland. Gunnar’s body was rigid and tense as he cautiously continued forward. The ground ahead of us seemed soft, almost appearing to be a swamp. Gunnar and I stopped just before reaching the sinister-looking muck, looking at each other with questioning expressions. A gust of wind stirred around us, bringing

turned my head away. “Omg, that smells fucking horrible, like rotting, death,” I said, trying not to throw

But we have to find a way across, and from what I can see, the only way

bubbled, and puffs of green smoke emerged. “We can’t fucking walk through this shit; it will either eat us or turn us into some unknown

what other choice do we have? We either walk through this or go back home.” He said, and for me, that wasn’t an

to it, inspecting the damage. The log appeared to be sturdy and long enough to carry us across. I looked to Gunnar. “Come help me with this; we can use it as a bridge to get across that shit,” I said, hopefulness in

and looked at me with an unsettling expression. “This thing is going to snap into a thousand pieces. Especially with my weight.”

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

straight in the air and pushed it forward; it landed on the other side with a bang, damn near evaporating as it hit

more, putting you at higher risk of falling into the swamp.” He said,

onto the log, but Gunnar

myself on the log. My wolf began to pace, anxious to get across and away from this unknown substance. I sucked in a deep breath and started to crawl, slowly making my way

was almost across, mere inches away from safety when the wood began to crack and make unsettling sounds. I froze, not moving an inch, fearing it would split at

move!” Gunnar

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

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 see who it was, and Gunnar was standing

“Come on, grab my hand. That thing isn’t going to hold you much longer.” He said in a rush.

stepped onto the other log, very hesitantly, afraid it wouldn’t hold both of our weight. Before I knew it, Gunnar flung me into the air, and I landed with

turned to face Gunnar. He was standing there, still as could be, and then jumped, landing right next to me. Both of the logs crumbled into pieces, and the swamp consumed them.

pursed my lips.

we get out of this death trap, the better.” Gunnar was irritated, and

my head in agreement, I pulled the map out of my bag, looking over it. The map showed the swamp, and just past

was visible from here, but no such luck. “The map says the tree should be just up ahead,” I told Gunnar, and

as 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

whipped

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

what happens, I am here, by your

him tightly. “Thank you; I truly couldn’t have asked for a better brother and friend,”

go and get this over with.” Before I started to cry, I needed a distraction

started to walk towards the colourful and lively-looking tree. One that stood out, among all the decaying rot that surrounded it. As

fast as they sped past us again, causing our clothes to ruffle. We looked around frantically, trying to spot whatever it was,

the fuck was that?” I