The Alpha's Prize

Freja POV:

I laid there in bed, staring at Cain as he slept so soundly. Everything seemed different now, my perspective of him was different now, but I wondered what was to come of our future? Thoughts of my short time with Mikael were clouding my thoughts. I wondered what he had truly meant and what dangers lay ahead for us. I considered telling Cain about Mikael's warning, but the timing just wasn't right.

I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. I placed my hand onto Cain's mark and caressed it, still unable to fully come to terms with the fact that I had mated with him, a man that used to haunt my dreams. Everyone always told me about how horrible he is and the things he has done, but as I've gotten to know him, I've seen small glimpses of a man that no one has ever seen.

I got out of bed, walked over to the balcony door, and peeked through the curtain. The sun was rising, gracing the land with its light. Things were peaceful, but I wondered for how long?

I looked over to the bed, and Cain was still fast asleep. So, I decided to get dressed and head downstairs to get something to eat.

I crept out of the room, not wanting to wake Cain. The hallway was empty and quiet; the whole house seemed empty and quiet. I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen, but no one was in sight. For a second, I wondered if something was wrong as Violet was usually in the kitchen cooking breakfast. That's when I looked towards the clock on the wall and realized it was 5:30 am; that's why it's so quiet in here. I rummaged through the cupboards looking for food, when I heard heavy breathing behind me. I whipped around only to see Calyx standing there with a peculiar look on his face. He looked annoyed and murderous; my brows furrowed together at the sight of him.

I stepped back a bit, being cautious. “Hey Calyx, you, ok?”

Calyx gave his head a shake. “Oh yea, I'm fine. Just glad your back.” He smiled awkwardly.

I nodded my head slowly. “Want some breakfast?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No, I'm going to go for a run.”

"Ok, well, have fun.” Unfortunately, this conversation felt like it was becoming more and more awkward by the second. Calyx seemed off; he suddenly had this weird vibe about him, one that made me suspicious of him.

He stepped closer to me, and each step was more taunting than the last. “So, you and Cain have mated?” Calyx asked, with a slightly incredulous tone to his voice.

I raised a brow in question. “Yes, we have. Are you not happy about that?” I asked.

Calyx shrugged. “I just didn’t think it would happen to be honest, or happen this soon at least.” He took another few steps towards me, now only a foot of distance between us. He was guarded, on edge, and his eyes held a secret, but what?

I pursed my lips. “Oh, I see. I understand why you would think that I guess, but I'm happy we are, and you should be too; our mating will bring strength to the pack.” I reasoned with him.

He raised his hand and brushed a strand of hair away from my face, and tucked it behind my ear. I reared back slightly, as this was unusual behaviour for Calyx and made me uneasy.

Calyx grinned. “See you later, Freja.” That was all he said before leaving the kitchen and exiting through the back door.

I stood there, a little shocked, as I processed what had just happened with Calyx. He was always so kind and welcoming to me, but now, he didn’t seem like the Calyx that I had come to know. Instead, he seemed different, almost as if my return and my mating with Cain had invoked a spark of rage within him. I couldn't make heads or tails of it, but one thing I knew for sure was I needed to be careful of Calyx now and keep an eye on him.

I grabbed some bread and made toast for myself. After I finished eating, I cleaned everything up and made my way outside. I scanned the yard, looking for others, but no one was in sight. I wanted to go for a run in wolf form as she was itching to be freed and stretch her limbs. I knew Cain wouldn't allow me to go on my own, especially after what had happened, but right now, I wanted to be alone

I took my clothes off and threw them onto one of the lawn chairs in the yard. I stood there naked for a moment, letting my exposed skin bask in the early morning sunlight. The air was cool, causing the tiny hairs on my body to stand. I called on my wolf, and in seconds, she rose from the depths of my soul, bringing on the shift.

Her paws landed with a thud on the dewy grass. She stretched her body and shook her fur as she huffed in contentment. Then, without wasting another minute, she dashed towards the woods.

My wolf elegantly ran through the woods, feeling free and at peace. She felt different today, more confident, more complete, as if a piece of her that had been missing was finally returned.

She continued to run through the forest, dodging and ducking anything that obstructed her path. Finally, we saw a small river up ahead and decided to take a break and have a drink. She slowed her pace and approached the stream. Before taking a drink, she gazed curiously into the water at her reflection, as if seeing something I couldn't.

She shook her head, then bent down and began to drink from the river. Suddenly, her ears perked up, and her hackles began to rise. My wolf remained still and quiet; as something or someone was close by, she scanned the area and sniffed the air, listening intently to everything around us.

She began to take careful steps to the right, focused on something ahead of us. I was on edge now as well, wondering what dangers were in store for us.

My wolf stopped in her tracks, not taking a step further and lowered herself to the ground. That's when I saw Calyx in the distance, appearing to be having a conversation with another person. But, unfortunately, whoever he was talking to was hidden behind the trees, we couldn't see who it was, and their scent was masked.

I urged my wolf to crawl closer to them, hoping we would be able to hear them more clearly or get a better view of them. We were as close as we could get now without being detected. The other person was a female, possibly young, but the girl's scent was still undetectable.

"We need to wait until the time is right and ensure that the plan will work.” Calyx said.

“The plan will work, I'll get close to her, wound her and then Cain will be an easier target to take down, but we need to be sure they remain separated during everything, as they are stronger together. After a few more days, the bond will have taken effect. Once that happens, the bond they share will be their weak point.” The female confidently said.

The female voice sounded familiar, and I tried to wrap my brain around who it belonged to, but for some reason, I couldn't figure out who.

“This plan of yours better work or el...” Calyx started to speak but was abruptly cut off by the woman.

She stepped out of the tree slightly, “Or else what? Huh?” The female questioned Calyx; anger was evident in her tone.

"Or else we are all fucked, that's what.” Calyx bellowed out, “If something goes wrong and we are caught, we all die, painfully!” Calyx said with certainty, a slight uneasiness to his tone. He almost seemed afraid, which made me wonder about what I didn't know about Cain.

The female let out a low growl, then leapt onto Calyx, wrapped her arms around hid neck and crashed her lips to his. I started maneuvering backwards, trying not to make a sound. They were still making out pretty hardcore; I could only see a little bit of Calyx now, as most of him were behind the tree, as he pressed the female into it.

I was finally a safe distance away and entirely out of their line of sight. I called on the change and shifted back to human, grabbing my clothes and hurriedly putting them on. I started making my way back towards the packhouse and thought over everything, my mind buzzing with all that I had just learned. The truths I had just discovered, and I hadn't a fucking clue what to do.

I continued walking and putting all the puzzle pieces together. Calyx wants Cain and I dead; he's the one that's been doing all of this.

I didn't know what to think of it all, I had never thought he could or would do something like this, but then again, I didn't really know him all that well. I was so lost in my thoughts, not paying attention to where I was going and ended up walking right into a fucking tree or what felt like walking into a tree. I stumbled backwards, and just when I thought I was going to fall on my ass, a pair of muscular arms caught me, straightening me back onto my feet.

I looked up to see Cain standing there, a brow raised and a smirk on his face. “I know you've fallen for me, love, but you don't need to actually fall; it's just an expression.”

I gave him a deadpan stare. “You're an idiot,” I said before taking a step back from him.

His face turned severe now, and his eyes held a slight hint of anger. “Now, what in the fuck are you doing out here alone?”

He was definitely pissed at me. “lI wanted to go for a run in my wolf form. She was itching to get out.” I shrugged.

Cain breathed heavily. “Then why didn’t you ask me to come with you?”

"You were asleep, Cain; I didn’t want to wake you. Besides, I'm fine, and I can take care of myself.” It irked me to my core that he didn't see or believe in my strength. Instead, he viewed me as someone who couldn't defend themselves.

He groaned in frustration. “What if a bloodsucker saw you alone and took you again? It's not safe yet, Freja, don't you understand that?” He shouted at me, worry, fear and anger all lacing his tone.

I balled my hands into fists. “I am fully aware that it's not safe yet, that they are still out there and want me dead, now more than ever. But I am not some weak little child who can't defend themselves; why can't you understand that?” I shouted back at him.

He took a threatening step towards me. “What if it were more than one, huh? Can you honestly say that you would be able to hold your own against 2, 3 or even more vampires? Because I'm telling you right now, you wouldn't stand a chance.” His eyes were turning pitch black as the fury radiated off him.

I would admit he was right; if I were by myself and more than one vampire came at me, I wouldn't stand a chance. I would be done for, but it still pained me knowing that he didn't think I could be out on my own, that I needed always to have someone with me to protect me.

I gave my head a shake. “You know what, Cain, I don't want to have this conversation with you, because clearly no matter what I say, it will never be good enough.”

I started to walk away from him when he grabbed my arm and whipped me around to face him. His eyes bore into mine. “Do not walk away from me when I am speaking to you. You know I am right about this, and it's not that I don't see your strength, Freja, but you are my mate, and it is my obligation to ensure your safety at all times and at any cost.”

I tried to yank my arm from his hold, but he only gripped onto me tighter. “I know you are my mate, but you are also supposed to trust me, have faith in me and my abilities, which is something you don't. So now, let me go and leave me alone.” I snarled at him.

Cain narrowed his eyes at me as his lip twitched. Then, with one hard pull, I finally yanked my arm out of his grasp. I spun on my heels, walking away from him once again. I felt him reach for me, and when I stopped in my tracks. “Don’t!” I said sternly.

He let out a low growl and retracted his hand, allowing me to continue walking away from him and that conversation. As I walked through the forest, heading back to the house, I could feel him close by but keeping his distance.

Suddenly, I felt another presence nearby. I stopped and looked around but couldn't see anything or anyone. So I turned back around, only to come face to face with a distraught and furious-looking Eve, now blocking my path.

Eve looked like she had been run over by a train more than once. Her hair was matted and tangled, her clothes stained with mud. Her face was coated in a thin layer of dust and smeared makeup.

I wrinkled my nose at the sight of her. “Damn, what happened to you?” I asked her.

Her chest heaved heavily, Eve's breathing erratic now. “I've been living out here in the woods since Cain banned me from the pack, and it's all your fucking fault.” She hollered while pointing a bony finger at me.

I pursed my lips. “Really, and how is it my fault?” I asked her, incredulous.

Her lip quivered. “Because you shouldn't be here, you shouldn't be Cain's mate; it should be me, not you! You aren“t worthy of being his mate; you aren't worthy of being Luna!” She screeched at me. "Aww, are we jealous?” I fake pouted, “Jealous that he no longer wants you? No longer fucks you, but me instead now? And that you, Eve, aren't worthy of being in this pack anymore? You are a sneaky, vindictive bitch, and you have gotten what you deserve.” I was starting to put two and two together. Everything was making sense now that she was the woman working with Calyx.

Eve's eyes turned pitch black, and tears were threatening to spill as a low snarl slipped through her lips. She reared back and then charged at me full throttle, a crazed look on her face, as she ran towards me. I went into a half-crouch and prepared myself for the attack, just like Gunnar had always taught me. Just when she was about to strike, I gripped her wrist, turned my back to her and threw her over me, slamming her body into the ground.

She cried out in pain as her back harshly connected with the ground. I stepped back and prepared for her to counter-attack. But, instead, Eve tilted her head up to look at me, snarling viciously. Eve then flipped herself and jumped to her feet, crouching before me, ready to strike.

Eve came rushing towards me, screaming like a maniac, but before she could reach me, she was abruptly pulled back and thrown to the ground. I tore my gaze from the sight of a broken-looking Eve and turned to Cain, who was standing there with tightly clenched fists and a murderous glint to his eyes.

His gaze caught mine, trapping me where I stood. His chest was heaving, and his eyes were black. Cain then sauntered towards me, looking all sexy and shit, making my thighs squeeze together. "Are you ok?" He asked in that deep, husky tone.

“I'm fine; I can handle her myself,” I assured him.

Cain's gaze roamed over my body, inspecting every inch of it, as his eyes looked down to my feet before coming back and looking into my eyes again. He looked at me intensely for a moment before nodding and turning towards Eve. A deep and menacing growl rumbled from his chest as he scowled down at her.

“Care to explain yourself, outcast?” He roared at her.

She flinched at his words and recoiled. Her eyes flickered between mine and Cain's as she started to mumble, trying to find her words.

"SPEAK!" He bellowed out, causing both of us to wince. His voice was loud, and his tone was now more beast than man.

Eve was starting to cry now. “Cain, please, I'm sorry.” She finally spoke.

“Freja is my mate and my Luna. Had you accepted that and didn't try to get rid of her, you wouldn't be in this situation. So you have no one to blame but yourself.” He straightened himself and glared down at her as his lip twitched.

She stood to her feet, a look of hurt and anger masking her features now. “What makes her so special anyway?” She shouted at him.

Cain glanced at me, locking his gaze with mine. He continued to stare at me for a moment, then smiled brightly, with a look of admiration that I had never seen before.

"Freja is everything I want and more; she is the piece of myself that I have been missing, the piece I didn't know I needed. That's what makes her so special.” In three long strides, Cain reached me, wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and pulled me into him, smashing his lips with mine.

He kissed me hard and passionately, his hands tangling within my hair, deepening the kiss. Cain finally released me and pulled back slightly. He stared into my eyes and smiled, then looked back to Eve. “You have ten seconds to start running, and you don’t want me to catch you,” Cain said in a deadly tone.

Her eyes widened in fear, and she turned on her heels, bolting in the opposite direction. Cain turned back to me, claiming my mouth with his once again. He continued his assault on my lips for a few moments, holding me tightly in his grasp. Cain finally let me go, then gripped my wrist and began to pull me along with him.

My brows furrowed. “Where are we going?” I asked, a little out of breath.

“Back to the house.” His answer was short, and his tone was clipped.

"Why are you dragging me? I am not a child.” I shouted at him while wondering why the hell he was acting like this all of a sudden, especially after he had just ravished my mouth

“Shut up, Freja.” That was the only response I got; he didn't even turn to face me.

“Excuse me?” I said, getting a bit pissed off now.

Cain stopped suddenly and turned to face me, narrowing his eyes. Then, unexpectantly, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder before continuing towards the house.

I pounded on his back. “What the fuck, Cain?" I hollered.

Cain smacked my ass hard. “Shut the fuck up?” He said, once again.

We finally reached the house, and Cain stormed inside, marching up the stairs, with me still on his shoulder, kicking him and pounding on his back furiously. Cain kicked his bedroom door open, entered the room and slammed it shut behind him. He then walked over to the bed and threw me on it, causing me to bounce as I landed.

I quickly sat up and glared at Cain. “What the fuck are you doing?” I demanded to know.

His chest rose and fell heavily as his lust-filled eyes roamed over my body. “You disobeyed me, love; you disregarded my orders. So, now, you are going to be punished.” He leaned over me, placing an arm on either side and caging me between him.

My breath hitched as my pussy now began to throb. His face was mere inches from mine. Cain then rubbed the tip of his nose along my cheek.

Cain grinned deviously. “Are you ready for your punishment?” He asked me, and I had a feeling that no matter what my answer was, it wouldn't save me. But I didn't care, as the excitement of what was to come coursed through my body and gave me the courage to nod my head.