The Alphas Prize

Chapter 28: The knife - Part 2/2

Gunnar exhaled heavily. "I will do my best, but he is a big boy, and it may be difficult for me to carry him that far." He told me truthfully, and I knew it would be a struggle, but if we could get close enough, then I could try to mind-link with someone in the pack to help.

He bent down, then flipped Cain over and onto his back before picking him up bridal style and standing to his feet. Gunnar scowled at me, "You fucking owe me big for this shit!"

I snorted and gave him a frivolous expression. "Yea, yea. Now come on, we need to hurry." Gunnar gave me a deadpan stare and shook his head at my impatience; before we started to walk. Now, we faced a new dilemma, finding our way back to the pack house as neither of us was familiar with this land, and trying to navigate through the woods, in the dark, was going to be tricky.

As we continued to walk through the dense forest, Gunnar peered down at me. "You still haven't told me what the fuck is going on, Freja?" He said while struggling to carry my mate.

"So, I had told you that there was someone who was planning to kill Cain and me, right?" I asked him.

He nodded slowly, glancing between me and the path ahead of us. "Yes, why do you think I showed up tonight? Since you told me that, I feared even more for your safety. So, I decided to come back and on my way there, was when I heard the commotion. I was just glad that I decided to cut through the trail that connects our lands." Gunnar confessed, and I was thankful that I had such a caring and loving brother even though he was a pain in my ass and a big goofball at times.

I smiled cheekily at him. "Aww, that's so sweet." I teased, and Gunnar just glared at me. "Well, I discovered that it was Cain's brother, Calyx, that was devising this plan, but I also found out that there was someone else working with him. At first, I had an idea of who it might have been, but I was very wrong." I looked up at Gunnar, giving him a commiserating look. "Lazarus and Adela had been working with him the whole time," I choked out, still distraught over my own sister's betrayal.

Gunnar stopped in his tracks, and his body tensed. "What? Adela was working with him to kill you and Cain?" He questioned with an incredulous tone.

I sighed heavily. "Yes, and Erik was working alongside her. Adela said she hated me, that I made her an outcast and made her life miserable. So, she wanted me dead, hoping it would make things better for her, that she would be the favourite finally. Erik just wanted me back, said I belonged with him and not Cain. When I told him no, he snapped and tried to kill me, but...." I looked at Cain and closed my eyes, holding onto the memory of his confession before he fell. My throat began to tighten, and the words now lingered on the tip of my tongue, unable to get them out.

Gunnar's features softened. "Come on, let's keep going."

We continued walking through the forest, beginning to feel a little lost and hopeless, when a figure emerged from the shadows. Both of us stopped and remained silent as the figure came closer towards us. We were both on edge, waiting for the person to reveal themselves, but I was relieved to see that it was one of Cain's pack members, Ryder.

I finally released the breath I had been holding in and slapped a hand to my chest. "Ryder, I am glad to see you," I said.

Ryder stopped a few feet from us and took in the situation inquisitively. His eyes slightly widened upon landing on Cain's limp body. "What happened, Luna?" He questioned me.

Following his line of sight, I looked at Cain. "We were ambushed, and the Alpha needs urgent medical care," I said in a rush.

He went silent for a moment, and his eyes glazed over, telling me he was mind linking someone. A few moments later, four other men arrived. Ryder looked towards a few of the men that gathered in front of him. "Take the Alpha and get him to the medical wing immediately." Then, he turned to one of the men that stood by his side. "Mind link with Doctor Stephens, inform him of the situation and tell Nurse Rose that the Luna is coming in as well." The man then nodded before his eyes glazed over.

The other men came towards Gunnar and me. We were both still on edge, and we took a cautious step back, suspicious about the idea of strange men approaching us. I had never met any of these pack members before, aside from Ryder, which made me uneasy about trusting my mate's life with them. I stood in front of Gunnar, protecting him and Cain, and the men all stopped, looking at each other unknowingly. Ryder then pushed his way through and stood before me now. "Luna, they have to take him so that they can help him. I promise he will be in good hands, and nothing will happen to him."

My jaw clenched tightly, and a growl rumbled in my chest at the thought of them taking Cain from me. But deep down, I knew they were only trying to help Cain, although my wolf and I were against the idea of being separated from our mate at such a crucial time. I peered around my shoulder at Cain, taking in his state, before squeezing my eyes shut and nodding in agreement. I moved aside, and the men stepped closer to us, now urging Gunnar to hand Cain over. However, Gunnar looked down at me hesitantly, needing his own confirmation. I nodded, assuring him it was alright, then the men took my mate and rushed off into the distance, taking a piece of me with them.

Ryder then approached us. "Luna, we need to get you to the medical wing as well; you are injured and need to be examined. You will be of no good to him if you are injured and unwell" His tone softened as he noticed that I continued to look off into the direction that Cain had been taken.

Reluctantly, I turned my gaze to Ryder. "He'll make it, right? Promise me that he will be alright?" I choked out, my voice deceiving me.

Ryder's expression became neutral. "The pack Doctor will do everything he can to save the Alpha. However, he will need your strength, if you are strong, he is strong, and you need to be taken care of for that to be achieved." He told me sternly, and he was right; I needed to have faith, and, most of all, I needed to be strong for Cain.

I sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm my overactive nerves. "You are right, and I am going to try my hardest to be strong. So let's head to the medical wing." I said, agreeing with Ryder.

He gave me a curt nod and then turned to Gunnar. "Do you need attention as well?" Ryder asked my brother.

Gunnar just shook his head. "No, I am fine and already healing, from what little damage they did." He looked down at me, getting my attention. "She is the only one you need to be concerned about right now," Gunnar told Ryder in a concerned tone.

I looked at my brother, grief and worry consuming me. Gunnar wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me into him and attempting to comfort me. I felt better knowing Gunnar was with me, that he stood by my side and fought to protect me, as well as Cain. I knew his thoughts and feelings towards my mate, that he and Cain, were enemies and yet, he had put all of that aside for me because he knew that I was in love with Cain.

Suddenly, the realization of everything that had just happened hit me like a canon ball, discovering the truth about Adela's feelings towards me and killing her. The betrayal of someone who I thought to be a true friend and him trying to kill me, as well as my mate. Now, Cain's life hung in the balance, and I didn't know whether or not he would survive. My chest began to heave as the dark thoughts swirled in my head, my vision became blurry, and my ears started to ring, everything spinning around me now, before it all went dark.