The Alpha's Prize

15

Word Count: 1640

~Hunter

I stuff a pillow over my face, groaning.

What a miserable day. I've escaped one terrible fate only to stumble into another. I can't tell if I've offended some higher power, or if I just have terrible luck.

Kaan has avoided me all day, leaving me to stew over this bad news.

About an hour ago I finally fell into a tumultuous sleep, although I've just now awoken in a cold sweat, the moon taunting me from its place in the night sky.

I need to speak to Kaan. I can't wait another moment to find out what he thinks about this.

Dragging my legs from the bed, I take a moment before I manage to stand. My injury still feelings terrible, my legs weak and useless. Determination better be enough to get me to his room.

My doubts grow the closer I get to his room. It's past midnight, so I assume he's sleeping until my eyes graze the underside of his door, seeing light streaming from it.

I knock on the wood before bracing my hand on the wall, trying not to keel over from pain.

Kaan opens the door a moment later. The dark shadows under his eyes suggest he hasn't slept a moment, and his mussed hair makes it clear he's under as much stress as I am.

"It's late, Hunter," he mutters, giving me a once over before shifting to close the door.

I stick my hand out, shaking my head. "I just struggled across the manor to get here. You're letting me in."

He sighs, running a hand down his face. He presses the door back open and stalks back inside.

I stare at the back of his crumpled shirt, following him in slowly. To make matters worse, I'm forced to sit on the end of his bed, unable to stand for a moment longer.

"That was a strange conversation with your parents," I say tentatively, digging my fingers into his plush feather duvet.

He shakes his head. "Great news, isn't it?"

He couldn't look more mortified. Here he is, forced to marry a girl he can't stand, who can't stand him either. This is going to be a mess...

"I agreed to marry you," I whisper, shame burning at my cheeks.

"Of course you did. They probably threatened your life." He pushes his window open before bracing his hands against the windowsill.

He clearly knows his parents well. I wish he had warned me about their propensity to do this earlier.

"This isn't what I want, trust me. But it could be worse," I tell him, my voice quivering. At least Kaan isn't abusive, and although he's an Alpha, he's nothing like the monster I was promised to.

Now, I'm free of that engagement. Although I doubt that will stop them from hunting me down.

Kaan's stare burns against my skin. "Could it?"

"It can, actually," I breathe.

Kaan can never learn about my engagement. He can never learn who I am, or was. For now, I just need him to believe that we will actually be married, so I can make a break for it when I'm healed.

"You're going to have to pretend to like me, you know," he reminds me, the cold breeze ruffling at his dark brown locks, that almost look black amongst the shadows.

"Your parents agreed to keep our engagement and marriage relatively quiet. They don't want it out of the Pack...But yes, I know." I look down at my hands, swallowing tightly.