The Alpha's Prize
Chapter 2: Erik

After erasing my insane thoughts, I stood up from the ground, remembering the howl releasedthroughout the forest; my mind began to race with negative thoughts now. What if dad was hurt?What if Gunnar was hurt? I began to run as fast as my feet would take me, searching for familiarfaces. Finally, I came to a sudden halt when I saw Erik's familiar and welcoming face!

I raced towards him and jumped into his arms. “Are you ok? Are you injured? Where are the others?Did the rogues retreat?”

He raised a finger and placed it on my lips, ceasing my rambling. He stared deep into my eyes witha half-smile; he then removed his finger and began to caress my cheek. I closed my eyes, leaninginto his touch; he always knew how to calm my overactive nerves.

“I'm fine, Freja, a few scratches and bruises, but otherwise still alive.” He chuckled, and I breathed asigh of relief.

"You are the first person I have found, and it seems as though the rogues have retreated, but I amnot sure why?" I questioned aloud.

Erik looked away from me; a confused expression crossed over his face for a brief moment and thenturned severe before turning back to me.

"We have to replace the others and figure out what is going on,” He said in a severe tone.

We both stood there for a second, turning our full attention to our surroundings. Erik and I listenedintently; after a moment, we heard faint voices in the distance to our left. We exchanged a nod andbegan running towards the voices.

After a brief distance, we located those who belonged to the voices. I frantically searched around forGunnar and dad. As I scanned the crowds, I finally spotted Gunnar.

I looked at Erik. “I see Gunnar!” We both rushed in his direction.

Upon reaching Gunnar, he glanced at us both and relief washed over his face. I stood on my tippytoes and engulfed him in a big hug, to which he happily returned. Gunnar was a large and dauntingman, but he had a soft spot for those he loved. He could be very playful at times, making jokes andpulling pranks, always trying to lighten the mood. Other times, he was earnest and played the roleof Alpha all too well. Finally, releasing me, he glanced at Erik and nodded.

He turned his attention back to me. “Have you seen dad?” He asked me.

I shook my head. “No, I found Erik first, not far from here. We then came here, and I found you.” Ireplied, questioning whether or not I should tell him about my encounter with Cain yet.

He stood back and looked around, scanning the crowds to replace our father or at least someone thatmay know more than we do.

After a moment, his eyes landed on something. “This way.” That was all he said before jogging off tohis target, and we followed closely behind him. As we came to a stop, I realized who it was that herecognized, it was dad! I was so relieved to see him; I didn't wait and rushed to him, then stopped afew inches from him.

He noticed me in front of him; his eyes widened, and he let out a relaxing sigh. Dad then closed thedistance between us and wrapped me in that big teddy bear hug that only he could master andkissed the top of my head. “I am glad to see you both,” Dad said, looking between Gunnar and me.Dad then released me from the hug and stood back. He looked to Gunnar. “The rogues havetreated, any ideas as to why?” He asked my brother, who stood there with a blank face and asolemn demeanour.

“No, sir. I do not know why they retreated. After I heard the howl break through the forest, therogues shortly after began to retreat.” He replied.

My father nodded his head. “Who was it that had howled?” He questioned.

Gunnar's face turned grave, and a saddened expression was visible on his features. Oh no! “It wasMikael; he is dead.”

A small gasp escaped my mouth as I looked at my father, whose face looked so stricken. Mikael wasmy father's Beta and his best friend. They were always there for each other through thick and thin.He was family to us, and his death....is devastating.

I walked over and hugged my father. He was slow to respond, seeming like he was in shock.

In a low tone, I whispered, “I'm so sorry, dad.” He didn’t respond, just hugged me a little tighter.

He let go after a moment, and there was no emotion on his face. Instead, he looked at my brotheragain. “We need to return home, and we need to replace out why they retreated,” He said in a colddemeanour.

My brother nodded and then began to saunter off in the direction of the others, intent on informingthem all to return home.

Dad then looked at Erik. “Get her home Erik, immediately!” He bellowed out.

Erik nodded. “Yes, Alpha.” He took my hand and then began to lead me back home.

We didn't speak the entire walk home; the silence between us was eerily quiet. I wanted so badly totell Erik about my encounter with Alpha Cain, but at the same time, 1 didn't. I wasn't sure why Ididn’t want to either. Also, the news of Mikael was heartbreaking, and I wasn't quite sure how todeal with it.

We finally had reached the house; I turned to him and gave him a quick, half-assed smile. I thenbegan to turn to head towards the house, but he grabbed my wrist and stopped me in my tracks.

I looked at him, bewildered, and his facial expression was one of care, warmth and sympathy. Heslowly pulled me into a hug; I closed my eyes and basked in his touch. He didn't have to use words;this right here was enough to make me feel just a bit better.

He pulled back and engulfed me in a deep and passionate kiss. I've known Erik since we were kidsand he is my best friend. Erik is an attractive man, 6'4, built, but not like the other males; he was leanand muscular but not toned; he had soft blue eyes and sandy brown hair that came past his ears.Since I can remember, he and I have done almost everything together, and a month ago, wedecided to take our friendship to the next level and date each other, although Erik and I aren'tmates.

Once we become of age, which is 18, the males are the ones who are made aware of and affectedby the mate bond first. We females are gradually made aware of it. The male must grow the bond,and the female must willingly accept it.

Erik says he doesn't feel anything similar to what has been described to us when it comes to themate bond, and neither do I.

However, Erik and I developed feelings for each other, and because neither of us had found ourmate yet, we decided to explore those feelings.

Everything has been going well, but deep down, we both crave that mate bond, and our wolves areuneasy about the whole situation.

He finally released me from his hold. “Do you want me to come in with you?” Erik asked.

I paused for a second, thinking it over. Then I nodded my head slowly, knowing deep down Ineeded him right now.

We proceeded into the house, and we saw mom and Adela sitting in the living room upon enteringThey both jumped up and rushed to our sides, both my sister and mother engulfing us in a hug.“Oh, I am so happy to see you both,” My mother said with watery eyes

She turned to me. “Where are your father and brother? We heard an awful howl; what happened?”Mom questioned as she glanced between Erik and me.

We exchanged sorrowed looks and turned to them. “Dad and Gunnar should be home soon, therogues retreated; we aren't sure as to why and..." I closed my eyes, not wanting to tell thembecause, in truth, saying it out loud would only make it all the more real.

Erik, noticing my hesitation, intervened and assisted me. “Mikael was killed during the battle.” Hesaid with a compassionate tone.

Both mom and Adela gasped and covered their mouths. Their eyes began to well up with tears.They exchanged looks and then looked back at me. I didn't know what to say or how to consolethem; I wasn't good at that kind of stuff.

I engulfed them both in a hug and let them cry on my shoulders. After a few more tears and sobs,we proceeded into the living room to wait for Gunnar and dad. A little while later, they finally camethrough the door. Mom was fast on her feet; she looked to my father and gave him a remorsefullook. They joined us in the living room, and my dad's face hardened.

“Alpha Cain has requested a meeting. He wants to discuss a treaty between the packs to end thewar.” I furrowed my brows, as did everyone else.

I didn't believe my father; this never happened; Alpha Cain was not known for treaties. He alwayswon the battle and left almost nothing and no one behind. So, the big question was why? Whatcould he possibly want in exchange for concluding the war?

Dad walked over to my mother, kissed her, then looked deep into her eyes for a moment, and shesmiled lovingly at him. I envied their relationship. He then straightened himself and extended hishand to her, and she gladly accepted.

He looked around at everyone. “Everyone needs to get some sleep; it has been a long andexhausting day. We need to rest; there is much to do tomorrow.” Dad then retreated to the hallway,with my mother close on his heels, and they bid us all goodnight.

Gunnar looked at us, nodded his head and then took his leave as well.

My sister was sitting there, looking so confused, horrified and anxious. I went to her side, rubbingher back in an attempt to comfort her. She peered up at me with sorrow-filled eyes and thenembraced me in a shaky hug. I sat there with her in my arms as she sobbed.

I pulled her back from me and looked into her innocent blue eyes. “Adela, everything will be ok, donot worry or stress yourself. I want you to go and get some rest, ok?”

She closed her eyes and wiped the tears from her face. Then, nodding her head, she slowly got upfrom the couch and began to make her way out of the living room, but not before glancing back tome, and I gave her a reassuring smile. Adela then proceeded out of the living room, leaving just meand Erik alone.

I looked up at Erik, and he was standing by the fireplace staring attentively into the flames, with aninquisitive look on his face. I stood from the couch and walked to his side, squeezing his bicep. Heslowly turned to face me, scanning my face with his eyes; his hand came up and caressed my cheekas his thumb glided over my bottom lip, making my thighs clench together in an attempt tosmother the heat building between my legs. He then leaned down and kissed me gently.

His kisses soon became dominant and rough; as he trailed from my lips to my jawline and down myneck, nipping and biting at my sensitive skin. I moaned softly from the pleasure. Then, finally, hepulled back and looked at me with such a fiery lust in his eyes that the heat between my legsincreased tenfold.

I looked around us and noticed we were alone; I grabbed his hand and led him out of the livingroom.

I led Erik downstairs to the basement where my bedroom was. We entered the room, which wasdimly lit from the moonlight shining in through my window; he came in behind me and closed thedoor.

His arm snaked itself around my waist, pulling me into him, so my back was flush with his chest, andthe other wrapped around me, roughly grabbing onto my right breast. He began to plantpassionate kisses along my neck, nipping and licking his way down to my collarbone. His actionsreleased lust-filled moans from me, making his hard cock twitch against my ass.

His hands came up to my jacket and gripped the collar before he yanked it down. His fingers thenslowly trailed down my arms, tickling my skin. Finally, they stopped at the hem of my shirt, grippingit; he gently pulled it up over my head, then tossed it to the corner of my room.

He spun me around and planted a heated kiss on my lips as his fingers entwined within my hair. Erikbit my bottom lip with his teeth and tugged it gently before releasing it. I stepped back from him,undoing my pants and slowly pulling them off of my legs, leaving me in nothing but my bra andunderwear. I climbed onto the bed and spread my legs for him, making him growl at the sightbefore him.

He tore his shirt off, which displayed his muscular chest and pants but left his boxers on, hiding andrestricting his rock-hard cock beneath the fabric. Erik made his way towards me, a look of puredesire etched on his face; he teasingly climbed onto the bed, planting kisses on my inner thighs,making me tremble and my insides clench with arousal.

His hands snaked their way up my thighs, grasping the fabric of my underwear; he gripped it tightand pulled them down my legs, revealing my wet and aching pussy to his hungry eyes.

He nipped at my thighs, making me gasp with excitement. I could feel him grinning against my skin,knowing he had such an effect on me. Next, he brought a finger up to my folds and slowly traced italong my wetness, opening me up to him. Erik then pushed his finger inside me, making me moanwith immense pleasure.

He pushed another finger inside of me and began to thrust in and out of me, causing more moansto release from me. Finally, his mouth came down on my clit, sucking and nipping at the sensitiveflesh, causing my legs to shake violently, bringing my release even closer to the edge.

Noticing that I was close to an orgasm, he pulled his fingers back, making me whimper from theloss of contact. Then, he stood over me and removed his boxers, releasing his cock, which was stiffand throbbing.

Erik climbed back onto the bed and pressed his body to mine; he leaned down and planted aheated kiss onto my swollen lips. His cock was so close to my entrance, making me ache with theneed for him to be inside of me.

I thrust my hips upwards in an attempt to tell him that I needed him to stop teasing me. But,instead, he looked into my eyes and grinned; his hands came down to my hips, gripping themtightly, and without wasting another moment, he thrust into me, deep and hard

Our moans filled the room, killing the silence, sweat building on our bodies from the anticipation ofour ascending climaxes. Erik's fingers dug into my hips as he continued to thrust into merelentlessly. My nails raked down his back, causing his hips to jerk forward even harder.

Our eyes locked as we reached the peak of our pinnacles; he bent down, kissing me fervently andtugging at my bottom lip. Then, he adjusted himself inside of my wet pulsing core, causing his cockto tickle my g-spot, making the ever-growing orgasm inside of me finally burst.

My walls clenched tightly onto his cock, causing him to swell and throb inside of me. Then, amoment later, Erik pulled out and gripped his aching cock; he jerked it with one swift movementand then released himself onto my stomach.

He collapsed on top of me and braced himself with an arm on either side of me. Erik brushed thestray hairs from my face and placed a loving kiss on my forehead; he then rolled off of me and laidon the bed, relaxed and spent.

We laid there together, basking in the pre-orgasmic serenity for a while. Then, finally, I got up fromthe bed and lazily made my way to the bathroom to clean myself up. As I returned to the bedroom,I glanced at Erik, perched on my bed, fully dressed and reading a book.

I walked over to him. “Are you leaving?” I asked him.

He looked up from the book. “Yes, I don't think I should stay the night. Especially, with your brotherin the house, he would kill me, particularly if he found out what I do to you,” He replied, with acocky tone and smile.

Erik got up from the bed before pulling me flush against his body and hugging me. We stayed likethat for a moment, and then he pulled back, kissed me and left as if he were never there.

I collapsed onto the bed, exhausted and consumed by the events of the day. But as beat as I was,my thoughts took over, causing me to question everything that had happened today. I laid therewith one thing on my mind, or should I say one person, Cain. All I could think of was my encounterwith him, the way I felt around him, and the sensation that built between my legs due to hisproximity. I also wondered why he let me go, why he retreated his warriors and was now offering atreaty to end the war; it was a burning question that I needed to know the answer to, or I might gomad. I attempted to settle my thoughts and push them to the back of my mind for now. Finally, Irolled over, buried myself into the bed and closed my eyes, praying for the sleep that I desperatelycraved.