The Alpha's Prize
Chapter 27: It was always him

I stood there, hovering over Adela’s lifeless body and gazed into her soulless eyes, wishing I couldhave done more to save her from the pain she felt. I crouched down beside her body and closed hereyes shut before kissing her cheek, then I whispered. “I will always love you, Adela, and I forgiveyou.” I wiped away the wayward tear that streamed down my face and stood back up.

Glancing around at my surroundings, I could no longer see Gunnar or Cain or anyone else for thatmatter. I started to walk North, hoping I would replace someone, and I did, but it was the last person Iexpected to see here. I came to a dead stop, blinking rapidly and thinking that I was imaginingthings as I stared into those familiar eyes. “Erik?” I said aloud. He rushed over to me and engulfedme in a longing hug. “I have missed you so much, Freja,” Erik whispered sweetly, and I had missedhim too. I reared back, “What are you doing here?” I asked him, baffled by his presence.

Erik released me but held my hands in his. “I am here to save you, Freja, to free you. Adela told methat she had a plan to free you from Cain, and I asked to join her, but I swear I didn't know that shemeant to harm you.” He said with pleading eyes. Erik's hand came up and caressed my face, butwhen he touched me, my wolf growled, and a sense of wrong swirled within my belly. I pulled backfrom him and took a step back, putting some distance between us.

I was unsure of what to believe, and he didn't seem himself. I gave Erik a commiserating stare. “Idon't need to be saved, Erik. Cain is my mate, and I am happy.” I said truthfully. At first, I hated Cainand resented him for bringing me here, but as time passed by, I've grown to love this pack, as wellas Cain,

Erik's expression was one of shock. “You don’t mean that, do you?” He asked me, bewilderment inhis tone.

I gave him a sympathetic look, knowing this would be difficult for him to hear and understand. “Yes,Erik, 1 do. I love Cain, and this is my home now; I am not going with you.” I said sternly, telling himthe reality of how I felt.

His eyes darted around, and his hands balled into fists at his side as his breathing quickened. Erik'sfury showed on his facial features, and I took a step back, feeling uneasy suddenly. His nostrilsflared, and Erik’s jaw was rigid now. “No! You do not love him; you love me, Freja. Cain is a fuckingmonster, and you are coming home with me, back where you belong!” He bellowed out, thenreached for my wrist and gripped it tightly, attempting to drag me along with him, but I didn't movean inch. Instead, I dug my feet into the dirt to keep me grounded as he tugged on my arm, and Ijerked back, trying to free myself, refusing to go with him.

Erik whipped his head around to glare at me. “Stop being a child, and let's go!” He growled out, butI wouldn't move.

He tugged me towards him again, but this time with more force, causing me to fall forward and intohis arms. Erik threw me over his shoulder with ease. “If you won't come with me willingly, then I willjust have to carry your ass.” Erik started to walk, holding onto my legs firmly, but my arms were free,and I began to pound on his back. “Put me down and let me fucking go, Erik!" I spat out, angerlacing my tone.

However, Erik just continued walking, paying no attention to me or my attacks. I swung my armback and hit him in the head with my elbow as hard as I could. He stumbled before dropping me tothe ground, and I landed on my back with a thud. I could hear him groaning, and as I picked myselfup, I noticed he was wobbling, holding his head in his hands. I didn't want to waste a moment, asthis was my chance to get away from him, but when I stood to my feet and started to run, Erikgrabbed me by my shoulders from behind, then slammed me face-first into a tree. My headbounced off the tree harshly, and my vision blurred. Erik took my hands and held them behind myback while the other hand entwined in my hair, gripping it tightly before he pressed my face furtherinto the rough bark.

I groaned from the pain, and I could feel blood dripping down my face now. “Erik, please let me go,”I said in a soft and pleading tone, hoping that he would realize his mistake.

He turned my head slightly and pressed his face against mine. “No, I will not. You are mine FrejaForrester, not Cain's or anyone else's, and you will come with me willingly, or I will knock your assout and drag you back home.” Erik whispered in a dark tone, one that he had never used with mebefore.

I sucked in a deep breath. “I am not your's Erik, and I am not Cain's either; I am his mate, not hisproperty. I will not be going back with you, as I don't belong there anymore. I belong with the Deadpack now and with Cain, the one that I love.” He deserved to know the truth, and although I didn'twant to hurt him, it had to come out.

A menacing growl vibrated up from his chest as his hold on my hair and hands tightenedimmensely. “Fine, but if I cannot have you, then no one will,” Erik said with promise.

He pressed me further into the tree, and the bark dug into my skin, causing me to hiss in pain. Ithrew my head back and cracked him in the nose. Erik fell to the ground and landed on his ass,holding his bloody nose. I pushed myself off the tree and attempted to run, but Erik grabbed myleg, causing me to trip and land face-first on a rock. The impact knocked me out for a few seconds,and when I came too, I was on my back, with Erik on top of me. He had a venomous expression ashe straddled me and kept me in place.

I squirmed beneath him, trying to buck him off me, but it was no use, and I was trapped beneathhim. He snarled and bared his teeth at me, probably hoping that would scare me and I wouldcooperate with him. However, his actions didn't frighten me, and I continued to fight him. Erikreached for my wrists, trying to grab ahold of them, and I swatted his hands away before punchinghim in the jaw. I prayed to the moon goddess for her assistance, as my wolf and I used all ourstrength to get free.

Once again, I pondered where Cain was. Wondering if he was hurt, if he was even alive, and I couldonly hope that he was alright and would reach me before Erik either killed me or took me awayfrom him.

"Ca..." I tried to yell for Cain, but Erik slapped a hand over my mouth and silenced my pleas.

He glared down at me. “Shut the fuck up!” I bit down on his hand, causing blood to trickle into mymouth. Erik ripped his hand away from my lips and stared at the teeth marks before lifting his handinto the air and backhanding me across the face so hard; I spit out blood

I turned my gaze back to him and grinned wickedly before spitting in his face. “Guess I am finallyseeing your true colours, huh, Erik?” I said in a dark, soft tone. My wolf was close to the surface nowand trying to force the shift, yearning to eliminate the threat.

His upper lip twitched, and once again, Erik cocked his arm back and balled his hand into a fist,aiming for my face. I closed my eyes and tilted my face to the side to shield myself, but nothinghappened and then suddenly, Erik was lifted off of me. I opened my eyes and watched as he wentflying through the air, landing almost ten feet away from me. I peered up and was relieved to seemy monster of a mate standing there, looking all broody. Cain's breathing was erratic, and hismuscles were tense as the sweat glistened on his sculpted chest. Finally, he looked down at me, andthe tension eased slightly. I gave him a soft smile, and my eyes began to burn as I resisted the urgeto cry, thankful that he was alright and alive.

Cain knelt beside me, his eyes frantically roaming up and down my body, inspecting every inch.Finally, our eyes locked, and we both smiled, happy to see each other alive. His hand came downand caressed my face, lightly grazing his thumb along my bottom lip.

I looked deep into his eyes and swallowed roughly. “It's nice to see you again,” I said jokingly andsmirked.

Cain shook his head at my words. “Come on, get your ass up; we need to leave.” He said, standingto his feet before extending his hand out for me to take. I gripped onto his hand, and he carefullyhelped me up, holding me tightly in his arms as I stood on my feet. Cain's arms wrapped aroundme, blanketing me in his warmth and making me feel at ease. Then, he loosened his hold andleaned back, staring into my eyes. “We need to go, love. Are you alright to walk?” He asked, concernin his tone.

I nodded my head. “Yes, I think so. Maybe, not too sure, if I am being honest,” I said, joking with himand also telling the truth. My legs were sore and a bit numb. Cian gave me a deadpan stare, clearlynot in the mood to be joking around. I grabbed his hands and tried to remove them from my body.However, Cain stopped me and held me tighter to him. I raised a brow at his actions, and he huffed,not wanting to let me go, but he did, very reluctantly. I stabled myself on my feet and didn't fallover. Cain observed me intently. “Are you good?” He asked me as I wobbled slightly.

I nodded my head. “Yes, I am fine,” I reassured him with a smile.

He gave me a curt nod. “Good, then let's go.” Cain took my hand in his, and we started to walk.However, we didn't make it very far, as an angry voice made us come to an abrupt stop.

"Where the fuck do you think you are going? You are not taking her from me again!” Erik boomedfrom behind us.

Cain looked down at me, a frustrated expression on his features, before turning us around. “I amtaking her home, and she was never yours to keep.” He said bluntly while gritting his teeth.

Erik's eyes widened, and his jaw clenched tightly. “Freja is mine, not yours, and she is not goinganywhere with you.” He was shaking with anger now, but Cain matched that intensity in greaternumbers.

Cain straightened himself and was radiating with Alpha dominance now, “She is not yours; Freja hasalways been mine. She is my mate, and I will die before I let you take her from me.” He shoutedfuriously, making me cringe a little from the deep tone in his words.

I put a hand up, silencing them both, and now their focus was solely on me. “Both of you shut thefuck up! I am not yours.” I pointed at Erik. “And I am not yours either.” Next, I gestured to Cain, “Iam mine; I am not some object or piece of property that you two can fight to the death over. I don'tbelong to anyone but myself. That being said, though.” I peered up at Cain with tender eyes. “Youare my mate, and a piece of my soul belongs to you. Just as it always has and always will.” I told himhonestly.

Cain smiled and winked at me before looking at Erik, his expression neutral now. “We are done here,and we are leaving.” He looked down at me once again. “Let's go, love.” I didn't say anything inresponse; I just smiled and nodded in agreement. We started to turn around when a loud andmenacing grow! roared throughout the forest. I knew it came from Erik, but I didn't turn around tolook at him, as I had seen a new side to the man I had grown up with, a side that had broken a pieceof my heart. Cain's body turned slightly, and he peeked over his shoulder, then suddenly, Caingrabbed me by the arms and swung me around, placing me in front of him.

He looked down at me with an apologetic expression, and to say I was bewildered, was anunderstatement. I had no idea what was going on or why he was shielding me. He groaned slightlyand squeezed his eyes shut before looking at me again. Cain's eyes looked heavy now but filled withlove. A smile spread across those plump lips as his hand came up and caressed my cheek. “I loveyou, Freja, and you were the greatest prize I ever received.” He said softly before collapsing onto theground. I tried to hold him up, but he was too heavy, and as he fell to his knees, that's when I sawthe knife sticking out of his back, the same one that Adela had tried to kill me with earlier.