Slave Princess

Nightmare

Alina was lost in a peaceful dream, the kind that wrapped around her like a warm blanket, making the world outside seem distant and unimportant. In her dream, she was walking through the familiar woods near her home, the sun filtering through the leaves in golden shafts of light. The air was filled with the soft hum of nature, and her heart was light, free of the burdens she had carried for so long.

But the dream began to shift, the light dimming as an unnatural chill crept through the air. The trees that had once felt like protectors now loomed menacingly, their branches twisting into grotesque shapes. A sense of unease settled over her, a dark cloud of dread that grew heavier with each passing moment.

The peaceful hum of the forest was suddenly pierced by a sound, a scream, raw and filled with terror. It shattered the tranquility of her dream, yanking her from sleep with a jolt.

Alina’s eyes flew open, her heart racing as she tried to make sense of the disorienting sounds that filled the night air. More screams followed, mixed with the unmistakable clash of metal on metal, the crackling of flames, and the distant, guttural shouts of men engaged in battle.

Panic surged through her as she sat up in bed, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. The sounds of chaos outside grew louder, closer, and with them came the acrid smell of smoke, seeping through the cracks in the windows.

She barely had time to gather her thoughts before the door to her room burst open, and her mother, Luna Diana, rushed in. The sight of her mother’s face, usually so calm and composed, now twisted with terror, sent a fresh wave of fear crashing over Alina.

“You have to leave, honey,” Diana said, her voice trembling as she grabbed Alina’s arm, pulling her from the bed. Her hands were cold, and Alina could feel the desperation in her touch. “He is here.”

Those words, filled with dread, sent Alina’s heart plummeting into a cold pit of fear. She didn’t need to ask who “he” was, there was only one person who could inspire such terror in her mother’s eyes.

“Alpha Kyle,” Alina whispered, her voice barely audible over the growing sounds of battle outside.

Diana nodded, her face pale as she frantically began gathering a few essentials from the room; Alina’s cloak, a small satchel of belongings, and a dagger that had been hidden beneath the bed. “There’s no time to explain. You have to go, now!”

“But what about you? What about Father?” Alina’s voice trembled, her mind racing with the horror of leaving her parents behind in the chaos. She felt frozen, unable to move as the weight of the situation bore down on her.

“Your father is already fighting, trying to buy us time,” Diana said, her voice tight with barely contained panic. She forced the satchel into Alina’s hands, her eyes wide and pleading. “You need to get to the woods, find the safe house we prepared for you. It’s the only place you’ll be safe.”

Alina’s mind was spinning, her thoughts a jumble of fear and confusion. This was all happening too fast—one moment she had been safe in her bed, the next she was being thrust into a nightmare with no clear way out.

“But I can’t leave you,” Alina protested, tears welling in her eyes. The thought of abandoning her parents to face Kyle alone was unbearable. “Please, let me stay and fight.”

Diana cupped Alina’s face in her hands, her expression softening for a brief moment despite the terror that lingered in her gaze. “You are our hope, Alina. You must survive, for the sake of our pack, for the future we’ve fought so hard to protect.”

Alina felt a tear slip down her cheek, her heart aching with the realization of what her mother was asking of her. “I—I’ll come back for you,” she vowed, her voice choked with emotion. “I won’t leave you behind.”

Diana’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she nodded, pulling Alina into a tight embrace. “I know you will, my brave girl. But now, you must go. Don’t look back, no matter what you hear.”

With one last, lingering look, Diana released Alina and pushed her towards the door. Alina’s legs felt like they were made of lead, each step a monumental effort as she moved towards the threshold of her room. The sounds of battle were louder now, the sharp crack of weapons clashing and the anguished cries of the wounded filling the air like a terrible symphony.

Diana guided her down the hallway, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpets that lined the floor. The flickering light of torches illuminated the walls, casting long, ominous shadows that danced in the corners of Alina’s vision.

As they reached the entrance to the house, Diana paused, her hand gripping Alina’s arm tightly. “Go to the east gate,” she instructed, her voice low but firm. “It’s the least guarded. From there, head to the river and follow it upstream. You’ll find a safe house. Promise me you’ll stay there until it’s safe.”

Alina nodded, her throat too tight with emotion to speak. She knew the route well, a path her father had shown her in secret, just in case of an emergency like this. But knowing it was one thing, facing the reality of using it was another.

Diana pulled her into one final hug, her voice breaking as she whispered in Alina’s ear, “Stay strong, my daughter. We love you more than anything.”

Alina clung to her mother for a brief, desperate moment, memorizing the feel of her warmth, the scent of her hair, before she forced herself to pull away. With a final, tear-filled glance, she turned and ran.