The Hunt.

Chapter Two.

Alaya’s POV

I hurried down towards the roads. It was snowing, so I tried dusting the snow off my dirty blond hair, which I had no means to brush – it was pulled back in a haphazard ponytail. My cloths were ripped at different sides, by some hard torns in the woods, I looked like a homeless woman as I approached the road. I noticed Camie had been quite all through, so I thought he had fallen asleep. I gently hit the snow off his body too. When I got to the highway, I tried to wake Camie up but he won't budge, so I brought him down from my shoulders and shaked him to wake up, but he wasn't responding. In that very moment, fear enveloped me–the thought that he might be dead frightened me the most, so I keep pushing and calling him to wake up.

"Camie!" I cried. "That must be her" a man's voice shouted from a distance, but I couldn't careless of myself. My little brother's body was laying lifelessly on the road side–in the cold winter snow.

"Get them now, move!" One of the men yelled. I could hear the sound of their movement coming from the woods. Leaving Camie's body to run to safety, was what I couldn't bring myself to do at the time – so I stayed and was crying over his body when the men reached where we were to drag me off him, then they carried him off the ground. They King's men took us back to my father's villa – when we got there, I saw a woman dressed in a Queen's outfit, walk-in through the front door with a boy; who might be a little older than me. So I assumed, she was King Adam's wife and the boy, his son. I noticed they had cleaned up the whole mess they made last night, the bodies were no longer on the floor, and the men were busy still washing off the blood stains on the floor–as the guards dragged me through, my eyes met with that of the boy. He was as young as myself, with full dark curly hairs fallen backwards, he stopped on his way, staring into my blue eyes and I stared back into his topaz coloured eyes, secretly wish he will hear my cry for help.

"Valen, come over here" His Mom called. I stared until his white coloured shirt and his tall frame moved slowly and disappeared into the villa. The guards took me to a room through the back of the villa, and they said they were taking Camie to see a doctor – but I knew it was a lie.

"Tell me, how is my brother?" I asked one of the men that brought me to the room, where they kept me locked in. He was resistant to respond to my question at first, but I pleaded with him,

"Please, tell me how my brother his doing. Is he still alive?" I cried- "He was barely breathing when we got here, I guess they took him to see a doctor".

"You guess?" I asked as my gaze widen, "I will really love to do how he is doing, help me please" I held his hand as I pleaded with him. He promised to find out what happened to my brother and get back to me, before here left the room. He came back during the evening to inform me that my brother was dead, he dead of chill and fever. That night, I couldn't bring myself to sleep a wink. The thought of everything that happened the previous night, kept pricking my mind all through the night. My father, my mother and my little brother all gone within minutes and hours, I was all alone–the only member of the Prim's royal family alive.

But why am I still alive? I cried and cried pounding on the room door, but no one answered. I thought of killing myself–But the reminiscence of my father's words came to me,

"Someday, you will be the Alpha Princess, so you need to be fearless, courageous and strong to lead the pack"–So I wiped my tears and sat on the floor, with my knees curled up, I waited for the worse.

Three years later, I got to find out why King Adam needed me alive. The werewolves of Nevada, my town, would not yield to any stranger as King, even if it cost them their lives and the Princess of Nevada won't be given up for marriage until she is of age, and that will be at the age of Twenty one, less, the people of Nevada will regard the marriage as void. The King's people had been preparing me for three year, to marry his only son; so he could get the people of Nevada to submit to him. Christine one of the maids who served under my parents, was allowed to be amongst the maids that came to serve me once a week. I wasn't allowed outside the room–it was heavily guarded by the King's men. One day, I had noises of celebration in the palace villa–it was Christine's turn to tend to me that day, so I waited patiently to find out what was happening from her. That evening when I heard her voice, while she was been interrogated by the guards at the door–that was the usual protocol, before the allowed anyone to carry anything through into the room, I was glad she was finally here–she was the only friend I had, with whom alone I was at ease.

"Princess, I brought you a new dress"

"Alaya, I have always told you to call me that. My name is Alaya". –"But I can't" she said in a respective manner,

"How many years have we been friends now" I asked her, making a funny face at her–"Three years" she replied

"Then you are permitted to call me by my name, am more comfortable with that" I corrected, while dragging her to sit with me on the bed.

"What is happening?" I asked immediately we sat on the bed–"happening where" she asked in return.

"I mean the noise, what is the celebration about"

"Oh! That, that's the reason I brought you a new dress. The celebration is for you, Alaya". For the very first time in three, she called me my name. The smile on her face was rare–not like the other times she tried to cheer me up in the past–this was different, she was happy for me. Her smile was infectious, so I couldn't help but smile too.

"For me?" I asked. I was surprised anything could be done in my honour, I didn't think they people remembered that I was still alive–but Christine assured me they were very much aware and that their loyalty lies with me.

"Yes for you, it's your 21st birthday and the people are celebrating your coming of age"

She was the one who explained the reason why King Adam couldn't kill me, even if he wanted to. And everything esle, as to my coming of age– it was the right age for me to pick my mate and lead the pack as the alpha princess, so it was time for the King to let me out of this quarters – which he has barred me to for years now.

"So, you mean I will be free to step out of this room?" I asked in excitement.

"Yes, you are. Princess" she responded, even happier than I was. She brought out the dress she came with earlier,

"But first you have to get dressed" she handed the pretty ball gown to me and helped me change into it–the flowery ball gown looked exquisitely beautiful on me, as I went to the mirror – placed on the wall at a corner in the room to take a look at myself.

"You look graciously gorgeous, Princess"

"Thank you, Christine" I said.

For the first time in three years, I was truly happy. For once I didn't allow myself to be bothered about what might await me–at the moment, I chose to be happy. I saw myself in the mirror–looking lavishly beautiful, and Christine pouring praises at me, while she helped me comb out my long blonde hair.

"You both should be quick and come out here. The King is waiting for Alaya" one of the guards with a husky voice said.

"We should be out in a minute" Christine replied

"Be quick about it, you don't keep the King waiting" the husky came again– Christine rolled her big beautiful eyes at that and I smiled. "We have to hurry" she said, while cautiously giving a finishing touch to my hair.

"Here you go, you look perfect, my princess" she said

"And you praise me a lot, you know". She chuckled, "But I can't help it, you look absolutely amazing. Just like your mother the late Queen". My face turned sad at the mention of my mother. The thought of my family that I lost in the most tragic manner, came rushing to me again. She realized it was because of what she had said, "Am so sorry, Alaya. I didn't mean to upset you", I forced a smile to make her feel less guilty, "You don't have to be" I said. Trying to get myself to be happy again, "Am sorry to stop your reminiscence, but we have to go now", she said reminding me that the guards was still outside, waiting to take me to see the King.

"Oh! Yes, let's go. Am ready" I said when I recovered my full composure–as we headed towards the door Christine stopped and turned to face me,

"You must remember, your choice of a mate is entirely yours. The king is planning to make you marry his son, but whatever your choice, your people will happily accept" she said. I was very attentive to her words and engraved them into my heart.

"Thank you Christine, I will surely remember this" she turned to open the door, the guard at the door had already grew impatient of waiting, so he opened the door before Christine could.

"Let's go" he said.

Christine lead the way and I followed. I was stunned at the sight of the villa from the outside, it was sparkling, decorated with bright light of different colours–but everything else was the same as before. The well trimmed flowers just like the way Mom liked it, I was lost admiring at the forest of hyacinth and orchids joined by a group of heliconia pendula that graced my view. Christine told me how she and some other workers in the Palace, ensured that my mother’s efforts to keep nature was still at its prime and peak in the villa amidst ecological menace– as we approached the entrance to the front door, leading to the King's throne where he awaited us–but then I bumped into a man. He was dressed in the same outfit as the palace guards, but he wore a helmet, we briefly looked into each other's eyes, his was sparkling golden brown eyes– he muttered sorry as he lowered his head and passed cross me in a hurry. I turned to look at him– I wondered why he was avoiding eye contact, while he walked pass the guard following behind us.

"Hey! You, where are you headed to". They guard yelled

"To the winery Sir, the king's guests need a refill". He replied without turning

"Be quick with that" the guard urged him, and turned to continue the walk with us to see the King.

"Something about him feels familiar" I said to Christine, "About who?" She asked without turning to look at me.

"The guard that just passed, I feel like I have met him before" There was something familiar about his voice and eyes, something that triggered a feeling in me– a feeling that I couldn't explain.

"We are almost there" Christine said, her voice snapped me out of my thoughts– of the man in the guards uniform, that just passed. We got to the ball room and was met with a crowd, the men were seated in a long round table–having a banquet, the woman, children and the younger men–were dancing around the place. Then I saw him, King Adam. He was seated on a longer chair, with a crown on his head. He halt the music, when the guard that lead us there, informed him in a whisper of my presence.

"Alaya, come sit" he said, as he pointed me to a chair. Christine went to join the other's at the other side of the ball room–while I joined the King and his guest on the banquet table,

"A toast to our celebrant, the Princess of Nevada" he said, as he proposed a toast in my honour. "Cheers", everybody in the room echoed and the music came to live again– I was observant of my surroundings, I dropped my glass back on the table– I haven't forgotten in a hurry that this same man slayed my father, right before my eyes. The feeling of anguish and the ache in my heart, each time I the thought of that night crosses my mind–it made me want to reach across the table and stab that monster in the chest, with my cutlery knife. But I resisted the thought and composed myself, I feared that maybe one of the King's people will hear my thoughts.

"Are you okay, my dear?" her voice rang out like a church bell. It was the woman I saw that night with a boy as they walked into the villa.

"Of course" I replied

She was seated next to the King, which confirm my suspensions that she was the queen–although she looked quite pretty, sophisticated and elegant, but she was nothing campared to my Mom's gorgeousness, whom I took after.

"I know we didn't start off on the right foot, but I will like us to me family, dear child". King Adam said with a cheeky smile on his face, I too pretended to smile as well.

"I will like to introduce you to our son" the Queen said. She looked around in attempt to find their son, who was supposed to be seated at the table with us–but he was obviously no where to be found.

"Find him now!" The King ordered the guard closest to him.

My gaze followed the guard as he made his way to the front exit, in search of the Prince; I excused myself from the table– requesting to join the others at the dance floor. As I moved to the dance floor, Christine came and took me to a particular group–they group bowed slightly to me, because they recognized me as their alpha Princess, but they were careful not to be seen by the King's men. I greeted them and acknowledged their respect. I danced around with some people–it was my first time in three years coming out to mingle with other people again. It felt amazing. Shortly, I decided to escape the crowd and get some fresh air out in the garden. On my way to the garden, I bumped into him again in a dark corner, he was acting like one who was trying to hide away from something,

"Hey! Am sorry" he said, when we bumped into each other–this time his helmet fail to the floor and he reached to pick it.

"You again? You don't look where you are going, do you?" I asked a bit angry at him, when he raised from picking his helmet

"Sorry Miss, I didn't mean any harm. It was pure coincidence" he said smiling, his smile was bright and his face was glowing in the dark, but I pretended not to notice.

"Yeah sure" I said and rolled my eyes, I walked pass him–into the bright light of the garden, but he followed.

"You must be new here"

"And why would you think that?" I asked

"Cause I haven't seen you around here before" his tall frame now standing in front of me, looking all muscular and handsome. With each glance at him, I realized how handsome and well built he was. He kept coming closer as he questioned to know who I was– I tried stepping back to avoid him, and I almost tripped, but he grabbed hold of me by the waist. At that moment, it was as if time suddenly stopped, and we were lost gazing into each other's eyes.

"Let go". I said, when I recovered my composure

"You are so beautiful" he said, as he gently let go of me with a broad smile on his face.

I turned to leave in a hurry, but he called out to me,

"Hey! At least tell me your name"

"Laya" I said, then I turned and went back to the party.