I quietly made my way through the woods enjoying the fresh morning breeze all the while trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. It helps because I am 5 ft 3 and can wiggle my way through the crowds without being noticed. Like I said earlier, my name is Alyssa Jackson and I am the only child of parents . It was indeed a cold morning but the weather was still a delight and so much better than the stuffiness I felt at home , never mind the twenty four seven available air conditioner. I mean who really gives a shit about that ? Not me thank you very much. I happen to be a homebody who loves the natural breeze . I love feeling the wind in my hair so sue me if you can. Right now if I am lucky I can make it past the pack guards and shifters stationed all around the alpha's mansion which as you know happens to be where I live, seeing as my dad is the alpha of the crescent wolf pack. One of the most formidable pack in the West rivaled only by the Blood moon pack.
"Seriously?" I muttered "what is this a prison?" Seems like my dad the alpha had tightened security due to the numerous reports about rogues attacking different packs and conquering territories for themselves through sheer brute and force. I quickened my pace , quickly reached the garden door and opened the little door in the wall with the secret key no one knew I had and entered the garden shed undetected. It was just my luck, a plus for me really that my room overlooked the garden. And so all I had to do was simply take a ladder from the shed and climb up. It was definitely a long way up and large droplets of sweat ran down my face in rivulets by the time I had finally reached the top . I then hoisted myself up my window and landed with a solid plop on the floor and just lay there exhausted, motionless and out of breath. I had done it! What joy! I had yet again managed to sneak in as usual and wasn't caught.
"Who says I can't make a good detective " I mused chuckling to myself. I didn't see the tall figure seated comfortably on my arm chair.
"Hello Aly" that voice instantly brought me out of my little reverie.
"Grant " I whispered. " What are you doing you aren't allowed here " It was true and he knew it . Ordinary members of the pack weren't allowed in the mansion except specifically called for by the alpha or Luna or any other high ranking wolf or pack guards.
"I could say the same thing about you little wolf" came his sardonic reply a fully fletched grin etched on his face.
"Well if you must know I live here" I sassed. "Unlike some of us here." He gave a dark chuckle .
"That's because your precious parents don't know what you've done . How you've killed....."
Just then the door creaked open.
"Aly is that you ?" I heard my mom ask as the door widened.
" Yes mom it's me " I answered quickly.
" I think I am getting another scent now although faint".
"Mom please drop it" I pleaded .
"Alright" she muttered unconvincingly. "Your dad needs you in the throne room ."
" Don't be late and dress properly okay?"she admonished as she made her way out of my room
My heart pounded as I hurriedly took a quick bath and got dressed in a baby blue ball gown with a small slit, billowing sleeves and a little plunging neckline. Anything to impress my daddy ,I thought happily. I hoped my little escapade had not been discovered. I wasn't really a heels kinda girl so I paired my dress with some white sneakers
My mom would throw a fit if she knew that, reason why I so grateful my gown was long enough to hide my lack of stilettos . I curled my blonde hair into fanciful ringlets and wore my gold necklace with a star crossed pendant a gift from my dad and some gold stud earrings. I decided against make up since I was running out of time and simply applied some chap stick to my otherwise dry and cracked lips and raced madly through the halls making my way to the throne room.
I arrived just as Jackson my father's beta finished some sort of military presentation. I thanked my lucky stars I wasn't part of what was sure to be a sufficiently boring long presentation with compliment speeches about tactical warfares and whatnot. Seated around in a tight circle were some alphas I recognized from other neighboring packs in the West. I was immediately filled with a sense of foreboding dread and danger especially due to the fact that the room was eerily quiet, deathly silent and they all wore grim expressions.
"Alpha " I greeted as I bowed in courtesy to my father and all the other alphas present in the room to which they responded with a single nod in my direction.
"I called you here Alyssa to let you know that there has been a contract between our pack and the Blood moon pack. You're yo marry their alpha".
"What ! " I exclaimed in surprise and then again in anger absolutely not being prepared for that sort of news . "You can't do that dad, this isn't the 17th century, I won't do it , I don't want to marry some old freak. Besides I am only 19 years old dad. That's like teen marriage What about my mate? besides I heard he's cruel, old, bald , rapes his women and eats people ".
"Hold your tongue ! Alyssa ! "I will not have you insult another alpha in my presence especially one you're to we'd. I taught you better , show some respect "."
"But dad..."
" Silence Alyssa ,No buts " he cut in with his alpha voice cowering down and forcing me to submit . I resisted a bit of course seeing as I had alpha blood running through my veins....his blood .
" You're marrying the alpha of the Blood moon pack and that is final . You leave in three days , it's for your own good Aly he added softening his voice a bit especially after seeing the defeated look on my face . There's a war coming and I need you protected at all cost".
I nodded glumly defeated , knowing that nothing could change my father's mind at this point especially as he thought it would protect me . He wasn't just speaking to me as dad but as my alpha . The thought of that suddenly made me very angry . I felt the blood rush to my head, pounding in my temple, my vision getting blurry. How dare he just assume that because I'm female I must be in dire need of a man's protection. I was Alyssa Jackson for god's sake , the freaking fierce warrior princess and heir in line to the throne. Was my father really going to just bundle me up and send me to a far away pack land just because of some rogues or perhaps wolf hunters?
"Jackson " He called out to his beta . "Escort her back to her room ".
"Yes alpha " Jackson replied. " Come Alyssa let's go he said as he gently grabbed me by arm and gently led me out the throne room and into the great halls.
" You know he's just worried about right ?" He asked me .
"Yes I know" I replied.
" Look Aly " he said when we arrived in front of my room ." I've served your dad for over 50 years and he has never made a huge mistake or a bad decision when it comes to protecting his family or his pack , you have to believe that this decision wasn't easy.
What did he mean when he said a war is coming? I asked .
" You can tell me I promise I won't tell a soul"
"Well Aly we have reasons to believe that we may have been compromised . we think someone has been leaking security information but we don't know who Is and to whom those information is given to but I can promise you that what ever your dad has in mind will work , he needs you protected and safe even if it's not with him that's how much he loves you. You mean the world to him little wolf and he'll rather die than see you hurt Alyssa". Little did I know how true those words will be.
" Thanks betaJackson" I whispered as I pulled him in for a long hug . My dad's best friend and beta had become like a second father to her over these past years and I loved him for that . His mate Bertha was also very loving and sweet and loved me like her own children if not more . I smiled at the thought who wouldn't? I was very charming and pretty while those boys of hers were a pain in the ass. Now don't get me wrong I love them like my brothers though all 6 ft 2 of them . Bran , Jake and Ron. They especially liked to baby me too much often forgetting that I also had royal blood in me and was just as powerful as they were. If I was really leaving I would miss them especially Bertha and the home cooked meals I usually enjoyed.
" I have to find a way out of this" I thought as I lay on my bed". My mind flickered to Grant . Perhaps he was right. What happened that night was indeed a tragedy. I quickly shove all thoughts of it back in my head . I needed to focus on how to get out of my apparently upcoming marriage and I needed to do that fast.
My thoughts wandered to my mate . I hoped he was out there somewhere . Even though I turned 18 last year I hadn't met my mate yet . I was quite disappointed when during the ball organized in honour of my birthday I hadn't found him . which was very weird because there was this one moment when I took a walk by the lake I sensed something tugging my heart strings and smelt this wonderful scent like dewy rain drops and I thought I saw a tall hooded figure but when I blinked he was gone leaving me to believe that he was probably just a figment of my imagination. There's nothing I would not have given in that moment to have one of my fantasy come through. Perhaps a tall dark knight who is my mate coming to save me, challenging my father and riding off with me Into the sunset where we would live happily ever after. It was so silly that I smiled that couldn't happen even if I wanted it to I was next in line to be alpha and I had responsibilities to my pack . If I needed saving I was not going to wait for a man to do that for me. I had to do it myself.
And so the last thought drifting through my head that night was that of an escape plan orchestrated by me alone of course.