Chapter 7- Hunting Part I

As Jo led Dante toward the hunting ground, the noise of the gathering crowd grew louder and louder.

Jo’s stomach twisted in disgust.

Every year, the Dark Slayer pack held their "traditional hunt", a brutal bloodsport where captured slaves were hunted down and killed.

 They weren’t just demons, either.

 Many were wandering elves, half-fairies, and other magical creatures caught near the no-man’s border.

 Creatures that didn’t deserve to die.

Alpha Jayden took perverse pride in these hunts, flaunting them as some glorious tradition.

 Jo doubted the royal King and Queen even knew what was happening here.

The hunting ground was already filling up.

 Slaves in shackles, bruised, battered, defeated, were herded like cattle, their eyes hollow.

Jo flinched instinctively at the sight but quickly straightened her posture.

 She couldn’t afford to show weakness here.

Above the grounds, a grand tent stood overlooking the field, filled with higher-ranked officials lounging comfortably, sipping wine, laughing as if preparing for a festival.

Jo knew exactly what this was.

 A pathetic validation ritual for men who needed blood to feel powerful.

She came to a stop.

"Please enter the tent, General. I cannot go any further," she said, stepping aside to let Dante pass.

But instead of walking in alone, Dante grabbed her hand and dragged her with him into the tent.

Jo’s heart thundered in her chest.

What in the bloody murders is this idiot doing? she panicked, forcing herself to keep her expression blank under the startled gazes of the officials.

She couldn’t lash out.

 Not here.

 Not in front of so many witnesses.

 One wrong move and she'd be branded insolent, thrown into the dungeons, or worse.

The former Alpha, Warren, approached them, his brows furrowed.

"Greetings, General D. Castiel," he said, eyeing Jo’s trapped hand with amusement. "I see you’ve taken a liking to one of our omegas."

Dante smiled easily, tightening his grip slightly on Jo’s hand, while Jo imagined kicking him where it would hurt the most.

"Is there a problem?" Dante asked, his voice cool and warning.

"Of course not, General. Our people are ready to serve the royal representatives in any way possible," Warren said smoothly, turning his cold gaze onto Jo.

 "Jo, see to it that all the general’s needs are met."

"Yes, Alpha," Jo said, forcing a tight smile. "It’s a... pressure, I mean, pleasure, to serve the general."

She wanted to gag.

Dante only smiled wider.

"I would prefer to be served exclusively by Jolene during my stay," Dante announced loudly, his voice brooking no argument.

Jo burned with rage inside.

Nearby, Gina, dressed in a low-cut top and a too-tight skirt, giggled stupidly.

 She tugged her shirt even lower, showing off as much cleavage as possible.

Typical.

Gina could turn heads with her pretty face and perfectly straight blonde hair, but anyone who knew her temper and cruelty quickly turned away in disgust.

As Jo seethed silently, Gina leaned in and whispered, just loud enough for Jo to hear, "Make sure you keep his bed warm."

Jo barely resisted rolling her eyes.

 At least Gina wasn't as physically violent with her as she was with Lucy and the other omegas.

Before Jo could shoot back a retort, Gina suddenly squealed, "Alpha Jayden is here! And he looks so handsome!"

Jo turned her head reluctantly, and sure enough, Alpha Jayden entered the tent, flanked by another tall, imposing figure.

The silver-haired man beside him wore distinctive armor, almost identical to Dante’s, and carried an aura of raw, effortless power.

"Ah, General C. Bolt," the former Alpha gushed. "Welcome to the infamous hunting grounds of the Dark Slayer Pack."

"I’ve heard a lot about this hunt," Caleb said with an easy grin. "We’ll see if it lives up to the reputation."

Jayden stood stiffly beside him, clearly pissed at being upstaged.

Gina immediately rushed to Jayden’s side, lowering her already scandalous neckline even more as she pressed herself against him.

Jo grimaced at the sight, resisting the urge to gag.

"My, my, I never knew generals were this handsome," a slurred voice chirped behind her.

Jo didn’t even need to turn.

 Linda.

The Beta's wife.

 Overly blonde. Overly made-up. Overly desperate.

Linda approached the generals shamelessly, her perfume thick enough to suffocate a full-grown wolf.

"Let me introduce myself to you handsome lads," she said, puffing up her chest. "I’m Linda, beauty queen of the pack."

Neither Dante nor Caleb so much as looked at her.

Unfazed, Linda pressed closer to Caleb, who visibly recoiled, and gave Jo a poisonous look.

"General," Linda said sweetly, "you’re clinging to an omega. I have three beautiful daughters, all far better in title and blood. Or..." She trailed her fingers along Caleb’s armor suggestively, "if you prefer experience..."

Jo shuddered.

No wonder Gina turned out the way she did, growing up with a mother like this.

Thankfully, Linda's gross flirting was cut short when the former Alpha called for attention.

"Guards, release the slaves into the hunting grounds!" he barked.

The gates swung open, and the slaves stumbled into the arena, given a pathetic head start.

Jo clenched her fists.

This was not tradition.

 This was cruelty, plain and simple.

The former Alpha grinned widely.

"As you all know, this year we are honored by the presence of the royal generals and warriors!" he announced proudly. "These slaves are wandering demons and criminals. We are doing the world a favor by hunting them down."

The crowd roared in approval.

Jo’s stomach twisted.

Not all of them were demons. Not all of them were evil.

The former Alpha continued, "Under our tradition, each participant may select a maiden of any rank to accompany them on the hunt! Whoever slays the most prey will win the golden coins and be celebrated with a feast!

 Remember, this hunting ground suppresses all powers and shapeshifting!

 Today, only your primal strength and instincts matter."

Jo’s heart stopped.

Suppresses powers?

 Suppresses scent masking?

Her blood ran cold.

No wonder Dante had dragged her into the tent.

 He knew.

The moment they entered that ground... her real scent could slip through.

 Her real identity could be exposed.

She risked a quick glance at Dante.

He wasn’t even pretending anymore.

 He was looking at her like a predator who had finally caught a caged prey.

Jo swallowed hard.

 She was screwed.

Absolutely, royally, utterly screwed.