CHAPTER 1: RETURNING TO WOLF CREEK

Katarina

I am Katarina Penn, and I’m a Wolfhunter. My dad, Augustine, trained me to be one, but then he sent me away to live with my Aunt Mary—his way of protecting me from the people who killed my mom. His last words to me were, “The time will come, and one day you’ll be back.” Then, off I went.

Six years I’ve been away, but when Dad demanded I come back home, I couldn’t refuse. I can’t shake off the desperation in his voice. On the call, he said, “Katarina, the time has come. Come home.”

Now, I’m back. As I drive into the city, my eyes meet the signpost: Wolf Creek.

I take a deep breath.

So much goes on inside this city that the rest of the world could only imagine. In here, it’s real. I grew up in a world where werewolves exist. I know that because I saw my first one when I was only twelve—right in my living room, its eyes glaring at me, its presence threatening me. It was the worst day of my life, and it’s haunted me ever since.

I tried my best to fit in like a normal girl my age, yet I couldn’t help but feel like there was more out there for me. Aunt Mary wanted me to have a different life than my Dad’s, or maybe she was afraid I’d end up like my mother. Either way, I tried, and it didn’t work out—not in her house in a quiet neighborhood, and certainly not in college, pretending I was an ordinary Physiology student.

I’m the daughter of a wolf hunter. There’s nothing ordinary about that.

As I drive deeper into the city, I know normal is over for me. And for some strange reason, I love it. Something about the thrill of the hunt, the battle of wolf-hunters against werewolves, or maybe it’s the thought that with each strike, we rid our streets of the menace of those monsters. A part of me is also anxious to see Francis, my long-distance boyfriend, again.

Finally, I’m home. I take my box from the trunk and climb up the porch. The door is slightly open. That’s strange. Where’s Dad?

“Dad, I’m home,” I shout, loud enough for him to hear me.

No response. Just silence.

I glance around the living room, and I can’t help but feel it’s good to be back. Then, I hear a sound from upstairs. That’s probably him.

I head to his room and lightly push the door open. I can smell his cologne strongly, the same one he’s been using since I was little. He’s here for sure.

“Dad, I’m coming in,” I say, waiting for his response.

“Come in,” his voice growls from inside, with more authority than warmth.

I step into the room, and the sight shocks me. Dad is sitting on the edge of his bed, wiping blood off four vertical, deep cuts across his stomach. From werewolf claws, I’m sure.

“Christ!” I exclaim. “Dad, what happened?” I ask, shooting him a worried look. I sit next to him.

He doesn’t answer right away. He keeps wiping the wounds, his face showing no emotion, like he isn’t feeling the pain. Then, he turns his cold, piercing eyes toward me.

“We were on a hunt. We had the werewolves outnumbered. But their damn Alpha showed up to save them. He gutted me,” he says, groaning from the pain. “I’ve been through worse,” he adds flatly.

He’s in pain, and I feel pity for him. But I can’t show it. He hates pity.

“Dad… I missed you. I don’t know what I’d do if I lose you, Daddy,” I move closer and try to hug him, but he stops me with his hand.

“You’ve been gone too long, Katarina. You’ve grown soft,” he says sternly. “I’m not dying, and you are not a crybaby. Toughen up.” The sharpness in his voice makes me freeze. I open my mouth to respond, but he keeps talking.

“This isn’t some kind of family reunion, Katarina. We are in a battle of werewolves and wolf hunters, and our numbers are dwindling. Brace yourself. You must join the fight now.”

I blink, trying to keep up with the coldness of his words. Emotions aren’t Dad’s strongest suit. But he’s right. I’m a hunter, so I have to be tough. “I understand, Dad.”

“Good,” he says firmly. “The Alpha is out for us, Katty, especially me.”

I’m not surprised my Dad is the main target, seeing as he is the leader of the wolf-hunters. “How did you manage to escape him after he attacked you?” I ask, trying to act tough.

“I bluffed. I told him I have an army of hunters and my death would be a bloodbath for his precious wolves. I threatened him with the second thing I know he loves most in the world—his damn werewolves.”

My eyes are glued to him, listening intently. But something he said has me wondering. What does an Alpha love more than his pack? “What’s the first thing he loves?” I ask, anxious for his answer to resolve my curiosity.

“His mate,” he says, his cold eyes piercing into mine. “And I killed her.”

I gasp in terror. If Dad barely survived after they attacked over the second thing the Alpha loves, I fear what he’ll do for killing his mate. It becomes clearer now. “That’s why he’s out for you. For revenge.”

“Yes. So now you understand why you must take the next words I say very seriously,” he says in a harsh, commanding tone. I have no choice but to nod.

“Katarina, you are going to seduce the Alpha, make him fall for you, and when you see an opening, you strike and take him out.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. I don’t say that out loud. Dad’s intense look sends a chill down my spine. I stare into his eyes, and I see that he means it. He wants me to seduce the Alpha who almost killed him. “Dad, that’s not possible. I’ll be dead on arrival. He’ll see me coming from a mile away.”

“This is not a negotiation, hunter. I trained you to hunt, and that’s exactly what you are going to do.”

Panic sets in. “You trained me to hunt, not to be a seductress. I’ve never seduced anyone before,” I raise my voice, feeling the tension rising.

He glares at me with anger in his eyes. “How dare you talk back to me?”

I suddenly remember myself. Dad doesn’t like to be challenged—ever. “I’m sorry, Dad,” I say, avoiding his harsh gaze. “But… Dad, I don’t have enough experience to go against an Alpha. You could use another female hunter. Why me?”

“Never question me again,” he says, pointing at me, and I nod in acceptance. “Listen… the Alpha knows every wolf hunter in the city. They’d be dead before they even try to get him. But you… you’ve been away for years. He doesn’t know you’re a hunter. Use it to your advantage. Every wolf loves two things: to kill and sex, including the Alpha. Do whatever it takes to make him fall for you—that’s when you kill him.”

I shake my head, hesitating. I can’t do this. I’m terrified. “What if I die?” I ask, panicking.

“Then die trying,” his ruthless gaze locks onto mine. “Any hunter who fears death is as good as dead. Those damn werewolves will smell it on you and kill you.”

My heart starts to race. I don’t want to die. How the hell am I supposed to seduce an Alpha? What if I’m not his type?

Dad pulls something from his drawer, and I’m curious to know what it is. “This is your way in to get close to the Alpha. His name is Zane Christopher. He’s a successful artist. He’s having an art exhibition tomorrow in his gallery,” he says, handing me the invite. “No one will be allowed in without an invite. It was tough, but I managed to get you one.”

I take the white and silver-designed invite from him, staring at it in fear. “An artist and an Alpha,” I think, feeling a strange curiosity about meeting him.

“He lives double lives, just as you did—an ordinary life with your aunt and the life of a hunter here in Wolf Creek. The arrogant Alpha will see you as a regular human girl, harmless. When you get close to him, take him out.”

“But… I’ve never met him before. How do I know who he is?”

“When you see him, you’ll know.”

“I don’t know if I can do this, Dad,” I shake my head, feeling anxious, afraid, and pressured. “How do I seduce him?”

“For God’s sake, you’re not a child, Katrina,” he glares at me, irritated. “Wink at him, smile at everything he says, compliment him like he’s the king of the world, and don’t forget to touch him. Kiss him if you have to. Do whatever he wants. He won’t resist your beauty. When you’ve distracted him enough, and the moment comes, drive this dagger into his chest,” he says, handing me a silver dagger.

I look up at him, my heart racing. This is real. It’s happening. I’m going to seduce an Alpha, and I have to kill him. I can barely breathe. “What if I fail?” I ask, trembling with fear.

“You won’t make it out alive if you fail.” His steely eyes fix on mine, his voice deadly serious.

I gasp. My heart pounds even faster. “I don’t want to do this, Dad.” My eyes beg him not to make me go.

“How long do you think it will be before he comes for me again?” he roars. “I have given you an order. You must do it. Otherwise, I’ll be lying dead on the living room floor just like your mother.”

The painful memory floods my mind. I heard my mom scream, ran down the stairs, and there she was, lying on the floor, covered in blood, with a werewolf circling her. I’ll never forget that big black wolf or its green eyes that killed my mom.

Dad continues, “And Alpha Zane won’t stop there. He’ll come for you until you’re dead too.” His eyes are terrifying as he looks at me, his voice laced with fear.

I’m out of breath. My thoughts are spinning in all directions. I just got home today, and now this. It’s too much. Fear grips me to the core. I have to take down the Alpha, or he’ll finish off my Dad and then me—just like they did to Mom. Tears well up in my eyes, but I fight to hold them back. Dad can’t see me crying.

I stare at him, holding the silver knife and the invite, hoping he’ll see the fear in my eyes and stop this.

But he doesn’t.

“Katarina Penn,” he calls my full name. “This is our only chance. Seduce him with all you’ve got. And… you must act first before he guts you.”

It’s either him or me. What will happen when I meet the Alpha? One thing is certain: I’m going to face Alpha Zane Christopher tomorrow night to take him down.

As I stand there, gripping the dagger, a shiver runs down my spine. Can I really do this?

The image of my mother’s lifeless body flashes in my mind again. I clench the invite tighter, swallowing my fear. I can’t back down now. Dad’s life, and mine, are at stake.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, but I can’t shake the feeling that something terrible is waiting for me at that gallery tomorrow night.

I have no idea what I’m walking into.

And I’m not sure I’ll ever walk out.