THE HUNT BEGINS

Alicia POV

Six wolves formed a perfect circle around us, teeth bared, eyes glowing in the headlights. I couldn't breathe properly. My brain kept trying to tell me this wasn't real, that people didn't turn into animals.

But here we were.

Lena stood in the center of it all, still human, perfectly calm. She wore designer jeans and a leather jacket.

"You know the rules, Desmond." Her voice echoed across the parking lot. "Matthew's called a formal Hunt. Three challenges, three days."

Desmond's hand found mine behind his back. His palm was burning hot. "This is illegal. She's not pack."

"Her bloodline says otherwise." Lena smiled. "Bloodmoon royalty trumps human registration. Matthew researched thoroughly."

"I don't care what Matthew researched. Alicia's under my protection."

"For now." Lena examined her nails. "But if you fail even one challenge, she becomes pack property. Available to the strongest wolf." She looked directly at me. "That would be me, currently."

My stomach turned. "I'm not property."

"Tell that to pack law, sweetheart."

Desmond's grip on my hand tightened. "What are the challenges?"

"First one's at dawn. Strength trial. You against three pack warriors, simultaneously." She gestured to the wolves. "You have to keep little Bloodmoon safe while fighting. She gets hurt, you lose. You go down, you lose. You kill one of ours, you lose."

"That's impossible."

"That's the point." Lena stepped closer. The wolves moved with her, tightening the circle. "Matthew wants to see if you're worthy of protecting such valuable bloodline. Or if you're still the weak pup who couldn't even keep his mate bond intact."

Desmond's whole body went rigid. I felt heat and fury rolling off him.

"Second challenge?" His voice came out deeper, with that baritone that made my bones vibrate.

"Haven't decided yet. Depends on how entertaining the first one is." Lena's smile widened. "Third challenge is traditional. A Claiming Run. She runs, we hunt. First wolf to catch her wins everything."

"No." The word came out as a growl. "Absolutely not."

"You don't get to negotiate, Hayes. Matthew makes the rules. You just have to survive them."

A wolf to our left shifted closer. Desmond moved fast, putting himself between it and me.

"Back off," he said quietly. "Now."

The wolf's lips pulled back from massive teeth.

"One more step and this ends badly," Desmond warned.

"For who?" Lena laughed. "You're outnumbered and outmatched. And you can't shift without breaking your cover to the human." She glanced at me. "Oh wait, she already knows. How convenient."

Headlights flooded the parking lot from the other entrance. A truck came in fast, music blasting.

Cole jumped out before it fully stopped, followed by someone else. Blond hair with a familiar build.

Jaxon.

"Sorry we're late," Cole called out. "Traffic was terrible."

Lena's expression soured. "This doesn't concern you, Morrison."

"Really? Because I count six wolves surrounding my friends. Seems like my concern." Cole walked over casually. "Also, pretty sure formal Hunts require neutral witnesses. You got any?"

Lena's jaw tightened. "We don't need…"

"Pack law says you do," Jaxon interrupted. He stood next to Cole, completely calm. "My sister's mated into the Clearwater Pack. I know the rules."

I stared at him. "You know about werewolves?"

"Long story. Tell you later." He looked at Lena. "You can't start the Hunt without witnesses from at least two uninvolved packs. Otherwise it's just assault."

"Fine." Lena pulled out her phone. "I'll have witnesses by dawn. Will that satisfy your legal concerns?"

"It's a start," Cole said.

"Wonderful. Then we'll see you at sunrise. East clearing, by the old mill." She looked at Desmond. "Don't be late. And don't run. We'll find you."

The wolves shifted back to human form, all of them naked and unconcerned about it. I looked away quickly.

They loaded into the SUVs and left, tires squealing.

The second they were gone, my legs gave out.

Desmond caught me. "I've got you."

"What just happened?" My voice shook. "What did I just agree to?"

"You didn't agree to anything," Cole said. "Matthew forced it."

Jaxon grabbed my other arm. "We need to move. They'll have people watching."

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Somewhere safe," Desmond said. "Cole?"

"Already handled. Safe house ten miles out. Off pack territory."

They got me into Cole's truck. Desmond sat next to me, still touching my hand like he was afraid I'd disappear.

Jaxon drove my car. Cole took his truck. We formed a small convoy heading out of town.

The safe house was actually just a cabin in the woods.

Inside smelled like pine and dust. Cole started a fire while Jaxon checked the perimeter.

I sat on the couch and stared at nothing.

My mom was a werewolf. I had a wolf inside me, sleeping. People wanted to hunt me for my bloodline.

None of this was real. It couldn't be real.

"Alicia?" Desmond knelt in front of me. "Talk to me."

"About what?" I laughed, and it sounded broken. "About how my entire life is a lie? How you've known the truth this whole time and said nothing?"

"I was protecting you."

"By lying?"

"By keeping you safe!" He stood up, frustrated. "You don't understand what would've happened if you'd remembered too soon. The magic that severed our bond—it was brutal. It nearly killed us both."

"Then you should've told me instead of disappearing!"

"I couldn't! Pack law…"

"I don't care about pack law!" I was standing now too. "You should've cared about ME!"

The room went silent.

Cole cleared his throat. "I'll just... check outside."

He left. Jaxon followed.

Desmond and I stared at each other.

"We weren't just step-siblings who fell in love," he said quietly. "We were fated mates."

The words hit me. "What do we know at that age?”

"It's rare. But it happens." He sat on the couch arm. "We had six months together. Best six months of my life. Then Matthew found out. He saw you as weak, human, unworthy of his son."

"So he just... erased me?"

"He used pack magic. The process…" His voice cracked. "You were in the hospital for a week with a fever that wouldn't break. I couldn't shift properly for three months. We both almost died."

I wrapped my arms around myself. "Why didn't my dad stop it?"

"Matthew threatened him. Said if David ever told you the truth, he'd kill you both."

"And you just... let him?"

"I was fourteen, Alicia. Still under Matthew's control. I had no choice."

"There's always a choice."

"Not in my world." He looked at me with those gold-flecked eyes. "But I'm choosing differently now. I'll fight the Hunt. I'll keep you safe."

"Why should I trust you?"

Before he could answer, his phone rang.

He looked at the screen and his face went pale. "It's your dad."

My heart stopped. "What?"

Desmond answered on speaker. "David?"

"Where is she?" Dad's voice was panicked. "Where's Alicia?"

"She's safe."

"Safe? SAFE?" He was almost yelling. "Your father just called me. He told me about the Hunt. He said if I don't cooperate, if I don't keep Alicia away from you, he'll destroy her!"

Desmond closed his eyes. "David, listen…"

"No, YOU listen. I've been hiding this truth for six years because he threatened my daughter's life. Six years of watching her suffer from nightmares and memory gaps, too terrified to give her answers." His voice broke. "He just told me he knows where she is. He knows about the Hunt. And he said the only way to keep her alive is to keep her away from you."

"He's lying," Desmond said. "Matthew wants to control her bloodline. He'll hurt her."

"And you won't?" Dad laughed bitterly. "You already did. Six years ago when you left her broken."

The words hit Desmond visibly.

"I'm coming to get her," Dad continued. "I'm at her dorm now with airport security and campus police. I told them she's being held by someone dangerous, that she needs to be extracted. We're heading to your location. I tracked her phone."

My phone. Still in my pocket.

"Dad, no…" I started.

"Alicia, baby, I'm so sorry. I should've protected you better. But I'm not making that mistake again." His voice hardened. "You have twenty minutes before we arrive with authorities. If you run, I'll find you. If you fight, Desmond goes to jail for kidnapping."

The call ended.

Desmond looked at me. "We need to leave. Now."

"He's my father."

"He's terrified and desperate. That makes him dangerous."

"He's trying to save me!"

"He's trying to make you vulnerable to Matthew’s plans!" Desmond grabbed my shoulders. "Alicia, please. Trust me one more time."

I looked at this boy I didn't remember loving. This werewolf who'd kept impossible secrets. This stranger who felt like home.

"Give me one reason why I should."

He cupped my face in his hands. "Because you're my mate. And I would die before I let anyone hurt you again."

Headlights appeared through the trees.

Cole burst through the door. "We've got company. A lot of it."

Desmond's phone buzzed. Text from Matthew.

Running won't save her. But giving up might save you. Choose wisely, son.

And just like that, I was out of time.