HOUR OF THE WOLF

"We hunt those who hunt us" - The Hunter's Code."As long as there have been werewolves, Hunter has hunted them. These werewolf Hunter families are people who have dedicated their lives to tracking werewolves and other supernatural beings whom they consider a threat to humanity. The Venandi family are part of this elite league and come from a long line of expert Hunters. As a result, they possess extensive knowledge of these creatures and hunt and fight against them successfully. In addition, they have a vast arsenal of weapons and technology purposefully designed to eliminate werewolves. Even though the Venandis are incredibly proud of their Hunting business, they have to keep it a secret. Ordinary citizens must not find out about these creatures prowling in the night to keep the peace and order in their rural community. So, they work regular nine to five jobs during the day, leaving the hunting until after the cover of night.Once a member of a Hunters family turns eighteen, gene

The bright sunlight had faded into a warm afternoon glow basking the bedroom in golden glimmers when they finally woke up from their midday nap.Minnow was lying on her stomach. She stretched and yawned, then turned her face towards Saylor's and met his suspicious glare. She could feel the chilled air trail over her bare skin. Minnow immediately pulled down her jumper to cover her back."Why, do you have a bruise from a boot on your back?" Saylor whispered. His voice was horrified.Minnow buried her face in the pillow to compose herself. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it." She grumbled from inside the soft, fluffy layers."Um, I am going to worry about it, ok." Saylor's tone was determined, and Minnow knew he wouldn't back down. "I don't want to talk about it." She whispered and finally met his concerned eyes. Minnow sat up on the bed, and her shoulders slumped."I think you will feel better if you do." His eyes were soft but seemed decided on getting her talking. He reached out

Dovie stopped them before they could escape through the extensive front door. "Minnow darling, don't forget you have a dress fitting later today for your birthday," her mother called out from the top of the wide staircase. Minnow sighed, her shoulders slumped, and her feet dragged a few steps. "Ok, mother, I won't forget. She grumbled without looking back. "Mrs Venandi, you look younger each time I see you." Saylor smiled and waved at her mother, and Minnow could hear Dovie snicker approvingly. Minnow rolled her eyes. "You are so gross." His eyebrows rose, "I can't help that older women love me." he chuckled in defence. "Pretty much all women love you?" Minnow corrected, pushed open the doors, and let in the crisp autumn air. "Well, I didn't want to sound too presumptuous." He winked and walked past her towards the waiting car. Their private chauffeur walked around the side of the shiny black sedan and opened the passenger door. His weathered face broke into a friendly smile wh

Back in her room, she finally could breathe again. Her whole body ached from the exhaustion of pretending everything was ok.Minnow grabbed her one photo album from the desk drawer and lay on her stomach on the large bed.She loved looking through the photos of Saylor and her at the lake under the liquidambar tree. In the album's first photos, the two of them couldn't be more than ten years old. Oh, how they had grown practically adults now.Minnow's face broke into a heartfelt grin as she glanced at the younger versions of themselves. So happy, innocent and carefree.Her face soon turned into a frown as the sadness of losing that innocence washed over her. These strange men, these monsters, had stolen something from her that could never be brought back—her virginity and trust in human beings.Minnow's phone chimed, and she secretly hoped it was Saylor. She could need some of his kind words and cheer up.She glanced at the display, and curls rolled like waves through her body."Oh, no

Minnow couldn't sleep that night. She was too wired to relax and tossed and turned the night's first half. The clock had entered the hour of the wolf when she finally fell into a slumber, the time when the deepest fears haunted her. The sleepless spell when ghosts and demons are most powerful. Minnow was transported back to that dreadful night everything changed. It was dark, cold and damp in the playground. Minnow desperately moved her shivering body crawling over the wet grass. Dead rotting leaves rose and squeezed out between her fingers as she dragged herself forward on the nature floor. The blood rushed loudly through her ears and blended with her laboured, shallow breaths. Heavy footsteps followed behind, and the clacking sound of the metal as a belt buckle was undone. "No, no, this is not happening." Her brain screamed, drowning out all rational thoughts about fight or flight, freezing her in tonic immobility. A pair of warm hands gripped her bare legs and flipped her for