~HunterI stuff a pillow over my face, groaning.What a miserable day. I’ve escaped one terrible fate only to stumble into another. I can’t tell if I’ve offended some higher power, or if I just have terrible luck.Kaan has avoided me all day, leaving me to stew over this bad news.About an hour ago I finally fell into a tumultuous sleep, although I’ve just now awoken in a cold sweat, the moon taunting me from its place in the night sky.I need to speak to Kaan. I can't wait another moment to find out what he thinks about this.Dragging my legs from the bed, I take a moment before I manage to stand. My injury still feelings terrible, my legs weak and useless. Determination better be enough to get me to his room.My doubts grow the closer I get to his room. It's past midnight, so I assume he's sleeping until my eyes graze the underside of his door, seeing light streaming from it.I knock on the wood before bracing my hand on the wall, trying not to keel over from pain.Kaan opens the do
~HunterI don't hesitate a moment longer, flinging myself into his arms.He crushes me into his, his arms wrapping so tightly around them the breath is nearly pulled completely from my lungs. His familiar smell floods my senses, bringing back memories I thought I left behind."Edgar...I missed you so much," I mumble into his chest.It takes everything in me not to choke of my growing emotions. I wasn't sure I would ever see Edgar again. I was convinced he would be suffocated up in the drama of me leaving, forced to move on and pretend I don't exist.Edgar pulls away, holding my shoulders. He shakes them a little, a grave look on his face."You idiot. How did you end up here?" He questions."It's a long story. How did you end up here?" I tug at his apron, at the cuttings hanging out the front pocket. He even wears gardening gloves, which is an amusing switch from the Edgar I once knew.He peels off the gloves at my scrutiny. "I followed you."My eyes widen. No. He can't be serious."Wh
~HunterYawning, I stretch back, letting the sun warm my skin."I don't know about you, Hunter, but I'm starving," Tay exclaims, popping the lid off a container that holds some strange looking paste.She insisted on having lunch together on the lawn, claiming she wants to spend more time together as 'sisters.' Unfortunately for me, she has insisted on making everything herself, and after living her whole life having everything cooked for her, it seems I am merely an experiment.I eye the food cautiously, although my stomach grumbles. "Me too. It's been a long day of training.""With Kaan?""No, he's been doing business with his father, apparently. Or in other words, avoiding me completely," I mutter, digging into a small bowl of grapes, popping one into my mouth.Kaan and I haven't spoken since he told me he is unfazed by the idea of me leaving before we can be married, expressing how uninterested in me he truly is.It's not as if I have suspected he would be interested in me, but it
~HunterI stare out across the crowd, feeling my breakfast churning uneasily in my stomach.The last time I stood before a crowd like this, my brother was being announced as Alpha, taking over my father's position. That day I felt sick to my stomach as well, but for an entirely different reason...Back then, I was angry that despite being older than my brother, I wasn't allowed any power. I hated that instead, I was destined to marry someone else with power, to give him heirs then disappear into a void of unimportance.Today, I'm the focal point. All eyes examine Kaan's new bride to be, their new Luna."What an incredible day this is, where we can finally announce that our son has proposed to his beautiful fiancee, Hunter," Cyrus announces to the crowd, sweeping his arm around to encompass us.Cyrus and Allira wanted to call me Livia to the crowd, although I pressed them not to. Thankfully they agreed to my terms, but only when I begrudgingly accepted being a lifeless, passive body on
~HunterI press my ear against my bedroom door, waiting for the signal.This meeting has been carefully orchestrated. This morning, just as the sun was spilling over the horizon, I snuck outside to the garden shed where I left a note tucked into some gardening gloves.There is no guarantee Edgar will have found the note, and will be coming to my room tonight, but I didn't know how else to do it casually.Now that I am to marry the Alpha, all eyes seem to be on me at all times.A single tap sounds against the door, right near my ear. Just like I instructed.I quickly open the door, letting him slip in. We shouldn't be disturbed, since it's so late, and there is a lot I need to get off my chest."Thank you for coming, I know it's a big risk for you," I murmur lowly, rubbing the back of my neck as I turn to him.He looks around the room, an unreadable expression on his face. I wonder if this reminds him of my room back home, except this is much larger, lighter and is missing my sister.M
~HunterKaan and haven't spoken much during our trip through the village and past it, save for a lecture about how I have to appear to be undoubtedly in love with him.I'm not sure I'm that good of an actress. I don't think anyone could be...My mate has explained to me that he loves his grandmother, that she is one of the most important people in his life. For that reason, he doesn't want to disappoint her, and her dream for him to marry for love.I understand the sentiment. I just wish it wasn't me he is marrying.We pass through the countryside, toward the border of the Pack. Anxiety bristles through me, knowing we are drawing near to my home back, where people desperately await my return.People who would kill to get me back.Kaan doesn't notice the shift in my composure, too busy marinating in his own worry about how this is going to go.We finally arrive mid-morning to a small cottage centred in the middle of a vast paddock. The wheels of the transport undulate over the grass, n
~HunterSinking to my knees, I thrust my head under the surface of the water, scrubbing at my face and neck.What a miserable few days it has been, running for my life.Emerging above the surface, I tilt my head back, letting the dappled light shift over my face as I breathe in the balmy mid-afternoon air.I'm in another Pack now, far from him.He will be tracking me though. I need to keep moving.I continue walking, weaving through the woods, grateful for the easy terrain. The lush forest floor has slowly morphed into flat grass, blissful to wander over.My destination is still unknown. As far away as possible, and although I'm tired, far is still weeks away on foot.My wary legs, blistering feet and sunburnt skin is irrelevant. No distance put between us will ever be enough."Hey!"I pause, my breath catching in my throat.Dread, cold and bitter claws my skin as I slowly turn toward the origin of the voice, assuming the worst.A girl stands a few feet from me, staring at me with wid
~HunterI awake slowly, my numb arm rolling under me as I turn, blinking through the mellow light that guides me back into a state of wakefulness.Distantly, I feel pain in my middle back, pressing in as more consciousness dawns on me. My senses are too distracted to truly accept the pain, a cloying scent of flowers muddled with dirt surrounding me."Oh...You're awake."I blink, feeling the soft press of a pillow beneath my head, of blankets draped over me. I'm not outside...I'm not in the forest.I’m inside. Trapped.My attempts to sit up are quickly thwarted by the stabbing pain in my back.I was shot, by an arrow, and by the chemical taste on the back of my tongue, it was laced with poison."What's going on,” I grit out, as a face pops into my vision from the side of the bed.It’s the girl from the forest. I growl, trying to move, but the pain in my back is so overwhelming I’m left paralysed."Woah, you should calm down, you don't want to exert so much energy," she warns, patting m