~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
~HunterI stare at the ceiling, jaw tightly clenched.This went wrong. So terribly wrong.I’m stuck here, at the mercy of a ditzy girl in the home of others related to the Alpha. There is someone that can’t know where I am, and the longer I am here, the more at risk I am of being hunted down again.I feel as though I’m just sitting, waiting for him to show up.The moment I’m healed, I’m out of here, but not before killing the Alpha.I don't know this Alpha, but I know that they will happily hand me over to my pursuers. And because I'm injured, I won't be able to escape him either...The bedroom door opening has me sitting up.It’s him…Kaan.The hunting attire he was once wearing is gone, replaced by a neatly pressed tunic. He looks more like an Alpha, with his deep brown curls neatly placed, his skin smooth and unmarred.It’s the hidden muscle I noted beneath his clothing that deceived me into thinking he was more than a royal."Come any closer and I kill you,” I warn, pressing my bac
~HunterI stare down at the plate in front of me, trying not to grimace.I've been propped up on a stiff chair at a table adorned with food I can't bear to stomach right now.There is an insistent, stabbing pain in my back, but I've been told this dinner is an honour for me to attend, as I am in the presence of Alpha royalty.The two straight-backed, stern-faced people in front of me are the parents of Kaan and Taysa, and the previous Alpha and Luna.Tay told me as she helped me stumble my way downstairs that they relinquished their title to Kaan, but not their control.They look so much like two as well.The father has cold green eyes like Kaan, although slightly more narrowed. The mother is much more like Taysa, with warmer eyes and softer features."Thank you for joining us for dinner," the man says. Cyrus is his name, I believe.Allira, the previous Luna, gives me a long look. "I want to apologise on behalf of my son. I understand he did not mean to shoot you, he was just concerne
~HunterI stare down at my legs, silently cursing them.It's been a week since the dinner and my injury has made little progress. My legs still feel lifeless and stiff, incapable of making a quick escape if necessary.The door to the room opens, Taysa walking through balancing a tray on her arm."Good morning." Her sing-song voice fills the room. "How are you feeling?"I shrink back into my pillow, closing my eyes as she rips open the curtains, cold, grim light casting it's horrid glow over me.Even a sunny day depresses me now."I still can't walk, or hardly move," I grumble. She's heard this mantra every day this week, and yet the smile never slips from her face.Setting the tray down on the bedside table next to me, she plucks off the silver lid covering the main plate, revealing a perfect omelette."The healers think that by next week you'll be able to start walking," Tay tells me."Comforting."Seeing me staring enviously at the steaming mug of coffee, she hands it to me, watchin
~HunterFor the first time in days, I'm not in excruciating pain.The slightly too hot water has numbed my senses in the most blissful way. The soap, scented rose and vanilla leaves my skin feeling smooth and buttery.However, this is one thing ruining my experience.“I don’t like the fact that you could turn around at any moment," I mumble, casting my gaze back to Kaan.It's only been five minutes since I sat down but he hasn't so much as tilted his head in my direction.“Believe it or not, I have no interest in seeing you undressed," he responds.I roll my eyes.Maybe it's because my mind is no longer on the pain, or maybe I'm just losing it, but I can't help but wonder if he has a lover. Not because I want him, but because Tay mentioned that they don't breach these walls often.“Have you even spoken to a woman other than your sisters?” It comes out like a dig, which I don't mind.His shoulders tense. “What makes you think I don’t?”“Taysa doesn’t see anyone, so I presumed…” I drift
~HunterAzura's smile is tentative. She doesn't trust me.I don't blame her. I'm a complete stranger in her own home, which I can't imagine is a common thing to happen here."Just point to the door if you want me to leave." I smooth my hand down my right leg, which is hurt the most by my back injury. "I just need a moment..."Azura sits up a little, peeking over the edge of the table.She points at my leg."Your brother shot me in the back. It's really affected this leg in particular," I explain, releasing a long breath. My skin is sticky from exertion, and the more I sit the more I don't want to get back up.Azura winces, shaking her head a little. She doesn't seem surprised."I don't like him..." I tell her flatly. No point lying to her.She smiles, looking down at her book of paintings. She doesn't seem to disagree, although there is something deeper in her smile, like she is sharing a private joke with herself."I like Taysa though. She seems nice," I add. I need to be nicer to Ta
~HunterI grit my teeth, pain searing down my back."Stand.""I can stand.""Then do it."Huffing out a breath, I stare at my legs stretched out in front of me. I was instructed by Kaan to lay down on the grass and now I'm going through the painful process of trying to get to my feet.Sliding from the bed is one thing. Actually standing up entirely is a whole other battle.And it doesn't help that Kaan is staring down at me with his arms folded, his brows raised."Give me a second..." I mumble, trying to manoeuvre my legs under me so I can rest on them.The pain isn't even the difficult part to overcome. It's how weak my legs have become, how little they respond to my silent demands."You're overthinking. Use your legs," Kaan instructs.I glare at his boots, wishing he didn't feel obliged to help me. Regardless of how I feel about it, I'm letting him aid me in my recovery in hopes it gets me out of here quicker."Grab me if you need to," he murmurs, extending a hand.I ignore it."I'l