Chapter 002 - Hunt

Apari continues to scream. Why though? He’s hiding in one of the underground shelters. What happened to their guards? And Nowra, why can’t I hear her? 

My heart thumps and I am about to go to Apari’s rescue when I feel a lasso going around my feet. It doesn’t hurt, but I can feel its magic. It’s snaking from my feet towards all over my body. I feel weak. My wolf form is fading, and I am turning back to human. 

I remember this. The weapon that caused the werewolves' defeat. It was created by a noble family, the Owusu’s. Later on, this whip becomes their family brand. But the Owusu is a high-ranking family. No. Nowra mentions that the Owusu family rules a Kingdom now. Is this guy royalty, then? It can’t be, right?

With no clothes and weak, the human stands over me, his eyes raking all over my body. I never had a problem with nudity before, but the way his eyes scour my body sends shivers of disgust along my skin. 

I try to stand up but fail in the process. I feel sick. And yet, the realization hits me. Is this the reason why I can’t feel Nowra? Was she hit by the same whip?

“You are not bad-looking yourself,” the human says. He straddles me and forcibly holds my chin. “Forget pretty. Your face is very striking.”

I remove his hand from me, but I am too weak that I only manage to scratch him. “What… did you do to me…” I strain. 

“Ah, right! This whip has sedation qualities for a werewolf. Soon, you’ll fall asleep. Ah, but my silver bullets have the same sedation qualities, too.”

“And what will happen to me if I do?”

My eyelids feel heavy, but I try to keep them open. He will not take advantage of me while I am unaware!

“Great! You are fighting it! You’re one of a kind!” Then, he raises my arms and looks behind my arm. “A mole on the inner arm. So it’s you that my King is searching for.”

He brings my arm down and says, “Too bad. I really hope you can be mine. We will have such a great time. But alas! My King wants you.”

I try to shift to a wolf, but I can’t. The lasso around my feet completely prevents that. Instead, I growl at him, but he only sneers at my useless effort.

“Klevon, what are you doing over a naked she-wolf? You disgusting nerd.”

I shift my attention toward the voice. Blonde hair and over six feet tall. Similar to the man on top of me, he has a well-maintained form. But why are the hunters like this? Why do they all look clean, not the grungy ones we are used to? Not the fat, rich, cruel humans who frequent this park?

“Leader! I found the she-wolf that our King is looking for!”

Leader? The same leader this man is talking about? The one who has a taste for Nowra! I struggle against the man named Klevon. A few more and I can free myself from him.

“Haven’t you used the sedation magic? That werewolf is still moving.”

“Ah! I lied about you. I might have aggravated her.”

“Lied about me?”

“I told her you to have a taste for beautiful werewolves.”

“You fucking—”

A rush of energy goes through my body. I transform into a werewolf and I break away from the lasso around my ankle.

“What the—”

But before Klevon can move, I pull myself from under him and run towards the forest, where I heard Apari’s screams.

*********************

Slowly, I return to my human form because of the lack of magic and that whip. Naked and sweating, I drag myself toward the shelter. I need to see Apari. I need to see Nowra. They must be safe. These people, these hunters, are different. They can wipe us out. I need to warn everyone, but I can’t. I feel dizzy, my body is weak and feverish and I can’t sense the other werewolves on the island.

I cough and drop to the ground. That magic is the real deal. The whip is not all-powerful, but it can derail a werewolf. Its use depends on the human who’s using it. That’s why the Owusu’s are trained from a very young age to use it. There are only what? Twelve of those whips around? Although, Nowra said that they have mimicked its qualities outside, but not as powerful as the original.

I try to stand up, but my knees wobble. I will crawl if need be! I must see Apari and Nowra! A few more, just a few more. Finally, I see it. The entrance to the shelter is open. In front of it are the children, including Apari, and… is that Nowra? She’s covered in a blanket and is unconscious on the ground. Human hunters are all around them, with guns around their waists and other weapons close to them.

Is this the end now? We are completely at their mercy. No! If I have to beg, I will beg for their lives. Now, who should I ask? Someone powerful, someone—a rustling behind me and I look around to see a human. Surprise is written on his face.

“Kaiya?” he breathes.

I blink in confusion. Why does he know that name? Fifteen years ago, I arrive here with no memories. But I am wearing a necklace with ‘Kaiya’ on it. That’s why everyone started to call me that. So why does a stranger know that?

He approaches and I crawl away. He kneels before me and touches my cheek. I jerk. Then he whispers, “Finally, I found you.”

This time, I finally look at his face. Long, black hair tied in a ponytail. No, not just black, there are violet highlights in it. Half of his forehead is covered with bangs and he is wearing hoop earrings.

“You—” I whisper.

I peer into his eyes at the same time that I cover my mouth. He is my mate! There is no doubt about it. The thumping in my heart, the shiver all over my body, and the desire to touch him. It’s all there, like how Nowra describes it to me!

And then, this sense of security. I know he will help me. I know I can trust him. Even if Nowra warns me that humans can’t feel the mate bond as strongly as we do.

“My family… They’re in danger. They—” My tears fall unbidden.

“They will be fine,” he assures me. He removes his jacket and wraps my body with it. Then he leans over me and kisses the top of my head. “I am here now. You can relax.”

And that single affirmation washes over me. I allow the whip magic to take over my body. I fall into his arms. Finally, finding the comfort that I have wished the moon goddess for.