The Great Hunt Novels & Stories

Every step felt like walking on thin ice. Suddenly, a loud, static chime echoed through the entire sector. The massive holographic billboards hovering over the central plaza flickered from colorful advertisements to a bright, flashing red alert. High-frequency sirens began to blare from the watchtowers above. I stopped in my tracks, my heart slamming against my ribs as I looked up at the sky. My face was plastered across every floating screen in the lower city. SECTOR-WIDE MANHUNT: CROWN PRINCE THEODORE MISSING

Seeing all the people murmuring to each other just made Maxton more upset. He grabbed the father's collar in frustration and said "Because of her disappearance, this whole wedding is going to be ruined! And you're all going to suffer the consequences of her actions. I'm not going to just let her get away with this.” He took a deep breath to calm himself down then turned to his groomsmen. "She has to be around here somewhere. Fan out and search the entire venue, inside and out. I want her found immediately, do you understand? Now go!" The groomsmen hurried to comply with Maxton's order, worried about what else he might do if they didn't come back with the bride soon.

“But there are levels to this game, Henrique.” I took a step forward. “Return the shipment you hijacked. Or be ready to be torn alive.” Henrique spat on the ground near my boot. He laughed, taunting me. “Go on. I dare you. Do your worst.” I tilted my head. “As you wish.” I didn’t even have to signal. The clearing erupted into a total disorder. Bodies collided; the sound of fists hitting the enemy’s flesh; the snarls of wolves filling the air.

Callum tried to be precise and accurate this time. For the fucking 5th time. And he couldn’t catch a hamster. Seriously. With the power he now had being a vampire and a wolf. Jeez. He took his mark. And focused. He blocked everything in his mind. The buzz from the pack. The encouragement from Dad, even when he wasn’t Swift. He could hear them. He blocked all teases from Max and the Betas in the pack. He zoomed out everything except for the little white creature who was grazing and nibbling on the grass.

Silence settled more heavily around the circle. “Once a hunter has physically restrained a participant and declared his claim before an official witness, his Hunt is complete. He may not release his chosen woman and pursue another.” Several women exchanged nervous glances. Aldric continued. “If a participant reaches the sanctuary before sunrise, she is protected under sacred law. No hunter may touch, pursue, or claim her after she crosses the boundary.” His expression hardened. “Any hunter violating the sanctuary will forfeit his title and territory.” That drew several murmurs.

If she wasn’t, then that meant Andrei hadn’t allowed her. “Attention!” Andrei’s voice cut through the chatter and my thoughts. Damon and I turned to see him now standing at the podium. “The hunt will commence shortly. As you know, we’ve released a bull elk into the basin. The pack that brings it down claims victory.” Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd. Even I couldn’t help but bristle a little, my wolf stretching and purring with excitement. A bull elk was a worthy animal to hunt down. It would be a challenge, but the best kind. I hadn’t had a good hunt in a long time, so I was looking forward to stretching my legs—four instead of two, of course.

Luna, her pregnancy not hindering her spirit, prepared with the pack for the essential hunt. In the Nampa forest, hunting wasn't just about the thrill of the chase; it was a sacred act, deeply rooted in the pack's respect for their enchanted home. They hunted only what they needed, ensuring the delicate balance of their realm remained undisturbed. Luna, with her keen eyes and agile movements, exemplified this reverence for the forest.

...Hunter POV... I felt like pulling out my hair. For what seemed like the twentieth time now, the Huntress, whoever she was, had managed to foil my plans. I didn't know who this Huntress was, but she was driving me insane. No matter what I did, she always seemed to be one step ahead of me. Earlier on, I sent my men out to capture another lead. We had been tailing him for a week and found an opportunity to grab him discreetly. He was a minister of the government and was known for taking handouts. Making him an easy target for Silvio.

The Hunt was a farce. Kaelen rode at the head of the main party, a picture of regal leadership, but his heart wasn’t in it. He was going through the motions, a puppet on a string, his mind a million miles away, in a small, herb-scented linen closet.

The memory of his words slithered through me, his voice still echoing from that night when he marked me. "Run, little boy, run, because when we find you, we will hunt." "Promised? I have no idea what you’re talking about! I was running from my pack when you found me—they were going to kill me, I swear," he pleaded, but I didn't buy it. Couldn't. I knew his kind too well, knew what they lived for. They loved the thrill of the hunt, and I was just one more piece of prey.