Hunter (Crescent Wolves Book One)

Chapter Six

The cold night air was like a bucket of water.

Out of sight, I took off my heels and ran into the maze of tall trees and bushes, away from the ball and into the night, the dress swishing behind me.

How could I have been so foolish! Hunter had me wrapped around his finger... or fingers.

Hunter.

I groaned out loud, wandering through the gardens. Even in the cold, I couldn't calm the heat from my body.

How can a man I hate so much have such a response from me? How could I have responded like that?

I could still hear the low music from the ball, but no sign of Cassy. Luke is just as much trouble as Hunter. I was worried about her. That witch's brew screwed us both. That's the only explanation I had for my manner with Hunter. I was in the darkest parts of the garden now,

I was betting they'd be there if Luke had lured her off.

Rounding the high hedge, I was met with… nothing. The garden was empty, with the high walls circling a small bench in the middle.

Cassy, where the devil are you?

Turning to leave the little cul-de-sac, I felt him before I saw him.

My wolf instantly recognized his scent, and my body started responding immediately. My heart rate spiked, and wetness pooled between my legs. His dark chuckle meant he also knew exactly what had happened.

He was, arms crossed, leaning against the tree I had to pass to leave. His hair covered his eyes, but I could still see the glowing gold irises starting at me.

"Has no one ever taught you not to run from an Alpha Ser? I love a chase, and your little stunt there was very impressive." I didn't need to look to know he had that stupid grin would be across his lips, his very kissable lips.

Jesus Serina, pull your mind from the gutter – this is Hunter!

"Leave me alone, Hunter. You've had your fun; go find someone else to play with."

I shouldn't have said that.

Instantly, his eyes changed to the dark depths I felt uncomfortable looking at; he pushed off the tree and slowly stalked towards me, all the predators he was.

For a change, my wolf and I agreed and backed up.

I needed to get out of here. Being alone with Hunter in the gardens is a terrible idea.

My back hit the thorny hedge at the other side of the space, but he kept coming, that stupid grin across his face. He stopped inches from me, grabbing me by the neck and lifting my chin to his to stare right into those ebony depts.

I was in trouble this time and felt I was right where he wanted me to be.

His hand came up behind my head, completely closing me off from any chance of escape.

"Play with someone else? You think I'm playing with you? Oh no, sweet Serina. When I play, we will both be enjoying it, and you'll never want me to stop."

Before I could say anything, he was on me. His lips slammed into mine, and the world went silent; I was burning, on fire; sparks could fly. I couldn't fight him. My brain wouldn't process. I couldn't think.

This feels so good, and that was so very bad.

His arms went around me, and I was lost. My lips parted, and his tongue was dueling with mine. The groan that came from him was pure animal.

It was my undoing; my hands were on him, his hair tangling his dark locks. He pushed against me, and my own little moan escaped my lips. His scent overwhelmed me, and his arms came around me, roaming up and down my body, pressing us together. When I felt something huge, solid, and warm hitting my stomach, reality came crashing in. He must have felt the change in me, and immediately, his lips left mine. For a second, I almost missed them.

We broke apart, panting. My mind refused to function, and even he seemed slightly stunned.

"You have no idea how long I wanted to do that."

What...

He backed away from me, making some space between us. I was too scared to even move if we jumped each other again.

I had never been like this; I was not like this. What was going on with me?

The witches' brew had worn off by now; Hunter's addictive lips had become my new drug, evidently. I could not go back there; even now, his eyes still had that wild glint. My mind was slowly catching up. We just stood there staring at each other. What I did next was pure instinct.

I slapped him.

Hard.

I don't know if I have ever properly hit someone before. It had happened before my brain had really registered the movement.

"Do. Not. Touch. Me"

My words at least sounded firm, unlike the rest of my body, which was still tingling from every part of his touch. He just stood there looking down at me, his breathing as ragged as mine. He didn't even flinch at my slap or my words—like he hadn't even felt it. His eyes were as wild as ever.

"Serina"

his words sounded strained. His arm reached to me but dropped again slowly. Like he was fighting with himself.

"What do you want from me, Hunter? Why are you here?"

It took me a moment to realize I had even spoken, but that was the question on my mind.

Why did he want me all of a sudden, chase me, touch me… want me?

Me of any woman in the territory, he had to choose me. I didn't have to explain what I meant; he knew what I was asking him, the question snapping him from this spell between us; he ran his hand through his hair, messing it up more than I had. Bringing back flashbacks of our kiss and what we had just done.

"You know why, Serina; you must know by now."

I must have missed something?

I came up clueless, but before I could ask him again, my senses picked up on someone else coming. Hunter did, too, his eyes going that familiar gold showing his wolf was close; he took on a defensive stance, turning around and hiding me behind his back. Whoever it was was not alone, and they were coming quickly.

Cassy appeared, bursting through the trees into the clearing, looking somewhat frazzled but sober.

Thank Gods.

Luke came barreling out of the trees a few seconds behind her, looking somewhat guilty. Cassy's eyes snapped from Hunters to mine and seemed to sum up the situation in seconds. The look she gave Hunter was what I can only describe as feral.

"Serina, I need you. Let's go."

She should have been wearing a cape. Cas was my superhero. I needed out, and she came swooping in. It took all I had not to run past Hunter. But I could feel his eyes on me the whole way past, and my traitorous body was responding. Cassy grabbed me as soon as we were within reaching distance, and we ran the whole way back to my room.