Fated to the Huntress

Chapter 3: Pressure

Darrin was sure, by the light through the windows, that the sun had not reached it’s peak yet, but today had already been so long that he just wanted to be allowed to go back to his rooms and rest. He had gotten up early to make sure everything was prepared for his visitors, and had even had a chance to go for a run since they weren’t expected until just after dawn. But as soon as they arrived it had been meeting after meeting.

First to welcome them. Then to feed them. Then a tour of the pack. Then a brief of any changes in the law. Now, finally, came the purpose of the visit, and since it began it had been everything Darrin had been dreading and more.

He sat in his chair at the end of a long hall. Before him were two long benches where his pack and some of the council members were seated, while before him stood a tall, older wolf wearing a dark cloak with a moon crescent pin on the left breast. Maybe in his prime Favian had been a strong wolf, but since he had given up his pack years ago and joined the council he had withered to a husk of what he used to be.

“Sitting behind a desk will do that to a wolf,” Shadow, Darrin’s wolf sneered in his head.

“Sitting on this chair will do that to us if he doesn’t start talking.” Darrin agreed. He was an alpha by blood, but sometimes he wished he were just another warrior. He could make the excuse that he needed to train, or run perimeter checks. Anything to not have to deal with the politics.

He had tried several times to pay attention to anything the council member was saying, but he knew what he come here for, and Darrin already had his answer. He had sent his answer months ago, but it seemed the council was determined that he change his mind.

“It is the duty of the Alpha of each pack to provide the strength, resilience, and support that his pack needs. Any flaws in these areas are detrimental to the packs’ strength, and must, therefore, be deemed as negligent on the part of the alpha…” Favian droned on.

Darrin had heard this speech before from his father, from his uncles and cousins, and from the council. He gritted his teeth as he fought the urge to yell that he was doing everything that was expected. He was the strongest wolf in his pack, no question, but he built his members up. He gave them every comfort and safety he could, and no one could ever take that away from him!

“…such support includes finding a Luna that the pack can look to for guidance in times of need,”

And there it was. His failure as an alpha. The only thing he hadn’t been able to do since taking over the pack at seventeen years old.

Taking over as alpha a year earlier than anyone ever had, had been a shock to the council, but they had allowed him since he had already proven that he was the best suited to lead. They had even granted him until he turned nineteen before he started touring packs to find his fated mate, to give his pack a chance to settle after all the insanity that had caused him to take over.

But now, five years later, he had been unable to find her in any of the packs. And he had visited them all, and scoured every inch for any scent of her. He would always come back empty handed, frustrated, and slightly ashamed.

His Beta, Eric, would always say the pack was supportive, but he knew even they were disheartened without a Luna. He was too. Growing up he had never considered he might not find his mate immediately on turning eighteen. Almost everyone did. His parents had met before turning eighteen, but they could tell before-hand they were meant to be.

Darrin sighed, but Shadow was growing increasingly angry.

“We will find her! Shut this stupid wolf up, now!”

“Councilman Favian, we’ve been over this. I will be making another tour of the packs in a years time to find my Luna. My wolf and my own feelings forbid me from taking another in her place.” Darrin commented in a bored tone, although he was grinding his teeth to keep Shadow from taking over.

“Alpha Darrin, it has been five years and you’ve toured three times! For the sake of your pack, as well as the strength of every alliance you have, we have many suitable candidates for a chosen Luna!” Favian dropped his arms in defeat. “Sabrina-,”

“Enough!” Shadow broke through. Darrin could feel his fingers contorting into claws and doubled his efforts to pull Shadow back.

“Stop! What the f**k has you so worked up lately?” Darrin growled at his wolf when he finally wrestled back control, but Shadow only threw up his mental wall and blocked him out.

On the side, Eric eyed him uneasily, knowing how easy Shadow had been taking over lately, and that he would have to step in if Shadow attacked Favian.

The older wolf only looked at him with a half-smirk, knowing his point had been made. The longer Darrin was without his Luna, the more feral Shadow would become.

“Thank you for your wise words Councilman. You and your companions must be tired after traveling all yesterday. Please, my omegas will show you to your rooms so you can freshen up before dinner.” With those words he called the meeting to an abrupt halt as he stood and walked out of a side door. Any longer in that room and Shadow might actually attack.

Eric followed him closely, but didn’t say a word until they had walked out of the pack-house and across a small field to a stump where Darrin liked to think. Then he paced in front of his alpha restlessly until he couldn’t take it.

“What the f**k was that!? You almost attacked a councilman!”

“Shadow just slipped out for a second. I had him.” Darrin defended.

“Because he let you, and you know it. One of these days he’s not going to go back in, and you’re going to have to face the consequences…I know it’s hard without a Luna. Maybe you should-,”

Immediately Shadow reappeared and Darrin was on his feet, growling at his Beta until he bared his neck in submission. This time even he was a little pissed.

They were interrupted by Calvin mind-linking. “Alpha, Beta, there’s a small group of rogues on the East side, we think they’re just passing by, but there is the human village a bit farther off on that side.”

Darrin immediately set off. Normally he would let the patrols handle it, but after today he needed the run anyway. He quickly told Eric to keep the council members entertained in his absence, but he would be tracking the rogues personally until they got away from the humans.

Once he shifted and let Shadow take over he was able to relax slightly. This part of being Alpha was easy. Protecting his pack came naturally, and though he’d never been called on to protect the humans in the little village, he knew they were there and had always kept an eye on them as well.

The night was already dark and had a slight chill when he got to the edge of his territory and met up with Calvin. He reported that he had thought the group was bigger, but some had split off and moved further away. Only three seemed to be close now, but they were heading straight for the village.

Shadow immediately took off, hoping to get the rogues before they ever reached the humans. His feet pounded into the earth and the closer they got to the village the faster he went. An almost giddy feeling washed over Darrin but he assumed Shadow was just happy to be let loose for a while.

It wasn’t until he was on the edge of the village that he understood.

Shadow put his nose in the air and sniffed as a breeze brought the sweetest scent to him. It was like sweet fruit that made his mouth water, but there was a muskiness that also relaxed him. Shadow lapped at the air, trying to inhale as much of it as possible. Darrin thought for a second he should take over, but the scent hit him just as hard and he couldn’t even begin to fight for control.

There was loud growling and yelling at one end of the town and Shadow leapt forward, only to be blocked by Calvin. “Alpha, Hunters!” Shadow stopped and smelled again. Sure enough, there was that scent more wolves were starting to recognize. It was distinctly human, but always had traces of rogue, witch, and vampire mixed on it, making it utterly disgusting. He wondered how he didn’t smell it before.

“Mate.” Shadow growled. He didn’t care if there were Hunters. His mate was nearby. If anything he needed to find her sooner, before the Hunters or rogues could.

There, on the edge of the town, a group of men were surrounding three wolves and two more humans, a man and woman. Shadow and Calvin stood between two huts to watch as they all fought each other, but Shadows eyes were training on the woman in the center as she took down on small she-wolf easily.

“Mate!” She was absolutely gorgeous. Tall for a human, with dark brown hair, pale skin, and flashing eyes. Every move she made seemed like a dance just for him as he was mesmerized by her perfect, lean muscles.

He growled as a male-wolf was thrown at her by the other human and he almost jumped out of his hiding spot to get to her, but she took it down before he could do anything.

“The Hunters are getting stronger.” Calvin growled through the mind-link. He only saw this show for what it was, humans being able to take down werewolves. That was when the truth hit Darrin. She’s a Hunter!

“She’s mine!” Shadow howled, forcing Darrin to take over before he could do something stupid. If they went up to her now she’d probably think they were a threat. As it was…

A Hunter for a Luna…He’d have to figure out how to spin that without causing panic in his pack.