Hunted
1084 Words
The atmosphere changed instantly.
One moment, I was standing in front of the Lycan King's mansion, trying to process the fact that his mother somehow knew mine.
The next, every warrior around me looked ready for battle.
The panic in the guard's voice sent a chill down my spine.
"The Shadow Hunters have crossed the border."
Lucien's silver eyes darkened.
"How many?"
"At least twenty."
The guard swallowed hard.
"And they're heading straight for the estate."
The Queen Mother's face lost all color.
"That's impossible."
Lucien's expression became dangerously cold.
"No."
His gaze shifted toward me.
"It's not."
The realization hit him immediately.
And whatever he understood clearly wasn't good.
I frowned.
"Can someone please tell me what's going on?"
Nobody answered.
The silence only made my anxiety worse.
Lucien turned toward one of the guards.
"Activate the inner defenses."
The warrior immediately bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Several guards sprinted away.
Others began moving into defensive positions around the estate.
The entire mansion suddenly felt like a fortress preparing for war.
My pulse quickened.
"Lucien."
His gaze met mine.
"Who are the Shadow Hunters?"
The question lingered in the air.
For a moment, it seemed like he was debating how much to tell me.
Finally, he sighed.
"Professional killers."
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
"They don't work for packs."
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
"They don't work for kingdoms."
A pause.
"They hunt specific targets."
An uneasy feeling settled in my chest.
"Targets like who?"
The answer came immediately.
"You."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
The word escaped as a whisper.
Lucien stepped closer.
His expression remained unreadable.
"They've been searching for you for years."
The world tilted.
Years?
That made no sense.
Nobody even knew who I was.
I was just Ava.
An omega nobody cared about.
A forgotten girl from a small pack.
Why would assassins spend years searching for me?
"You're wrong."
Lucien's jaw tightened.
"I'm not."
Before I could argue, the Queen Mother suddenly grabbed my hand.
The gesture startled me.
Her eyes were filled with urgency.
"They cannot find you."
Confusion swirled inside me.
"Why?"
The woman looked heartbroken.
Because they know exactly who you are."
My breathing became uneven.
Again.
The same thing.
Who I really am.
What did that even mean?
"I don't understand."
The Queen Mother looked as though she wanted to say more.
Much more.
But Lucien shook his head.
Not now.
A silent warning.
The older woman reluctantly stepped back.
Frustration surged through me.
Everyone seemed to know something except me.
And I was getting tired of it.
A distant howl suddenly echoed through the night.
Every warrior immediately stiffened.
Lucien turned toward the forest.
His entire body became tense.
The sound wasn't normal.
It was a signal.
A warning.
Another howl answered.
Closer.
Much closer.
The guards exchanged nervous glances.
One of them cursed under his breath.
Lucien's voice became ice.
"They're already here."
The estate exploded into motion.
Warriors rushed toward the gates.
Orders echoed across the grounds.
Weapons appeared.
The peaceful mansion transformed into a battlefield within seconds.
Fear clawed at my chest.
This was happening because of me.
Because somehow these people had come looking for me.
The realization made me feel sick.
Lucien suddenly removed his coat and handed it to me.
"Stay inside."
I blinked.
"What?"
His silver eyes locked onto mine.
"Do not leave the mansion."
The command left no room for argument.
Unfortunately for him, I was tired of being ordered around.
"I'm not hiding while people get hurt."
A dangerous look crossed his face.
"That's exactly what you're going to do."
My temper flared.
"I didn't ask for your protection."
The moment the words left my mouth, regret followed.
Lucien's expression hardened instantly.
The temperature around us seemed to drop.
Several nearby guards quickly pretended they couldn't hear anything.
I had apparently just spoken to the Lycan King in a way nobody else dared.
But I didn't care.
Not right now.
"I'm serious."
I crossed my arms.
"If this is because of me, then I deserve answers."
For several seconds, Lucien simply stared at me.
Then something surprising happened.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Not in anger.
In amusement.
The reaction completely caught me off guard.
"You're either very brave..."
His eyes gleamed.
"...or very reckless."
"Maybe both."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
A genuine smile appeared.
Small.
Brief.
Dangerously attractive.
Then it vanished.
The King stepped closer.
Close enough that I could see tiny silver flecks within his eyes.
Close enough that my heart started acting strangely.
"You'll get your answers."
His voice lowered.
"But not tonight."
Before I could respond, an explosion shook the estate.
The ground trembled violently.
Several windows shattered.
Screams erupted from the outer wall.
The attack had begun.
Lucien's expression instantly turned lethal.
The warrior standing before me disappeared.
In his place stood a king.
A predator.
A monster.
Power radiated from him in waves.
Even the air felt heavier.
The guards immediately straightened.
Waiting.
Watching.
Following.
Lucien turned toward the gate.
His voice thundered across the estate.
"Protect the Queen Mother."
Every warrior bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Then he looked at me one last time.
And for the briefest moment, concern appeared in his eyes.
Real concern.
The kind nobody else seemed allowed to see.
"Stay alive, Ava."
The words sent an unexpected shiver through me.
Before I could answer, Lucien vanished.
Not literally.
But he moved so fast it looked that way.
A second later, deafening roars echoed from the estate entrance.
Battle had begun.
The Queen Mother grabbed my arm.
"We need to go."
She pulled me toward the mansion.
Reluctantly, I followed.
But my attention remained fixed on the battlefield outside.
Flashes of silver light illuminated the darkness.
Warriors clashed.
Howls echoed.
The sounds of combat filled the night.
And then I saw him.
Lucien.
Standing atop the estate wall.
Alone.
Facing dozens of enemies.
Moonlight illuminated his figure.
Power rolled from him like a storm.
The attackers froze.
Every single one.
Fear spread across their ranks.
Because the Lycan King had arrived.
One of the masked invaders stepped forward.
His voice carried through the chaos.
"Hand over the girl."
Silence followed.
Lucien's silver eyes gleamed.
Then he answered.
Four simple words.
Four words that made every heart stop.
"Touch her and die."
The battlefield erupted.
The Shadow Hunters charged.
And the Lycan King jumped from the wall.
Straight into the middle of them.
The explosion that followed shook the entire forest.
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