The Enslaved Wolf Queen

A hunting trip

Adelaide POV:

I came home late and went straight to my room, locking my door and falling on my bed. I stared at the ceiling of my room, the white paint had started to crumble at the corners. If anything, this was a distraction. I felt so confused, but when I was with Luke, I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted him. There was no thought to the future or the past or even the present, everything was irrelevant except for us. There was thunder outside and I could see the dark clouds rolling towards us, a knock on my room door made me jump. "Yes?" I called out, and my father opened my door, "get your things, we're going on a hunt." His words were like a tonne of sheet metal falling right on top of me. I didn't have a choice.

What if it's Luke?

That thought sent a shiver down my spine, paralyzing me from the neck down. If it is Luke, it is even more of a reason to go. I needed to make sure I was in control, it was the only way to save someone like him. I pulled on my cargo pants and a tank top, grabbed my throwing knives and holstered my guns into place. I left my room and my father was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. "For a second, I thought you weren't going to come," he said. "Why wouldn't I?" I kept my voice cold and void of emotion. For this to work I could not give anything away. On the other hand, my stomach was in knots and my heart was racing. What if I fail? Then we would both be dead. His face kept flashing before my eyes, his hair, his lips and his eyes. Would I be able to live without him, after meeting him? It wouldn't come to that. We drove in silence, and I sat up straight, keeping my composure. The car pulled up and we got out. I knew the process all too well. We would walk from here, stay hidden in the trees and kill any wolf on contact. No questions asked.

He signaled with his hands to split up, before he took his hunting rifle into both hands. If I closed my eyes I could see my father's face clearly, the deeply concentrated look on his face, as his finger rested on the trigger. I swallowed, trying to keep my composure, I am a hunter. This is my purpose. I heard a twig snap, and I turned around to see a scared little girl, crouching behind a tree. As I approached, she receded further into the tree. I laid my gun down on the ground slowly, and put out my hands to show her I meant no harm. "I'm not going to hurt you," I said, her grey eyes staring at me as her bottom lip trembled. I got closer to her, and knelt down in front of her. I didn't know what I was doing, and I couldn't think about anything more than that moment. "Listen to me," I said, gripping her shoulders, "Run home and tell the other wolves there are hunters in the woods. Go. Go now!" I exclaimed, and she took off running. I got up, and texted my father that I had spotted something in the east vicinity. It would give the wolves enough time to save themselves. I jogged in the direction of the eastern area of the wood. When I had gotten far enough, I took my gun off safety and fired at nothing in particular. Hoping the sound of the three gun shots would help the wolves. I could not believe that I was doing this.

I leaned against a tree, waiting and listening for my father's heavy boots to crunch through the dry leaves. In one fluid moment, I was knocked unsuspecting by a heavy body, and I hit the ground and rolled hard down the hill. When I looked up, a brown wolf bared its teeth at me, snarling and pawing into the ground. My training kicked in, and I rolled and jumped up to my feet, brandishing my gun and aiming it at the beast. My finger hesitated on the trigger as it took a step forward, its growls were coming from deep within its throat and the hairs on my arm were raised. "Stop!" I exclaimed, not breaking eye contact, "I don't want to do this!" The wolf sprung forward, and I froze, but before its outstretched paws could reach me, shots were fired and its body landed hard in front of me, debris and leaves flying everywhere. I watched in pain as its body wheezed and heaved, as its eyes looked at me in pain. My father slid down beside me, and without a word, aimed his handgun at the beast's head and shot it in front of me.

I dropped my gun, and my father turned to look at me. Anger, burning in his eyes. I could not say anything, I could not form a coherent thought. All I could see was that wolf being repeatedly put down in front of me. How many times have I done this? "Adelaide!" Shouted my father, and then his hand made contact with my cheek, the stinging feeling made my ears ring. I looked up at him in shock, trying to hold myself together. "It- I." I tried to reason, find an excuse, but it was too late. He knew. I watched him raise his gun, and pull the trigger. It hit me in my thigh, and a burning sensation erupted through my muscles. This was the end for me, I thought, as I fell to the ground in pain. Another hit went straight into my arm, and in a few seconds, I could not breathe. I closed my eyes, and succumbed to the numbness of nothing.

I hope that little girl is safe.