Alliance of Shadows, Book 3: HUNTER

From Chaos to Clarity

I turned as the door burst open, pulling my shirt over my head just as a girl sprinted into the room, her movements frantic.

With a breathless sob, she hurled herself into my arms, her body trembling. "You’re really awake!"

For a fleeting moment, her name evaded me—perhaps a lingering effect of my deep sleep. But I recognized her instantly: my little Witch friend, Diana. Her presence meant the Breakwater Witches had accepted our offer, a thought that settled some of my lingering uncertainty.

"Diana, you've grown so much!" I eased her back just enough to take her in, noting the changes. She stood taller, her features sharper, yet the same familiar spark lit her eyes.

Her shoulders slumped, and the brightness in her green eyes dimmed. "Hunter, don’t ever scare us like that again. I was terrified when you wouldn’t wake up."

Her words hit harder than I expected, a pang tightening in my chest. "Diana, I needed to rest to heal, but I’m here now." I squeezed her hand lightly. "Tell me, how are the others?"

She giggled, moving to sit beside me on the bed as I pulled out my blades to check them over. Hopefully, I wouldn’t have to use them for a long time to come.

"Mom still hasn't changed her mind about you or the other Vampires," she said, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and acceptance. "Lady Frieda seems to like how everything played out, though. Some Vampires and Werewolves came and built a big wall around the territory your brothers gave us to help us feel safer, too."

I laughed softly. "I bet you’re happy that you no longer have to move around, huh?"

"I am," she beamed at me. "I go to Alliance Academy now. Aunt Simone is a teacher there, but Mom says she's still kissing butt." She wrinkled her nose, clearly unimpressed. "I don't know why Mama has to be so mean to everyone. Miss Izzy said sometimes people are cruel because they were once a victim. Do you think my mom was a victim of your dad or something?"

Her words caught me off guard, and I felt a brief but heavy pause settle between us. The possibility lingered in the air—unspoken, unsettling, but not impossible. Nicolai had left scars on many, and not all of them had been physical.

It was a blessing to learn that my brothers had kept my end of the bargain with the Breakwaters. That, at least, was a certainty in a world still shifting around me.

"I'm not sure," I told her, pausing as I cleaned my blades. "The first time I met your people after my mother died was the night I first spotted you. Why weren't you afraid of me then?"

Laughing, she said, "When you showed up, you looked like a lost puppy. I can't be afraid of that. Lorne would have never let me live it down!"

"You made friends with the Werewolves as well?"

She shrugged. "I only have two good friends that I actually like. Lorne and Wyatt are okay, though," she said, watching as I ran the disinfectant cloth along the edge of my blade. Her gaze lingered a moment before she spoke again. "Hunter, can I ask you something?"

“What’s on your mind?” I asked as I tested the blades with my thumb.

She took a breath, hesitating before speaking. “How do you know when someone is your Mate?”

Not sure if I’d heard her right, I blinked. “Pardon?”

“It’s not important,” she whispered. “I’m just curious.”

I doubted it was mere curiosity. Her voice was too soft, her hesitance too noticeable. Offering her a gentle smile, I asked, “Diana, have you met someone who believes you’re their Mate?”

The blush that warmed her olive skin was adorable. She paused, her hands tightening slightly at her sides before she nodded.

I stayed patient, letting her gather her thoughts. She had come to me for this, trusted me enough to speak openly about something clearly weighing on her mind. That kind of trust was rare, and I wasn’t about to rush her.

“Justin’s been paying a lot of attention to me,” she admitted in a quiet voice. “It’s kind of scary but sweet at the same time.”

A sudden realization struck me, and Justin’s recent behavior clicked into place. Every moment of frustration, the sharpness in his voice—it all made sense now.

I kept my voice steady, careful not to alarm her. “He... he hasn’t tried to do something he shouldn’t, has he?”

Shaking her head, she said, “No. Justin’s been really patient and protective. He got really jealous when I told him what happened the day we met, though.”

“Sorry to say, little one, but you are not my Maria. You hold not an ounce of interest for me.”

She laughed, the sound light but genuine, and I took notice that the scar my father had placed on her was gone.

“When did the mark go away?” I asked, my brows furrowing.

“That’s how we knew for sure that you kept your promise to protect us.” She sat up, tucking her knees under herself with an easy familiarity. I hadn’t expected that answer. The fact that my protection had directly influenced something so tangible—something tied to the dark past my father left behind—was significant.

“I have to go now. Mom wanted me to come by to check on my sister,” she said.

That was news to me. “Akenehi lives here? In the manor?”

Diana nodded. “She volunteered to be an ambassador, so she came to live here, and Vincent went to live with the Witches. He lives with the Elders in the big house he built for them.”

I knew that he’d probably had a hand in building the necessary houses for them. He was always like that—putting others above himself without hesitation. Once he made up his mind, there was no point in trying to talk him out of it. My little brother was just too damn stubborn.

Stanley was probably doing a happy dance daily now that Akenehi was here. I found it strange that three of us, Stan, Justin, and myself, were Mated to three girls from the same family. We had been bound us together in ways we never could have anticipated.

Then again, Fate was one twisted b***h.

Having the other girls nearby could turn out to be a great thing as well. Stanley needed someone to ground him, to balance out his recklessness, and Akenehi was more than capable of keeping him in check. Justin, on the other hand, needed someone who could teach him patience, someone who could show him the value of restraint. Diana still had many years to grow and learn, but in time, she might be exactly the kind of force Justin needed.

I silently wondered about the others and groaned when I finally remembered that I’d been woken up on my Mate’s eighteenth birthday. I had nothing for her, and I had zero ideas of what I could get her on such short notice.

“Diana,” I called to the young girl as she was about to leave the room. “How has Maria been doing?”

She laughed. “For someone who likes to pretend she hates you, she’s been coming by every day. I’m game for finding out what she wants for her birthday if that’s what you’re after.”

I grinned at her. “You precious child.”

“She wants you, dummy,” Diana replied without hesitation.

Pulling on my shin-length duster jacket, I frowned at her cheeky remark. “Cheeky little pest.”

As soon as she left, the familiar scent of ocean water and wildflowers hit me hard.

Maria’s fragrance was just like her—strong, sweet, and sometimes salty. It could soothe a troubled mind or drown an enemy within its turbulent depths.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and pulled the door open to step into the hall. Before I even crossed the threshold, my Mate threw herself into my arms.

The force of her embrace sent a rush of emotion through me. Lifting her effortlessly, I carried her to the bed, holding her close as she sobbed against my chest.

"I'm not dreaming, right? Please tell me this is real," she begged softly, her voice trembling.

“No, my love,” I whispered, pressing my lips to her hair. “You're not dreaming. I’m awake.”

She clung to me, the weight of her longing settling between us like a force neither of us could deny. I tucked a strand of her long midnight black hair behind her ear before dipping my head to kiss her slightly parted lips.

Gently placing one of her hands over my heart.

She moaned, letting me deepen the kiss slightly as her other hand slid over the skin of my neck and through my brown curls. The warmth of her touch sent a shiver down my spine, grounding me in the reality of this moment. Pulling back, I pressed my head to hers, breathing her in, anchoring myself in her presence.

“Maria, the entire time I was asleep, it was the thought of you that kept me from leaving everything behind.” My voice was barely above a whisper, but the words carried every ounce of truth I had left to give.

Her eyes filled with tears. “Don’t talk like that, Hunter. I got so sick when I thought you died that I ended up in the hospital. I dated again, but my heart wasn’t in it. I was just… I was just filling the void, I guess.”

Pain seared my chest. The weight of her suffering, the sheer depth of what she had endured in my absence, hit me like a blow I hadn’t been prepared for. "I'm so sorry for anything you went through when I was absent. What’s done is in the past now.”

“And now that you have me? Now that you’re here?” she asked, her voice trembling faintly.

“We start over, but I hope you know I’m never letting you go.” I laughed softly, touching my lips to her forehead as I held her closer.