Big Red and the Little Wolf

Chapter 8

Echo Pov

The anxiety of the pack buzzed everywhere I went. Whereas the hunters’ presence only caused minor agitation when I was the only one who faced any injuries, the loss of a warrior sparked a fear in everyone that caught like wildfire.

The hunters were all anybody could talk about. While being found by one was always a possibility, they seemed to come in waves, sniffing around the pack until they could add more pelts to their collections. It didn’t help that in this pack the most prominent memories of hunters were tied to the loss of a beloved alpha.

Pack members were still unhappy about being unable to shift, but they understood it for the most part. In the case that anyone should disregard the new command, the amount of guards on shift increased. Most were put on the border to keep the hunters from coming in, but some were placed closer to the pack so they could keep people from venturing out to where it would be more dangerous.

The hunters plagued my thoughts just about as much as they did for everybody else, though it wasn’t always for the same reasons. Facing head to head with one of the hunters opened my eyes to how much of a danger they were to me, but even then, I couldn’t get the scent of the hunter out of my head.

The scrap of fabric I found in the woods lay hidden in my room at the bottom of a small jewelry box I had bought used after I started to live with the pack. I didn’t want anyone to find out that I had concealed evidence, especially Derek. He wouldn’t understand why I held onto something that belonged to a hunter or why I would keep it from him.

Part of me didn’t dare believe that the scent belonged to my mate. Ever since I shifted and learned about the world of werewolves, I doubted that I would ever be mated in the way that Derek explained how all wolves have a mate. My supernatural abilities were always so much weaker than everyone else’s in the pack. After all, I was more human than wolf.

No matter how much I tried to ignore the way people looked down on me in the pack, their words often made me feel that I didn’t deserve a mate. It didn’t make sense for the moon goddess to waste her time pairing someone as weak as me. And nevertheless with a hunter, something I never imagined would be possible. At the same time, I couldn’t come up with another reason for why I would be so drawn to the scent.

As I entered the packhouse, the group that was hanging out in the living room cast me an uninterested glance. Though no one wanted to waste their precious attention on me, everyone paid me at least a little mind if it meant they could give me judgemental stares and disapproving looks.

“My wolf is not going to last very long being trapped inside,” one boy commented. He said this immediately after his dark brown eyes pierced through me, as though they had spotted an enemy. He didn’t raise his voice, but he didn’t have to. His soft tone was loud enough for me to pick up on. Whatever he was going to say next, he wanted me to listen.

“Mine neither,” a friend agreed. Both boys had short brown hair. But whereas the first boy’s hair maintained a head full of curls, his friend’s hair was pin straight.

“Historically, hunters rarely ever have the capabilities to take out an entire pack.” The beginning of his history lesson made me stop in my tracks. I leaned against the wall at the end of the foyer, just outside of where the group sat. None of them could see me, but the boy continued as if he knew I was still listening. “Once they have a few kills under their belt, they go on their merry way.”

“That’s why we have to wait out the hunters.” This time, it was a girl who spoke.

“Not necessarily. We could speed up the process.”

“What are you saying?” a boy asked.

I imagined everyone huddled together, leaning in so they could plot together. Whatever this boy had in mind, I wouldn’t like it. I was used to other pack members considering me a disgrace, but the way his eyes tore through me and his mouth puckered as though he tasted something sour, made it clear he was the type of person to do something about whatever was displeasing to him.

“Why don’t we sacrifice the runt to the hunters?” The suggestion was met with laughter. No one took the proposal seriously until whatever look he gave them had them rethinking their response. “Come on, guys. No one would miss her.”

My heart began to race as they began to consider putting my life in danger to save theirs.

“Except for the alpha.”

“He would understand eventually. After all, it’s his duty to do what’s best for the pack.” He let this reasoning sink in with everyone for a few seconds.

At the first sound of a chair scraping backwards against the floor, I bolted. I rushed through the empty hallways of the pack house, making my way to the back door. The heavy sounds of footsteps behind me told me that I had been right to run.

None of these pack members saw any value in my life. To them, I was just a weak link that the whole pack would be better off without.

For a split second, stepping outside of the packhouse felt like freedom. If we were out in the open, surely someone would be around to see us and realize that I needed help.

Oh, how I couldn’t have been more wrong about that. Ever since the latest hunter attack and Derek’s order to refrain from shifting, the pack grounds had been quieter than ever. Most pack members chose to stay indoors and not venture far from their homes unless absolutely necessary.

Even the training fields were deserted. Usually, different groups of warriors were rotating onto the training fields at any given time of day. Now that a larger number of them were sent to protect the border, the few warriors that weren’t on shift were sent to train in the indoor gyms.

Arms encircled my waist, causing me to gasp. As I kicked and screamed, the hold on me shifted so that the boy with straight brown hair could grab my legs tightly while the other one supported my upper torso and covered my mouth.

The girls laughed as I squirmed, having no desire to help me or imagine what would be like if they were in my position.

“Don’t worry, little runt,” said the boy who was covering my mouth. The one who came up with the sinister idea to offer me up to the hunters. “We’re just going on a little trip to the woods.”

When I bucked with all I had, the one holding my legs dropped to the ground. Despite being knocked off his feet, he didn’t let go. His grip only tightened on me as he regained his footing. Now he was less likely to underestimate me.

As if I needed more punishment for this, one of the girls pulled at my hair. No matter how much I struggled against their hold, I wouldn’t be able to get away from them. Not only were they stronger than me, but they outnumbered me.

Tears pricked my eyes as we neared the edge of the forest.

“Those hunters should have killed you when they had their chance the first time.” It didn’t matter to me anymore who made the comment. I just wanted for them to let me go. Everyone cackled as though my torture was the funniest thing they had ever witnessed.

I fought against them until the moment they let go of me. Once we were far enough into the woods, the boys threw me face first onto the muddy forest floor. I clawed at the grass, trying to scramble away from them, but they only pulled me back towards them.

The curly haired boy who started all of this lifted me once again. But this time, instead of holding me to him, he slammed my back against a thick oak tree. Black spots danced across my vision as my breath was forced from me.

“Let’s tie her up!” a girl shouted from behind the boy. I may not be the strongest wolf, but I had a feeling I could take her if we were fighting one on one. Her auburn hair bounced from a recent blowout, making it clear she was the kind of girl who had people fight her battles for her. Her nose looked purposely narrowed, and I wanted nothing more than to break it at that moment.

The curly haired boy leaned in close enough that I could smell the red meat on his breath. “Don’t be scared, little runt. You didn’t think the alpha could protect you forever, did you?”

The other boy snorted as though taking my silence as an answer. “Well he has much more important pack members to look after.”

“Hey!” The shout came from a distance. Thank the moon goddess. “No one is supposed to be out here!”

The pack members that had seized me spared a few glances at each other before running off. The curly haired boy gave me one last shove against the tree, as if he needed a push off of something to start his getaway.

Without anything else to hold me up, I collapsed to the ground. From there, I tried to regain even breaths. When Josh crouched down and rested his hand on my shoulder, my whole body was still shaking.