Hunter's Attraction

Finally, A Boring Day

Lily had just placed her breakfast bowl in the sink when her phone vibrated. Here, the text read. Lily limped to the door. After 48 hours, her forearms had almost completely healed, and the pain in her legs had diminished. The bite marks on her thighs and claw marks across her abdomen had already scabbed over. Although her healing was supernaturally fast, she still wished she had Aiden's instant healing ability.

Opening the door, she let out a horrified squeal. All she saw was JP standing behind a bush, shirtless. Her eyes betrayed her for a moment, lingering on his muscled chest before she caught herself. "JP!" she screeched. "Please tell me you have clothes!" Jean-Pierre burst out laughing before stepping out from behind the bush wearing pants and holding a shirt. "It's not funny!" Lily exclaimed, forcing herself to look away. "I thought you were naked."

"I didn't wolf-run here," JP continued to laugh, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Julian dropped me off. I'm just messing with you." Lily frowned, trying to ignore how his laugh made her stomach flutter. "I'm sorry; I'm sorry," he apologized, chuckling as he deliberately took his time putting his shirt on.

Lily sighed heavily. “I have the book,” she waved it from the doorway.

"Thank you," he said, running up the steps and retrieving the book from Lily's outstretched hand, his fingers brushing against hers. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice softening with genuine concern as he stepped closer than he needed to.

"I'm healing," she shrugged one shoulder, taking a small step back. "Look, I want to apologize about yesterday. I didn't mean to tell my brother."

"Lily—"

"It just slipped out."

"Lily, it's—"

"Honestly, though, I've spent too much time and energy keeping secrets from my family. I can't – I won't—"

"Lily," JP rushed to her, cupping her face in his hands. It was rather awkward as one of his hands was holding a book, but the warmth of his touch sent sparks through her skin. "Lily," he shushed, his thumb grazing her cheek. "It's fine. I... I'm sorry. I got so upset. I understand; it's fine." Lily nodded, trapped in his light brown eyes, trying desperately to remember why she needed to keep her distance. "Thank you for saving me. And... I'm sorry."

"For what?" Lily asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"For how I treated you that first day," his voice grew quieter as he leaned in slightly, "for how I let my friends speak to and about you."

"It's—"

"It's not fine," JP interrupted, his face now inches from hers.

"You're right," Lily sighed, fighting the urge to close the distance between them. "It's not, but I'm okay." Jean-Pierre's expression softened, his eyes dropping to her lips for just a moment. "You can let go of me, now," she said, feeling her face heat.

"Sorry, sorry," JP released her reluctantly, taking a step back. "Thank you for the book," he said, his eyes still holding hers. "I will have it finished by tomorrow."

"Okay," Lily stepped back, feeling her face flush, trying to rebuild the walls he'd so easily broken down.

"See you tomorrow," JP said before walking away, glancing back at her once with an intensity that made her heart race.

"Bye," Lily whispered, watching him go and already missing his warmth.

***

Watching JP's retreating figure, Lily closed her eyes and breathed deeply, willing her racing heart to slow. The way he'd looked at her just now, with such intensity, had left her breathless. "No, Lily," she muttered to herself before walking back into the house. "No. No boys. No crushes. No love. Just focus on yourself, college, and work. Me, college, and work. Me, college, and work."

She limped into the kitchen and began washing her breakfast dishes. Have JP's eyes always been that light brown color, like honey in sunlight, or am I just now noticing? "No, Lily!" She slammed her hands against the sink. "Stop it. No boys, and no falling for a... a teenager. He's 18 or 19, you're 20. Remember that!” She rinsed her bowl, struggling to redirect her wandering mind. She would not think about JP; she wasn't going to think about kissing JP; she wasn't going to think about marrying JP; and she certainly wasn't going to think about their children. She wasn’t going to think about his muscular chest. No. She was going to stay in the now. And the now required her to –

Lily's hand froze, hovering over the dish towel. She squinted, staring out at the backyard through the kitchen window. Someone – or something – was watching her. Something big and furry. Great. Just great. I’m getting sick and tired of these wolves.

***

Roderick took a step back in wolf form, his massive paws silent against the forest floor. There's no way, he thought, no way she can see me. He was hiding a good 35 yards away from the house, crouched under a thicket, his black fur melding with the shadows. Though he was a large werewolf, he knew how to stay hidden – had spent years perfecting the art of stalking prey undetected. He could see her perfectly through the kitchen window, being a werewolf and all, but there was no way a human should be able to spot him at this distance.

Yet Lily was staring directly into his eyes, her gaze unwavering and alert. An unsettling chill ran down his spine. Roderick slowly backed away. He maintained eye contact until the last possible moment before sprinting into the depths of the forest. He needed to regroup and rethink his strategy. How in the world was she able to see me? What is this girl, really?

***

Jean-Pierre whistled to himself as he walked back to his pack's territory, still feeling the lingering warmth of Lily's face in his hands. Her skin had been impossibly soft, her eyes so large and dark brown they seemed to pull him in. She was just so... JP didn't know what to think. The mate bond thrummed between them; but he knew that even without it, he would have found her impossibly attractive. Jean-Pierre frowned to himself, guilt twisting in his stomach. I can’t believe how cruel I'd been to her when we first met. I was beyond – JP came to an instant halt! Every muscle tensed. That scent. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, primal fear racing through his veins. He knew that scent – had hoped never to smell it again. There’s no way he is here.

Turning on his heel, JP shifted in one fluid motion, clothes shredding as fur erupted across his body. His paws hit the ground, running, propelling him back toward Lily's house with desperate speed. Roderick was there, and if Roderick was there, Lily was in danger. Please, he thought as he ran, please let me make it in time.