Hunter's Attraction

Monday

Lily was anxious—more anxious than she had been on her first day. Everything was finally out in the open. No more secrets. “No more pretending no hablo español,” Lily sighed. Here goes nothing. As she placed her hand on the doorknob, memories of Friday evening’s disastrous interaction flooded her mind.

Midnight, Saturday

Lily stood beside Aiden in Alpha Cortez’s study, the heavy scent of pine and leather lingering in the air. The packhouse had grown quieter, the weight of the Gamma's nephew's death casting a shadow over everything. So sad, Lily thought. She prayed for peace and comfort for the family before returning to the present. “There,” Alpha Cortez’s eyes glowed red, his mind reaching out to one of his pack members. “I just asked Captain Erik to come to my office,” he announced. Alpha Cortez leveled his gaze at JP. “Are you sure you saw what you saw?”

“Definitely, Uncl—I mean, Alpha,” JP corrected quickly, his ears reddening with embarrassment. Lily stifled a smile, noting the subtle slip-up. No one else seemed to, but she did.

Alpha Cortez’s eyes flashed red again, signaling another mental command before he called out, 'Come in!'” The door to the study opened, then closed. A tall, muscular man, exuding confidence, strolled into the room. “You wanted to see me, Alpha?” the man asked. Lily tried not to stare, but Erik stood out—his rich dark skin, broad shoulders, and confident stride made him hard to ignore. Lily averted her gaze from Erik, but not before catching JP glaring at her over Aiden's shoulder. Even from across the room, his eyes narrowed in silent judgment. She looked away from JP, only to meet her brother’s smirk. “Shut up,” she nudged him.

“I didn’t say anything,” Aiden whispered back.

“Yes,” Alpha Cortez answered, “there was an attack on one of our guards-in-training.”

“Qué! I mean…why wasn’t I notified right away?” Erik glared at JP, his voice sharp. “Did you do something?” he accused.

The room fell quiet as JP swallowed, keeping his tone respectful. “No. Someone attacked me.

“Who?”

“I believe his name is Juan,” Alpha Cortez answered.

“Of course it’s Juan,” Erik scoffed, “it usually is.”

“Can you call Juan?” Alpha Cortez asked.

“Yes, sir,” Erik replied. His dark brown eyes flashed gold. He frowned. “Let me try again.” Erik's frown deepened as his eyes flashed gold again. “I can’t reach him,” he muttered, a sliver of unease creeping into his voice. “It feels like something is blocking me.”

“Let me try,” Alpha Cortez said. His eyes flashed red, and he, too, frowned. “Do you have someone who can lead a search party?” he asked Erik.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Find Juan,” he ordered before turning to Aiden. “do you think you can show me exactly where you found this boy’s body?”

“Of course,” Aiden answered.

Present

Lily pushed open the classroom door, her heart lifting at the sight of the empty seats. JP and his crew hadn’t arrived yet. Good. She slipped into her usual spot by the window, the early morning light spilling onto her desk. With a satisfied sigh, she pulled out a notebook and pen, tapping the pen absentmindedly as her mind wandered.

12:30 a.m. Saturday

Lily, JP, Aiden, and Alpha Cortez stood in somber silence, staring sadly at the lifeless teen. Erik swore in Spanish while Alpha Cortez said, “He doesn’t appear to be older than…13….” Turning to Aiden, he asked, “And you found him in the middle of the road? On this mountain?”

“Yes. We were driving to check on Lily, and he was just lying there in the street.”

“Both clinics used by the Chrysanthewaites and Knights are now operational,” Alpha Cortez sighed. “We can preserve the body until…”

“Someone should come looking,” Aiden finished for the tired alpha. “I’ll send a message out to The Guild, send out some trustworthy hunters.”

“That’s what you are!” Erik exclaimed as they had not yet been introduced.

“Apologies,” Alpha Cortez said, “Aiden and Lily, this is Captain Erik. He is in charge of security, and he trains our guards. Captain Erik, this is Aiden. He is the Protector in this region. This is sister Lily.”

Erik sniffed the air, his brow furrowing. 'You don’t smell… completely human. You smell like…you’re mixed with something else, but I can’t place it.”

“We get that a lot,” Aiden replied with an easy smile, “it’s probably the deodorant we use.” Lily rolled her eyes.

“Well, thank you for bringing this to our attention, Aiden,” Alpha Cortez said gratefully. He looked at his watch. “I didn’t want to do this so soon, but…maybe it’s best I formally introduce you and your family to our pack. Noon?”

“That works. My…partner won’t be able to attend, but I do have a trainee I’d like to bring. He is a werewolf, too. His father and mine are close friends.”

“Interesting,” the alpha’s eyebrows raised. “Do hunters in America regularly socialize with werewolves?”

“No,” Aiden answered, “but my father said the only way The Guild can build trust is by…well…building trust.”

“Your father sounds like a wise man.”

“I will pass on the compliment,” Aiden smiled. “Noon?”

“Noon.”

Present

The hair on her arms stood up, a prickling sensation that sent a shiver down her spine. “JP,” Lily breathed. Wait, how did I know that? It was like an instinct, but why? Lily looked over her shoulder. Sure enough, JP and his crew strolled in, their casual demeanor betraying no hint of acknowledgment as they briefly glanced at her. Scratch that. Isabel glared hard at her before taking her seat. Lily bit one side of her lip, fighting the urge to respond, and turned to face the front with a determined huff. “Psst, Lily,” she heard JP whisper from behind her. His voice grated on her nerves, yet it also sent an unwelcome flutter of butterflies through her stomach. Thankfully, the professor entering the classroom stopped Lily from replying.

Lily huffed. She was tired of being friendly. She just needed to finish the group project…with the group she’d be stuck with the entire semester. Lily groaned inwardly. Maybe she could work ahead to limit their interactions, but the thought of having to resist the urge to look back at JP made her head spin. Why does he have to be so infuriatingly charming?

Lily shook her head, trying to dispel the anxiety building in her chest. The weight of the present felt heavy, yet a familiar memory tugged at the edges of her mind, pulling her back to Saturday when she stood at the top of the stairs in a grand manor, flanked by Aiden and Christopher.

She could almost feel the ornate banister beneath her fingers and hear the buzz of the crowd below. That day had been filled with uncertainty, just like today, yet the looming presence of JP made her heart race.

Noon, Saturday.

Lily stood between Aiden and Christopher at the top of the stairs in the ornate house. Well, “house” couldn’t accurately describe its massive size. Mansion? No, too small. Manor, maybe. Whatever it was, the front foyer could comfortably fit over 100 bodies.

Lily smirked. We must make for an interesting sight: me and Aiden decked out in hunter’s gear, while Christopher is… she looked at Christoper. Christopher was basking in the attention.

A shiver worked its way through her body, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. She knew, somehow, that JP was looking at her. She couldn’t explain how she knew or why she was suddenly so aware of his presence, but it was unnerving.

Looking down at the audience, she and JP locked eyes, and for a moment, the world around them faded. His gaze was magnetic, pulling her in like a moth to a flame. He took her breath away, and she didn’t like it—not one bit. Lily could feel her pulse quicken, an unwelcome flutter igniting in her stomach. Why did he have to look so effortlessly charming with that cocky smirk and those intense eyes?

Jean-Pierre returned her stare head-on, his intense gaze piercing through the distance between them like a jolt of electricity. It was as if an invisible thread connected them, pulling her closer with every heartbeat. Lily felt a magnetic force anchoring her in place; she couldn’t look away even if she wanted to. What is wrong with me? Panic and desire twisted together in her chest, creating a tempest that was both thrilling and terrifying.

His presence was overwhelming, flooding her senses with an intoxicating mix of charm and confidence. It was infuriating how he could disarm her so easily, his very existence unraveling her carefully constructed resolve. The heat in her cheeks felt like a flame igniting her frustration. What is happening to me? The weight of his gaze felt heavy, and she fought the urge to look away, to escape the vulnerability that simmered just beneath the surface.

As their eyes locked, a storm brewed within her—part attraction, part irritation. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to break the connection, yet she found herself drawn deeper into the moment, teetering on the edge of something she both craved and feared.

Finally, he broke their staring contest, allowing her to scan the crowd, memorizing faces and using her enhanced vision to spot anything unusual or suspicious. But even as she shifted her focus, the lingering heat from their gaze still buzzed in the back of her mind, making it hard to concentrate. She cursed under her breath, reminding herself that she had to stay focused on the task at hand—not on the way his mere presence sent her heart into a whirlwind.

“…welcome,” Alpha Cortez finished. “You are dismissed.” The crowd leisurely began to disperse.

“Lily,” Aiden said to her. “I’m going to speak with Alpha Cortez, his Beta, and Gamma in private. I want you and Christopher to mingle. See what you can find.”

“On it, boss,” Christopher replied with a silly salute before approaching a group of girls he’d been eyeing the entirety of Alphan Tenoch’s introduction.

Lily surveyed the crowd. They were watching her, judging her. She just knew it. If she went down there, there would be pushing, shoving, and all sorts of physical contact she wasn’t sure she was ready to endure. “Lily,” Aiden placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his concern palpable. “Are you okay?” She didn’t want him to worry. “If you don’t think you’re up for it—”

“I’m fine. I’m fine,” she tried to reassure him, but the words felt ungenuine even to her ears.

“You’re growing paler by the second. Why don’t you stay on the perimeter, okay?”

“Aiden,” Lily smiled weakly, “don’t worry about me.”

“Lily, you look like you’re about to vomit. Take it easy. Please. Just walk the perimeter of the room. If someone approaches you, great. If not, that’s fine. I want you to feel safe.”

“Okay, okay,” Lily relented.

“Good,” Aiden sighed with relief. “Ear-piece in?”

“Affirmative.”

“Good. I’ll try to make this meeting as fast as possible.”

Present

Lily stared blankly at the page in front of her, tuning out the chatter of her group. Emotions swirled within her—confusion, frustration, and something else she couldn’t quite name. She was just getting back on her feet, and the last thing she needed was to dive into dating, courting, or whatever rituals werewolves engaged in.

“Lily.” The whisper in her ear startled her, nearly making her jump in her seat.

“Are you sure you’re a hunter?” Isabel scoffed, a smirk tugging at her lips. Lily refused to respond, instead turning to the source of the whisper. Jean-Pierre. “Yes?” she replied to JP, trying to keep her voice steady.

“You’ve been staring at that page for the last 15 minutes,” JP observed, his brow furrowed in concern.

“Maybe reading is hard for her,” Isabel mocked, her tone dripping with disdain.

“Isa,” Julian interjected, his voice weary, “not today. Okay? Just…not today.”

Lily felt a surge of irritation but pushed it aside. “You know what?” she said, packing her bag with swift, deliberate movements. “I’m not feeling well. I think I’m going to head home.”

“Wait,” JP protested, his voice rising slightly. “Lily.”

“I will see you on Thursday,” she said, locking eyes with everyone in her group—everyone except JP. “Remember, rough drafts.” Her heart raced as she stood up, the urge to flee overwhelming. She needed to get out of here. As she approached the professor’s desk, she felt the weight of their stares, but it was JP’s gaze that lingered in her mind, heavy and unrelenting.

12:30 p.m., Saturday

Lily had been walking the perimeter of the foyer for five minutes when a middle-aged woman approached her, a bright grin lighting up her face.

“Hello,” Lily greeted first, extending her hand.

“Hello!” the woman beamed, cupping Lily’s hand warmly with hers. “I’m sorry, I just had to meet you. You are beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Lily felt her cheeks warm under the compliment.

“Oh, where are my manners? I’m Josefina, JP’s mother.”

“Oh,” Lily replied, her smile widening. “Well, it’s nice to meet you.”

“I wish we could have met under better circumstances,” Josefina said, her expression shifting slightly.

Lily frowned, unsure how to respond. “Yeah,” she said, “it’s a tragedy. I’m really sorry about your loss.”

“Thank you, dear. I know you’re probably busy at the moment, but maybe we can set up a time to meet and get to know one another.”

“Um…” Confusion washed over Lily. Did Josefina have her mixed up with someone else? “I know JP has been keeping you to himself,” Josefina continued, her smile growing wider. “But I couldn’t wait any longer. I just had to meet my future daughter-in-law.”

Lily’s entire body stiffened, the smile frozen on her face. “I’m sorry,” she chuckled nervously, “What!!!?”