Hunter's Attraction

Elena

(30 minutes earlier)

“Trixie,” Alpha Tenoch sighed into his phone, “are you sure you’re okay? You sound... unhinged.”

“I’m not crazy, Tenoch. Just trust me,” Trixie urged, her voice tense. “She’s Elena. She even has Elena’s scent.”

Tenoch rubbed his forehead, skeptical. “Look, if what you’re saying is true… I don’t know, Trixie. This doesn’t make sense.”

“Please,” Trixie pleaded. “She’s Elena. I know it.”

He hesitated. “Fine. I’ll look into it.”

“Now,” she insisted. “She’s with them, at their house. You can’t give them the chance to run.”

“This is ridiculous,” Tenoch muttered, but he softened his tone to reassure her. “Alright, I’ll go now.” He stood, pushing back from his desk. “I promised Adriana I’d pick up supplies for her empanadas, but I’ll swing by the hunters’ place on my way home.”

“No, before that,” Trixie pressed.

“Shouldn’t you be teaching right now?” he asked, half-jokingly.

“Tenoch,” she growled, exasperated.

He gave in. “Alright, alright. I’ll stop by first.”

“Thank you, Tenoch. You won’t regret it. I have to go.”

“Yeah. See you later.” He ended the call, shaking his head. The things I do for family.

***

Tenoch drove toward Aiden and Sirena’s cabin. Adriana’s beef empanadas sat at the back of his mind. His thoughts, at the moment, were on Trixie. He sighed heavily. Trixie was… a handful. Being the youngest, she’d grown up with certain… allowances. After their parents died when she was only five, he and Josefina had taken on raising her, and he knew he’d been lenient. The new Alpha and Luna who’d taken over the pack had also doted on her, which hadn’t helped.

After what happened with JP and Roderick, some of the pack began to question his judgment. How did I miss that my youngest sister was dating a drug dealer who’d been slipping my nephew substances? The thought still brought shame to Tenoch. The situation had been a trial by fire – one that almost cost him his pack.

Now here he was, being dragged back to that nightmare because Trixie saw a little girl who smelled like Elena. Is she out of her mind? Maybe she’s the one doing drugs, he thought bitterly as he pulled up to a tastefully built cabin. Aiden mentioned he was a carpenter. I wonder if he’d build a cottage for me and Adriana? But before he could think of a way to explain this unexpected visit, he opened his car door—and suddenly, it all came flooding back.

(Five years ago)

Tenoch grinned as Adriana’s hand crept up his thigh, making the car swerve. “Focus, mi vida,” she teased, laughing.

“If you keep that up, we’ll definitely crash,” he joked.

Adriana’s expression changed before he finished speaking. “Wait, is that… our house?” Adriana gasped, pointing out the window. Tenoch looked over, and his stomach dropped. Flames engulfed their house. “Elena!” Adriana’s voice broke as she gripped his hand.

Tenoch floored it, his knuckles white on the wheel. “Call Mateo,” he said, his voice tight.

Frantically, Adriana found her phone, calling Mateo. “Mateo (…) Yes, we’re here now. (...) Okay. (…) They’re trying? (…) But my baby...” She hung up in frustration, fear flashing across her face. “They haven’t found Elena yet,” she choked. “They…they haven’t even gone in.”

Tenoch took her hand. “We can’t panic yet. Stay with me.”

When they finally skidded to a stop, Adriana was out of the car before he could even put it in park. “Elena!” she screamed, sprinting toward the burning house.

“Adriana!” Tenoch jumped out, chasing after her. A firefighter intercepted Adriana just before she could reach the flames. “Luna,” he said gently, restraining her.

“Where’s my daughter?” she cried, struggling. “Where is Elena?”

“Luna, we’re doing everything we can—”

Tenoch spotted JP sitting in a daze on the ground nearby, while a paramedic shone a light into his eyes. He rushed over. “JP, what happened? Where’s Elena?” The boy’s eyes were glassy, unseeing.

“Alpha,” the paramedic interjected, hesitant, “he seems…drugged.”

Tenoch grabbed JP by the shirt, struggling to process what he’d been told. “JP, answer me! Where’s my daughter?”

(Present)

The scent hit him like a tidal wave. Elena. Heart pounding, he stormed up to the cabin, fists clenched, and pounded on the door. Blood was rushing in his ears. He banged on the door again. Elena's scent was all over the place. He pounded again, shocked that the door didn’t give. He studied the wood. It wasn’t oak—stronger than that, but he didn’t care. He hammered the door again, Elena’s scent growing stronger. My daughter is in there, he thought, pulse racing with a mix of anger, anticipation, and dread.

The door opened slowly, revealing Aiden’s sister—he couldn’t remember her name. Something floral. She blinked in surprise. “Alpha Cortez?” she asked, confused. “Is everything alright?” Without answering, Tenoch pushed past her. “Hey!” she called after him, indignant. “Excuse me!”

“Where is she?” he demanded, scanning the room. “Where’s my daughter?”

“Alpha Tenoch?”

He whirled around. It was JP. What is he doing here? “Where is she?” Tenoch’s voice was raw. “Where’s Elena?”

Jean-Pierre hesitated, glancing between Tenoch and Aiden’s sister. “Alpha, I don’t think—”

“Where is she?” Tenoch’s tone became a growl, compelling JP as his eyes flashed red.

“In the kitchen,” JP answered, almost robotically.

Tenoch followed Elena’s scent, barely noticing the woman’s protests behind him. “This isn’t your house; you can’t just barge in like this!” she protested, but he ignored her. Then, he saw her. There she was. Elena. She stood in the kitchen, wide-eyed, staring at him in fear. His heart twisted. She’d grown so much. Elena, he whispered, extending a hand toward her.

“Lena, go upstairs,” Aiden’s sister ordered sharply. Without hesitation, Elena slipped around Tenoch and dashed up the stairs, keeping a wide berth.

“That’s my daughter.” Tenoch’s gaze darkened as he turned to the huntress. “Why do you have my daughter?”

“Alpha,” JP stepped between them, his stance protective.

The huntress didn’t hesitate. “I’m getting my brother,” she muttered, rushing off.

“Alpha,” JP began, his voice firm.

Tenoch’s gaze shifted to his nephew, suspicion narrowing his eyes. “Did you know?” he asked quietly.

Jean-Pierre held his ground. “Alpha, with all due respect, I think you should calm down.”

Tenoch’s eyes flashed red. Did he just tell me to calm down? A growl rose from his throat, low and threatening.

And then… all hell broke loose.