Hunter's Attraction

Aiden and Sirena

(Two nights ago)

Aiden looked at his… well… he wasn’t sure what they were to each other. They weren’t husband and wife; and Sirena balked anytime he used the words girlfriend and boyfriend. But they were definitely together, Sirena reassured him every day—sometimes multiple times a day. Yet, as they strolled through the forest, uncertainty nagged at him.

“Do you think she’ll be alright?” Sirena asked, her face filled with worry.

“She’s not alone,” Aiden smiled at her. “Monte is with her, and Lily should be home in the next 10-15 minutes.”

“Okay,” Sirena nodded, but the frown quickly returned. “So… you brought me all the way out here. What did you want to talk about? You’re not going to propose, are you?”

“No, no, no, no, no!” Aiden reassured her, waving his hands in wild gestures. “That’s not it,” he added, laughing nervously. “The pack in this territory—the ones you sold your land to—something isn’t right.”

“What do you mean?” Sirena’s brow furrowed, tension evident in her posture.

“Have you noticed anyone following you?”

“I don’t go out much, and Lena is being homeschooled for now,” Sirena folded her arms, relaxing just a bit. “The only time we really go out is at night when we train with you and Lily… and nature walks with Monte. She rarely comes to the shelter with me. I’ve never felt, seen, or smelled anything or anyone that gave me pause.”

“Well, Chris texted me the other day. He noticed strange paw prints around our house.”

“Chris?” Sirena raised a skeptical brow. “Chris, who we can hear a mile away every time he tries to trail us?”

“Chris’s dad said his son had potential, and Father agrees,” Aiden smiled.

“Right. So… these pawprints—wait, was Chris skulking around our house?”

“I don’t know. Look, I sent a picture of you and Lena’s paw prints. They weren’t the same—two different sets, bigger. I know the Cortez pack has only been in the States for maybe 15 years, but the last thing I want to do is accuse a foreign pack of illegal activity.”

“Well,” Sirena placed a comforting hand on his arm, “you know I trust your instincts.”

“It could be nothing, but… be careful.” Aiden stared into her dark brown eyes with his bright blue ones, searching for reassurance.

“Okay. I will report anything suspicious. But tell Chris to practice his late-night lurking elsewhere. It’s weird.”

“Deal.” Aiden smiled, though a weight lingered in the air. A series of howls filled the sky. “They’re about to start their nightly patrol,” Aiden stated, the sound sending a shiver down his spine.

“Well, I’m not in the mood for company,” Sirena chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood. “Let’s head back. We can meet them another night.”

(Present)

Aiden stared down at the body of a naked male—definitely a shifter, as the other hunters and law enforcement taped the area off. His frown deepened. He would need to contact their county liaison, who, fortunately, was the medical examiner. But Aiden didn’t need a medical degree to recognize that a werewolf had mauled this boy. It was painfully obvious to hunters like him.

Squatting down, Aiden examined the upper biceps, searching for the pack mark. These marks were usually invisible to the human eye, but Aiden wasn’t entirely human either. After a moment, he called over one of the techs. “When can we cover him up?” The least he could do was offer the boy some dignity.

“We’re almost done,” the tech replied, snapping another photo.

Aiden gave a quick nod, but his attention shifted as a commotion stirred nearby. Someone was trying to cross the police tape. “Sir, I’m telling you to step back,” one of the officers barked, his stance aggressive.

“It’s fine,” Aiden interjected, “he’s with me.” After muttering something under his breath, the officer begrudgingly let the person pass.

***

“Alpha Cortez,” Aiden greeted, taking a moment to appraise the man standing before him. With dark tan skin and sharp features, Alpha Tenoch carried himself with a poised confidence, dressed impeccably in a tailored suit that spoke of authority and influence.

“I was on my way to the office when I received the call,” Alpha Tenoch replied, extending a hand. “You can call me Alpha Tenoch.”

Aiden shook his hand firmly, feeling the weight of the moment settle over them. “I’m sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. I was hoping for a more cordial introduction.”

“Sí, it is unfortunate.” Alpha Tenoch’s gaze hardened as he turned his attention to the covered body nearby. “I was hoping you might recognize him.”

“What makes you think he’s one of mine?” the alpha asked, skepticism threading through his tone.

“The humans can’t see the brand on his biceps,” Aiden explained, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to steady his nerves. “But I can.”

Alpha Tenoch frowned, inhaling Aiden’s scent as if searching for the truth in it. “You smell like you’ve been around a dog, but you do not smell like a werewolf. You are a human.”

“My great-grandfather was a werewolf. We haven’t had another in our family since, but we retain some perks.”

“Ah, okay.” Alpha Tenoch nodded, the lines on his forehead deepening as they came to a halt in front of the body. The atmosphere thickened with unspoken grief and concern. “I know him,” he said, his voice low and troubled. “His name is Hector. His uncle is my Beta.”

Aiden’s heart sank at the revelation. “You mean someone had the guts to go after the family member of a high-ranking werewolf?”

Alpha Tenoch’s frown deepened, the reality of the situation settling over him like a heavy shroud. He pulled out his phone, his hands trembling slightly. “I don’t know what to think right now,” he said, urgency lacing his words. “I must break the news to his family. They deserve to hear it from me.” He met Aiden’s gaze, the gravity of his role as a leader clear in his expression. “Can you keep me informed about any developments?”

“Of course.” Aiden nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. As a crime scene technician finally draped a sheet over Hector’s lifeless body, Aiden could only watch, a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest.

He watched as Alpha Tenoch hurried away, his voice rising in urgency as he spoke rapidly in Spanish into his phone, the sound fading into the night. “Yep,” Aiden muttered to himself, the chill of foreboding creeping through him. “Things are about to get…dangerous