Hunting Her Alpha

Alder♣

"You're Shadow?" I ask, not quite believing him.

"I'm pretty sure I just said that," he replies dryly, the corners of his lips twitching. His tone alone makes me narrow my eyes at him.

He completely ignores the deadly look I shoot his way and presses on. "Now that you know who the Shadow is, are you finally going to tell me why you want to be a Werewolf Hunter?"

"No. I don't believe you. You probably just said that to get me to spill."

Hayden sighs and rises from his crouched position like I’ve already worn him out. "What do you know about Werewolf Hunters?"

"They hunt Werewolves?" I offer with a shrug.

He chuckles, clearly amused. "Let me rephrase. What do you think Werewolf Hunters are? Humans?"

"Of course they're humans. What else would they be?"

His eyes gleam with something I can't place. "Haven’t you ever wondered how a human could possibly take down a Werewolf—let alone an entire pack? Werewolves are faster, bigger, stronger, and very intelligent. No ordinary human would stand a chance, not even the strongest one alive."

"What exactly are you insinuating? That I won’t be able to take down a Werewolf because I’m human?" I ask, scowling.

"Exactly." He nods without hesitation, which only deepens my scowl.

"But you're human," I point out. "You've taken down loads of Werewolves. I read about you in that Supernatural article… assuming you really are Shadow."

He smirks. "That article left out one very important detail."

"What detail?" I frown, confused.

Suddenly, he crouches low again and grips my jaw, gently but firmly. His eyes burn crimson as he parts his lips, revealing two sharp fangs. "I’m not human," he says coldly. "I’m a Vampire."

I gasp and instinctively crawl backward, putting distance between us. "That’s not possible," I whisper, eyes wide. "If you were a Vampire, you’d have melted in the sun but… you’re still here. In one piece."

His eyes return to their normal stormy gray. "True. If I were a *normal* Vampire. But I’m not." He sniffs the air like a bloodhound. "And neither are you."

I clutch my head with both hands, overwhelmed. "Just when I thought I’d seen it all... now a Vampire shows up and drops this bomb on my life."

"We Vampires are the Werewolf Hunters. Not humans. Never humans."

"So you're saying..." I pause as the realization crashes over me. "This means I can never avenge my parents’ deaths."

A single tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it.

Hayden studies me in silence for a few moments before sighing. "Actually, you still can. You’ve got two options. I turn you into a Vampire—there are consequences—or I train you and give you something that mimics Vampire abilities."

I slowly lift my gaze to meet his. "Something?"

He nods. "An artifact. Old, rare, powerful. It’ll make you stronger than you are, but still human."

I take a deep breath. Option two sounds like the better deal. I'd still be me—and I’d finally have the power to do what I’ve always wanted.

"The second one," I say firmly.

He nods and walks over, holding out his arm. "Do you trust me?"

"I barely know you, so... no."

Hayden smirks like I’ve just told him the most entertaining thing he’s heard all day. "Interesting." Without warning, he scoops me into his arms.

"Hey! Where are you taking me?"

"To meet other Vampires."

"Like you?" I raise a skeptical brow.

He grins, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. "No. I'm the only one like me. So make sure you stay close—very close. Because I doubt they’ll be able to control their thirst around you. You smell... tasty. Juicy. And—" He leans in close, his red eyes flashing again. "Absolutely irresistible."

"Hayden!" I snap, jerking my head back. That pulls him out of whatever twisted little trance he was in. He blinks twice and shakes his head.

"Sorry."

"Should I be worried?" I ask with narrowed eyes.

"No. You'll be fine." His voice drops into something softer. "I'll make sure of it."

I take another breath. "Okay."

"I suggest you close your eyes," he says suddenly.

"What? Why?"

"Just do as I say, alright?"

With a heavy sigh, I obey and shut my eyes. A second later, I feel it—Hayden moving at a speed no human could ever achieve. The wind lashes against my face, sharp and cold, and even with my eyes squeezed shut, they begin to water. It's like being in a high-speed blender with no off button.

Unable to take it anymore, I tuck my head under his arm to shield myself from the wind. The moment I do, his scent hits me—rich, earthy, and weirdly comforting. It calms me, which only makes me more suspicious.

After what feels like a minute of supersonic madness, he finally comes to a stop.

"You alright?" he asks.

I nod, still buried in his arm. "Just give me a second. I feel dizzy."

He chuckles, low and amused. "You’ll get used to it."

Of course! Here's the revised version in present tense, with *Hayden* as the character's name:

TWO YEARS LATER

It’s been two years since Hayden takes me in to train me to be one of the best Werewolf Hunters. Two years living among Vampires as a human—and I’ve survived long enough to tell the tale. When I first arrived, it wasn’t easy. Every Vampire I come across goes wild with thirst, but thank goodness Hayden is there to hold them back. I later find out he’s the head of the Vampires—at least the head of the unit assigned to him by the Council of Vampires. And yes, that’s a real thing. They have no choice but to obey him, and that’s how I’ve made it this far. He says he’ll protect me, and so far, he keeps that promise. Over time, I’ve learned to trust him.

The only problem I have with Hayden—or let me say, the *main* problem—is that he still doesn’t think I’m ready to scout the area like he and the other Vampires do. They go on missions, taking down Werewolves, but he never brings me along because he claims I’m not ready. It’s beyond frustrating. He’s been training me non-stop for two years, and the training is brutal. Each level I advance to is harder than the last. He never takes it easy on me, and I work twice as hard just to prove myself to him—and to the other Vampires who still look at me like I don’t belong. But apparently, it’s not enough. He doesn’t trust me enough to let me hunt. Just thinking about it pisses me off. At this rate, I’ll never avenge my parents’ deaths. I clench my fists and glare at my untouched cup of coffee. Yeah, it’s late for coffee—it’s already evening—but I don’t care. I need something to keep my head clear.

A few minutes pass before I hear shouting and commotion outside my room. I frown and rise from my desk, heading toward the door. Just as I reach for the handle, it swings open and Hayden bursts in. He shuts the door behind him quickly, then grabs my arm—not roughly, just urgent—and pulls me toward my bed.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“Werewolves have infiltrated the camp,” he says, and my eyes widen.

“W-what? How?!”

“I don’t know,” he says. “Right now, that doesn’t matter. We’ve lost a lot of men, so I have no choice but to…” He pauses, like the words taste bitter in his mouth. “…recruit you.”

My jaw drops. Then, a wide grin spreads across my face. “Thank you!” I squeal and throw my arms around him. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this.”

He clears his throat awkwardly, and I quickly pull away.

“Actually, I do,” he mutters. He pulls something out of his pocket—a necklace with a crystal-like pendant hanging from it—and hands it to me.

“This will give you powers similar to a Vampire’s,” he explains. “As long as you wear it, you’ll be as fast and strong as any normal Vampire. It’ll also mask your human scent, so any Werewolf who sees you will think you’re a Vampire. That’ll make you harder to track. Never take it off. Werewolves think we smell like death—decay. And to us, they smell like wet dogs. One more thing…”

He crosses the room, presses his palm against the wall, and a hidden keypad slides out. My eyes narrow in curiosity as he types in a code. A panel opens, revealing another wall—lined with weapons. Every kind imaginable.

My jaw hits the floor. “That’s been there this whole time?”

“Long before you were born,” he says with a smirk, then winks.

He grabs a bow, a quiver full of silver arrows, and a silver dagger. He hands them to me.

“The dagger’s backup,” he says. “Always have a second weapon. I won’t be with you, so be careful. If anything happens to you… I won’t forgive myself.”

“I’ll be careful. I promise.”

He nods once, then turns and walks out of the room without looking back.

I run my fingers over the bow and dagger, still grinning. Finally—something real to do. I hurry to change into the outfit Hayden gave me on my first day here. Black boots. Black jumpsuit. A long black cape with a hood. A black mask to hide my face. A voice enhancer to make me sound more masculine, less like me. I take one last look at myself in the mirror and nod. I look good. Like this, no one can tell who—or what—I am.

I sling the quiver over my shoulder, tuck the dagger into my boot, grab my bow, and head out toward the woods. That’s where the camp is. Where Hayden and the others are fighting.

I don’t get far before I hear a low growl. I freeze, heart racing, and slowly pull an arrow from the quiver, notching it against the string. My eyes sweep the dark woods, trying to pinpoint the sound.

Whatever’s out there—it’s close.

"Show yourself!" I order, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

From behind a tree, a massive black creature steps out. Thanks to the pendant around my neck, I see clearly in the dark. My eyes narrow as I study the creature. It's a Werewolf, that much is obvious, but it’s bigger than any Werewolf I’ve ever seen. Bigger than the ones that killed my parents. Bigger than the Wolves that fought each other two years ago. What kind of Werewolf is this?

I can’t wait to find out, though I know every second counts. I fire the arrow, but before it even reaches the Wolf, it’s already standing directly in front of me.

The Wolf sniffs the air before its dark red eyes fixate on me. "Who are you?" it growls, then starts to circle around me, sniffing.

Wolves can talk? I’ve never heard or read about that. What kind of Werewolf is this?

"You’re not a Vampire," it continues, its voice low and menacing. "I know their scent. It’s putrid, like death. But you—" The Wolf stops right in front of me, its eyes locking onto mine. "You smell sweet, like a human. You tried to mask your scent, but I can still catch a whiff of it. The only thing I’m having trouble with is figuring out whether you’re a male or a female."

It pauses, and I stand my ground, refusing to show any fear despite its size.

"But I doubt that matters," the Wolf adds, its voice dripping with malice. "You’ll end up dead, just like your Vampire friends."

That doesn’t faze me. "That won’t happen," I say, voice unwavering, not a trace of fear in it.

The Wolf c***s its head to the side. "And why is that?"

"Because I’ll kill you first," I reply, a smirk tugging at my lips.

Without missing a beat, I draw another arrow from my quiver and place it in the bow, aiming it directly at the Wolf’s eyes. The amulet around my neck makes the motion smooth and quick. Without a second thought, I release the string.

But just as the arrow is about to meet its target, the Wolf catches it in its paw and snaps it in half.

"You might have the speed of a Vampire," the Wolf says with a grin, "but Werewolves are always faster than Vampires." It slams its paw hard on the ground, causing it to vibrate, then growls. "Always."

In a flash, it leaps at me, pinning me to the ground, its massive weight pressing down on my chest. Its claws dig into the earth, keeping my arms in place. It growls in my face so fiercely that droplets of saliva drip down onto me.

It sniffs my neck, its red eyes glazing over. "Mate," it says, and my heart stops.

Hell no.

"GET OFF ME!" I scream, trying to wiggle free, but its claws dig deeper into my arm, drawing blood. I scream out in pain.

"How can you, a mere human working with Vampires, be my mate?" it growls in frustration. "After all these years of searching for *the one,* it had to be you." The Wolf shakes its head, clearly irritated. "Pathetic."

"You’re mistaken," I hiss. "I can’t be your mate. I hate Werewolves. You’re all just filthy dogs that will die by my hands, one by one, until there are no Werewolves left on this earth. Now, get your filthy paws off me!" My voice is full of venom.

The Wolf stops, eyes narrowing with curiosity. "You intrigue me," it mutters, studying me as if I’m some kind of puzzle. "You’re a human living among Vampires. It’s a surprise you haven’t been turned into one of their meals. You know about supernatural beings, and the hate you have for Werewolves is so deep you’ve teamed up with Vampires. Who are you?"

"None of your f*****g business," I snap, my teeth gritted. "Just know that when I get my hands on you, you’ll be sorry."

The Wolf lets out a low chuckle, the sound like a low growl vibrating in its chest. "From your attitude, it’s easy to tell that you’re a woman, not a man." I could’ve sworn it smirks. "Bonus points for me. Which means you’re coming with me."

"Over my dead body," I spit.

"That can be arranged." It steps back, its gaze still locked on me.

Groaning in frustration, I push myself up into a seated position, forcing back the urge to wince at the pain from the claw marks.

"Let’s go," the Wolf orders, walking past me with its back turned.

That’s my chance. I draw the silver dagger from my boot, my fingers wrapping tightly around the handle. One chance—one mistake—and I’ll be dead. Taking a deep breath, I rise to my feet, my body trembling with the anticipation of the coming confrontation. Thanks to the pendant around my neck, the claw marks on my arm are already starting to heal.

I take slow, careful steps toward the Wolf, making sure it’s still facing away from me. It’s huge—bigger than the Wolves that killed my parents. Bigger than any I’ve ever seen.

"I suggest you think twice about what you’re about to do, Kione," the Wolf says, its voice steady and calm, as if it knows exactly what I’m planning.

How did it figure that out? It doesn’t matter. I’m not backing down. Not now. Not ever.

"Do you really think I’m afraid of you?" I ask, gripping the dagger even tighter.

"You should be," it snarls, and in the blink of an eye, it vanishes from view.

"What the—" I whirl around, searching for it, but it’s gone. Then, I feel a breath on the back of my neck.

"Behind you," it whispers, and I spin around, swiping my dagger through the air. But once again, it’s vanished. "I already told you, Werewolves are faster than Vampires. You’re wasting your time. So be a good girl and come with me. Peacefully."

I grit my teeth, trying to stay calm. "And like I said, over my dead body!" I turn, advancing toward where I think the Wolf might be, my dagger poised to strike.

Just as the tip of the dagger is inches from its face, it vanishes again.

"ARGHH!" I scream in frustration. I hear the Wolf’s amused chuckle, a sound that only fuels my anger.

"Tired already, Kione?" it mocks.

"Don’t call me that!" I snap, my voice sharp.

"If you tell me your real name, I won’t," it teases, its voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Never," I growl, my grip tightening on the dagger. I need a new plan, or I won’t even scratch this damn thing. And I need to get back to Shadow.

"You, Kione, are a stubborn human. The more reason why you must come with me."

I take a deep, calming breath and turn to face the Wolf. "How many times do I have to tell you that I’d rather die than go anywhere with a Werewolf?" My words come out in a low, venomous hiss.

"Werewolves aren’t as bad as you think they are," it says with a smirk.

"TELL THAT TO MY PARENTS!" I scream, my fists clenching.

The Wolf’s dark green eyes narrow, its gaze piercing through me as it assesses me. Enraged, I throw the dagger at it with every ounce of strength I have left. The silver blade sinks deep into its left hind leg, and I watch with grim satisfaction as the Wolf stumbles back, yelping in pain.

"You freaking little b***h!" it growls, furious. "You’ll pay for that!"

"Make me," I retort, my smirk a victorious edge.

The Wolf tries to take a step forward but falters, collapsing to the ground, its left leg trailing red blood, staining the ground beneath it. It struggles to rise again but falls back, a pained expression on its face.

"I thought you said you were going to make me pay," I taunt.

"This isn’t over," the Wolf growls, its voice low and filled with fury.

"You're right. It isn’t," I say with a smirk. "Till we meet again, dog."

I turn, my heart pounding, and race off, using the Vampire speed Hayden taught me.

"KIONE!" the Wolf calls after me, its voice filled with rage. "YOU WON’T GET AWAY WITH THIS! I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN, EVEN IF IT’S THE LAST THING I DO! YOU HEAR ME?! WATCH YOUR BACK, MATE!"

I scoff, speeding up as I hear it trailing behind. "Tchh," I mutter under my breath. I’m not scared. And the last thing I’m going to do is look back.