Hidden Killers: Hunters in the Wind (Book 2)

10 - Colt POV

"WE GOTTA MOVE! NOW!" The McGraw sisters came bursting in, with Clarke on their tail, to the room where me and the other ranked members were having a meeting about the pack's future in the aftermath of Friday's events.

"Ladies, what is the issue?" They wouldn't disturb us unless it was important.

The hold up their rings to show that they were glowing bright.

Abby's in trouble!

"Let's move. She should be at work." Without hesitation, we form a circle with Adelaide and Maeve before being teleported to Abby's office in a blinding white light.

"ABBY!" I holler, frantically searching for her. I will not lose her again.

"Colt!" I turn and sprint towards the source - behind a set of double doors at the end of the hallway - and kick my way in.

We stare in shock at the scene before us.

I could see Jason blocking Abby at the far end of the room, his towering figure meaning I could only see her eyes as she stood behind him. What he was protecting her from? The seven foot demon that was hunkered down over a woman in the middle of the room.

"Jason. Report." Daniel orders him, being the first to snap out of our shock; his military training engaged as he scanned the area to identify any other threats, only to see the demon and the other woman before us. No one has seen a demon in the flesh for centuries.

"The girl on the floor is a Hunter from the local clan." Then a perplexed look crosses his face. "And the demon is our boss, Astrid."

Abby's boss is a demon?

Apparently so.

We need to look into this further.

And we will, but first things first, we need to get to Abby.

I turn towards everyone and gesture for us to make our way carefully round the edge of the room. Making eye contact with Jason, I beckon him to guide Abby and do the same so we meet in the middle.

None of us had faced a demon before so none of us knew the best way to deal with this situation.

"You pathetic little imp. You really think you could take on the supernaturals? You are just a lamb to the slaughter." The demon, or I should say Astrid, taunted her prisoner as she slowly dug her claws into the side of her prisoner, laughing as her screams filled the room.

I was about to reach Abby when the doors burst open again and a host of security guards charged in, only to scamper to a halt at the sight before them.

"No way..." One of them, believe his name was Reggie, let out in disbelief.

"Stay back!" Austin whisper shouted at them. Jason and Abby managed to connect with our group - Abby lunged herself into my arms as I pulled her into my chest, burying my head into her neck as I breathed in her scent.

"You alright, babe?"

"Colt... my boss..."

I run one hand down her back and the other through her hair. "I know. Let's focus on getting you out of here." I reluctantly pulled away from our embrace and repositioned her so she was behind me.

Astrid was eyeing up everyone in the room by now but not once did she remove her claws from her victims. Instead, she twisted her hand so blood started to spout from her mouth.

"Come on. You can't go out too quickly. Look at all the spectators we have." Astrid pulls the Hunter's head up by her hair so that she can see all of the people around them.

"...help..."

"Oh, I don't think they will. You're a Hunter. You want us dead." Blink and you would miss it, Astrid let's go of her hair before diving her hand into the her neck. "Let me show you how humans will be nothing but prey."

The Hunter thrashes around for a few more seconds before going limb on the floor.

However, the tension in the room did not ease for a second as we rejoined the security guards by the doors as we stared at the demon before us.

1) No one had seen a demon for centuries so this was new territory for everyone.

2) The 'humans are prey' comment did not go unheard as I had felt Abby tense behind me. I knew her relationship with her boss wasn't great but to what extent.

Astrid slowly rises to her feet before turning towards us. The hackles on the backs of our necks stood straight as we all growled at her - our eyes turning black as a warning sign.

"Stand down mutts. If I wanted you lot dead, I would have done so already." That didn't put us at ease as we allowed our claws to extend. I could feel Abby breathing heavily behind me as she hesitantly gripped onto my shirt.

"Eh! Fine!" Astrid's normal voice rang through as she slowly shifted back into her human form.

"Shame, I really liked that dress." She stated as she looked at her torn clothes on the floor.

Austin's eyes flared as he turned towards his guards. "How the hell did none of you clock a demon worked here?"

"I can answer that." We all turn to see Astrid saunter towards us. "The scent you lot pick up on is connected to your soul. Demons don't have one so we don't smell."

Astrid rolls her eyes before adding on. "F*ck sake, Abby. Get out from behind your dog." That earned her a growl from me but she seemed unphased.

Abby slowly side stepped from behind me but clasped my hand as she moved. Averting her eyes as she realised her boss was naked in front of her with blood splatters across her; this caused Astrid to roll her eyes in annoyance.

"Not like you have them too, Abby. And it's not like no one has seen them before, right Mark?" She gives a wink to one of the security guards, who looked to be a wizard, as the rest of us stared wide-eyed at him.

"I didn't know she was a demon." He defended himself.

"That's why he wanted late shifts." Frankie, a bear, muttered under his breath.

"Now that we all know each other's secrets." Astrid pulled all of our attention back to her. "Can we talk about why Gabe is really not working here anymore?"

"How did-" Abby went to question, but Astrid cut her off.

"Please. Do you take me for a fool?" The accusing look she gave Abby caused a growl to rumble from my chest, as well as all the other wolves present.

"Down, dogs!" Was all Astrid responded with before she went on. "I saw the mark on Gabe's neck so I know he was marked and I knew who Xavier was when he came into my office that day."

"You mean when you slept with him!?" Abby was now the one to throw an accusational glance at Astrid, who mearly swatted her hand lazily at her in response. "Werewolves are gifted people. You should know."

Abby went beetroot red next to me which made a smile grow on Astrid's face.

"Anyway, I take it Gabe was mated to the enemy hence why he isn't here." She gestures to the room around us. "Did you kill him?"

"No. He has been arrested and is awaiting a trial." I stand tall as I answer. I would not let her try and intimidate me, Abby or anyone.

"Pity. But then that means I could be involved in his execution."

Now Abby's face paled as she turned her head to me. "He's going to die.." I could see the internal struggle going on inside her - even after everything he did, they still had a bond; I don't think Abby wants him dead no matter what.

"That is down to the Council." I tell her honestly - it was out of our hands.

"Guess I will try and find his replacement then." Astrid then turns on her heels and waves us off over her shoulder. "This has been lovely but, if you will excuse me, I need to sort out getting rid of this body." She kicks the dead Hunter as she walks back to office, halting as she gets to the door to turn back and look at us.

"Mark. Now!" And she saunters into her office.

We all turn and look at Mark, who shifts slightly on his feet. "So... yeah." And he makes a beeline after her.

"Can we go home now?" Abby tugs on my arm. "I think I need a lie down and something to wipe my memory."

"We could help with that." Maeve nudges her which earns eye rolls from both Abby and Adelaide.

"How about a drink at the pub instead?" Adelaide suggests to which we all agree to. Bidding our farewells to the guards, we teleport outside the pub; Maeve and Adelaide do a few extra trips to collect the bikes and a couple of cars to not raise suspicion.

"Abby!" The twins, Teagan and Tyson run up to her and hug her legs.

"Why are the twins here?" Naomi looks confused at Maeve.

"Helen loves kids so this should also deter her."

"I wanted to drink in peace though." Austin moans, running a hand over his face. "Can you believe this?" Austin goes to turn towards Daniel to agree with him, only to see him holding Imogen against his chest as he hums her to sleep; Adelaide had brought her along.

"You are driving." Naomi huffs at him before heading inside. The rest of us chuckle as we follow on behind her.

This should be interesting.