Devoted : Enemies and Heirs

Chapter 2

I watch the man intently, wanting to learn everything I can about him without revealing myself. Hunting is my only means of food anymore since I don't trust the food Damien puts in front of me, so I am well concealed from him.

The sun slowly starts to set and he starts to build a fire. My heart rate starts to pick up, hoping he doesn't build it up so big that they will smell the smoke and come looking.

He pauses what he's doing and turns his head as if he's trying to hear something far away. There's no way he'd be able to hear my heartbeat from there. Right?

I try to calm down my heart just in case as he goes back to what he's doing. He pulls what looks like the carcass of a rabbit out of his pack, setting it up to be cooked over the flames.

He finally starts to cook it and the sound of the skin crisping makes my mouth water. When the smell hits my nose, I involuntarily whimper out of hunger.

"You know, you're welcome to join me. I'm sure you would enjoy this rabbit, I caught it this morning."

Panic fills my whole body as I realize he's talking to me. I look around, unsure of which way to run.

He turns and looks directly at me, "There's no need to fear, I'm not going to hurt you. I promise. Will you please come into the clearing?"

I watch him warily, slowly stepping into the clearing but only in so far so that he could see me. He could be a Hunter and I'm not quite to the place where I would consider that.

He smiles and my heart flutters. Something about his eyes makes me want to trust him.

"You're welcome to come closer but I understand if you don't. I know I'm a stranger to you."

He continues to cook his rabbit and I continue to watch him. When the rabbit is finished, he pulls off one of the legs and throws it to me. I sniff at it for a few seconds before grabbing it and sitting down to eat. It's delicious and I really should cook my kills every once in a while.

I look up when I feel his eyes on me, c*****g my head to the side. He seems to understand as he chuckles. "Nothing, I guess it's just nice having company. I haven't had that in a long time."

I blink at him as if to tell him I feel the same before going back to eating.

When I've finished eating, I look up at the sky to see it's dark. s**t! Damien is going to be pissed. I whimper at the thought and take one last look at the man before slipping back into the woods.

I make a run for it, pushing as hard as I can to get back to the pack house. Maybe he hasn't noticed. I shift at the tree line, grabbing my clothes and pulling them on. I make my way back up to my room and sigh in relief when I don't come across Damien.

I close my door and lock it like always before I climb into bed. That night I dream about the mystery man and his entrancing eyes.

I wake up early the next morning with the intention of going back out into the woods. Is the man still there?

I carefully make my way over to the tree line making sure nobody is following me. I go to the watering hole first just in case they are. When I don't hear any movement besides my own, I make my way to his camp.

I hide once more, watching him move around his camp. By the looks of it, he's about to go hunting. I want to see how he does it, so I follow him.

I spend the next hour watching him set up traps before heading back to his camp.

"You can come out of the shadows."

I smile to myself that once again he knew I was there. I walk out of the trees into the clearing, going just a little closer than yesterday.

He smiles and my heart flutters again. "I wasn't sure if you would come back. You left in such a hurry last night."

I spend the day watching him go through his little routine. When he comes back with two rabbits, my mouth starts to water at the memories of our shared meal yesterday.

He sets up the fire and starts cooking both rabbits. He takes a step closer to me and my heart starts to pound.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I promise."

For some reason, I trust this stranger. It's something in his eyes. Like recognition almost, but I know I've never met him.

That evening, I head back to the pack house with a full belly. When I get to the tree line I freeze.

What is Damien doing waiting for me?

"Come, Aiyana. We have much to discuss."

He turns and I shift, pulling on shorts and a t-shirt. I follow him up to his office, one of his goons closing the door behind me.

He motions for me to sit in one of the chairs in front of him. My stomach is in knots as I sit, praying that he hasn't found out about the man.

It is well known to the pack that I belong to him like an object. When one of my guy friends hugged me for longer than he liked, he ordered one of his goons to beat him. After that my "friends" abandoned me.

He leans forward, putting his hands on the arms of the chair. I can smell the stench of whiskey on him.

"You're turning 21 in two weeks. That is when we will be married. I have been patient, but it has been 5 years. You will be my wife and Luna. You will bare my pups or face the consequences."