Her Human His Lycan

Emma

Clay POV

I had to find something small, anything that would make the hunters happy but also protect Emma and the others. The task was challenging, a departure from my usual easy tracking. I decided to set up camp near the hotel, where a bar across the street offered respite. I took a seat outside, feeling the cool breeze on my skin as I purchased a beer. Settling back in the chair, I could observe without drawing suspicion. The sights and sounds of the bustling street filled the air, mingling with the aroma of food from nearby restaurants. As I waited, my phone buzzed in my pocket, startling me. I took it out and read the message. “Like the dress?”accompanied by an image. The image showed Liz holding up a dress in front of a mirror, intentionally revealing herself in her undergarments. I swiftly deleted the image. “‘I thought it was bad luck that I saw the dress.’” I responded back.

Moments later, another message appeared on my screen. "We hunters don't need tradition. Now tell me what you have learned," it demanded.

"That you can find really cold beer not far from the hotel," I responded back.

I took a slow sip of the cold beer. As I set my phone down, a message buzzed yet again. The constant buzzing was like a swarm of bees in my ears, distracting and irritating. Instead of reading it, I simply called Liz's number, my frustration evident in my voice.

“What do you want? Don’t you realize how distracting you’re being? I can’t work like this!” I snapped, several tables turning to stare.

"Very well, I'll stop," Liz said nonchalantly. "I just thought you would like some interesting information I got. But hey, I'll save it for our ride back to campus." I clicked my phone shut, letting out a sigh of relief, and took a big gulp of my beverage, feeling the cool liquid soothe my parched throat.

My eyes scanned the hotel across the street like a hawk, searching for any signs of the person I was looking for. Over an hour passed before I finally spotted one of the familiar faces from the images. With a sense of urgency, I quickly paid my tab and left the bar. As

She stood outside the hotel, her presence commanding attention. I walked into the hotel. Looking around, I spotted another small hotel bar and made my way towards it. I took a seat on the plush stool, and ordered a whisky. The bartender's voice cut through the low hum of conversation. "$24," she said, her words crisp and clear.

I sighed, reaching for my wallet to pay for the drink. As she placed the glass in front of me, I could smell the distinct aroma of oak and smoky undertones.

I knew I was temporarily safe from the prying eyes of other hunters. It seemed like they trusted me, or at least tolerated my presence. Just as I took a sip of my whisky, the woman I had been tracking walked into the bar. She ordered a glass of wine and gracefully took a seat next to me.

She took a sip of her wine, then, she put her napkin up to her lips, leaving a smudge of red lipstick on it, before casually pushing it towards me. "Sorry, I think I took your napkin," she said, her eyes briefly meeting mine. Did she know who I was?

I took the napkin from her, feeling its soft texture against my fingertips, and discreetly tucked it into my pocket. "Clay, right?" she whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the lively chatter of the bar.

"Yes," I replied, my voice matching her hushed tone. She glanced around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, before speaking again. The bartender was busy attending to other customers, giving us a moment of privacy. "We know you're tracking us. It's okay. We know Emma's plan. Give them the napkin. It should appease them, and I made sure it won't lead them to us," she revealed, her words filled with a mix of caution and reassurance.

"Thanks," I said, silently appreciating her help.

"Were you followed?" she asked, her eyes scanning the room for any potential threats.

"No," I replied confidently.

"Good. Room 110," she said, her voice tinged with urgency. I nodded in understanding as she gracefully got up, taking her drink with her, and left the bar. I waited a moment, savoring the lingering taste of whisky on my tongue, before making my way towards the room.

The door was left slightly ajar, and as I pushed it open, the hinges creaked in protest. A man, clearly Flint, rose from his seat as I entered. He scrutinized me with a piercing gaze, his eyes darting up and down my figure. "So you're Emma's mate," he finally spoke, his voice gravelly and filled with skepticism.

Just then, the sound of a door opening echoed through the room, breaking the silence. The woman emerged. "Don't worry, Clay," she reassured, her voice calm and soothing. "We'll be quick, and the cameras won't capture your association with us. We'll leave shortly after you do. This napkin will serve as proof that you found me, but it will also make it impossible for them to track my true location."

I expressed my gratitude, relieved to have something tangible to bring back to them. "I'm Bryn," the woman introduced herself, her voice carrying a hint of authority. "And this is Flint, as I'm sure you already know. We're close allies of Emma and are well aware of the plan she has in motion. However, time is of the essence, so we won't keep you for long. But before you leave, what do you know about Kris, a student from your school who has gone missing?"

Confusion washed over me as I tried to process this new information. "You mean the Kris that Emma is friends with?" I asked, my voice tinged with surprise.

"Yes, and judging by your tone, it seems you had no idea," Bryn responded.

"No, I had no clue he was missing," I admitted, feeling a sense of unease creeping in.

"Do the hunters work with rogues and vampires?" Bryn asked.

"Not to my knowledge, but it's clear that I've been kept in the dark about many things," I replied, a hint of frustration in my voice.

Bryn walked over to a nearby table and retrieved a map, handing it to me. "These woods," Bryn began, her voice laced with urgency, "do you know of any areas where hunters or rogues might frequent?" I scanned the map, my eyes landing on a particular spot.

"Yes," I answered, my finger pointing to a location.

"We tracked suspected werewolves, believed to be part of Ryan's pack, in this area. There are also several abandoned structures nearby."

Flint's expression became a mixture of confusion and concern as he exchanged a glance with Bryn. "Noah mentioned that he thought Ryan was trustworthy," Flint stated, his voice filled with bewilderment.

"Contact Noah," Flint instructed Bryn, his voice resolute.

As I tried to make sense of the situation, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Retrieving it, I read the message from Liz: "Meet me at this address in 15." The address was a good ten-minute walk away.

"I have to go," I announced, my eyes darting towards the door. "But what's going on? Is there something I should know about Ryan?" I inquired, my voice tinged with concern.

"Emma, well, she went with him to find Kris in that area," Bryn explained.

“NO,”I snapped in disbelief, my voice tinged with anxiety.

"Keep it calm, Clay," Flint interjected, his voice steady yet concerned. "Emma can handle herself well. We will alert Noah to keep an eye out too. We don't have time to explain everything, but for now, just keep with her plan."

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach as worry consumed me. "How the f**k can I do that? She may have just walked into a trap," I exclaimed, my words laced with fear.

Flint's voice remained calm, trying to reassure me. "Again, Emma can handle herself. Look, the twins are like family to us. And right now, I'm not a fan of the situation Emma is in. But at the same time, realistically, if we were to run in and try to help her, we would ultimately only be making things worse. So for now, we need to trust in her, as her brother does. And you need to stick to the plan. You are the key right now to taking down the threat to our kind. And your eyes are slowly opening up to just how bad the hunters really are."

I could hear the rapid beat of my heart, pounding in my ears. "Go, so no more issues arise," they said firmly. I hurried out.

How was I supposed to just sit by and do nothing? But then again, they are right. As Emma told me, my life is intricately linked to hers. If they were to discover our connection, it would only bring her more harm. They would exploit that information to their advantage, manipulating her into doing their bidding.

I met Liz outside the designated location. She arrived a minute late, a sneer tugging at the corners of her lips. Her hands were burdened with several bags, evidence of her productivity while I seemingly did nothing. "Looks like you had fun while I did all the work," I commented.

With a nod, Liz asked if I had obtained what was requested of me. "Yes," I replied. She pointed towards the waiting car, and we climbed inside.

As we settled in, Liz's fingers idly traced a path up my shirt. "So, Clay," she began, her voice laced with curiosity, "tell me about the strange girl from campus. You two seem to be quite close."

I maintained my facade, stating, "She is my partner for a school project. Nothing more."

Liz chuckled, finding my response odd. "You, Clay, possess an uncanny ability to track shifters, much like the hunters of the past. Yet, you failed to recognize her true nature. Or is it that you already know?" Her gaze bore into mine.

"You like her, there's no escaping that fact. Clay, although I may not possess your tracking skills for wolves, I know what one looks like and how they behave. In fact, I have mastered the art of interrogation, thanks to my father's training since childhood. And you, Clay, have developed feelings for a shifter. Does she know what you truly are? Have you forgotten your purpose?" she taunted.

"You're out of your mind," I retorted, frustration evident in my voice.

Liz laughed, a wicked sound that sent a chill down my spine. "Oh, really? Am I? Then, if that is the case, capture her, Clay. Those are your orders. Capture the girl and bring her to my father within three days." She pressed a button, closing the window, isolating us from the driver.

"Do you even know what we do with female shifters, Clay?" she asked, her smile filled with malice. "My father likes to reward his male hunters with a little fun. They can do as they please with them," she revealed, her words dripping with darkness.

I was on the verge of blowing my cover, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on me. "There it is, the burning anger in your eye," she said, her voice dripping with sinister delight. The sight of her smug grin drove me mad. "For that, I'm making sure it's not just you assigned to bring her in," she continued, her words echoing in my ears. The sound of her voice was cold and calculating.

The

"And I think it's about time you witness first hand their treatment," she added, her words hanging heavy in the air.

"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice filled with unease.

"Oh, well, you see, we caught one of her friends," she replied.

"Maybe she will even come for him if she isn't a coward," she taunted, her words stinging like a whip. The feeling of fear clenched my stomach. We stepped out of the car near the woods, and she handed me a strap filled with various weapons.

"Do what you are hired for, Clay," she commanded, her voice sharp and demanding. Emma must know by now that I will jeopardize this plan if it means saving her life. I won't let them lay a finger on her.

"I'll do as you ask," I replied to Liz, "but first, you have to tell me where the headquarters are. I have a right to know."

"My estate, as you have already witnessed," she sneered, the sound of her voice dripping with superiority. "Don't worry, Clay. You'll get to see the whole underground operation, as that is where we will be bringing that freak," she explained, her words filled with twisted excitement. We entered the dense forest, the feeling of the thick undergrowth brushing against my skin.

I knew I couldn't act against Liz at this moment. The chip embedded in her would alert the other hunters, and Emma's safety was my priority. I had to bide my time until I had Emma in my grasp. No matter the risks or the consequences, I would protect her. I needed to prove to her that I was on her side, even if it meant putting myself in harm's way.