Chapter Six — The Hunter
764 Words
The cabin door exploded inward.
Amara screamed.
Daniel immediately pushed her behind him.
Three men stood outside.
They weren't werewolves.
They carried rifles.
The man in front was older, with gray hair and a long scar across his cheek.
He looked directly at Daniel.
“Daniel Blackwood.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Who are you?”
The hunter smiled.
“My name is Elias.”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“You're a hunter.”
Elias raised his rifle.
“I've been hunting your family for twenty years.”
Amara whispered:
“Why?”
Elias looked at her.
“Because your boyfriend's family has killed dozens of people.”
Daniel growled.
“Don't listen to him.”
Elias laughed.
“You think you're different from them?”
“Yes.”
“Then prove it.”
Elias suddenly fired.
Daniel moved faster than Amara could see.
He grabbed her and threw them both behind the wooden table.
The bullet shattered the wall.
“Stay down!”
Daniel's voice was sharp.
Another shot.
Then another.
The cabin filled with smoke and splintered wood.
Daniel looked at Amara.
“There's a back door.”
“What about you?”
“I'll follow.”
“You're lying.”
He smiled faintly.
“Maybe.”
“No.”
Amara grabbed his arm.
“We leave together.”
Daniel stared at her.
Then he nodded.
They rushed toward the back door.
But Elias was already there.
He raised his weapon.
Daniel pushed Amara aside.
The bullet struck him.
He fell.
“Daniel!”
Amara screamed.
Elias approached slowly.
“It's over.”
Daniel tried to stand.
Blood covered his shirt.
Elias aimed again.
“Don't!”
Amara stepped between them.
Elias lowered his weapon slightly.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Girl, you don't understand what you're protecting.”
“I understand enough.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Amara, move.”
“No.”
Elias stared at her.
“You love him?”
Amara didn't hesitate.
“Yes.”
Elias shook his head.
“You don't know what love is.”
“I know what it feels like.”
Suddenly, Daniel's eyes began glowing.
Golden.
His breathing became heavy.
Elias stepped backward.
“Don't do it.”
Daniel's bones began shifting.
Amara watched in horror as the transformation started.
“Daniel…”
He looked at her.
Even as his face changed, his eyes remained gentle.
Then the wolf emerged.
Huge.
Black.
Furious.
Elias fired.
The bullet struck Daniel's shoulder.
The wolf barely reacted.
He lunged.
Elias fell backward.
His rifle flew across the floor.
Daniel stood over him, growling.
The other hunters ran.
Elias reached for a silver knife.
Daniel raised his claw.
Amara screamed.
“Daniel! Stop!”
The wolf froze.
His claws hovered inches above Elias's chest.
Amara stepped closer.
“Don't become what they think you are.”
The wolf looked at her.
His breathing slowed.
Slowly, he lowered his claw.
Elias stared in disbelief.
“You really did bond with her.”
Daniel turned toward Amara.
She placed her hand against his face.
The transformation slowly reversed.
When Daniel became human again, he collapsed into her arms.
Amara held him tightly.
“You're alive.”
“Barely.”
She laughed through her tears.
“Don't scare me like that again.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I told you I was dangerous.”
She shook her head.
“You're not dangerous to me.”
A sound came from behind them.
Elias was gone.
Daniel looked toward the open doorway.
“He escaped.”
Amara frowned.
“Will he come back?”
Daniel nodded.
“He will.”
“And your family?”
Daniel's expression became darker.
“They will come too.”
Amara took his hand.
“Then we'll face them.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You really aren't afraid of me?”
She smiled.
“I was.”
“And now?”
Amara leaned closer.
“Now I'm more afraid of losing you.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
For the first time in seventy-three years, he allowed himself to believe that perhaps he could have a future.
But neither of them noticed the shadow standing far beyond the cabin.
A pair of red eyes watched them.
Marcus stepped into the moonlight.
His face was grim.
“It has begun,” he whispered.
And behind him stood the Alpha.
Daniel's father.
He looked toward the cabin.
Then he gave a cold smile.
“Bring my son home.”
Marcus bowed his head.
“And the girl?”
The Alpha's eyes hardened.
“Kill her.”
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