Chapter 6: The First Hunt
2486 Words
“They're here for you.”
Lucien's words settled over me like ice.
I stared into the darkness beyond the trees.
Nothing moved.
Yet every instinct inside me screamed that something was there.
My wolf was no longer restless.
She was silent.
Listening.
Waiting.
“Who?” I whispered.
Lucien didn't answer.
“Lucien.”
“Get inside.”
“No.”
His head turned slightly.
“What?”
“I asked you a question.”
“And I told you to get inside.”
“I am not going anywhere until you tell me what is happening.”
His eyes narrowed.
“This isn't the time for your questions.”
“It is exactly the time for my questions.”
Another growl came from the forest.
Closer.
I instinctively stepped toward Lucien.
He immediately moved in front of me.
“Stay behind me.”
“I can protect myself.”
“I know.”
His answer surprised me.
He glanced back at me.
“That isn't why I'm asking you to stay behind me.”
“Then why?”
“Because I don't know what will happen when they realize you're awake.”
I frowned.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it's important.”
“You said I was an heir.”
“Yes.”
“You said people have been hunting my family for generations.”
“Yes.”
“You said Adrian knows something.”
“Yes.”
“And now you're telling me these people have somehow found me less than twenty-four hours after I came back.”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It does if they were already watching your family.”
I stared at him.
“Then why didn't they attack before?”
“Because they didn't know where you were.”
“I was in my house.”
“You weren't the target.”
I frowned.
“Then who was?”
“You were.”
The answer made no sense.
“Then what changed?”
Lucien looked at me.
“You woke up.”
My wolf stirred.
I felt the warmth spread through my chest.
“They can sense me?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?”
“The moment your wolf awakened, the people who have been searching for your bloodline felt it.”
I swallowed.
“That's why you came.”
“Yes.”
“You knew it would happen.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you stop it?”
His expression hardened.
“I can't stop an entire army from sensing you.”
“Army?”
The word came out quietly.
He nodded.
“There aren't just a few of them.”
“How many?”
“Enough.”
“That isn't helpful.”
“I know.”
I stared at him.
“You're infuriating.”
A faint smile touched his mouth.
“You've said that before.”
I froze.
“You keep doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Talking as though you've known me for years.”
He looked away.
“Perhaps I have.”
I stepped around him.
“Then tell me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you aren't ready.”
“I died ten years ago.”
His eyes met mine.
“I know.”
“I watched my parents die.”
“I know.”
“I watched my brother die.”
“I know.”
“I was murdered by the man I thought was my mate.”
“I know.”
“Then don't tell me I'm not ready.”
Something broke across his expression.
Pain.
Deep and unmistakable.
“You're right.”
His voice was barely audible.
“You've already survived things most people couldn't imagine.”
He looked at me.
“But surviving something doesn't mean you're ready to hear everything that caused it.”
I didn't respond.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then my wolf whispered.
Trust him.
I immediately rejected the thought.
No.
I had trusted the wrong people once.
I wouldn't make that mistake again.
Lucien looked toward the forest.
“We need to move.”
“Where?”
“Your house.”
“You said the house isn't safe.”
“It isn't.”
“Then why are we going there?”
“Because your father is inside.”
I froze.
“You think they're going after my family?”
“I know they will.”
I turned toward the estate.
“Then let's go.”
---
We hadn't taken more than a few steps when the first arrow flew.
Lucien grabbed me.
He spun, pulling me against his chest as the arrow struck the tree behind us.
I gasped.
His arms tightened around me.
“Don't move.”
I could hear his heartbeat.
Fast.
Powerful.
For some reason, that sound calmed me.
Until another arrow came.
Lucien shoved me behind him.
His eyes turned completely gold.
“Stay here.”
“Lucien—”
“Stay.”
Something about his voice made me obey.
Three figures emerged from the trees.
Then five.
Then more.
They weren't wearing pack colors.
No insignia.
No markings.
Just black clothing and silver weapons.
My stomach dropped.
Silver.
Lucien stepped forward.
“You crossed into protected territory.”
One of the men laughed.
“We're not here for you.”
“I know.”
His voice became colder.
“That's why you're going to leave.”
The man smiled.
“Move aside.”
“No.”
“She's not yours.”
Lucien's eyes flashed.
“You don't get to decide that.”
The man looked past him.
His gaze landed on me.
“She's awake.”
Everything changed.
The attackers moved.
Lucien shifted.
Bones cracked.
Fur erupted across his body.
In seconds, a massive black wolf stood between me and the attackers.
His eyes remained golden.
My wolf surged forward.
Mate.
The word echoed through my mind.
I had never seen anything like him.
He was enormous.
Far larger than any wolf I'd ever encountered.
The first attacker charged.
Lucien met him head-on.
The impact sent both of them rolling through the grass.
Another man rushed toward me.
I stepped backward.
My wolf screamed.
Run.
I turned—
And someone grabbed my arm.
Pain exploded through my body.
I screamed.
The man's silver blade pressed against my throat.
“Don't move.”
I froze.
Lucien's head snapped toward us.
His entire body went rigid.
The attacker smiled.
“Interesting.”
Lucien growled.
“Let her go.”
The man pressed the blade closer.
“She comes with us.”
“No.”
“You can't stop all of us.”
Lucien's lips pulled back, exposing his fangs.
“Try me.”
The man laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
“The girl isn't yours to protect.”
Lucien's growl became deeper.
“She is mine.”
The words struck me harder than they should have.
My wolf practically roared.
Mine.
The attacker looked at me.
“You don't even know what you are, do you?”
I swallowed.
“No.”
He smiled.
“Ask your mother.”
My blood ran cold.
“What does my mother have to do with this?”
The man's smile widened.
“She knows.”
Lucien lunged.
Everything happened at once.
The attacker released me.
Lucien slammed into him.
I fell backward.
Another figure rushed toward me.
I instinctively raised my hand.
And something exploded from my palm.
The attacker flew backward.
He crashed into a tree hard enough to c***k the bark.
Silence.
I stared at my hand.
I hadn't touched him.
I hadn't shifted.
I hadn't even consciously done anything.
“What...”
Lucien had shifted back.
He stared at me.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
“That wasn't supposed to happen.”
“What did I do?”
He approached cautiously.
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?”
“No.”
He looked at my hand.
“Do it again.”
“I don't know how.”
“Try.”
I concentrated.
Nothing.
I tried again.
Still nothing.
Lucien shook his head.
“Don't force it.”
“Why?”
“Because whatever that was, it wasn't ordinary wolf power.”
One of the attackers groaned.
Lucien immediately turned.
“Run.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“Run to the house.”
“But—”
“Now.”
I ran.
---
My father was waiting at the entrance.
The moment he saw me, his face changed.
“Seraphina!”
He rushed toward me.
“What happened?”
“Attackers.”
His eyes hardened.
“Where?”
“East boundary.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He grabbed my shoulders.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Who was with you?”
I hesitated.
“Lucien.”
My father's expression went completely blank.
“You know him?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know his name?”
“He told me.”
My father stepped back.
“Seraphina, who is Lucien?”
“I don't know.”
“That is not good enough.”
“He helped me.”
“Who is he?”
“I told you, I don't know.”
My father's voice became sharper.
“Where is he?”
“Fighting them.”
My father turned toward the guards.
“Take twenty men to the eastern boundary.”
I grabbed his arm.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“Why?”
“He told me to come inside.”
“Why?”
“Because they're looking for me.”
His expression changed.
“Who?”
“The same people who killed us.”
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
My father froze.
“What did you say?”
I swallowed.
“Nothing.”
“Seraphina.”
“Father—”
“Who told you they killed us?”
I couldn't answer.
His face slowly lost its color.
“Seraphina.”
I looked at him.
“Did you dream it?”
I hesitated.
“Yes.”
“What exactly did you see?”
I looked toward the eastern forest.
“My family died.”
He stared at me.
“How?”
I couldn't breathe.
“Murdered.”
Silence.
My father's hands slowly fell from my shoulders.
Then he asked the question I had been dreading.
“Who murdered us?”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“Adrian.”
My father's face hardened.
“What?”
“I don't know if you believe me.”
“I don't.”
“I understand.”
“Seraphina, Adrian hasn't done anything to us.”
“Not yet.”
My father stared at me.
“What do you mean?”
“He will.”
He stepped closer.
“Tell me everything.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't understand it either.”
His expression softened slightly.
“Then help me understand.”
I shook my head.
“Father, please.”
“Seraphina.”
His voice was gentler now.
“If someone is threatening my family, I need to know.”
I looked at him.
“I saw you die.”
His face went still.
“In my dream.”
I continued.
“I saw Mother die. I saw Caelan die. I saw myself married to Adrian.”
His expression became increasingly disturbed.
“And?”
“He took everything.”
“What?”
“Our money. Our land. Our companies. Everything.”
“Why?”
“Because he wanted something from our bloodline.”
My father went completely silent.
I saw something in his eyes.
Recognition.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
My heart began pounding.
“You know.”
He looked away.
“Know what?”
“You know what I'm talking about.”
“Seraphina—”
“You know.”
He closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then—
“Your mother was right.”
My blood ran cold.
“About what?”
He opened his eyes.
“You shouldn't remember.”
I stared at him.
“Remember what?”
Before he could answer, a howl shook the estate.
Every guard turned toward the forest.
My father immediately stepped in front of me.
Another howl answered.
Then another.
And another.
The guards raised their weapons.
My father whispered,
“Everyone inside.”
I looked toward the trees.
Something was coming.
Not one wolf.
Dozens.
My wolf stirred.
And then Lucien emerged from the forest.
Blood covered his shirt.
He was walking.
Barely.
I ran toward him.
“Lucien!”
He looked at me.
His eyes softened.
“You're safe.”
I stopped in front of him.
“You're bleeding.”
“It's not mine.”
I looked behind him.
Nothing.
No attackers.
No wolves.
Just darkness.
“What happened?”
“They're gone.”
“Where?”
“Dead.”
My father approached.
His expression changed the moment he saw Lucien.
“You.”
Lucien looked at him.
“You remember me.”
My father went rigid.
I looked between them.
“You two know each other?”
Neither answered.
I stepped closer.
“Father?”
Nothing.
“Lucien?”
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
My stomach dropped.
“You've met before.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Lucien glanced at my father.
“Before you were born.”
I looked at my father.
“Is that true?”
He didn't answer.
My voice hardened.
“Father.”
Finally, he said,
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
He looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before.
Fear.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for me.
“Because your mother made me promise.”
“Promise what?”
He looked toward Lucien.
Then back at me.
“Never to tell you who you really are.”
The world seemed to stop.
I whispered,
“Who am I?”
My father opened his mouth.
But Lucien spoke first.
“Your father isn't the one who should tell you.”
My eyes snapped toward him.
“Then who should?”
Lucien looked at my mother.
She was standing in the doorway.
Pale.
Silent.
And crying.
My breath caught.
She looked at me.
Then at Lucien.
Then at the ring hanging from my neck.
And whispered,
“It wasn't supposed to happen this soon.”
I took one step toward her.
“What wasn't?”
She wiped a tear from her cheek.
“Your wolf waking up.”
The room went silent.
My mother's eyes met mine.
And then she said the words that would change everything.
“Seraphina, you are not a Valerian.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
She swallowed.
“You never were.”
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