The Alpha and His Hunter Mate

Leia's POV Werewolves, damn cursed creatures! I've killed nineteen of them this month alone. Tonight makes twenty. I furrow my brows, eyes sharp and locked on my furred opponent. The beast lunges and I step aside. Its claws scratch my left arm. It stings. But I ignore the pain and blood dripping down my arm. I'm heaving, lungs burning with each breath I take. Every muscle in my body aches. But I can't rest. Not now. Not in this moment when it's either him or me. It lunges at me again and I slide down and drive my spear into its side as it passes. It crashes to the ground snarling and clawing the earth as it tries to rise. I don't let it. Quickly, I drive my spear deep into its chest and plant my feet on its throat, pinning it. It grunts, eyes growing wide with fear and the crippling sensation of death clawing at it. Blood splutters from the corner of its mouth as it takes on its human form. “You-you dare to kill your kind?” It gurgles the words with blood. I twist the spear deeper, my face scrunched in disgust. “I can never be your kind!” I spit on it, repulsed by the idea of being one of them. These creatures took everything from me! My parents! My family! My life! I live to rid the earth off them– to kill every single werewolf until there's not one of them left. “Leia!” The sound of my name pulls me from my dark thoughts. I pull my spear out of the body of the dead beast and turn. Sonia sprints towards me, her body like mine is covered in sweat. Sonia. The only family I've ever known since those creatures raided my home. She's panting. Breath coming out in short gasps. She looks down at the werewolf I just killed. “I think that's the last one. There are none alive on our side.” She says. “Good. Round up the other hunters so we can proceed. We need to take down the next pack on our list.” Sonia nods. “And, tell–” I don't finish the words. A sudden strong dizziness hits me and I sway. Sonia is quick to grasp my arm, steadying me as I dig my spear into the ground to support myself. “Leia!“ She screams, concern etched into her voice and eyes. “Are you alright?” I shake my head, eyes shut as I try to find balance. “You're not fine, sister.” She says. “I'm fine…” She shakes her head. “No, you're not. You have the spell again. We know what happens whenever you get these dizzy spells. We should rest.” “No. We need to move. We still have one more pack to invade.” My words slur, growing breathy as I force myself to speak. “Do you still have your portion?” She asks. My feet stagger. I close my eyes, fighting another wave of dizziness. “No. It's finished.” I say, growing breathless. She straightens, eyes searching me. “Then we rest.” She insists. “ You can't go on like this. I'll inform the others that we are taking a break.” I part my lips to argue. She moves in closer with a tenderness about her. “I won't forgive myself if anything happens to you. You're all I've got… We rest. No arguments.” She says with a finality. I sigh resignedly. I can't argue anymore. She helps me sit on the floor, then she turns and heads back to the troop to inform them about the break. Slowly, I begin to regain myself. Sonia is taking so long to return. I pick a stone and begin to sharpen my spear. Something doesn't feel right. My hackles rise and a strange eerie feeling crawls up my spine. I push myself to my feet and grasp my spear. My nose picks up on the familiar smell. Wolves. And they have me surrounded. Immediately, I take my stance, pointing my spear towards them, ready for battle. “Drop it.” A deep voice calls. “Drop the spear or she dies.” The voice repeats. Still holding my spear, I turn in the direction of the voice. A gasp of horror leaves my lips. “Sonia!” A man is holding Sonia. Hands wrapped tightly around her neck, claws digging into her flank. Her left eye is swollen and blood drips from her face. My body quivers with rage. I growl and tighten my hold on the spear. But he digs his claws into Sonia; a subtle warning. She whimpers and it's like a dagger aimed at my heart. For Sonia, I bend and drop my spear. “Seize her.” The man holding Sonia orders. Strong hands grasp me. A kick at my calf sends my knees caving and I fall to the ground, pain rippling through me. He watches me, expression devilish, eyes intent–locked on mine as he digs his claws deep into Sonia's flanks, twisting hard. A wicked glint sparkles in his eyes as he forcefully yanks his claws out of her. Blood splatters, gushing out from Sonia's opened flesh. Eyes wide open with fear, Sonia gasps. Blood spills from her mouth. And I can smell her anxiety. I shake. Sweat fills my body. A chill invades my bones. In a state of shock, I watch in horror as life slips out of my sister and she drops dead at his feet. “Your turn.” He says, approaching me. Footsteps determined, claws sticking out his fingers with purpose. I snap out of my daze. “Soniaaaa!” I scream. “I'll kill you! I swear! I'll kill you! I'll tear everyone of you apart! I'll rip you all to pieces. Arrrrgh!” I writhe and thrash against the hands holding me. A wild feeling overtakes me. It's like a raging beast forcing itself to come out of me. Adrenaline pumps through me and I'm breathing through my mouth, spraying spittle with each ragged breath. My threats don't move him. He continues to approach. Death in his eyes, rage on his face and claws raised to strike. He comes and stands in front of me. Tall. Broad shoulders. A neat, trimmed, dark, mop of short hair sits over his head. Thick eyebrows grace his forehead. Intense sapphire eyes –the bluest I've ever seen– and thin lips pressed into a hard line. Perfect. His sapphire eyes are serious, flashing with a strange mix of rage, pain and–warmth. A strange feeling sweeps me. My nose flares and I'm hit with a scent. Sandalwood and ocean breeze. It smells– good. Too good. Enticing. It's nothing like I've ever smelled. My chest rises and falls quickly as I try to gulp more of this sweet smell. My dizziness grows. A primal presence presses forward in my mind, fighting and clawing for freedom. I've never felt anything so strong. It pushes. Then I hear a strange, faint voice in my head. “Ma–mate.” The voice grows stronger. Mate! Mate! The strange force pulls, thrashing and forcing me. The scent is intoxicating. It wants more. More of that delicious scent. Flooded with a sudden rush of power, I pull free from my restraint. With a growl, I jump on the source of the scent and I bite him. It’s wild, feral. Something I've never done. But relief floods me like waves breaking after a long storm. The warning primal presence in my head relaxes, finding peace and sighing in satisfaction. It's like the ultimate portion. Slowly, it eases into a deep sleep taking me along.