Fated To The Hunter

2• Marked

Aiden's POV

I'm seated in my office holding the pack's blueprints and marking out borders needing extra patrols.

The hunters are getting close–too close for comfort and I can't risk taking any chances.

I mark another weak point on the pack's blueprints. Too exposed. It'll need a few extra men. I continue to study the prints for the slightest loophole.

The door to my study creaks open. I know by the scent who it is.

“What happened to knocking before you enter?” I ask, not lifting my head from the blueprint I'm studying.

Footsteps stroll into the office, then he knocks on the top of my desk.

“Alpha, may I come in?” He asks.

I lift my head from the blueprints, turning my attention to my beta. “No, you may not.”

He smirks and slumps into one of the guest seats across the table. “I suppose I should also seek permission to sit here.”

“Yes. You should.”

He grins mischievously. “My bad. I didn't realize.”

His set of perfect white teeth are on display. It's the same smile he's had since we were boys.

I roll my eyes at him, shaking my head.

He should be preparing for his journey to the Coaster pack–our ally pack against the hunters.

“Why are you here, Raymond?”

“To distract you. You work too much.”

“I'm Alpha. That's what alphas do.”

“And they forget to live?” He raises a brow.

“You are a young boy. I don't expect you to understand the duties of an alpha.”

Raymond barks out a laugh, taking no offense to my snide remark.

“Since when did you get yourself such a great sense of humor?” His tone is light and mocking.

I sigh resignedly. “It's no use trying to help you grow.”

Raymond grins. “And be like you? I'll pass.”

“Whatever makes you happy.”

He says nothing, but I feel him watching me. There's something on the tip of his tongue and it doesn't take long before he spills it.

“Don’t you want to take a mate?... The pack is beginning to worry.”

I clench my jaw, hating that this comes with being Alpha–mating.

“Are you done with the task I gave you?” I ask, stirring the conversation to more pressing issues. I never respond to such matters, but he never stops trying.

Raymond leans out of the chair, his expression turning serious. He knows I'm digressing, and he'll let it pass. For now.

“Yes. All the guards have been stationed and assigned their duties. We're prepared. No hunter can spring up on us.”

I nod in approval.

“And when do you leave the Coaster pack?” I ask.

“First thing at dawn. I plan to reach the there with the troop before mid-day, so we can be back by sunset... I don't want you to miss me too much.” He adds in a tease.

My gaze flits to the long scar running the length of his left cheek. The mark of his loyalty he wears with pride.

I shake my head and turn my attention back to the prints.

“Come back in one piece.” I say without looking up.

Raymond stands, pushing the chair back. “When have I ever not?”

I don't answer. He knows I won't.

He stops at the door and pauses.

“Aiden.”

I look up. He holds my gaze for a moment. It's the look he gives when he wants to say something and decides against it.

Then he nods once and he leaves.

I stare at the empty doorway longer than I should before I turn my attention back to the blueprints.

Later, I'm at the building site on pack lands doing my rounds of inspection when I feel a sudden jab of pain.

A snap.

“We've just lost a pack member.” Ryes, my wolf tells me, agony lacing his voice.

I hardly have time to absorb the pain when I feel another snap.

Another pack member.

Something is wrong.

I mind link the border patrols.

Everything is fine from their end. But why–

Then it hits me like a storm.

The troop! Raymond!

The hair on my neck stands. I try to open a mind link to him. It doesn't pull through.

Not a good sign.

I leave the site and head back to the pack house. My long strides break into a sprint as I open a mind link to my gamma.

“Ivan, prepare a troop. I think Raymond is in trouble. I'm heading back to the pack house now.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Comes Ivan's response.

He's ready with the troop by the time I reach and we head out to find Raymond.

We reach the borders of the Coaster pack. The stench of death greets us.

“Hunters!” I sneer.

We step inside the pack house of the Coaster pack. Dead bodies lie scattered about. Hunters, werewolves–some of my warriors.

I try again to open a link to Raymond.

Still nothing. But I can feel his bond alive.

Worry grows inside me. I head upstairs and check every room in the pack house while my men survey the area.

The first room I enter has a window overlooking the backyard. I shift the blinds and I freeze. Ryes sneers in my head.

Raymond is on the floor. A female hunter towers over him with a spear in her hand. His eyes flicker wide open–bravery or fear?

Before I can blink in the sight, she drives the spear into the heart of my beta.

Snap! I feel his bond sever.

I shudder. Liquid pain spreads through me. A heavy lump lodges at the back of my throat and something caves inside me.

Raymond!

Ryes howls in my head. His pain–raw and intense.

I sag against the wall, grinding my teeth as I double over. Claws scratch the walls as I reach for support.

My eyes tinge red with unshed tears. I didn't just lose a beta. I lost a brother.

My grief consumes me like a vise. Then morphs into hot, sizzling rage.

I'll kill her! With my bare hands!

I'll tear her to pieces and with that very spear and gore out her eyes!

I still myself, clench my teeth and head downstairs. I run into another hunter. It doesn't take me seconds to defeat her and have my arm wrapped around her neck.

Using her body as a shield, I beeline for the backyard.

Ivan and his men have Raymond's killer already surrounded by the time I reach. But she stands rigid, ready to fight.

“Drop it.” I tell her, digging my claws into her colleague. That does it. The fear of losing one of theirs. She succumbs and drops the spear.

Once my men have her bound, I kill the hunter in my grasp, then saunter towards Raymond's killer. She'll die by my hand.

Just when I stand in front of her, the wind carries the scent to my nose.

Lavender. Wild roses. Jasmine.

“Mate!” Ryes declares in my head.

My blood turns cold. My fist grows into a ball at my side.

No!

This can't be!

Traitor!

Bile rises to my throat.

Cuss my luck with the moon goddess!

The hunter is one of us–and my…

No.

She suddenly grows feral. Fighting off the men holding her down.

Her strength surges–sudden. Violent.

Before I can form thoughts, process what's happening, she jumps on me and sinks her canines deep into my neck.

Pain flares from my neck, then something follows– it's warm, binding and wrong.

Sparks explode inside me. A sweet warmth spreads through me as her wolf connects with mine.

Ryes purrs in my head, wagging his tail. A sigh of content ripples through him, soothing our earlier grief.

I growl in anger.

The b***h just marked me… and my wolf let her.

She collapses, her body falling limp in my arms as she loses consciousness. I grow still.

Not this. Not her.

I look down at her, and for the first time, I hesitate. Faced with a new dilemma–Kill her or keep her.

Either choice will cost me.

My jaw tightens.

I force myself to look away, turning to Ivan.

“Bind her.” I order coldly. “Throw her in the cells.”