Fated To The Hunter

Leia's POV Werewolves, damn cursed creatures! I've been killing them since I was old enough to hold a spear. I've killed nineteen of them this month alone. The twentieth stands before me. He doesn't know it yet, but he's as good as dead. I furrow my brows, eyes sharp and locked on my furred opponent. The beast lunges at me, claws raised in the air to strike. I step aside, dodging the attack–too slow. Its claws scratch my left arm. I feel my flesh rip open but I ignore the pain as blood trickles down my arm. My body is drenched in sweat. I'm heaving, lungs burning with each breath I take. The soles of my feet are red and sore. 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 again. I drop low, sliding down under its arm and driving my spear into its side. It stumbles, crashing to the ground with a cloud of dust. Wounded, it snarls, clawing the earth as it tries to rise. I don't let it. Quickly, I grab my spear and drive it deep into its chest, planting my feet on its throat and 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! They are not my kind! They are my enemies, and I won't stop killing them until I completely erase their existence in the world. “Leia!” The sound of my name pulls me from my raging 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. We've conquered victoriously. The Coaster pack lies in ruins.” She says with a triumphant smile. I nod. Another pack down. Another reason to rejoice. But I don't dwell on it. There are more packs to be destroyed. “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 wave of dizziness guts 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. “Are you alright?” I shut my eyes and shake my head to clear the spinning. It does little to help. “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 conquer.” 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.” My grip tightens around my spear. 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, her grey eyes bore into me 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, giving in. She hooks a hand under my arm and helps me sit on the floor, then she turns and heads back to the group to inform them about the break. Slowly, I begin to regain myself. Sonia is taking so long to return. Something doesn't feel right. My hackles rise and an 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 already have surrounded me. Immediately, I take my stance, pointing my spear towards them, ready for battle. “Drop it.” A deep voice calls. “Drop the spear.” The voice repeats. Still grasping my spear, I turn in the direction of the voice. A gasp of horror leaves my lips. They have Sonia! An arm is wrapped tightly around Sonia's neck, the other is to her side with claws digging into her flank. Her left eye is swollen and blood drips from her face. My body quivers with rage and fear. I growl, tightening my hold on the spear and aiming for the figure behind Sonia. He's using her as a shield. In response to my action, he digs his claws into Sonia; a subtle warning. Sonia whimpers and it's like a dagger aimed at my heart. I can't watch her in pain. Reluctantly, I bend and drop my spear, keeping my gaze on the figure behind Sonia. “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. Sonia's captor watches me, expression devilish, eyes intent and locked on mine as he digs his claws deep into Sonia's flanks, twisting hard. A wicked glint sparkles in his eyes just before he forcefully yanks his claws out of her flesh. Blood splatters, gushing out from Sonia's opened side. Her eyes meet mine. Her lips part. She tries to speak but she gasps instead, eyes wide open with fear. Blood spills from her mouth as she tries to fight her death. I go numb. Something dark flows through my veins. Goosebumps cover my skin. A numbing chill invades my bones and I'm paralyzed with shock. I watch in horror as life slips out of my sister. Time freezes in that agonizing moment… then she drops dead at his feet. It's happening again. They are taking from me once again. “Your turn.” He says, approaching me. Footsteps determined, claws sticking out his fingers with purpose. I snap out of my daze, fisting my hand and snarling. “Soniaaaa!” I scream. Tears blurring my vision. “I'll kill you! I swear! I'll kill you! I'll tear every one 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 as I shiver in rage, breathing through my mouth. 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 to stand in front of me– he's so close. He's tall. Broad shoulders. A neat, trimmed, dark, mop of short hair sits on his head. Thick eyebrows grace his forehead. Intense sapphire eyes –the bluest I've ever seen. Jawline sharp enough to cut glass and thin lips pressed into a hard line. A beautiful monster! Why am I noticing these? His sapphire eyes are serious, flashing with a strange mix of rage, pain and–warmth. A sudden strange feeling sweeps me. My nose flares and I'm hit with a scent. Sandalwood and ocean breeze. It smells–good. Too good. Delicious. It's nothing like I've ever smelled. Enchanting and easily distracting me from my grief and anger. I shouldn't, but 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 claws. It pushes. Then I hear a strange, faint voice in my head–distant, yet so close. “Ma–mate.” It whispers, then it grows stronger. Mate! Mate! The strange force pulls, thrashing and forcing within me, craving and reaching for that intoxicating scent. It wants more–more of that delicious scent. To feed and bask in it. Flooded with a sudden rush of power, I pull free from my restraint, throwing off the wolves around me. 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 warring primal presence in my head relaxes, finding peace and sighing in satisfaction. It's like the ultimate portion to my dizziness. Slowly, it eases into a deep sleep taking me along.