Rejected and Claimed by his Best Friend, Book 1

Chapter 38: The Hunter's Mark (Alice’s POV)

My heart was pounding, my breath shallow as I faced the figure in the shadows. The person who had been watching me, lurking in the darkness like some sort of predator. The smile that spread across their face was not one of warmth or recognition. It was cold, calculating, and dangerous.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Alice,” the figure repeated, stepping closer.

I instinctively took a step back, my pulse racing in my veins. I was no longer sure if I was in control of my own body. Every part of me screamed to run, to escape, but my legs felt like they were rooted to the ground, frozen in place by fear.

The figure was dressed in dark clothing, the kind of gear that blended into the night. They had the look of someone who had been in the shadows for far too long, someone accustomed to hiding in plain sight. I couldn’t make out their features fully, but I didn’t need to see their face to know they were dangerous.

“What do you want?” I managed to whisper, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound strong.

The figure laughed softly, the sound sending a chill through my bones. “What I want, Alice,” they said, their voice low and taunting, “is to make sure you understand what it means to be part of this world. To be marked.”

I frowned, not understanding. Marked? What did they mean? I had already been marked once, by Remi, by the bond that tied us together. Was this another test, another trial that the universe had set for me?

Before I could say anything, the figure stepped forward, their hand reaching out with unnerving speed. I flinched, but the figure’s fingers never made contact with my skin. Instead, their hand paused just inches away from my arm, and I could feel a strange, prickling sensation in the air.

“Do you know who I am, Alice?” the figure asked, their voice becoming more sinister. “No? Let me remind you.”

In an instant, the figure’s hand moved, a quick motion that left me gasping as I felt a sharp pain near my shoulder. I looked down and saw a dark, jagged symbol appearing on my skin—etched into my flesh like a burn mark.

The figure stepped back, watching me closely. “Now you’re marked. It’s a warning.”

I felt the sting of panic rush through me as I touched the symbol on my shoulder, my fingers brushing against the strange mark. It wasn’t a wound. It wasn’t something that would heal. It was a mark that would stay with me, like a scar that couldn’t be erased.

“What does this mean?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

The figure’s lips twisted into a smirk. “It means you’re part of something far darker than you can comprehend. This world isn’t as simple as you think, Alice. You’re not just a part of the Crescent Moon pack anymore. You’re not just a mate. You’ve been chosen. Marked.”

I shook my head, struggling to understand. This couldn’t be happening. I wasn’t meant for something like this. I was supposed to be safe with Remi, with his pack. I wasn’t supposed to have something dark chasing me.

“What does this have to do with Remi?” I asked, suddenly desperate for some clarity. “Why me? Why now?”

The figure’s smile deepened, and for the first time, I saw their eyes—bright, glowing with a strange, unnatural light. “Everything is connected, Alice. Your bond with him, the power you’ve been gifted—it’s all part of the bigger picture. Remi won’t be able to protect you forever.”

I didn’t know what to say. The words felt like they were suffocating me, wrapping around my chest so tightly I could barely breathe.

“Who are you?” I demanded, my voice coming out more forcefully than I’d expected.

The figure paused, then stepped closer, their face emerging from the shadows. The glow in their eyes intensified, revealing a face I recognized from the Silvermoon pack. It was someone I had seen in passing, someone who had never been particularly memorable, yet their presence now felt like an ice-cold slap to the face.

“My name doesn’t matter, Alice,” they said, their voice quiet, but the weight of their words hung heavy in the air. “What matters is that you’re mine now. Whether you like it or not.”

Before I could respond, a loud crash echoed through the trees. The figure’s expression shifted to one of annoyance, and for the briefest moment, I thought I saw fear flicker in their eyes.

“Not now,” they muttered, glancing over their shoulder. “This isn’t over. The mark has been made. The game has just begun.”

And with that, they disappeared into the night, leaving me standing in the cold, shaken and alone, with the strange mark still burning against my skin.

I stood there for a long moment, my heart racing. My mind was a whirlwind of questions and confusion. What had just happened? Who was that person, and why had they marked me? What was this game they were talking about?

The sound of footsteps broke through my thoughts. I turned, my heart leaping in my chest, and saw Remi coming through the trees, his expression tense, his eyes searching the darkness around him.

“Alice?” he called, his voice laced with concern. “What the hell are you doing out here?”

I didn’t know how to explain. I didn’t know how to tell him that someone had just marked me with something I didn’t understand.

“I... I was just—” I stopped myself, not sure how to continue.

Remi’s eyes narrowed as he approached me, his gaze flicking down to my shoulder. He froze when he saw the mark, his expression hardening. “What the hell is that?” he demanded, his tone sharp.

“I don’t know,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Someone... someone from the Silvermoon pack. They—they marked me.”

Remi’s wolf, Black, growled low in his throat. “Stay close to me, Alice. We’re going back to the safe house. Now.”

Without another word, Remi wrapped his arm around me, guiding me back toward the pack’s territory. His presence was like a shield, but the unease in my chest only grew. Whoever had marked me, whatever this was, it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

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