The Huntress and her Alpha

Chapter Three

The night was warm. Warmer than usual. I hated humid nights like this. I’d rather be shivering than sweating as we made our way stealthily through the woods that bordered our territory.

Luca walked to my right, Travis on the other side of her. We were in charge of this mission and I wasn’t sure what exactly we were doing. I glanced at my right hand man a few times, but he was either ogling Luca or staring off into the distance.

“So what exactly are we going to do if we stumble upon a wolf?” Luca asked as the other warriors kept back and alert watching the surrounding darkness.

I sighed. “I have no idea. But i have a feeling my dad wants a reason to start a fight.”

Travis looked at me. “Really?”

“Don’t you think it’s weird that he’s so bent out of shape because a pack moved just a little too close to us? Like who cares, we’re supposed to keep tabs on them, this just makes it easier.”

“Maybe he knows something we don’t.”

“Well since he put us in charge of this mission he could’ve shared whatever that could be with us.” I muttered as I cracked a branch a little louder than necessary.

No one else said anything as we got to the edge of the trees. I sighed, splitting up from Luca and Travis, taking post behind a large oak tree. I crouched down as someone patrolled their land.

He was tall with warm brown skin. His features were hidden by the night but all wolves were handsome. To an extent. He didn’t have any weapons, he just walked back and forth like he knew we were there. Like he was waiting for the right moment to make his move.

“Jack!” A girl called his name. I knew it was his name because he went stiff. He turned slowly around, no longer patrolling but handling whatever this was.

I heard him sigh. “Claire I told you. We can’t do this anymore.”

Claire looked human to me. But then again most humans were fooled by wolves because they too blended in. But something was off about her. She was too small, too docile to be one of them. So how did she end up on their land? Why was she sneaking out to meet him in the middle of the night?

“You promised me! You said no matter what happened if you found your mate you’d reject her. For me.” She sounded hurt.

My eyes were wide listening to this. I glanced over at Travis, who was also staring. Jack cleared his throat. “I shouldn’t have made promises I couldn’t keep, Claire. I shouldn’t have told you what I am, that was my first mistake. I asked you nicely to leave it alone. But maybe we’ll have to end things the hard way.”

He stepped towards her. His voice was deep and low. “For what it’s worth I did love you. But I didn’t realize how… all consuming the bond was until I met her.”

Claire’s chin wobbled for a spilt second. Then she stood up straighter, pushing her shoulders back. Before Jack could move any closer she pulled out a gun.

He smirked, but then she smiled back. “Don’t worry. I remember everything you told me. Silver bullets.”

Now Jack looked visibly distraught. He held his hands up. “f**k now I’m going to have to tell Lip he was right.”

“If I can’t have you, then neither can she.” Claire’s finger was so close to the trigger I didn’t know what to do.

On one hand we were supposed to protect humans like Claire, but they’re event supposed to know. On the other hand the wolf wasn’t doing anything wrong. This was a case of a broken heart, something we had absolutely nothing to do with.

Travis looked panicked, waiting for me to make a decision.

I shook my head, telling him to let it play out. We didn’t move until one of them made a move. I took in a breath and Jack stepped closer to Claire.

“I’ll shoot you.”

“Please don’t,” his voice was so soft, I could see how she fell for him, “Claire think this through. I know you still love me, but you’re human. You’ll find love again.”

“No. Not the kind of love you gave me, Jack. I loved you so much it hurts, it physically hurts knowing you’re happy with someone else. Someone of your kind, who can talk to your mind and calm you with her touch. I can’t stand knowing I was never that way for you.”

“But you were. Even without the supernatural parts of it, you were everything to me. I loved you the only way I knew how, with my entire heart. Your touch calmed me, your laughter made my hardest days brighter. You were a mate to me in all sense of the word.”

The gun shook as Claire listened to him. “So you’ll reject her?”

“I can’t reject my mate.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because she’s already mine.” He winced as he gun was pointed at his chest once more.

“You marked her.” Claire’s words were rushed and she nodded. “Well you marked me too. Just in a very different way. Sadly this child won’t ever get to meet their father.”

His eyes went wide as the gun went off. Jack moved so quick I didn’t see it happening until the bullet was embedded in the tree I stood behind. He grabbed Claire, wrestling the gun out of her hands. He wasn’t gentle, even after her claims of being pregnant.

“You’re lying.” He finally said as he held her against him.

She laughed and it was pure evil. “Wouldn’t that make things so much easier? If I was lying.”

He put his hands on either side of her face, I wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but I knew it wasn’t going to be good. Claire screamed and that’s when I made my move. I held my hand out to everyone else, telling them to stay hidden. I walked through a pile of leaves and made my approach loud, so they knew I was here.

“Don’t hurt her.” I said as both pairs of eyes swung to look at me.

“And who the hell are you?” Jack asked with venom in his voice.

I stayed on our side of the trees, looking at Claire. She didn’t seem frightened, but then again I never let it show either.

“I’m Max Calloway, a Hunter. We heard wolves moved in quiet close to the boundary. We came to check it out and stumbled upon this little show. I’m sure you’re aware what a Hunter means.”

Jack laughed. “You can’t be serious. Lip is going to have a field day with this.”

“Let the human go and you and I can have a nice sit down conversation about the peace treaty you so clearly have no idea about.”

“f**k you.” He turned back to Claire. “I have to deal with this. And no. I’m not going to hurt her.”

I sighed. “If you don’t let her go I’ll be forced to cross the boundary and make sure she’s safe myself.”

“Yeah? You and what army?” Jack was a child. Full of anger, either from the secret he was just given or from years of pent up anger.

I shrugged. “I’ve trained my whole life. Maybe I am the army.”

Jack let Claire go and the stood back up. “This should be fun, little girl.” He glanced over at Claire. “We aren’t finished talking. Go back to my apartment.”

She turned and left as Jack rolled his shoulders. “So it’s a no to a nice peaceful conversation? Say we have some tea and I outline the important rules?”

Jack growled. His fingers curling as his body started to shift. I nodded, then shook my hand out at my side, signaling everyone to be ready. Once he was in his wolf form I gave them the signal and they came out of hiding.

But he must have done something too, because suddenly a group of wolves, varying in colors and sizes, came out from behind the trees and stared back at us. So I guess my dad was getting his wish for a fight.