Hunted

Chapter 9: A Very Interesting Night

Colton

It was just like any other party we’ve had before. Everyone was having a good time drinking hanging out nothing crazy. I was surrounded by my best friends and all we really had to worry about was having a good time. Everyone couldn’t stop talking about Alpha’s daughter coming back home. I really didn’t care to think about her. As far as I heard she was some non-shifter. We would deal with that whole situation later. I’m sure Alpha has a plan of some sorts.

My sister was overly worried about the whole situation. She said I wasn’t because my position may change but I would still be in a position of higher authority anyway. She on the other hand…her potential position rested solely on the hopes that I became Alpha and chose her instead of the current Beta’s daughter. I really didn’t want to think about all these things.

I really only cared about having a good time and just enjoying life. I knew eventually I was going to find my mate and have to actually settle down and become a serious person. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be that serious person…now…or ever really. I honestly hope that I don’t find a mate. It would probably be better off that way. The men in my family don’t exactly have the best track record. My dad was a terrible mate and horrible father. How was I going to be any better? Plus I’m only 22 which in some packs would be super old for not having a mate but that’s not how our pack ran.

Our Alpha worked hard to make sure everyone got to participate in living whatever life they wanted…as long as it didn’t hurt the pack of course.

“Dude…what are you doing?” My best friend Daniel asked pushing my shoulder. I shook my head and shrugged.

“Nothing. Just soaking in the view.” I muttered and grabbed another drink. Daniel was an interesting guy. He acted all tough and well like an asshole but he wasn’t always like that. He would talk forever about how he wanted a mate and how he’d take care of her and all the things he’d do with her.

It made me laugh because that was not how people saw Daniel at all.

“Mmm. Well let me know if the view has anything we hadn’t seen before.” He laughed and gave me a look. He was hoping that the Alpha’s daughter was his mate. We didn’t really get to go out and meet other packs minus the few scheduled mixers a year. It would be perfect for him..in his own world. I on the other hand wasn’t so sure about that. I had started to refill my drink  when the wind picked up and I caught a whiff of the most intensely alluring scent I’d ever encountered. It smelled like flowers and salt but like ocean salt.

I started to look around to see where the scent was coming from and that’s when I saw her. She had long red hair that went down to almost her waist and her skin was tan but it looked like she’d spent a lot of time outside. It wasn’t until I saw her eyes lit up by the flames that I knew who she was. Her eyes were violet, you could almost not tell due to the flames but I saw the purple hues. She was Alpha’s daughter, she was the girl everyone had been dying to meet and she was my mate.

If her scent wasn’t enough she made eye contact with me from across the field. I couldn’t look away. I didn’t…couldn’t break the eye contact. She was beautiful and so soft the way she walked and smiled. I could tell I was making her uncomfortable and I wanted to stop looking but there was just no way that I could.

“s**t is that her?” Daniel said looking over at Emmry. “Damn.” I gave him a warning growl without even realizing it.

“Oh s**t Colton…are you serious?” Daniel groaned and chugged his drink. “Of course she’s yours. So ridiculous. You don’t even want a mate.” He threw his hands up in air.

“Being jealous isn’t going to help you find your mate any easier Daniel.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Well you might not get your mate for very long the way your sister’s going at her.” I moved my eyes from Emmry to my sister. I tilted my head and started focusing on what they were saying. Savannah was being unnecessarily harsh.

I decided I was tired of her being an ass and mind linked her.  You need to back off her right now Savannah.

My sister didn’t even bother to look in my direction. I could hear the eye roll in her replay. What do you care it’s not like she’s that important to you.

She’s very important. Now stop.  I growled and glared. Unfortunately it was too late. Emmry was walking away and her cousin was following her.

Why are you protecting someone you haven’t even….oh god Colton no. Savannah turned to make eye contact with me before groaning out loud. The shifters around her looked at her asking her what was wrong and then saw me looking at her before understanding.

Leave her alone. I wasn’t going to allow Savannah to bully someone just because she was jealous…well that’s a lie I would probably actually let her bully other people. She’s not allowed to bully Emmry.

If you leave her alone I’ll leave her alone. My sister’s smirk made me roll my eyes. I simply flicked her off and went back to finding Emmry. I just barely caught her walking off into the woods.

“The hell she can’t just go off on her own she hasn’t shifted yet.” I didn’t know what I was doing. My feet started moving before I could even control myself. I followed her all the way back to the pack house making sure she wasn’t bothered by anyone.

I stayed in the tree line and she sat on the front porch of the pack house and talked to her dad. I had mind linked Alpha on my way over letting him know she was on her way and what had happened at the bonfire. He did tell me I could go home but I couldn’t remove myself from my spot.

“Why did you follow her home?” Hope’s voice flooded my ears as she stepped up next to me.

“I couldn’t let her just go alone.” I sighed and turned to look at her.

“Why not? I was…Colton…” Hope gave me a look. “She’s your mate.”

I didn’t answer her, I just turned to watch Emmry head inside the house. “I’ll see you later Hope.”

“I swear Colton….” Hope started but I just ignored her and walked home. This was going to certainly be interesting.