Chapter 8- Hunting part II
1151 Words
Jo scanned the bustling field as participants warmed up for the hunt.
Commanders, warriors, and pack officials all stretched casually, laughing with their chosen maidens by their sides.
They looked relaxed — like this was some festival — while the slaves huddled below, awaiting s*******r.
Caleb had chosen Evelyn — Gina’s younger sister.
Unlike Gina and her vapid mother, Evelyn was shy, intelligent, and kind.
Jo had spoken to her a few times before — and had been impressed.
At least one redeemable soul came out of that bloodline.
Predictably, Gina was still clinging to Alpha Jayden, practically glued to his side.
No surprise there.
Gina was desperate to be Luna — she would grovel, cling, and spread her legs if it meant sitting on the Luna throne.
Jo huffed under her breath.
Meanwhile, Dante’s hand was still firmly locked around hers, like a damn shackle.
She glared sideways at the infuriating general.
The audacity.
If she wasn’t hiding under this fake omega identity, she would’ve kneed him in the balls already — twice for good measure.
But oh well.
"Is everyone ready?!" Alpha Warren’s voice boomed through the air.
The crowd roared back in excitement.
"Remember — NO SHAPESHIFTING," Warren barked again. "As soon as you enter the grounds, all powers will be stripped."
A loud thud echoed from the sky.
The dome activated with a shimmering light, enclosing the hunting grounds entirely.
Jo swallowed thickly, feeling the shift immediately.
Her powers — her shield — were being drained.
Her heart pounded harder.
She had limited time.
She had to act before her real scent surfaced.
When it was their turn, Dante and Jo stepped through the dome barrier.
Jo flinched as the energy tugged viciously at her aura.
Now or never.
"Hey, General," Jo cooed sweetly, batting her lashes.
Dante looked down, suspicious but amused.
"Boop," Jo said, tapping his nose.
For a split second, Dante’s eyes clouded, his grip loosening.
Without hesitation, Jo ripped her hand free — and sprinted.
She ran in the opposite direction, dodging warriors and participants, ignoring the burning in her muscles as the dome drained her strength further.
Her scent masking was crumbling.
Soon, anyone with a strong enough nose would sniff out the truth — including Jayden.
Jo pushed harder, vaulting over a fallen log.
The stakes had never been higher.
Still...
She couldn't stop the traitorous thought flashing across her mind:
Dante’s hand had felt warm.
Safe, even.
No.
Safe was an illusion.
She trusted no one.
Trust had gotten her nearly killed once — she wouldn’t make that mistake again.
All that mattered was freedom. Hers. Lucy’s.
Jo crossed a narrow stream when a feral growl ripped through the air behind her.
It wasn’t Jayden’s growl.
It was something far more dangerous.
Panic surged through her.
She kept running, but then — rustling — someone ahead.
Jo skidded to a stop, tensing.
"Who's there?" she demanded.
From the bushes, two petite figures emerged — girls with shimmering green and pink hair.
Jo’s nose twitched.
Fairies.
They approached cautiously, sizing her up.
One of them sniffed the air and froze mid-step.
"Wait," the green-haired one said sharply. "She doesn’t smell like the others."
The pink-haired one followed, sniffing.
They exchanged a look.
"Who are you?" the green-haired fairy asked warily. "You smell like a—"
"Shh!" Jo hissed. "I know what I am. But if the werewolves find out, they’ll kill me."
Instant understanding flashed between them.
They were all hiding.
All survivors.
"Are they hunting you too?" the pink-haired fairy — Daya — asked.
"Not exactly," Jo muttered, still catching her breath. "I’m disguised as an omega. But... let’s just say, I was forced into this hunt."
"Do the royal werewolf know about this?" the green-haired one — Mina — pressed.
Jo shook her head.
"Maybe. But I doubt they know the full story. They’re told it’s only troublemaking demons inside."
Mina and Daya exchanged a grim look.
"We were captured crossing the no-man’s border," Mina admitted. "Separated from our group."
Jo’s chest tightened.
No wonder they looked so young, so afraid.
"I’m Jo," she said, offering a hand.
Mina and Daya smiled faintly.
An idea sparked in Jo’s mind.
"Can you help me cover my scent?" she asked urgently.
Mina scratched her head.
"The dome blocks most magic... but fairies have energy reserves. We might manage it."
"Please," Jo begged.
Daya frowned."What do we get in return?"
Jo didn’t hesitate.
"I’ll help you escape this dome when the hunt’s over. I swear."
Mina and Daya grinned.
"Deal," Daya said, stepping closer.
Both girls placed their small hands on Jo’s shoulders and began chanting softly.
Jo stood perfectly still, feeling their magic flow around her — delicate but strong.
Slowly, her true scent faded away, replaced by something lighter, sweeter — something not her own.
Relief washed over her.
A deep, feral growl tore through the air again — closer this time.
Jo’s stomach twisted in dread.
Whatever — whoever — that was... it was hunting.
*
Meanwhile, deeper in the woods...
Dante stood dazed, blinking rapidly.
When his mind cleared, Jo was already gone.
The little minx had tricked him.
He growled lowly.
No matter.
He would find her.
He would uncover everything.
He sniffed the air.
Her scent still lingered, a teasing trail in the wind.
He could feel Theo, his wolf, prowling just under his skin.
The dome drained power — but not fast enough for him.
Royal blood had its advantages.
He stalked forward, following Jo’s fading trail — when a different scent slammed into him.
Vanilla and fresh pine.
Sweet, wild, perfect.
"MATE IS HERE," Theo howled inside him.
Dante’s blood roared.
He sprinted toward the scent, desperate, hungry—
But just as fast as it had appeared, the scent vanished.
Gone.
Wiped clean.
Furious, Dante slammed his fist into the nearest tree.
The trunk split with a deafening c***k and toppled over.
"YOU SHOULD HAVE SHIFTED!" Theo raged inside him. "YOU LOST OUR MATE!"
Dante growled back.
"I can't shift, you i***t. Not yet. We can't blow our cover — not until we find the killer."
Theo retreated with a snarl, sulking.
Dante cursed again, sniffing the air, searching.
Nothing.
Only the faintest ghost of that addictive scent.
Footsteps approached.
Alpha Jayden emerged, looking sweaty and flushed.
"What are you doing here?" Dante asked, suspicious.
Jayden stiffened.
"I... lost my maiden. Nothing else," he said quickly, before stalking off.
Dante narrowed his eyes.
Something was off about that Alpha.
He pushed forward, crossing a small stream — and then he heard it.
Jo’s voice.
He crept closer, careful.
She was speaking to two fairies, their energy faint but unmistakable.
He stepped out into the clearing, folding his arms casually.
"Hi, Jo," Dante drawled.
Jo and the two fairies froze.
"Care to explain what’s going on here?" he asked smoothly, his golden eyes gleaming.
- Writer
