SHADOWED HUNTER
1309 Words
CHAPTER 001
STORM’S POV:
“Hurry up, mortals, we don't have all day.” The royal guards ordered as they searched our belongings.
I was currently in a lengthy queue waiting for my turn to get signed in as one of the workers for the mating festival, and let's just say I was hungry, irritated, and exhausted. I have no idea why my master felt the need to go ahead with this plan.
A disguise? Really?
That was the best he could come up with?
“You! State your name and purpose?!”
The Royal guard with shoulders the size of boulders and a voice that could send someone jumping out of their skin spoke to me.
I had to refrain from telling him to move back a little because of the lack of personal space. Instead, I withdrew my intended comment and replied to his question.
“Danika Ravenwood, here as a worker for the mating festival.” Yes, a fake name was necessary for my cover.
I watched quietly as he swiped his large fingers on the iPad he was holding, probably searching for my name.
“Danika Ravenwood cleared. Next!” I winced, my earbuds screaming in pain at the sound of his voice. Why was he so loud?
Hours passed as we waited for the head maid to assign us to our various stations of work. I wasn't bothered that I was going to be doing a lot of grunt work during my mission. In my mind, it was just like a normal training day back at the estate. Nothing new.
As the woman droned on and on about how we should behave accordingly, I was ready to retire for the day so I could process my next course of action, which was finding him. My target.
My eyes moved left and right as I scanned the full length of the hallway we stood in. It was very similar to the blueprints I had seen back at the estate. There were about a hundred rooms in this Castle and most of them were heavily guarded. If I was going to get to him it would have to be on the day of the festival.
Finally, after that dreadful speech, we were dismissed back to our quarters. I didn't have room to myself, which was a disadvantage, nevertheless, that couldn't stop me. It was just a minor step back I could easily overcome. I took my time unfolding my clothes and placing them in my locker. The ugly blonde wig that I had on made my neck itchy, and I just wanted to take it off.
“Your hair is a very rare color, my dark angel. We cannot have people noticing us. You have to blend into the shadows for this mission to be a success.” The words of my master rang deeply in my head as I lay down on the hard mattress.
Voices of the other girls in the room became background noise as I recalled the details of my mission.
They called him ‘Terror Noctis’; it was Latin for the terror of the night.
I have heard stories, though, of the powerful man who single-handedly wiped out an entire city just because they threatened his pack.
That was how scary he was. For some unknown reason, I was not scared of him, which was why when the job was brought to my master by an unknown source and I was assigned to it, I gladly accepted.
He was just a mere werewolf. I have killed several creatures ranging from Grades A to D.
My master was very meticulous about the creatures we hunted, so he made sure we knew every single weakness and prowess they had.
For example, Lycans, Firewulfs, and Phoenix are creatures under Grade A. They were very rare to find, though, and almost extinct. Especially the Lycans. There hasn't been a sighting of a pure-blooded Lycan for over a thousand years. My master told me that only one growl from a lycan could bring all werewolves to their knees. I would kill to see a creature like that.
Under Grade B, we now have werewolves, kitsunes, and Vampires. Since the ones in grade A were nearly nonexistent, Grade B is the strongest by default. So yes, werewolves aren't the strongest creatures. Lycans by far surpass them in strength and power and I have been studying in the old archive about them for years. They have been said to be the original children of the moon goddess herself and they all had her blood flowing through their veins.
Grades C and D were the lowest on the food chain and could easily be found. They consisted of wolves, which have gone rogue, and smaller creatures like mountain bears and, let's not forget, humans. I felt it was derogatory to be in grade D but my master said it would give me more motivation to be stronger and smarter than every other person. I believed him.
Learning and knowing about the grading of these creatures is very essential to a hunter. This is why I didn't see this man they called terror Noctis' as a threat. If he has blood running through his veins and a beating heart then he could die too. That was my motto as a hunter. No one was above death. Not even him.
____________
The day of the festival approached quickly; the maids were assigned to welcome the guests and take their belongings to their rooms, and I was a part of them. Alphas from all over the world, as well as their Betas and Lunas, were attending the festival. Pack doctors, pack warriors male, female, mated and unmated were also in attendance. It was going to be a big event that consisted of unmated wolves finding their other half. This was the event of the century, held and treasured for hundreds of years, and always in the same location.
And it was my first time attending such an event, and hopefully, going to be my last.
As we welcomed the guest, helping them get comfortable, I felt a sudden change in the atmosphere. I stared around but didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.
I shook my head, dismissing the thought as ordinary
paranoia from being in an unfamiliar place and focused on the task at hand.
“They say he has arrived at the castle. I have never seen him before but I heard he is the most dangerous wolf in our world.”
“I heard he has a jagged scar running across his face from a battle so his face is terrifying to look at.”
“I definitely don't want to be assigned to be his personal maid. Oh, the horror that would be.”
Fiona, the girl in my room, and her gossip crew whispered lowly behind me. I knew who they were talking about but it was none of my business. I came here for work not to indulge in any form of gossip.
With my head bowed I walked out of the room, ready to go back downstairs to get the remaining bags left. Suddenly, my forehead slammed into a hard chest, and I felt myself losing balance. I almost fixed my balance on reflex but remembered quickly that I couldn't perform any form of martial arts that could blow my cover so I decided to let myself fall, closing my eyes tightly and bracing for the pain that was to follow.
Instead of the cold hard floor, warm, strong hands caught me by my shoulders and steadied me.
My mistake was I realized too late that my wig had fallen off my head after our collision.
“WHO ARE YOU!”
My eyes widened with horror as I stood dumbfounded knowing I had been caught.
- Writer
