Hunted

The door clicks locked loudly behind me, the sleek black car speeding off before I have time to look back. Standard practice. Drop the stray and get away before anything else can go wrong.

I don’t blame them at all; self-preservation is our first nature.

Wind cuts through the pines and the vehicle kicks up gravel it's its eagerness to get away. No goodbye, no glance back—just a black spot in the distance. Within seconds I am alone, hovering on the border of what is to be my new home.

My tenth home in a long twenty years.

I grit my teeth through the sharp pang of rejection and square my shoulders. The strap cuts into my shoulder, supporting a small bag containing everything I own. I never stayed long enough to get comfortable and accumulate my own things.

The scent hits before I can step forward. Pine sap, iron and something sharp with dominance that makes me want to step backwards—but I don’t, instead taking a step forwards.

If being around multiple packs has taught me one thing, it’s that fear will get you eaten up alive.

I don’t let out a breath as a dark figure steps out among the tree line; their hands dug deeply into their pockets. They are large with firm shoulders and a sharp jawline—but not the owner of the scent who had made me hesitate just seconds prior.

So, they were hovering then, testing me to see how I react. I don’t blame them either, a stray is not usual for our kind.

I clear my throat loudly, pointedly, and take a step towards the stranger.

His hair is a muddy russet colour, and his eyes narrow as I continue to approach him—sizing me up, calculating the threat I pose. Which, if I am doing it correctly, should be little to none.

Blend in, don’t be a threat, survive.

“Riley Ashbourne?” His voice is deep and void of any emotion.

I nod once, sharply but he does not give me the pleasure of an introduction.

“You’re early,” he states simply, looking behind me as if he expects more to emerge.

“Traffic was light,” I joke dryly, he and I both well aware that there is no traffic all the way out here, deep in the forest. They had dropped me off hours before my expected time, as if they couldn’t wait to be rid of me. They likely thought they’d hit a luck when another pack offered to take me in.

He doesn’t react but steps sideways, holding a tanned hand out in front of him, gesturing for me to head down the stone path in front of him. Unsurprisingly he won’t allow his back to me and I step forward, keeping my head dipped low in compliance.

The breeze carries the harsh scent past my face again and I lift my head to scan the trees around me. My escort steps close behind me, likely watching my every move as the trees begin to thin out ahead of us. If he notices the scent, he doesn’t let on and his footsteps stop short behind me.

“Here,” he instructs, making me stop and look at him. Up a small, winding dirt path is a small cabin. “This is yours for the time being.”

I frown, looking back over my shoulder in the way we had been heading. There are no other cabins in sight.

“I am here alone?” I ask, shifting the strap up higher on my shoulder.

He nods once.

“You don’t want to keep an eye on me?” I probe further, stepping onto the path towards the wooden structure.

He does not follow. “With our patrols, you won’t be going anywhere and until we know… well, we will need to assimilate you into the pack first.”

My footsteps are solo as I approach the cabin. A glance over my shoulder reveals that he has disappeared silently, but I am grateful to be alone. The car ride had been tense enough without needing to around strangers too.

The door is unlocked, and swings open with a soft creak. A soft whiff of dust assaults my nose making me hold my breath. Quickly I open the closest window to my right to let in more fresh air. The inside of the cabin is quaint with a small grey sofa against the furthest wall. There is a glass sliding door beyond it, leading out into the trees that get darker with every minute.

I drop my backpack onto the counter of a small kitchenette to my right, wandering through an opening to my left. It’s a bedroom with a bathroom attached and a wardrove just large enough for the meagre clothing I brought with me. I let out a deep breath as I swing the bedroom window open, letting in more fresh air but freeze the instant it blows through.

The same scent from earlier, stronger now signalling a closer proximity. I don’t recognise it from someone I know but the power comes off it in waves.

Alpha.

I keep my eyes away from the trees, sure that if I looked, I would find eyes staring back at me and walk back into the cabin.

I am not a threat. I think it over and over, wishing everyone would hear it and leave me alone.

Cold water comes from the tap no matter how much I turn it hot. My foot taps impatiently as I wait several minutes for it to warm but give up, splashing it across my face. Thankfully there is a towel looped over the silver rail, enabling me to quickly pat dry my cheeks. I straighten and my eyes catch in the mirror, making me pause.

I don’t recognise myself.

My normally golden hair is dull and matted from carelessly scraping it back each day. My green eyes seem to have lost all their shine, belonging to someone who has long since given up.

Dragging them away from the mirror I step back into the living area of the cabin. Self consciously my arms wrap around my torso, trying to tug the edge of my sleeves over my hands. Even thought I can feel myself being watched, I don’t look towards the glass sliding doors. If they want me to acknowledge their presence, then they will need to introduce themselves properly.

Digging through my bag on the counter, I tug out my phone and quickly scroll through the three notifications I received over the last couple of hours.

One low battery alert, one email accepting my immediate resignation and a single text message.

Are you okay?

I don’t swipe it open, not having the words to reply to it. Physically I was okay but otherwise…

The no signal bar flashed at the top of the screen, so it would be futile even if I wanted to reply. A choked sigh escapes my lips, and I lift my eyes to the wooden ceiling. I had tried so hard to make the last pack work, done everything they asked for, and yet it wasn’t enough.

Cold despair sinks like a stone into my chest, making its home permanent.

A floorboard outside groans.

My head snaps up and I spin around, surprised to be caught out with someone so close. The front door, still open, reveals a younger male than the one that had greeted me. His fist is raised to knock even though the door is open, but he drops it the moment I notice him.

He lets his arms dangle at his sides, different from the emotionless, cross-armed escort I had been sent earlier.

“You’re settling in,” he says, his voice light as he eyes the open backpack on the counter.

Self-consciously I reach over and zip it shut and nod sharply. “Yes.”

He studies me before holding out a hand, palm up. I pause, the friendly greeting taking me by surprise but step forward after a second. Slowly I place my hand on top of his, gripping his wrist as he does the same to me. His skin is warm, likely from spending the day in the sun that is now almost fully set.

“Gray,” he utters his name softly, dipping his head as I mirror him.

“Riley,” I respond politely, releasing his wrist first and stepping away.

Gray’s eyes flick briefly toward the open sliding door, the forest beyond it already sinking into shadow. His posture straightens a little, a quiet alertness slipping beneath his friendly exterior.

I know he senses the presence I had earlier, but I don’t acknowledge it. “You bear similar features to the person sent to collect me,” I note, taking in his slightly darker hair but similar square jaw and rough nose. “Brothers?”

“Yes—Dorian,” he responds, moving his eyes back to my face. “He is my older brother. Sorry you got brought in without a proper welcome, it has been a while since we have had anyone new join us and we don’t take well to outsiders.”

“I don’t need anything special,” I murmur. “Just… a place to be. Somewhere safe.”

Gray rubs his palms together, almost nervously. “Well this is the safest you will get for a long while at least. Once we let wolves in, we tend to keep them.”

I let out a soft sigh, not letting his words fill me with hope. They all promised the same—and never delivered.

He steps further into the cabin, glancing around with a small approving nod. “You got one of the good ones. Close enough to patrol lines that you won’t be bothered by civilians, far enough from the heart of the pack that you can breathe.”

“Civilians?” I retort, thinking of the lack of civilisation on the drive in.

He nods, “Hikers tend to wander out this way, it’s all the closest time seems to boast.” He lifts his hands out in front of him, as if to create a mock-marketing poster. “Welcome to Redwick, where even the GPS gives up. Population; a whole lot of wolves and exactly three confused tourists a year.”

I let out a sharp chuckle but muffle it with my sleeve, remembering where I am.

“Where’s the rest of your bags?” Gray asks, trying to peer around me into the bedroom.

I gesture to the backpack beside me. “Just… this.” I murmur.

Gray looks away, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. “Well if you need anything, I am sure the pack would love to help.”

Both he and I know that is very unlikely, but I appreciate the offer and don’t bother to correct him. “Thanks,” I mumble. “Not to be rude but…” my stomach took a moment to grumble, loudly. “Is there any food in these cabinets?”

Judging from the dusty smell that made it likely nobody had been in this cabin for years, I doubted anything edible was hanging around.

“Only in the main lodge,” he answers, making me stiffen. “it’s almost dinner so I can take you there if you’d like?”

“It’s alright,” I respond quickly, “I will be fine for one night.”

I don’t bother to tell him that my last pack would make me go days without food to teach me a lesson in submission.

Gray shakes his head, already moving towards the door. “Don’t be ridiculous, you can’t hide in here and starve yourself to death. Let’s go.”

He doesn’t give me time to argue, latching onto my wrist to drag me along with him. The air outside is cooler now that the sun has gone down, but I barely notice it as I am dragged down the dirt path. In the distance, voices chirp happily to one another and the louder they get the more I try to slow my steps.

Gray doesn’t notice but does drop my wrist, leaving me to contemplate a mad dash towards the cabin. I turn to look back down the path but its too late, several pairs of interested eyes pin me in place.

My earlier escort Dorian steps forward first but his eyes aren’t on me, instead they pin his brother in place.

“We discussed this—”

“No,” Gray cuts him off. “You spoke and I listened and chose not to follow.”

I keep my eyes low and not on those around me, aware that Dorian had likely instructed his brother to keep me away. Maybe he wanted to starve me, teach me a lesson—although that didn’t seem to match his calculating style.

Perhaps he wanted to see if I would leave myself, test the waters.

A few murmurs ripple through the gathered wolves. Their scents and heat crowd my senses—pine, damp moss, cedar-smoke—so different from my last pack but no less suffocating. I tuck my hands into the pockets of my pants, wishing I could fold into myself and disappear.

Dorian gives a stiff shake of his head. “She wasn’t meant to be here yet.”

“It’s dinner,” Gray argues, crossing his arms. “She’s hungry. Forgive me for not wanting her to pass out on day one.”

Over their bickering, a loud voice speaks up.

“Riley.”

The sound of my name from an unknown voice makes my head dart around. My eyes land on a man, far larger than Dorian which I would have thought impossible if he were not right in front of me. His strong scent hits me bluntly and I step backwards without thought, all previous sense gone.

If I had thought the domineering smell from earlier was intense, this was tenfold. I had thought it belonged to the Alpha—but no.

My eyes lift slowly, meeting deep blue ones high above me. “Alpha,” I greet softly, respectfully.

He lets out a soft huff, the sides of his mouth twitching up into an almost smile.

“The stories I have heard of you, such a small thing causing such trouble?”

I open my mouth to defend myself, but he lets out a bark of a laugh, deep and grumbling that his pack behind him echoes. The excuse I had been building up dries on my tongue and instead I am gaping at this giant who is far friendlier than I would have expected given his Beta Dorian’s calculating demeanour.

His large hand falls on my shoulder, and he turns me around to stand at his side. “Everyone, this is Riley.”

All around me heads dip in greeting, respecting their Alpha’s introduction and my nerves lessen. At least until his hand tightens almost painfully on my shoulder in warning and realisation snaps into place.

He is friendly because he does not want to scare his pack.

The pressure of his hand stays firm—casual to anyone watching, but unmistakable to someone like me who’s spent years reading warning signs in touch alone. I swallow hard, lowering my gaze, letting him posture without giving him a reason to tighten his grip again.

“Riley will become one of us on the next full moon when we complete her Moonbinding and I expect you all to offer her the same respect you would any wolf under our care.”

There’s a collective murmur of agreement as they fall for his tactics, deflect and relax. I would have thought the edge would protect them, but they would demean him as an Alpha. Its power he wants, and to lose it over a single stray joining would be counterintuitive.

Both brothers fall into step behind their Alpha, both sets of eyes watching me for my reaction. Dorian checking for danger whilst Gray seems to monitor those around me.

“Let us eat,” their Alpha announces and slowly everyone trickles into the lodge behind them. I count at least ten faces before I get pulled sideways.

Out of sight from the pack, the Alpha’s hand falls away. “I am Alpha Ronan, I know you have already met my Betas.”

He dips his head to the pair behind him who nod respectfully.

I open my mouth to speak but stop as footsteps crunch loudly behind us.

“Kai,” Ronan greets, turning his face away from me. “You’re late.”

My stomach twists. I feel him before I see him—the energy in the clearing shifting at the authority. The scent, familiar in ways I don’t understand, hits me before I turn. The same from my arrival and from outside the cabin window.

“I had places to be,” Kai responds shortly, his eyes fastened on me as I turn around to look at him. “You’re small,” he states with a snort, the same reaction his father had to me.

From where I came from, I was tall for a female wolf, but around here I stood a good foot shorter compared to those I have seen so far.

“You’re all just exceptionally large,” I mutter, biting my tongue the second the words are out.

Kai chuckles darkly, looking away from me. “That’s not the insult you think it is, little wolf.”

My cheeks redden at the implication, but I don’t speak again. Kai reaches out and taps Dorian’s shoulder lightly. “Ease up, you are afraid of nothing.”

“I—”

Kai interrupts him, “Whatever it is, we will handle it later.”

Their words and the rigid posture on Kai, despite his easy seeming demeanour, immediately points to something being off. It’s not me that has them on edge; I had read it all wrong.

Despite this being the strongest pack we have had for decades, something has spooked them—and despite my earlier assumption it’s not just a stray arriving. My blood turns to ice in my veins but the four males in front of me talk amongst themselves. My mind is elsewhere, not focusing on their words as I let them usher me towards the lodge where the rest of the pack eats.

A sharp crack echoes from the treeline as we reach the entrance, and I swivel my head around.

Everyone else ignores it—laughing, talking—but Kai halts for half a heartbeat, shoulders tight. He doesn’t turn like I do, but the split-second reaction is just enough to let me know that I hadn’t made it up.

He heard it too.