Hunted (A Secret Salem Novel 2)

by J. N. Colon

I slumped in my seat and rested my chin in my hand. It’s just one class, I thought. I was away from Mac for months. I can deal with sitting across the room for one class.

  Several more students trickled in including Demyan followed by Travis and Vera. And where did the Russian shifter decide to sit? Directly behind me. I could practically hear the growl clawing out Mac’s chest.

  I whipped around and narrowed my gaze. “Do you have to sit here?”

  His mouth twitched, threatening a smile. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do.” He leaned forward, his violet eyes searing me. “I heard the hunters almost took you. As a favor to Whitmore I promised to keep an eye on you—for extra precaution.” He winked.

  “Yeah right,” I hissed. “I don’t buy your goodhearted act one bit Demyan.” I said his name with as much annoyance as I could muster. “And the next time you harass me as a little animal I will cut your head off and eat you.”

  A deep, rich laugh tumbled out his mouth. “You can do whatever you’d like to me. And you can call me Demy.”

  I scoffed and turned forward, but not before catching Mac’s jade eyes dancing with silver. He was not happy about our seating arrangement.

  Maybe this would make him reconsider the no compelling teachers rule.

  I made it to lunch without any more run-ins with the Russian idiot shifter. My second go around at Highland was the complete opposite compared to my first. No one was mean to me—except Professor Forsyth but that was a given—and the vampires didn’t ignore me. They all made a conscious effort to speak or at least wave even though I didn’t know who half of them were.

  It was weird.

  Did they feel obligated because I was with Mac? I hated to think they were nice to my face and then turned down their noses behind my back. Did they think I was a terrible choice for their future leader? I wouldn’t blame them for being ticked Mac chose me instead of someone born into this life.

  I groaned and pulled open the dining hall doors, the aroma of food slamming into me. My stomach immediately growled and mouth watered. The cafeteria at Highland was more like a fancy restaurant compared to South Seneca High. Dark paneling ran along the walls, hardwood floors gleamed under crystal chandeliers, and long mahogany tables with chatting students were dispersed. Burgundy drapes were tied back with ornate gold tasseled ropes, revealing floor to ceiling windows overlooking the courtyard.

  A plethora of food beckoned at the many food stations available. My stomach released another vicious growl as I shuffled toward the lines like a starving zombie looking for tasty brains. I was so preoccupied with my hunger I smacked into someone.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” I glanced up and was met with familiar whisky colored eyes, auburn hair, and a smattering of freckles across cheeks and nose. “Jackson.”

  A smile curled his lips. “Rubi, I heard you were back.” He squeezed my shoulder. “How are you?”

  “Fine.” Apparently so was he. Jackson was bigger than I remembered, thicker muscles roping around his body. His crimson uniform sweater was taut over his shoulders and his hair had grown out to messy waves framing his handsome face. “You?”

  “Pretty good, but it has been less exciting without you and Madison.”

  My mood plummeted and I attempted to keep the emotions from my face. The story was Madison simply went back home. No one believed anything other. Why would they? Roman compelled her other friends besides me, Jackson and her roommate Tiffany, not to worry about her.

  “Yep. She was fun.” Except when she was secretly torturing me and trying to kill me.

  He waved after someone called his name. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later?”

  “Sure.”

  “Good. You can tell me what you’ve been up to in sunny Florida.” He dashed off to a table full of people from Jenkins hall.

  He seems to be making lots of friends and from the look of things lots of girlfriends.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” Mac was beside me, taking my hand in his.

  I shook my head. “Nothing. Jackson just mentioned Madison.”

  Mac’s expression turned sympathetic. “I’m sorry Rubi. Being here must bring a lot of bad memories back.”

  “I’d rather be here with you than anywhere else.” I buried my face in his chest for a moment, reveling in his heady, woodsy scent. I tilted my head up. “I’m starving. I’ll meet you at the table.”

  A devilish smile split his lips. “No need. I already got you something to eat.”

  “You are going to spoil me, you know.” I was only pretending to dislike his gesture and he knew it.

  “Come on.” He tugged me toward the table filled with vampires and snobby humans. “I’m going to spoil you rotten so get used to it.”

  I couldn’t suppress my smile. Less than a minute with Mac and I was already feeling better.

  We sat and Mac slid over a tray containing a steak sandwich with extra meat and bacon, a mountain of fries with a glob of ketchup, and chocolate cake for dessert. I shot him a grateful expression and licked my lips, near salivating.

  He flashed a crooked smile and leaned close to my ear. “I still remember what my baby likes.”

  My cheeks heated. “Thanks.”

  Several greetings were thrown my way. I awkwardly waved and nodded, feeling self-conscious with the extra attention, which had me reconsidering eating lunch at all. I wasn’t exactly Ms. Proper.

  “Just eat,” Mac whispered, detecting my unease and the reason behind it.

  I sighed, too hungry to deny myself the food, and crammed the first meaty bite in my mouth. I was relishing the delicious flavor when the shifters took a seat at our table. My eyebrow arched questioningly at Mac.

  He shrugged. “The shifters aren’t bad. Demy and I just don’t get along.” He dragged his fingers through his hair, his jaw flexing. “My dad is encouraging me to be a good host.” Sarcasm dripped from his voice.”

  I swallowed my bite down, wondering if I should share his responsibility. “What about me? Do I need to make friends with them?”

  Mac grinned down at me. “That’s so cute.”

  I made a face.

  He kissed my forehead. “You don’t have to be friends with anyone you don’t want to.”

  Good. Mac vouched for them—except Demyan—but I couldn’t shake my nightmare from last night where I was tormented by animals with crimson glowing eyes. And then there’s the animal attack I read about in the paper a few days ago…

  Do they eat people!

  “What is that terror stricken expression for?” Mac asked, dropping his fry on his plate.

  I leaned over so they wouldn’t overhear. “Do they eat people?”

  Amusement flickered in his jade eyes. “I don’t think so.”

  “But they could kill them?”

  He shrugged and dipped a fry in ketchup before tossing it in his mouth. “Sure. So could I and so could you for that matter.”

  My lips pursed. “True. Are they immortal?”

  “Not like us. They’ll start aging really slowly once they reach adulthood. They live for a very long time, but they can’t stop aging like us.”

  I motioned my chin toward Demyan who was absentmindedly eating fries while Vera blabbed to him. “He’s kind of like their prince?”

  Mac took a sip of his soda and nodded. “His father is the leader of one of the largest, most civilized group.”

  I eyed Demyan, wondering if he was really as civilized as Mac and Whitmore thought. There was something precarious under that mysterious exterior.

  Or maybe I’m paranoid.

  I resumed stuffing my face, attempting to forget about the five beings a few seats away that can turn into animals at will. I found the idea of vampirism was strange enough.

  “Hi Rubi.” Aspen slipped in next to Brant with only a salad on her tray.”

  “Hi,” I mumbled through my full mouth. My brow furrowed as I glanced down the table, noting the lack of someone in particular. In fact I hadn’t seen her all day. “Where’s Pais
ley?”

  Aspen chewed a dainty bite of lettuce. “She left a little after you did.”

  “Really?” I was going to have a Paisley Collins free experience? It was too good to be true.

  Aspen nodded. “She went a little nuts.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She started acting all twitchy and talking to herself,” Brant said, fiddling with the pendant on his necklace carved with Celtic symbols.

  I can’t believe I thought they were witches. Thankfully that’s remained between Mac and me.

  “She even tried to attack Mac a couple times.”

  A mixture of dread and guilt mingled through my chest. The last time we spoke she swore she’d punish us for ruining her life. Was I the catalyst for her break down? Did her thirst for revenge drive her down a destructive path?

  I turned to him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He shrugged and picked at his sandwich. “It wasn’t important.”

  My brow arched.

  Mac sighed and dropped his food, wiping his fingertips on a napkin. “I didn’t want you to worry—the same reason you didn’t tell me certain things.”

  Damn. He was right.

  He tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “But we won’t do that from now on. Right?”

  I nodded and returned to my food. My neck prickled and I felt eyes on me. I glanced up to see Demyan watching me with a blank expression, but curiosity screamed in his violet eyes. I huffed and crammed a giant bite of food in my mouth, hoping to gross him out. Instead a slow, crooked smile split his lips.

  ***

  I passed through the common room on our floor before heading to my room. Several couches and tables were occupied by students watching television or doing homework in either regular clothes or their uniform deconstructed. Some were simply socializing. Emmaline and Trevor, a hot human senior, were leaning by the fireplace flirting. Corbin and Jack were watching Sports Center. Three shifters, Vera, Jared, and Travis, were at a table in the center comparing schedules. Tristan and the other girl shifter, Adalynn, were talking in the far corner. Tristan was looking down at her petite frame with melting gold eyes and a wicked half smile.

  The annoying Russian shifter was nowhere to be seen.

  “Hey.” Aspen stopped beside me. “We’re going to the rec room.” She motioned toward Natalie, a human junior with long blonde hair, round brown eyes, and a button nose. “Want to come?”

  Not in the least. “Nah. I got tons of make-up stuff to do.”

  “Can’t you do it later?” Natalie whined.

  Last time I was here she had been one of the mean, stuck up girls who snubbed me. Now she wanted to be best friends?

  “Nope.” I didn’t have to do it now. I just preferred not to hang out with her.

  Aspen knew I was lying. She grabbed Natalie before her mouth started moving again. “Come on. We’ll hang out with Rubi later.” She winked one of her amber eyes.

  I was almost to the mahogany door when a news report flashed across one of the televisions, catching my attention. A family went missing over the weekend in New York, the Catskills more specifically. Their Volvo was found empty on a country road. Claw marks were ripped into one of the sides, but only a small splattering of blood was found.

  Sickness rose up my throat and my mouth turned dry. Another possible animal attack?

  “What’s got you so scared?”

  I yelped and spun around to find Demyan only an inch from me. My eyes popped open and I stumbled back.

  With lightning reflexes he grabbed my arms before I landed on my ass. “Do I make you jumpy?”

  Yes. “No!” I hissed and snatched my arms away.

  The corners of lips twitched as his violet eyes traveled over me. He was wearing ragged jeans and a black Rage Against the Machine t-shirt. “Why are you so nervous around me Rubi?”

  Maybe because I think you and your friends like to eat people on the weekends. “I’m not nervous because of you.” My voice squeaked. I cleared my throat and motioned toward the television. “I was listening to a news story about a missing family. Their car was found with a bunch of claw marks…” I trailed off when he arched that silver studded brow.

  “So because we turn into animals you automatically assume it’s a shifter.”

  Gulp. “N-No. Not at all.”

  His face was a mask, but amusement shimmered in those violet eyes. “Then why is your heart pounding, breathing fast, and sweat beading your hairline?” He stepped closer. “You also smell like fear.”

  “Nuh uh.”

  Demyan sniffed the air in front of me and licked his lips. “Mmm. Smells tasty.”

  I scoffed and nudged him away. “Cut it out.” He was messing with me.

  His laughter flowed out deep and rich. “There’s no need to fear me Rubi. I wouldn’t hurt you.” He winked.

  I ignored him and pivoted away, but he gripped my arm and hauled me back.

  “I’m serious though.” He motioned his chin toward the television that someone had changed to music videos. “We don’t do that sort of thing. Not this group at least.”

  “Then what did?”

  He shrugged. “Could have been a pack of wolves or something.”

  A gasp echoed out my mouth. “Werewolves?”

  Demyan’s eyes flickered around suspiciously before leaning in closer. “No, just regular old wolves looking for food.”

  I huffed and rolled my eyes. “Jerk.”

  Chapter 10

  I made it through my first school week at Highland without incident. No one tried to torture, kill, or stalk me. No hunters were spotted near campus or in town either. Demyan stared at me a lot, which annoyed the hell out of Mac, but he refrained from hitting on me. Mostly. The other shifters seemed like normal teenagers.

  Friday night I strolled back to my dorm from the dining hall. Dinner was well over, but my appetite reared its ugly head a few hours later, demanding food so I borrowed Aspen’s key. Nothing was after me so I should be relatively safe walking around the foggy campus, especially with guards hanging around.

  Even so I hated to press my luck. I took a shortcut through the grove of twisting oaks and maples that brought me close to the brick wall surrounding the left side of campus. When I was about to take the trail that led me away a dry rustling caught my attention. I halted and heard it again. A sound like leaves and branches rubbing together echoed from the other side of the wall.

  What if an animal is hurt?

  My brows knit. Since when do I care about little animals, besides chowing down on them?

  Animals…

  My mind started whirling, growing suspicious with every dry scrape that resonated. What if it was Demyan screwing with me? He knew I thought shifters could be involved in the attack on the missing family. What if he decided to freak me out because of it?

  My jaw clenched. I refused to be afraid and paranoid like the first time I was at Highland. Before I could contemplate the danger I was up and over the brick wall, my feet landing on the outside of Highland’s campus. My heart pounded as I followed the noise. Clouds covered the moon, darkening the woods until I could barely see.

  This is probably stupid, I thought. Maybe it is just a hurt little animal.

  A low, inhuman growl snaked out from a nearby holly bush, spreading goose bumps across my flesh.

  That doesn’t sound like a little animal. Not at all.

  Fear had me frozen, trembling in the darkness. Every nerve ending in my body was taut and exposed. What if it’s a shifter in animal form and they’re looking for a tasty snack, say like me? What if it’s something else?

  I coiled my muscles, preparing to run when a large hand clamp down on my shoulder.

  I whipped around and nearly screamed my head off until I realized it was a vampire guard, the royal crest blazoned on the left breast pocket of his black jacket. I clutched my chest to slow my racing heart. “You scared me to death.”

  His blonde brow arched. “Ms. McHale, you sho
uldn’t be outside the campus grounds.” He was tall with broad shoulders and masculine features. Wavy golden blonde hair caressed his handsome face and pale blue eyes. His black attire was sleek, conforming to his shapely muscles.

  I pointed to the bush. “I heard something in there. It growled.”

  His expression turned serious and eyes melted silver. “Stay behind me.”

  Yeah not a problem.

  He crept toward the bush, his muscled body tense and ready to pounce at the first sign of danger. He peeled the sharp holly leaves away… and the tension lessoned. He glanced back at me. “Nothing’s there.”

  My brow furrowed. “But I know what I heard.”

  He nodded. “It was probably an animal and it moved on when I arrived.” He patted my shoulder reassuringly. “Nothing to worry about I’m sure.”

  A pit of doubt was eating at my stomach. How did it move on so fast and silently? Wouldn’t we have seen it?

  “Come on Ms. McHale. You need to go back over the wall.”

  It was weird being called Ms. McHale. “Okay.”

  “Would you like me to escort you back to Hampton Hall?”

  Yes. “No thanks,” I said instead. I didn’t want people wondering why a hot man was walking me to my dorm.

  He offered a gentle smile and helped me over the wall, following behind. “Now stay on this side of the wall please Ms. McHale.”

  “Yes sir.”

  He chuckled, showing a straight line of perfect, white teeth. “Please, no need for that. We are here to protect you.”

  I grimaced. Right.

  “You can call me James.”

  “Okay James.” At least it wasn’t something stiff and formal like Royal Guard James.

  He flashed another pretty smile before I turned and hurried through the campus. If that was Demyan I was going to give him an earful. If it wasn’t then… well I was kind of hoping it was and he was only joking. I hope he really didn’t want to eat me.

  “Rubi, stop fidgeting. You look fine.” Aspen gripped my hands to keep me from tugging on my dress. “In fact you look insanely gorgeous.”

  “Yeah,” Natalie agreed, smoothing down her petal pink dress.