The Hunter’s Awakening

by Bryce Evans

  His bear stood tall inside him, scratching at his chest, wanting out, wanting to be near her. He would protect her. No one else but him. And maybe the alpha. But he’d shred anyone else who even looked at her wrong. Claws popped out of his fingertips. Thank god his hands were in his pockets. If he didn’t leave now, his bear might break through. Right here in the restaurant.

  Moving from the table, Cosmo, muttered, “I’ll meet you at the cabin.”

  His breathing increased as he raced to the door. Storming outside, he ran for the woods. He had just broken through the trees when his bear took over. It was Haven. The one who drove his beast out. He was in a shitload of trouble.

  Chapter Seven

  Haven held on to Nora’s hand as they walked to a red truck. “Here…you can ride up front with us. I promise we will work this out. I’ve known these people all my life and they won’t hurt you,” Roy insisted.

  She watched as Lennox hesitated before his mate pulled on his arm. He watched her like a hawk as she got into the pickup.

  “We’ve lived alongside the Dixon pack for centuries and we have never had an incident where someone got hurt by a shifter. At least not human, anyway. They have their scrabbles among each other, but they leave us out of it. They are good people. Lennox, the big one bought the land next to the Dixon pack and they seem to be very nice. They have put a lot of money into this old town. Now that Jade and Quinn are making a name for themselves, we are getting more and more visitors from the bigger cities. It brings in a lot of revenue. More jobs for all of us.”

  “But they think I’m his sister. I’m not. I don’t have a bear in me. I’m not a shifter, Nora.”

  “Are you a witch?” Roy asked.

  “No…just human. I can’t wield a spell for nothing. I’m just a human who left her family behind. Well, just my father. I hate the others.”

  “So, your father is a witch?” Roy continued. She felt like she could tell him anything, but she didn’t want something bad to happen to them. The coven would kill them if they knew. The least they knew, the better off they would be.

  “Mage.” Good grief, she couldn’t shut her mouth. What was wrong with her today? Did someone slip her some truth serum?

  “Never heard of a mage. Is that a bad one?”

  “Not usually, but these people are. That’s why I left. I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to escape, and if you tell anyone, they will come after you. Please, don’t ask me anything else. I don’t know why I’m telling you all this, but I feel so comfortable around the both of you. Someone I can trust, and now I have put you both in danger.” Haven turned her head and let the tears fall. How stupid, Haven. She just killed them if the coven found out.

  “Oh, sweetie. Nobody will know, but you have to trust someone, and we are privileged to know that it is us,” Nora said, putting her arm through hers.

  “Thank you.” Haven inhaled deeply wiping the tears from her face. For the first time in forever, she felt these people were like family. She never felt safe around her father or the coven. Her whole life lived in constant fear. She hated her own existence. She only hoped they would get this misunderstanding corrected so she could start a new life without this craziness. But it all made sense. The coincidence of her name and the dress. Sure, there had to be other people with the name Haven. No, she didn’t believe it.

  She watched as the trees passed by until finally, they pulled off onto a dirt road. A perimeter fence surrounded the property. Her chest squeezed tightly as a man waved them through the gate. She turned in her seat watching as the man closed and locked it behind them. “They will let us back out, won’t they?” Haven asked, staring at Nora.

  “Of course, hun. Just keep your wits about you. We are here with you,” Nora said as she gazed around the area. “Wow, I’ve never seen this property before. They have done a lot of work.”

  “Cosmo said they had built a lot of cabins out here. That’s why he needed the flowers and plants so soon. Before the frost hit. Man, it looks good. They did a great job on the homes,” Roy said, pulling in front of a cabin beside the others.

  “Just remember to stay calm and just tell the truth. We’re here with you and nothing is going to happen to you. I promise. You trust us, right?”

  “Of course, Nora. You’ve been very kind to me,” Haven whispered, but she knew she didn’t sound convincing. Downright petrified, and she feared that Roy and Nora couldn’t save her from this.

  They exited the truck meeting the others. “You have a beautiful home,” Nora said to one of the hunters.

  Glancing at the alpha Death Hunter, Haven noticed similarities between him and herself. Lennox had black hair just like her, and yes, her eyes were hazel, but sometimes they were as green as his. His actions made her nervous. If he smiled, it might help, but right now he looked like he wanted to tear someone’s head off. Preferably, not hers.

  She almost thought about jumping out of the truck before they got here, but she knew they were shifters and would run her down. She didn’t want that. Her father had told her many stories of how shifters would love to chase and let their animal have their way with humans. She wasn’t going to be hunted by shifters. As soon as she could, she would head out of this town. Maybe Roy would take her someplace safer.

  She held onto Nora’s hand as they entered the cabin. On the walls, pictures hung of Jade and Lennox. Jade was sweet welcoming her in. The woman pulled her into a living room. She watched as Lennox lit a piece of paper, igniting a fire in the rock fireplace. The house glowed beautifully with warm colors. Jade was most likely her own decorator and she had impeccable taste. The log cabin felt like home. She had no idea why she felt that way, but she had dreamed of one day having her own home, just like this.

  She sat between Roy and Nora on the couch as the others continued to stare at her. When nobody said anything, Roy asked, “Are we waiting on someone?”

  “Scarlett, she’s a witch and can tell if a spell has been put on Haven and maybe she can break it.” Arden spoke while still watching her. Which only made her want to run. Instead, she stared back at the shifters trying to act calm.

  “Nobody is doing any spells on me.” Haven lifted her chin in defiance. When her eyes met Lennox, he had a small grin on his face. Finally, the man smiled. She wondered if the alpha had it in him.

  “You used to do that when you were little,” Lennox said. He went into another room and came back flipping through a book. He kneeled in front of her and turned the book around and pointed down at a picture. “This is you.”

  It was like looking in the mirror. This was her and she had on the blue dress with white bears. How could this be? She closed her eyes as she felt a veil being pulled across her mind. Something…just on the edge of her memory, but the veil continued to cover it.

  “Is that you, Haven?” Lennox asked.

  Her stomach fluttered, knowing she couldn’t lie to herself or Lennox.

  “Yes, it is, but I don’t understand how—”

  She glanced up as Cosmo came in the door with an older woman. He had changed clothes. His jeans fit well, tight in all the right spots—his thighs as round as trees and the perfect bubble butt that her fingers itched to squeezed. A warmth ignited low in her stomach, something new to her. Her pulse jumped, pounding up the side of her neck. She licked her dry lips.

  She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was that good looking. Way out of her league. He styled his short black hair just the way she liked it. What was she talking about? He was a shifter and a scary one at that…but goodness, a sexy one too. Now she was talking about him like he was a piece of meat. Where was all this coming from?

  “Oh, you’re right, Quinn, I can see the spell from here.” The older woman walked closer and sat in front of her. “You’re getting better, my dear. That’s good, but I see it. A nasty spell. They continue to do it every few days, so she doesn’t know, and it keeps her animal down. This won’t be an easy one and when I do release her, the bear is going to be angry. It’s b
een asleep all this time. Dear god,” Scarlett said, shaking her head as she stared at her.

  “My father has never put a spell on me,” Haven insisted.

  “Even while you sleep?” the older woman asked.

  Haven glanced up at Cosmo standing at the door watching. He narrowed his eyes at her. He appeared mad—no, his irises darkened into a look of desire. Aimed at her? The small fire in her middle shot up through her body. She pulled her eyes from his. Sweat broke out on her forehead. Hopefully everyone would think her nerves were overreacting and not her libido. She had to think back to what the witch had asked before answering.

  “Well, no, but…I’m his daughter and he wouldn’t do that to me.”

  “He’s not your father,” Lennox barked, making her jump. Even Nora put her hand out protecting her.

  Haven swallowed hard. Her hands shook so badly, she clutched Nora’s closer trying to hide hers.

  “I’m sorry. But Laris Winter isn’t your father. This is your dad and mom.” Lennox pointed at another picture. She pulled the book closer. They looked familiar but again something hovered at the edge of her memory, and no matter what she tried, it wouldn’t show itself.

  “I can help you, child,” the old woman said. “I can take the spell off, but the memories will flood back and your bear will wake and it will be mad. But first, you have to give me permission. I won’t perform it if you don’t.”

  “He wouldn’t do that to me,” Haven murmured, but she knew he would. That’s why she left. He would kill her if she got in his way.

  “Wouldn’t he, dear? He’s done much worse to others and you have seen him do that. I don’t know why he choose to do this to you, but he has, and it’s time for your bear to be free.”

  Her bear. If Blair knew she had a bear, she would torture her. Kill her.

  “Aren’t you tired of running?” Cosmo asked, leaning against the door.

  She didn’t know what to say. Of course, she was. If they knew what she had been part of, they wouldn’t want to call her family and they would probably kill her. Just like the coven had done to their kind.

  “I need your word, Arden Dixon, that nobody will hurt this girl. I need it now before we go any further,” Nora said, standing.

  “Of course, Nora. Nobody will hurt her, ever. She’s safer here with us than with the coven,” Arden assured her.

  “You know nothing about me, what I’ve done.” Haven wrapped her arms around herself. She started rocking. Knowing that her life was nothing to be proud of. They were wrong. She had watched while they killed shifters and did nothing. Once they found that out, nobody would want to protect her.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Lennox said, leaning in, putting his hand on her leg, surprising her.

  Tears streamed down her face. The words continued to spew out of her mouth. The truth of her sins haunting her. She looked up and the older woman had her eyes closed, whispering. “I’ve watched while they killed shifters. Did nothing. Too scared as they pulled their magic from them. For what? Power! While I did nothing. You want a sister like that?” Haven shouted as she broke down. Her body rocked back and forth until she felt large hands surround her pulling her into his lap.

  “It’s okay, Haven. It’s not your fault,” Lennox whispered, rubbing a hand down her back. “What could you have done? They are mages, Haven. If you would have impeded, they would have killed you.”

  “He told me not to interfere with Blair again. She was killing a cub, a real bear, and I couldn’t stand by anymore and…”

  “Take a deep breath,” Lennox said. She sniffled taking in air. “Good, now another. Let your body calm. Just take your time.” Lennox held her tightly pushing her hair from her face, wiping the tears as they fell.

  “He said if I interfered again, he would forget that I was his daughter and he would let Blair have her way with me. She’s worse than the others. She loves to torture shifters and bears. It doesn’t matter if it isn’t the white bear. She kills them all.”

  Pulling her head up so he could look down at her, Lennox said, “He’s not all you know. As soon as you let Scarlett complete the spell, you will remember your real family. You will remember me, Haven. We are your family, and nobody will ever take you away from me again. But he has to pay for what he has done. I will make sure of that.”

  “He wasn’t always like that. He could be kind and I think in his own way, he does love me,” Haven insisted.

  “No…he took you from the real family you have. What has your life been about? Murdering innocent people. Just because they were shifters and bears—beautiful creatures who wouldn’t have hurt them. But no, they hunted them to steal their magic. He’s not a good person, Haven. I don’t know why he took you and claimed that you were his daughter, but your life has never been complete.

  “Look what he did to your bear. He put her to sleep. God knows what kind of beast she is going to be when she wakes. I’m sorry to scare you, but you should know the truth. I won’t lie to you, ever. We will have to work on your control, because your bear will want to fight. She will be angry, but we can help you with that. We are your family. Not Laris Winter. Your name is Haven Bartley.” Lennox pointed at the little girl in the picture. “That’s who you are.”

  Haven couldn’t look at it anymore. She glanced up and found Cosmo focused on her. She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. He stared at her so intensely, it took her breath away. She wanted to believe what Lennox said, but it felt like a trap. No, no, they had no clue she was coming. Dang it, she couldn’t think. She needed some time to let all of this sink in. It became hard to breathe with all these predators watching her every move.

  Haven closed her eyes. “This is so hard to believe…but I want too.” Opening her eyes, she looked back at Cosmo. “I’m scared…”

  Cosmo jerked away from the wall and started for her. She read fierceness in his expression, but not toward her. His lips pressed into a thin line, making her want to run her thumb along them to bring back their lush plumpness. Her heart jumped with every step he took toward her. She picked up on his cologne—or was that his natural flavoring? God, she wanted to devour him whole.

  “I think we need to let Haven and Scarlett go outside on the porch and talk while I cook spaghetti. Since we missed the special, let’s just cook here,” Jade said, winking at Haven. Thankfully, Jade rescued her from more questions. She needed to think about this spell remover thing. What if it didn’t work? She had seen so many spells that went wrong.

  “Why don’t we go sit outside while they cook, Haven,” Scarlett asked. Cosmo now beside her, helping Scarlett up from the floor, but he never took his eyes off her. Flames erupted inside, her breath caught. This man pushed her body and mind to the brink. How could he do this?

  “Thank you, Cosmo. I can handle it from here,” Scarlett said, looking from him to her.

  Wrapping a thin arm around her, Scarlett winked at Cosmo. “Nothing will happen to her. We will be on the front porch. You can see us from the window.”

  Glancing back at Cosmo, Haven walked out with the older woman. She didn’t mind leaving. Her head felt like it would explode, and she had to get away and get her body under control. She wanted to touch him so badly, the thought of it made her ache inside. There was something about this man that made her want to be Lennox’s sister, and it wasn’t brotherly love.

  The cool mountain air hit her and felt wonderful over her heated body. She stopped and closed her eyes, inhaling, letting it wash the dreadful feelings away. She heard the swing creak as Scarlett sat.

  “Are you scared, child?”

  Opening her eyes, she spit out, “Yes. I’m terrified.” Haven let her breath out and sat beside the witch. Not only terrified that all of this would be true, but she had the biggest crush on a man that stared at her like she was lunch. She didn’t even know him, but she wished like hell she did. All the uncertainty was driving her insane. Maybe she was going crazy.

  “My whole life could have been a lie, and if it�
�s true, then what will happen to me?”

  “Well, you could continue to live in the dark. That’s what Laris wanted or you could have a little faith in these people. With Lennox, Jade, and Quinn. They would be your family now and most importantly, they wouldn’t hurt you or try and take your magic. I think you know the answer, but that’s why I asked if you were scared. I don’t blame you. When I cast the spell, memories will flood you and your bear will want out. She may not let you have control again for a while, but your brother will take care of you until that happens.”

  “Will it hurt?” Haven asked.

  “Not in the way you think, but when you shift for the first time, it may hurt for a brief moment. Then the bear will want to fight and roam. And maybe some other things. That would be normal.” Scarlett grabbed her hand and held it up to her cheek. “I think you can handle it. I wouldn’t even suggest it if I thought you couldn’t take this on.”

  “I want to know. I want to know if Lennox is my brother.”

  “Oh, child, there isn’t any doubt of that, but I know you need this nasty spell removed from you. It’s time you found your family and learned the truth. Let’s eat first because you will need your strength. Then I will perform the spell. Okay?”

  Haven nodded. She had to do this. She had to know.

  “I think you have someone else who can help guide and take care of you.”

  “Cosmo?” Haven whispered.

  “He’s a hoot. Don’t you think? He always makes me laugh.” Haven smiled at Scarlett’s words. “Plus, I think he fancies you.”

  Looking toward the window, she felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the man of their conversation watching them intently out the window.

  “He says he’s known me since I was a child. He’s like a big brother.” Haven didn’t like the sound of that. Big brother? Hardly, but maybe that’s how he thought of her.

  “I wouldn’t bet on that,” Scarlett said, laughing. She got up and held her hand out to her. “Let’s eat before someone comes out here to get us.” They both looked up at the window.