Hunted

by DJ DeSmyter

  The younger man had to be the same age as Alex and I. His windswept hair was so dark it looked black and his bangs almost covered his dark, but friendly eyes. Like the older man, he looked strong and I wondered how many times a day they worked out. I felt out of shape just by looking at them.

  Helen gestured towards the older man. “This is Christian. And this is Brandon,” she said, pointing to the younger man.

  Dad stepped towards them and shook each of their hands. “It’s good to meet you. Thank you so much for offering your help.”

  “It was our pleasure to come along,” Christian answered. “Any member of our pack would do anything for Helen.”

  Wow, she must be more important to them than I thought.

  “I just hope Christian and Brandon aren’t needed,” Helen said as she turned back to face me. “I am so happy to finally meet you, Lily.”

  “Thanks,” was all I managed to say.

  “Would you guys like anything to eat or drink?” Dad offered.

  “A cup of tea would be nice,” Helen said. Her eyes remained on me while she spoke.

  Peter stepped towards the kitchen. “Why don’t the rest of us go into the kitchen so John, Lily, and Helen can have some privacy. You, too, Alex.”

  Before leaving, Alex flashed me an encouraging smile and kissed my forehead.

  “He loves you, you know,” Helen said with a grin when Alex left.

  I looked at her in disbelief. “How can you tell?”

  She shrugged. “His eyes. They never left you, not even for a second.”

  Grinning, I said, “Here, let’s sit.”

  Dad returned with a steaming mug of tea. “Here you go.”

  “Thank you.” She took a sip and then carefully held the mug in her hands. “It’s been a long time, John.”

  He agreed. “How have you been?”

  “As good as ever,” she said. “I assume you heard Jackson died.”

  “Yes, and I’m so sorry.”

  She waved him off with a smile. “Thank you.”

  “Marie thought about you every day,” Dad suddenly said. “I’m so sorry we did what we did.”

  “You did what you and Marie had to in order to keep Lily safe. I understand wanting to give her a life away from the dangerous world of werewolves and hunters. Though it doesn’t seem to have worked out exactly how you planned,” she added with a lighthearted chuckle.

  “No, it hasn’t.”

  Helen took another sip of her tea before positioning herself to look at me. Her expression was one mixed with excitement and anxiety. “So, Lily, tell me a little about yourself. I know this is awkward, so why don’t we just start with the small things?”

  I nodded. “Okay. Um, well, I guess you could say I’m an artist.”

  “An artist? That’s wonderful! The world needs more creative people. What mediums do you use?”

  “Well, I love photography and I’m not too bad at painting either. I also play the piano.”

  “Just like your mom. She was a very talented musician and I’m sure you are, too.”

  I blushed. “I don’t know if you could say that, but—”

  Helen laughed. “Will you go to college for art?”

  “I’m not sure yet. I don’t really know what I want to do. I’ve just been enjoying what I have already.” I grinned at thought of Alex.

  “Ah, young love,” she murmured. “And you’re okay with her dating a wolf?” she asked Dad.

  “Like I could stop her if I wasn’t,” Dad joked.

  We all laughed and then Helen continued asking me questions. I told her about my love for reading, how I was the kind of girl who sat in the back of the room, how I sucked at math, and how I met Alex, among other things. The day passed quickly and by the end of it, I was exhausted from talking. I didn’t get a chance to ask Helen about Mom; that would have to be the focus of our next conversation.

  Dad cooked dinner and it gave us a chance to all interact and discuss the hunter. After much debate and concern, it was settled that Christian and Brandon would patrol one side of the woods while Peter and James scanned the other side. No one said what they would do if they came across the hunter, but I’m pretty sure they had an idea.

  Dad offered for Helen, Christian, and Brandon to stay at the house, but she declined since they had already checked into a hotel. Before everyone left, Helen told me we could talk some more the next day— if I wanted. I told her I would and she gave me a loving hug before leaving.

  “How do you feel?” Alex asked, his hand on the small of my back. His family stayed behind for a few minutes.

  “I feel okay,” I said. “She’s really nice and I can’t wait to talk to her some more.”

  “But?”

  I couldn’t hide anything from him. “I don’t know. I thought meeting her would be different.”

  “And you don’t the feel need to call her grandma,” he guessed.

  “Yeah, exactly.”

  “Well, at least it went well and not horribly.”

  I nodded.

  The rest of his family walked toward us.

  “Ready to go?” Peter asked Alex.

  Alex looked at me before answering and judging by my calm state, he determined it was okay for him to leave. “Yep.” After putting on his shoes and coat, he kissed me. “See you tomorrow.”

  When they were all gone, I joined Dad in the kitchen. “It’s been a long day.”

  “I bet,” Dad said, loading the last dish into the dishwasher. “How do you feel it went?”

  “I think it went well,” I answered honestly. “I hope she thinks so, too.”

  “I’m sure she does.”

  I sighed. “Dad?”

  “Yeah, Lils?”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  He looked at me confused.

  “For loving me, for keeping me safe, for letting me date a werewolf, and for letting me meet Helen.”

  Dad came around the counter and hugged me. “You’re welcome, Lily, and I’m sorry you couldn’t have known Helen sooner.”

  “It’s fine, Dad, really, because I realized something the other day. Having a blood-related relative is nice, but I don’t need any to have a family. I already have one and it includes you and five wolves. No matter what happens with Helen, they’ll always be there for me and so will you— I hope.” I grinned.

  “Of course I will, Lils, and so will the Moreaus.” He gave me another hug. “I heard you say I love you to Alex before he left. Do you really feel that way?” His question surprised me, but I should have known it was coming.

  I nodded. “I do. I really do. That’s not a problem is it?”

  Dad laughed and shook his head. “No, as long as you’re happy, I’m happy”

  “Good, because I have a feeling Alex will be around for awhile.”

  40. Alex

  Before we could even knock on the Atwater’s front door for dinner the next evening, John opened it. “Hey, guys. Come on in.”

  Lily waited patiently behind her dad and as soon as I was in reach, she grabbed and hugged me. Laughing, I kissed her.

  “Miss me?” I asked.

  She wore a devilish grin. “Maybe.”

  “Would you like to go on a walk?”

  “What about the hunter?” she asked, hesitantly.

  Dad interrupted our conversation and said, “With Christian and Brandon running about, I’m sure it’ll be okay if you guys go for a quick stroll.”

  “Just don’t take too long,” John added.

  Lily nodded and put her shoes on. I grabbed her coat and held it open for her to slide into.

  “Thanks,” she said. “I’m all set.”

  I held the door open for her and followed her outside. She shivered as the cold air hit her.

  “I can’t wait until the snow melts,” she said as we headed into the woods. “Since your body temperature is slightly higher, how do you feel during the spring and summer? Do you feel like dying from the extra heat?”

  “
No, our bodies adjust to the change in temperature. During the warmer months, we’re actually a few degrees cooler.”

  “Really? Wow. So you’re like a space heater and air conditioner!”

  I laughed and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “Yes, but I don’t require you to pay a monthly bill.”

  “That’s good since I don’t have a job. I should probably start looking for one—”

  Suddenly, Christian, as a wolf, bounded towards us, bringing with him the coppery smell of blood and the hunter.

  “Lily, close your eyes,” I said, knowing Christian was going to shift back into a human.

  “Okay. They’re closed. He can change now.”

  A few seconds passed and a very human, very naked, Christian stood before us, panting. Despite how tough he looked, I could tell he was bursting at the seams with a flood of sorrow.

  “Brandon’s dead,” he said between breaths. “There,” he panted, “are two.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked. I sniffed the air and caught another scent, one that matched the unfamiliar scent I smelled whenever I felt like I was being watched. “There are two hunters,” I realized.

  Still covering her eyes, Lily turned towards me. “That’s not good.”

  Christian spun around and lunged in the air, changing back into a wolf as he did. A feral growl escaped through his large, sharp teeth. I looked at what he was staring at and saw the two hunters running towards us.

  “Lily, open your eyes!” I instructed.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You need to go back to the house and get help. Tell them Brandon is dead and that there are two hunters.”

  She nodded, but didn’t move. Her eyes were glued to the scene behind me. I didn’t have to look to know Christian was charging towards them and as soon as he came within a proper distance, bullets began flying through the air. I shoved Lily to the ground, covering her with my body. She began to shake.

  “Lily, you have to go now. You’ll be fine, okay? I won’t let them hurt you.”

  As soon as she said okay, I helped her up and made sure Christian was distracting the hunters long enough for Lily to escape.

  “I love you,” I called out to her.

  “I love you, too!” she yelled back, still running.

  Once changed, I growled my own battle cry and lunged at the newly discovered hunter. Unlike the one who shot me, this one was younger, which hopefully meant he was less experienced. He failed to see me in time to pull the gun’s trigger, but he managed to roll away before I landed on him. Catching myself, I whirled around to attack him once more. This time, he was prepared.

  But so was I.

  Dodging a bullet, I moved to my right and my tail brushed Christian’s back. I stole a quick glance and saw he was dodging bullets, too. Our eyes met and we both knew what to do. Without hesitating, we broke into a sprint into the woods in opposite directions. Our plan worked and the hunters split up, but the hunters switched and the one who shot me before was now chasing me.

  “You won’t get away from me this time,” he grunted at me. “Filthy monster!”

  I ran in a jagged path and managed to narrowly miss the deadly silver bullets being fired at me. I tilted my mouth to the sky and howled. A high-pitched wail filled the woods and Christian returned the call. I was glad he was still alive, but I couldn’t help wondering how long he’d stay that way. How long I would stay that way.

  Still running, the hunter reloaded his gun and I took the opportunity to run in a different direction. I thought I was doing pretty well keeping him guessing, but a lucky shot shattered my pride and it poured out of me along with blood. With a yelp, I tripped and tumbled through the snow, which was no longer pure white.

  The hunter fired again, this time shooting me in my front leg. I tried not to, but I whined and twisted in pain. The sizzling sound of the silver burning through my fur down to my skin taunted my ears. Losing control of myself, every canine part of me started disappearing and before I knew it I was human again. The pain intensified and rippled through my entire body like an electric current.

  The hunter’s boots came into view and I forced myself to look up. If he looked, I knew what he would find my eyes: terror and pain. His right boot made contact with my stomach and I was sent rolling through the snow.

  “Damn wolf!” he shouted. He kicked again. “I hope you’re feeling as much pain as my wife did when you damn wolves killed her!”

  I wanted to tell him he was wrong, that not all werewolves were monsters, but I couldn’t find the strength to and even if I could, my words would be wasted air.

  And then something caught the hunter’s attention. Giving me one last kick, he walked away and began shooting at Dad, Mom, James, and Summer, as they entered the battlefield.

  “Please don’t get shot,” I whispered to them as my vision began to fade.

  “They’re doing just fine,” a familiar voice said to me.

  I managed to look up and see John kneeling beside me with a blanket in his hands. He must have snuck around the other way.

  “Can you walk, Alex?”

  “N— n— no.” It hurt to breathe, let alone speak.

  John solemnly nodded. “I’m going to try and wrap you up. Then I’m going to take you back to the house, where my daughter is waiting for you to come back alive. So, Alex, do not die, you hear me?”

  Lily was safe; that was the only thing that mattered. I moved my head ever so slightly and prayed he caught the subtle movement.

  “Alex, listen to me,” John insisted. “Your family is fi— .” A large fist smashed into John’s face, silencing him and sending him into the snow. I moved to help him, but the pain was unbearable and rendered me useless.

  “Why are you helping them?” The hunter screamed at John, his voice full of angry confusion. He didn’t even give John a chance to answer. Pulling John up by his jacket, he punched him again.

  Throwing John back into the snow, the hunter whirled back around and faced me with hate-filled eyes. “Change,” he demanded. “Change now.”

  “W— why?” I managed to ask. Why on Earth would he want me in my wolf form? Was it because he wanted the satisfaction of killing a wolf? Would he have felt remorse if he killed me as a human? Whatever his reason, I didn’t like it.

  Cocking his gun, he aimed it at John. “Change or I’ll shoot him.”

  Without hesitation, I closed my eyes and willed myself to change. I had to practically force my bones, muscles, and organs to stretch beyond their limits, to rip themselves apart. I yelled. I couldn’t help it.

  When the last of my human features changed, I looked up at the hunter. Terror held me in its grasp, practically suffocating me. I certainly didn’t mind the hunter’s hesitation to kill me, but knowing he was going to any second was like a slow death in of itself. He was allowing me to taste life for just a few more moments, but soon it would all be over and the flavors of life would cease to exist. I would cease to exist.

  “You’re the only wolf that got away from me,” the hunter spat. “You’re going to regret being that wolf.” His eyes left me for a brief second to glance at John, who was lying in the snow unconscious and bleeding. “You both are going to regret it.”

  Looking in his eyes and seeing the fire that burned within them, I realized he wasn’t just a man avenging his wife’s death. Not anymore at least. He viewed me as a monster, but I wasn’t.

  He was.

  41. Lily

  “They’re going to be fine,” Helen said in an attempt to comfort me.

  None of our plates had been touched and I couldn’t bear to sit, so I began to pace. Helen watched me with concern, but did her best to comfort me.

  What if he’s dead? What if they’re all dead?

  When I had returned to the house, I didn’t even have to say anything and the Moreaus sprung into action. Shreds of clothing cluttered the front part of the house. Eyes full of tears and my throat full of sobs, I had barely managed to spit out that Brandon
had been killed. I was hysterical I couldn’t even comfort Helen as she broke down.

  Yet, there she was, drying her eyes and trying to give me much needed assurance and comfort. I could see why the pack trusted her and still esteemed her as their leader, even after her husband had died.

  Suddenly the door burst open and a flurry of snow blew inside followed by five clearly exhausted wolves. I may not have been the greatest mathematician, but I knew there should have been six wolves and one human. I waited and waited for Dad and Alex to walk through the door, but the house grew too cold to keep the door open any longer.

  The wolves all managed to find blankets and snatched them in their teeth before disappearing to change back. They all returned with blankets draped over their bodies. I was too focused on watching the front door to be embarrassed by how exposed they all were.

  “Lily, sweetie, where is your first aid kit?” Helen asked me. She put her hand on my shoulder.

  “Where are they?” I said, my voice hollow. I turned to Peter, but he had no answer for me. I turned to the others, but they all settled their eyes on the floor, the ceiling, or the wall. No one looked at me.

  Shrugging Helen’s hand off me, I rushed to the door and flung it open. “Dad? Alex? Dad!”

  I ran out into the snow and frantically searched for them. My tears and the darkness made it hard to see, but I kept running and yelling their names. I didn’t care that my throat was getting hoarse or that I was freezing. All I cared about was finding Dad and Alex, and trying not to think the worst. The problem was my brain refused to think about anything else.

  In my frenzy, I tripped over something and crashed into the cold, wet snow. I let out a scream when I discovered it was the body of a wolf. It was dead and blood stained the snow around it. I thought it was Alex. I was positive it was and lost all ability to operate. It took me a few hundred tears to remember that a werewolf always reverted to their human state when they died. The hunters must have shot this wolf thinking it was a werewolf, I concluded.