Page 2 of Hunted

Abigail blew out a breath. It had been a long day, and still the questions kept on coming, but this was what she was here for, and it seemed to be important to them. “Okay, so I don’t think there are any rules specifically, but I get where you’re all coming from.”

She remembered navigating these waters as a child, wondering how she would fit into a world that didn’t always seem ready for her and her kind, even if she did have a pack that she was part of and could fall back on.

“The important thing to remember, I suppose, is to be true to yourself and whoyouare. You have your instincts, and you should always listen to them above anything else. Your heart, your senses.”

She noticed the way they were looking at her, hanging on every word. “You already know how to do that, and you get to practice it every day. Then, no matter who comes into your life—shifter or human—you’ll know if they’re meant to be there.”

“Like you?” Poppy asked.

It almost brought a tear to her eye. “Like me,” Abigail agreed. “Okay, let’s talk about this more tomorrow,” she said, seeing someone appear at the door.

She swallowed, wondering what the hell her mate’s father would be doing here. Granted, he was the previous alpha, but that didn’t mean he should just show up at her place of work.

“Sure,” Poppy said as if answering for them all. “Hey, Mr. Harper.”

“Hey, kids,” he greeted as they passed him, disappearing into the corridor. “You go along home now.”

“Hi, Christian.” Abigail smiled widely. “This is a surprise.”

He flashed her a flat smile. “Sorry to barge in on you like this,” he began. “I know it’s not really the done thing. I waited until the children left, though. Nice work there, by the way. Some great kids we have in Crimson Claw.”

“Thanks, and yes they’re great—all of them.” Being alone with him in this way was strange, and her senses were coming alive. The tone of his voice didn’t match his words, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what stirred her instincts.

It wasn’t like she knew him that well, even though he was her future father-in-law. She was always studying, training, or working, and he was busy with pack business until recently when Luke took over, so both had precious little time for anything or anyone else.

Unlike some packs, Crimson Claw didn’t require their new alphas to officially take a mate upon ascension, and this suited Abigail well. Though she and Luke were a thing, she also enjoyed the ability to settle into her career and work hard at it, and he was doing the same. As a lawyer, he put in the hours, determined to build a strong client list and an even stronger reputation.

“Is something wrong?” Worry overtook her. “Is it Luke? Did something happen?” Her stomach flipped as she began to imagine the worst. The only thing consoling her at this point was that Christian didn’t seem upset.

“No, nothing like that,” he assured her. “But I do have something to tell you. It’s not good, and it does affect you.”

Just when she thought it was okay, he now pulled the rug out from under her feet. Her heart thudded and she couldn’t help but think whatever this was wouldn’t be easy to take. She felt as if her entire nervous system had now been hijacked, her stomach finally sinking to the floor and the blood pumping furiously in her ears. The way he looked at her made her feel even worse. What the hell was going on?

“Please, just tell me, Christian.”

Chapter 2

Abigail

Itwasliketimestood still as Abigail waited for Christian to tell her what was going on. Okay, so it didn’t seem Luke was hurt or in any trouble, but something must be wrong for his father to turn up like this.

When he stepped closer to her, she almost stopped breathing, and something in his eyes just made her instincts yell, “Run!” Her skin prickled, the short, soft hair on her arms standing up.

“I’m sorry to have to be the one to break the news to you. After all, he should be doing this,” Christian explained.

“Who? Luke?” Her voice was small and cracked under the pressure that almost swallowed her whole.

“Yes, that son of mine. But then he always was too good for you I suppose,” he sneered.

There it was. She knew her instincts were right on this one. His words were now dripping with cruelty. “What?”

“That’s right, Abigail. He’s rejecting you as his mate.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “No, he wouldn’t do that.” Her heart dropped to the floor and shattered into a million pieces. Luke was a good man, which was why they had become friends in the first place. That had eventually grown into something more, and she was looking forward to spending the rest of her life with him, starting a family one day with lots of children.

“What? You think you know him better than me?” he snapped. “Luke is my son and from a family of alphas. You’re nothing like him.”

“Why… Why are you saying this?” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Luke and I are happy.”

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