Page 27 of Hunted

Aksel's gaze bores into me, unflinching. "I had planned to lure you out into the wilderness under the pretense of helping with your work. And then hunt you."

The words hit me like a physical blow, making me recoil from him, sickened. "You were going to hunt me? Like an animal?"

He nods. "That was my original plan, yes. To track you through the woods and eventually..." He doesn't finish the sentence, but the implication is clear.

Bile rises in my throat as the horror of his admission sinks in. Shoving at him, I put some distance between us. This whole time, I had been blinded by my attraction to him. I convinced myself that despite his intensity, he was a good person. But now I see the truth—Aksel is a predator of the worst kind.

"You're depraved," I whisper, my voice shaking. "You were going to kill me?"

Aksel holds up a hand. "I know how it sounds. But when I met you in person, everything changed. You captivated me in a way I never could have anticipated." His eyes roam over me with undisguised hunger. "You're too special to harm, littlefugl. Don't you see? This is better."

I shake my head vehemently, backing away from him until I hit the wall. "No, this isn't better! You're completely unhinged!"

In that moment, every interaction we've had over the past few days takes on a sinister new light. How this man watched me with such intensity, the subtle threats laced into his words—it all makes sense now. He had truly intended to hunt me like prey.

14

AKSEL

Zara runs out of the hunting room.

She'll come around.

Sure, I intended to kill her before I met her, but the moment I met her, that changed. I can't shake the feeling of disappointment as Zara slams the door, locking herself away from me. I want to break the door down and force her to understand, but that would only reinforce her fear.

Instead, I lean against the door, resting my forehead on the cool wood. "Little bird," I call out. "Don't be scared. I would never truly hurt you."

There's no response, but I can hear her shaky breathing on the other side. I close my eyes, picturing her trembling form, her beautiful face contorted with terror. The thought of her fearing me cuts deep despite my usual indifference to others' emotions.

"I know I said some unsettling things," I admit. “But I live a different life out here, guided by primal instincts, not the rules of society. When I first brought you here, yes, I intended to hunt you like the prey you are."

I pause, running a hand through my hair. “But then I saw you. Really saw you. And everything changed. You awoke something in me, little bird. A hunger, a need that goes far beyond the physical."

Pressing my palm flat against the door, I imagine her on the other side, listening intently. "From the moment I looked at you, I knew you were meant to be mine. And I yours."

There's a slight creaking from inside as if she's moved closer. Encouraged, I continue in a low rumble. "I don't expect you to understand it right now. But I promise you, in time, you'll embrace the truth of who you are. And we'll be unstoppable together."

The silence that follows is heavy and loaded with tension. I can picture her internal struggle, the war between her ingrained sense of right and wrong and the dark, primal urges I've awakened within her.

Just as I'm about to try a different approach, her soft voice filters through the door. "I...I need some time," she says, her tone wavering. "This is all too much, too fast."

A slow smile spreads as I nod, even though she can't see it. "Of course, little bird. Take all the time you need."

Stepping back, I shoot one last glance at the door before turning to leave. She'll come around eventually.

After that intense conversation, I head out to the garage, needing space to clear my head. As I step inside, the familiar smells of motor oil and grease provide a strange comfort. This is my realm, where I'm in control.

Grabbing a wrench, I pop my truck's hood and get to work. The repetitive motion of tinkering with the engine quietens my mind for a few blessed moments. But it doesn't last. Zara's face keeps flashing in my mind's eye, those emerald eyes wide with fear and confusion.

I yank harder on a stubborn bolt. What I wouldn't give to have her here with me now, to chase away that haunted look with the heat of our bodies moving together. Just the thought of her soft curves pressed against me is enough to rekindle the fire burning low in my gut.

Gritting my teeth, I try to focus on the task at hand, but Zara has burrowed herself under my skin in a maddening way. It's insane how much I want her and crave her despite having had her multiple times last night. Each encounter only whets my appetite for more.

I recall her first time in the hunting room, how she bled on my dick. The way she trembled beneath me like a frightened doe. The way her innocence shattered with each thrust, those breathy whimpers of pain and pleasure driving me wild. And in the aftermath, cradling her spent body against mine, I knew I could never let her go.

Zara is mine. No matter how hard she fights, I'll never release her from my grasp.

The wrench clatters as I brace my hands on the fender, hanging my head. Get a grip, I chide myself. She'll come around. Once she accepts the truth of what we are, of this primitive bond between us, she'll never want to leave.

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