Page 15 of The Hunt

“Oh god,” she muttered under her breath trying to hold on to her sanity. Just when she thought she’d figured her life out it turned out she was about to become someone’s meal.

The one called Peter turned to face them and for the first time, Kaliah noticed he also had an R carved into his forehead. “I’m not going to let them get me. I’ll find a way out of here.”

“Sure Peter.” Gary laughed.

“How can you be so calm?” Kaliah asked.

Gary shrugged. “I’ve lived my life on my own terms and if tonight is the night I die so be it. I’m not saying I’ll go out without a fight but if I am taken out I hope my death is quick and as painless as possible because there’s far worse things than death.”

“What does that even mean?” Brianna screeched. “What’s worse than being mauled by monsters?”

Gary smirked. “They could decide to keep you.”

CHAPTER 8

“The rabbits will be released once the moon is at its peak. The hunt begins, at the sound of the second siren. The prey isn’t officially yours until you mark it. Once that claim has been established it’s yours to do with as you please. By participating in this hunt, you acknowledge that you might not survive the night. The hunt ends at first sunlight,” the game warden recited the rules.

Colt’s heart raced as the blood rushed through his entire body. He released a low impatient growl, waiting for the event to begin.

A piercing siren blared in the air, signaling the start of the hunt would soon begin. A scent as sweet as honey filled Colt’s nostrils and made his mouth water. His mate was here. He could feel it.

It wasn’t lost to him that all of Hendrickson’s boys were participating in this year’s hunt as well and he had a feeling they weren’t looking to catch rabbits. He could already feel the heat of the eldest boys’ eyes on him, waiting for a chance to catch him at a vulnerable moment. Not only would he have to get to his target before one of those bastards did, he’d have to fight for his very survival.

He looked to his left where his brothers stood and signaled for their attention with a slight wave of his hand.

Colt pointed toward an unoccupied spot. They nodded in understanding and separated from the crowd as they followed him.

When they were far enough away from the other participants, Colt whispered. “We can’t let our guards down tonight. I’m almost certain Rolf’s sons are gunning for us.”

Leland’s eyes glowed dark red. “So he wants revenge for Darren? It was a fair challenge. All the witnesses said so.”

“Most fathers would be upset over the loss of a son but it’s more than that. He’s using what happened to his son as an excuse. He’s had it out for us for a long time and tonight he’s going to take that chance,” Colt warned his brothers.

Leland spat on the ground and curled his lips in disgust. “Yet, he wasn’t man enough to join the hunt himself and sent his sons to do his bidding.”

“Just promise me you’ll be careful. They may try to get to us by killing our mates before we can get to them. Rolf knows we’re on borrowed time and tonight is most likely our last hunt.”

“It will be.” Zeke growled with a low rumble. His jaws had widened and his mouth could barely close from all the sharp teeth that had extended. He was in near feral mode. His eyes were a deep red and tufts of thick black hair grew from his cheeks and all over his upper body. His muscles were more pronounced than usual.

Colt’s own beast was so close to breaking free that it was making him anxious for the hunt to begin.

Leland lifted his head and sniffed the air. “He’s right. This will be the last hunt for me as well because I can smell her. She’s here.”

“You’re certain it’s a she?” Colt asked wishing the injections hadn’t dulled his senses to more human level.

Leland grinned reveling his lengthen canines. “Oh, absolutely. And she smells amazing.”

“Want…now.” Zeke replied.

For the first time it occurred to Colt that he and his brothers might be interested in the same prey. Would they be willing to share? He’d been so worried about the Hendrickson’s that he didn’t think of his own brothers as possible threats.

He didn’t have much time to dwell on this thought because just then, the second siren blared, louder than the first, assaulting his eardrums with its cry.

The hunt had officially begun.

A siren blasted,sending Kaliah into panic mode. “What’s happening? She asked.

“Sounds like it’s starting.” Gary pointed to a cloaked figure standing by the cage.

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