Page 8 of Hunting for Acceptance

We all know it’s a lie, but it’s a fun lie, one that compliments them both. I smile as they both roll their eyes almost in sync. Gods, they’re adorable. I’m enjoying toying with them far more than I probably should be.

“I have a feeling you know exactly why we’re here,” Cooper says, his voice taking on the tiniest bit of an icy edge. I lean forward on my elbows.

“And why is that?”

His eyes dart over my shoulder towards the hotel. A shiver runs down my spine, knowing what’s happening in there. I stare into his eyes for a long moment before looking away. “I’m not sure what you are,” Cooper says slowly, letting his words sink in, “but I know without a doubt that you’re not human.”

I lean back in my seat, taking another drink of my coffee. My entire world could come crashing down right now. I could lose everything. I could fucking die right here, right now. Yet, I can’t find it in myself to be scared. At least I’d see my sister again.

“So you two are what? A couple of hunters?”

Martin nods, his fingers tightening around his coffee cup. “We’ve been tracking this case from the beginning.”

I knew it! I fucking knew I had some hunters on my tail. I was so careful. Fuck. I take a steadying breath, calming myself down. Their scents invade my senses and for a split second, I almost lose my glamour, distracted by how fucking good they smell, especially together and so close up. In the next moment, I’m in control again.

“What happens now?” I ask bluntly. “You know it’s me taking people. How do you normally take care of monsters? Because that’s what I am,” I say, my voice going soft as I stare down at my coffee. “A monster.”

Cooper’s hand touches mine and I startle, my eyes darting up to meet his. “Come back to our camp with us.”

“What?” Martin and I say at the same time.

“I’m serious,” Cooper says with a nod. “Come back with us. Meet Jeff. I have a feeling there’s so much that you’re not telling us, but I know you’re not a monster.”

“You can’t know that.”

Cooper shrugs. “Call it a gut feeling.”

I stare down at the table for a long moment, my brain going a mile a minute. This is a bad idea. Terrible, really. They’rehunters. What’s stopping them from taking me back to their camp so they don’t have to drag my body somewhere after they’ve finished me off?

But there’s just something about them. Something that pulls me. Something deep within my very soul.

I look over at Martin, gauging his reaction and find him looking back at me. He gives me the tiniest nod. “Cooper is right,” he says just barely above a whisper. “You should come meet Jeff.”

“Is Jeff your leader?”

Martin nods. “He’s different. He won’t hurt you. Not unless you give him reason to, of course.”

“I don’t want to hurt anybody,” I tell them seriously, my voice barely audible. I swallow thickly. My heart is hammering a mark into the inside of my ribs. I focus on Martin and Cooper’s scent. They smell so nice together and the smell helps calm me down. After another moment, I put on my game face, not wanting them to see how I’m really feeling. “Fine. Count me in. Take me to your leader and he can decide for himself what I really am.”

Cooper takes out his phone, sending off a text before looking at me. “Fancy a little walk in the woods?”

“Gods, I really wish that was a euphemism,” I murmur before finishing my coffee and standing up. As I tuck my long hair behind my shoulder I notice two sets of blushing cheeks and can’t help but smirk. “Lead the way.”

CHAPTER FOUR

MARTIN

This is a terrible idea.

I’m on board just as much as Cooper but I can’t help but think this is going to blow up in our faces. This guy literally called himself a monster. He admitted to being the one kidnapping people.

And yet, there’s more to him than that.

He might be our guy but there’s more to this than that. There’s an entire picture coming together in front of us and Dorian is only a tiny puzzle piece.

I don’t trust him. Absolutely not. I’ll be keeping my eye on him from the time he enters the camp until the moment he leaves but my gut tells me-- well, if I’m honest I’m not surewhatmy gut is telling me. On the one hand, this man is beautiful. He draws me in. Hetemptsme in a way I’m only used to feeling when I’m around Cooper. On the other hand, he’s clearly not human, and yet, I don’t feel in danger, I’m not scared. It’s confusing.

“So, where are you from?” Cooper breaks the silence. I let out a breath, only just now realizing the silence was making me tense and hold my breath.

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