Page 20 of Huntress and the Splintered Court
“What’s going on?” I finally asked.
“This month we have a super moon and the pack is already enduring restlessness as it approaches.”
“What’s she doing here?” Carla sniped as she saw Gideon tug me closer to the pack.
“She is my mate and has every right to be a part of pack functions.”
“Why? She can’t possibly participate.”
“Gideon,” I spoke calmly attempting to draw his attention back to me. I still had no idea what was going on. He ignored me addressing the pack as a whole.
“Today we will not be shifting as my mate will be joining us.” There were a few grumbles, but most kept any complaint, if they felt it, to themselves.
When the pack dissembled, I pulled Gideon a few paces away. “What’s going on? I don’t want to intrude on anything if it’s going to upset them.”
“You’re not,” he smiled running his thumb down my chin. “We’re playing a game of capture the flag. They just need to burn energy and can do that just as easily in human form.”
“Joining us today, Isabel?” Adam smiled tossing two blue sashes our way, which Gideon caught with ease.
“She is,” Gideon answered for me.
“Are you sure this is smart?” I wondered. “Just because I’m your mate doesn’t mean that whoever has attempted to kill me won’t seize the opportunity.”
Adam replied. “I don’t think anyone would be that stupid. Plus, you’re on our team. We’ll protect you.”
His last sentence caused Gideon to growl.
“Okay,” Adam threw his hands up surrendering. “Your mate will protect you.”
“She can handle herself.”
The cost those words weighed on my mate was obvious. Every fiber of his being demanded he protect me, but he knew that that wasn’t who I was. I was a hunter. I faced tougher things than a werewolf that used others for his dirty work.
“But you’ll have my back?” I asked trying to diffuse the tension radiating off of him.
“Always.” He tugged me against his chest as his lips lowered to mine. Just because I could handle myself didn’t mean that I couldn’t let him assist.
Trey led the red team and I wondered why it wasn’t Adam, not that Gideon’s Beta seemed to mind as he stood beside me. We were outnumbered to justify Gideon and Adam being on the same team. I was glad to see Carla wearing a red sash. I didn’t think we’d make good teammates, but opponents worked just fine for me.
Gideon stepped between the two groups and began explaining the rules. Each of us would be responsible for stealing the other teams’ flag while protecting our own. If we were caught within our rival’s zone, and captured, we would be put in jail and could only escape if one of our teammates tagged us. Due to my attendance, thecapture, could be a simple tag or the detainee could fight free. The glare Gideon gave me said I had better choose the former. Five minutes would be allotted before the start of the game giving each team time to place their flag within their territory and discuss strategy.
Both teams raced to the woods in opposite direction. A small portion of us would be left to guard our flag while the others would sneak into the red team’s area and steal theirs.
Gideon grabbed my hand before I embarked with the others. This wasn’t my first time playing this game. I’d done it several times when I was training with the Order. I learned that I was competitive when it came to winning.
“Be careful.”
“Gideon, if you don’t want me to play…” I was silenced as he stole a kiss. My eyes closed just enjoying the feel of him, but when they opened, he was gone. Adam had darted off with the others to place our flag and I was meant to be with them, but Gideon had momentarily distracted me. He was part of the group meant to capture the Red team’s flag. Glancing down at the ground, I put my hunter training to use and began tracking the werewolves. I didn’t like it. If I could follow them easily, what was to stop the other team from… The thought drifted away when the tracks all but vanished. Well, son of a…
I stumbled through the woods for ten minutes unsure how the wolves had vanished so completely. It was a trick I was desperate to discover. The more I moved through the trees a strong sense of unease began to set in. I was out in the woods, alone, with a pack of werewolves, some of which wanted to kill me. I didn’t know who was a friendly. My team had vanished. The crunch of a nearby branch snapping had me rigid. Yes, the situation was making me tense.
“Isabel?” The trees melted away from Trey as he stepped into a small clearing. “Fancy finding you here.” He smirked setting me on edge. I glanced around and while it appeared we were alone, I could feel the lingering presence of others nearby. Too many signs pointed to Trey being against Gideon. It wasn’t just his general hostility towards me, which was probably justified, but incidences that added up over time indicating he might not be as loyal as Gideon thought. Now here he was the first time I’ve found myself alone in weeks. “Lost little Huntress?”
I didn’t answer. Swallowing my panic, unwilling to let him know I was unnerved, I busily assessed my surroundings. I could not outrun him. My silver knife remained under my pillow, so I was weaponless. I could grab a branch. My best chance was for him to transform. I doubted he was powerful enough to meld from one form to the other as effortlessly as Gideon, who drew his power not only from this pack, but all the packs in the United States.
“Are we going to do this the easy way, or the hard way?” As he spoke, two other wolves stepped out of the trees coming up behind me. Glaring at Trey, he noticed the flicker of rebellion in my eye. “Hard way it is.”
The two wolves made a grab for me, but I’d been anticipating it. Instinct and years of training took over. My hand slammed into the throat of the one to my right, briefly cutting off his air supply. If he’d been human, the move might have killed him. Heart racing as the adrenaline pumped through me, I stepped back as the woman on my left swung at me. I let her continue to swing, each time missing the connection hoping to tire her, but I was walking backwards and tripped over a branch. She swung at the last moment before I fell, but due to the branch, she missed me and struck the tree instead.
