Page 11 of Claimed By the Hunter

“If you’re a shifter, you know we didn’t have a choice. The universe brought me here for a reason.”

“Shut up.”

Nicole flinched when the person stood, walked out of the cabin, and slammed the door closed.

Chapter Seven

Nicole cradled her throbbing head with one arm and pressed on the ball of excruciating pain in her stomach with the other hand. She’d never felt this level of pain before in her life, and she didn’t know how she could handle it if it got too much worse.

Her headache eased slightly when she didn’t move, so she tried to stay as still as possible. It didn’t help the mating heat, but it didn’t get worse, either. After several calming breaths, she studied the cabin. It looked and smelled like a hundred years old and was small. There was one window and door that she could see. The window looked like it had never been cleaned, so it was hard to see through, making the room dim.

The room had a black stone fireplace from the soot and smoke. A table with pans and containers beside it was set against the wall by the window. There was a small table in the middle with one rickety-looking chair. That and the gross mattress she was on were the only things in the room. A door was off to her right, and she assumed it was the bathroom but wasn’t sure.

Nicole estimated an hour passed before the person came back. The person paced, going from one wall to the other. Nicole could tell they were getting more agitated as the minutes passed.

“Why can’t you show me who you are?” Nicole asked.

The person froze and then pulled the mask off.

Nicole’s mouth dropped open. “You’re the girl that comes into the bakery and stares at me. Why?”

The woman smirked and threw the mask on the table by the fireplace.

“Because Hunter was supposed to be my mate, and you ruined it.”

“We already talked about this. Neither of us had any say in the matter,” Nicole said. “He’ll be able to find me. Aren’t you afraid you’ll get in trouble, or he’ll be angry with you?”

The woman laughed. “I spread bleach over the area behind your little store, so he’ll have no idea which way you went or if you’re walking or someone took you.”

Oh, God. Nicole took a few breaths to keep from losing it. “So, what are you going to do with me?”

“I have a friend coming to take some of your blood.”

“Why?” Nicole asked.

“Because there might be a way for me to be able to turn into Hunter’s mate if I have your blood in me.”

“Do you realize how dangerous that is to mix blood? We’d have to be the same blood type.”

Tamara sneered. “I’m a shifter. Our bodies are different than yours. We aren’t weak and pathetic.”

“What about me?” Nicole asked.

Tamara grinned. “After we accomplish what we need, we’ll just let you bleed out.”

Nicole swallowed. “What will you do if Hunter finds you before you kill me?”

“I’ve already got that planned. I’ll knock him out and chain him. My friend will get the experiment done and then give him a drug that makes him forget.”

She had nothing to say to that. Her heart rate spiked when there was a knock at the door. Tamara opened it.

“I’m so glad you got here so quickly, Malani.”

The woman looked around and paused when she caught sight of Nicole. Her eyes widened. “Tamara, what have you done?”

Tamara closed the door. “You promised you’d help me.”

“Yes, but I didn’t know you would kidnap a woman. Jesus, she’s Hunter’s mate.”

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