Chapter 72
Chapter 72 — The Hunter
“You can be the hunter, or you can be the hunted.”
be the hunted.“— Lisa Gardner
Kiya
“We shouldn''t have done that.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
My lips were still swollen from our kiss, the dull throbs pulsating as vivid reminders. The excited chatter of the amusement park
muffled in my ears as my heart beats against my ribcage like a drum. Neron and | crossed a line that should''ve never been
crossed. A line | promised myself | would never cross.
We kissed, and we kept kissing until the ride operator opened the side door for us and awkwardly cleared his
throat.
ring heat made its home under my skin as | thought about it. His hands roaming my body felt like heaven, his heat held mine
in a tight embrace, and his lips. Goddess, his lips were witchcraft incarnate! They ignited a fire | didn’t know | had. Coupled with
his skillful tongue, | was a goner. An absolute goner.N?velDrama.Org ? content.
It felt so good. So right. So...loved.
But even what felt good could be wrong.
The kiss shouldn''t have happened. At all. All my internal promises and determination went down the drain, and | only had myself
to me. | wavered. | let the bond take over me. | let this all happen.
I''m weak. I’ve always been weak. How could | fool myself all these years thinking | was strong? One stupid kiss and | threw away
all | worked hard to achieve. | was an idiot, a fucking fool. Everything just became moreplicated.
Neron and | walked towards his car with me following a few steps behind. | didn’t want him to see my face. | was ashamed of
myself. Hot tears slowly blurred my vision. | hugged my teddy bear against my chest, the only source for myfort | had now.
The softness of the pelt ryed a message that | could cry into it when | was in private. That it was here to soak up my sadness
and self—guilt. That was all | could do now-relish in my stupidity.
We entered his car in silence, neither of us daring to address the elephant in the room. Shame rolled off Neron in waves as he
struggled to focus on starting the car. He dropped his keys several times before he was able to turn on the ignition, gradually
driving away from the park into the silent night.
Needing a distraction, | reached for the radio. He did too. Our hands jerked away like we’ve touched an open me when our
fingers touched. Goddamnit! Huffing, | turn the volume knob as Los Delphines thumped through the car. It reminded me to look
up where Violetta and her band were ying next.
Silence persisted. Anxiety persisted. But it didn’t change the fact that we kissed and potentially strengthened the bond when
there was no need to. How were we going to manage this? The lines were too blurred, and | felt the deep desire to kiss him
again. The desire for his lips to set aze my core. To surrender into our animalistic lust and just...
“FUCK!” My fists mmed on the dashboard, shaking under the force of my hands. “Why the hell did you have
to kiss me, Neron?”
“| didn’t mean to, Kiya.” He admitted with his tired eyes glued to the road. “
me didn’t help and...” He sighs. “It shouldn’t have happened.”
. | got caught up in the moment. Onyx fighting with
“What are we going to do?” | mutter. “We can’t pretend like the kiss hasn’t happened.”
“We have to,” Neron replied, his voice void of anusement. “Especially around Dad. Once he catches a whiff that something''s
happened between us, he''ll use it to further his agenda.”
“Right. Because he still wants me to be Luna.”
“But it felt good.”
| arch an eyebrow, catching sight of Neron’s reddening cheeks. “The kiss?” He nodded, timid. | groan miserably because |
agreed. The damn thing felt so good and that’s what was wrong with it. How long until |pletely surrender to the bond? Could
| hold out for much longer? Judging from Neron’s side view, there was turmoil in him.
Why did he ask me to reject him? If this was when | first arrived on Zircon territory, I’d be more than happy to do just that and call
ita day. Now? | was not sure. My indecisiveness to reject him would be my downfall.
The road back home was lengthy, but | was grateful for it. Since we live some distance away from human towns, we must remain
as disguised as possible. However, something felt off. The music was ring inside of the car, but outside was so still. I''d
typically spot a few animals or insects mingling in the dark woods, uncaring to the world around them.
But there was not an animal or bug in sight. This was too strange, added with an unidentifiable stench that assaulted my nostrils.
Chills equal to the Arctic slid down my spine, forcing an involuntary shiver. The longer the feeling marinated, the more | felt on
edge. Neron had to be feeling this too, right? My eyes caught his eyes darting from the rear—view mirror to the side mirror with
his jaw working tight.
“Something''s wrong.” His hands tightened around the steering wheel, “We''re going to take a detour back to pack territory.”
“Good idea.”
Well, someone sure as fuck didn’t think so.
Suddenly, we both jerked forward from the forced stop of the car. It caught me off guard, stopping so fast | got whish. A heavy
thump on the hood of the car caught our attention, but the night and the thick trees lining the road was a skillful camouge. We
couldn’t see the head of whoever or whatever we might have hit because the front lights only illuminated the bottom half of the
unknown entity.
Sooner rather thanter, | found out what the thing was. An impossibly powerful person busted their fist through the windshield,
grabbed me by my shirt cor, and threw me from the car. | hit the ground hard, back first. ss shards rained all around me
with a few inhabiting my skin.
“Kiyal”
my ears
| slowly rolled to my side, gasping as more shards sliced my skin. Loud, heavyweight boots echoed in my e as the pursuer made
his way to me. | found myself lifted in the air once more by a metallic gloved hand. That was when | was able to get a look at the
perpetrator.
to kiss me. Neron?”
“| didn’t mean to, Kiya.” He admitted with his tired eyes glued to the road. “I... | got caught up in the moment. Onyx fighting with
me didn’t help and...” He sighs. “It shouldn’t have happened.”
“What are we going to do?” | mutter. “We can’t pretend like the kiss hasn’t happened.”
“We have to,” Neron replied, his voice void of anusement. “Especially around Dad. Once he catches a whiff that something''s
happened between us, he''ll use it to further his agenda.”
“Right. Because he still wants me to be Luna.”
“But it felt good.”
1 arch an eyebrow, catching sight of Neron’s reddening cheeks. “The kiss?” He nodded, timid. | groan miserably because |
agreed. The damn thing felt so good and that’s what was wrong with it. How long until 1pletely surrender to the bond? Could
| hold out for much longer? Judging from Neron’s side view, there was turmoil in him.
Why did he ask me to reject him? If this was when | first arrived on Zircon territory, I''d be more than happy to do just that and call
ita day. Now? | was not sure. My indecisiveness to reject him would be my downfall.
The road back home was lengthy, but | was grateful for it. Since we live some distance away from human towns, we must remain
as disguised as possible. However, something felt off. The music was ring inside of the car, but outside was so still. I''d
typically spot a few animals or insects mingling in the dark woods, uncaring to the world around them.
But there was not an animal or bug in sight. This was too strange, added with an unidentifiable stench that assaulted my nostrils.
Chills equal to the Arctic slid down my spine, forcing an involuntary shiver. The longer the feeling marinated, the more | felt on
edge. Neron had to be feeling this too, right? My eyes caught his eyes darting from the rear—view mirror to the side mirror with
his jaw working tight.
“Something''s wrong. His hands tightened around the steering wheel, “We''re going to take a detour back to pack territory.”
“Good idea.”
Well, someone sure as fuck didn’t think so.
Suddenly, we both jerked forward from the forced stop of the car. It caught me off guard, stopping so fast | got whish. A heavy
thump on the hood of the car caught our attention, but the night and the thick trees lining the road was a skillful camouge. We
couldn’t see the head of whoever or whatever we might have hit because the front lights only illuminated the bottom half of the
unknown entity.
Sooner rather thanter, | found out what the thing was. An impossibly powerful person busted their fist through the windshield,
grabbed me by my shirt cor, and threw me from the car. | hit the ground hard, back first. ss shards rained all around me
with a few inhabiting my skin.
“Kiyal”
| slowly rolled to my side, gasping as more shards sliced my skin. Loud, heavyweight boots echoed in my ears. as the pursuer
made his way to me. | found myself lifted in the air once more by a metallic gloved hand. That was when I was able to get a look
at the perpetrator.
Incredibly bulky with a height towering over Neron’s, this man—or beast—could put the world’s famous bodybuilders to shame.
With skin as white as snow, its deep red eyes pierced my soul. Its oily ck hair did nothing to curtail the menace thatid
behind the crimson orbs. This beast must be five times my weight and twice my height. It picked me up like | weighed nothing!
“Let me go!” I shouted as | tried to wiggle out of its iron grip. It said nothing. It just stared at me with emotionless red eyes. |
wiggled my pocketknife from my back pocket and jammed it into his wrist, forcing the first human emotion | could see in him,
rage.
Unfathomable growls resounded in the air and the ck—cloaked beast was barreled into the floor by Onyx. Eyes full of anger
and ws ready to shred flesh, the Alpha was aiming for the kill. The humanoid beast stood up on his enormous feet and fought
back.
Beast versus beast. Who would win?
The fight looked like something out of a movie. Onyx, big, ck, and beautiful was trying his hardest to tear down the malignant,
brutish man-like monster who delivered violent punches repeatedly, fearlessly drawing
blood from ck.
“We need to help him!” Artemis yelped. | had never heard her so panicked before. She was always calm and collected while |
lost my shit. “That thing is too much for him to take on his own.”
“Where the hell did that thing evene from?”
“| wish | knew! Are you going to shift or not?”
At least the wounds without the ss healed. Tweezers were going to be my best friend tonight. Tossing my clothes aside, |
shifted into my beautiful Artemis and went to work on aiding Onyx in battle.
| thrust forward, mping my jaw on the arm of the beast. His blood tasted awful-if | would even call it blood. Bites, wing,
tearing, anything and everything wolves did, we did. We''re two powerhouses, two predators tearing down our prey. The beast
fought back hard without fail. Onyx snagged a leg and effortlessly tossed the beast to a tree, the sheer force almost knocking it
over from the roots.
From my jaws, | spat out the blood. Ugh. | was going to be brushing my teeth for the rest of the night. Onyx trotted over and
nudged my side with his snout, his way of asking if | was okay. We may share a mate bond, but there was not an established
mind-—link, so we couldn’tmunicate naturally. Sometimes, if a message was powerful enough, it would get through. Like with
Orion that day.
| bump his snout back, responding with a low growl. Onyx’s frayed fur rxed, his horse-like stature standing. tall as his watchful
eyes red at the beast, slowly getting his bearings. It looks like it was ready for another
light.
“The avatar.” Its deep, grumbling, gritty voice struck fear into my wolf heart. “Give me the avatar!”
This changed everything. All this time, this son—of—a—bitch wanted me. It knew that | was an avatar! My mind echoed back to the
passage | read in that mysterious book | found in the library. White wolves have been hunted for their power for centuries
because we''re connected to our Moon Goddess. This beast was a hunter.
Hunting me. Wanting to hurt me.
That deration riled up Onyx again, his teeth unsheathed, and drool dripped from his gums like rain. He was
pissed. With a mighty, earth—-shattering howl, he attacked again and tore the beast apart. He didn’t stop for a breath. The blood
never bothered him. He quenched his thirst for blood like an apex predator and left the gargantuan hunter bleeding on the ck
soil. Mother Nature, unfortunately, soaked up the blood on her
earth.
The wolf panted, but not without snarling and kicking the mangled corpse. Onyx trotted to the side of the car where he shifted
back to Neron. Cracking bones is a sickly, melodious tune in the empty air. | grabbed my clothes by my teeth and went to the
other side, shifting back into my human form, and quickly got dressed.
Before long, Neron came to my side. “Are you okay?”
“|... think so.” That''s not true. | was far from okay, I’m being hunted. If Neron wasn’t here, who knows what might have
happened. Huffing in a deep, relieved breath, he pulled me into a tight hug, Neron’srge hand rubbed circles on my back as his
chin rested on top of my head.
He’s shaking.
“Let''s get you home. Sit in the back,
okay? | don’t want you sitting on
ss.” The Alpha released me and
opened the side do ?@ssturing!for
to get in. NO lly, I''d say
something snappy, but | didn''t. |
spent all my energy subduing the
hunter. As | was about to get in, |
heard shuffling sounds and deep
moans and my fear came straight
back as | saw the form of the
mangled hunter begin to move. The
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“He''s getting back up!” | yelled.
Neron’s head jerked behind him and
entered survival mode. Pushing r the
back seat, he m eshedoot Bhd
t intoxthexsrver’ side as fast as a
cheetah and started the car. The
mangled hunter made his way
towards us, ready to take me again
when Neron’s foot mmed on the
ga Wheels screeched against
concrete and raced down the road
away from the cmity on two feet.
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Read thetest chapter there!
We drove around for twenty minutes,
taking extra precautions to make
sure the hunter lost our trail. Once th
coast is clear, we togkthe aefSt dnd
drove paeidzircon Moon territory.
When the guards saw the damage to
the windshield, none could get a
word out because Neron silenced
them. He didn''t feel like exining
what had happened. Honestly? | don’t
me him. The content is on
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chapter there!
We were in no mood to talk.
Once we rolled into the garage and parked, | stepped out and leaned against the car door. Who knew a night
of fun would turn into this mess?
Neron appeared next to me, “One hell of a night.”
“Yeah.” | run a hand through my hair. “How are you taking it?”
“Honestly?” He shoved his hands in his pockets as he also leaned on the car door. “I’m in the mood for sleep This night was...
crazy.” We both share augh before falling into silence again. “Meet me in my office tomorrow after training and we''ll talk
about...you know...what happened.”
He wasn’t just talking about the hunter. He was also talking about the kiss. Sighing, | give him a curt nod before turning away.
Neron called for my attention again and when | turn back, | saw that he was holding my teddy bear, unharmed from the chaos.
“Thanks.” | smile, taking the bear in my arms. Not a ss shard in sight. It was safe. We went our separate ways in the
packhouse. | walked past my friends in themon room having a movie marathon. They were engrossed in the moving
pictures until Jackie noticed me, her excitement turning to concern when the looked
“What the hell happened to your closer the and prompting everyone to look at me. | looked at my shirt
17o asked,
to see it littered with cuts from the game during the attack
| chuckled, uneasy. “Um Neron and got into anti ident?
“Are year okay?” Galen asked, worried. | waert day because some nuts aren’t healing because of the ss in
you
won''t them. I’m exhausted
in
“Yeah, | will be.” | nodded, “I''ll talk to you all in the morning about it, whey? My friends wanted to protest
okey?” but decided against it. Grateful, | walked to my bedroom and sarked my teddy base in the corner of my room.
beer
It was time for my date with a pair of tweezart.
Chapter Cammantip