Chapter 21
Come on, faster!
I saw hints of the couples standing around and I must’ve blinked a hundred times and gritted my teeth to dust but eventually I saw a broad and hard back with arms bigger than I had seen on a werewolf. He faced Emanuel and though his back was facing me, I knew he was gleaming with pride.
And there was Emanuel, staring back with an equally fierce glare but there was an understanding in his eyes. My blurry vision somewhat returned but I shook it off and focused on those kind, playful eyes slowly shaking my head back and forth just once hoping he would see.
Emanuel turned his head and locked eyes with me. Those eyes could make even the most lost soul on this earth feel as though they had found a home.
“I’m sorry,” he said gravely with a defeated look.
“Please, do choose one of the girls.” Lady Hale said giddily and gestured with her hand for the line of girls in dirty white dresses and disheveled braids standing meekly against the wall.
“One must be to your satisfaction,” she purred.
Emanuel pushed his chest out and pressed his lips into a thin line.
“Yes, one was.” He said darkly.
Lady Hale wasn’t bothered, she knew who was really in charge and she had never been known to care for a life other than her own.
That had to make things easier- make life easier- not caring about anybody but yourself and only ever doing what feels right for you.
“Easy?” Trixy said, tired from using the last of her energy to heal me. She was slowly retreating to get some rest.
“You don’t think so?”
“Caring about nobody isn’t easy. Don’t forget that it goes both ways. She’s not happy, she’s lonely,” her voice was quietly echoing as she disappeared into the back of my mind.
Emanuel stepped closer to the girls, one by one he started silently ranking them- sizing them up and evaluating their looks and prominent features as well as bone structure and strength.
He moved in front of Iliana, moving away her braid that fell over her shoulder and circled her neck with his hand.
“What is your name,
sweetheart?”
She took a deep breath and tilted her head back.
“Iliana,”
He rubbed her neck and licked his lips as his canines extend.
Yes, she’s good, she deserves you. ↑
Do it.
“Lovely,” He mused and bit down on her neck.
The blood ran down her skin in a line and she fisted his shirt and screamed out in pain as he branded her.
I watched Darian move in front of me and I immediately stopped smiling and looked away.
If he saw me happy about Emanuel and Iliana, I was sure he’d find some way to ruin it.
1/2
Chapter 21
“I guess you weren’t worth fighting for.” He said with pride swelling in his chest.
I lifted my head, looked up and stared him dead in the eyes now that I could.
“I’m not worth dying for.” I said in a correction.
Darian bit back a growl and didn’t look away from me even when Lady Hale spoke up.
“The Hunt is now over, you have caught your prey, it is time to show the girls their new homes. Those of you who haven’t been marked will be taken back to your pack, go with captain Tala and await further instructions.”
I saw the face on some of the girls who hadn’t been marked, the sadness and shame.
Hopefully one day they will see that they were the actual winners of this Hunt.
The Alpha’s Hunt
