Page 84 of Hunter's Game
“You know,” Hunter said, his voice low, his thumb tracing patterns on the back of her hand, “Inever really believed in happy endings. But this... this feels pretty close.”
Eden glanced at him, taking in the sight of him in this moment of peace—the tension that had been a constant in his expression now eased, the wariness in his eyes replaced by something softer, more hopeful. She thought about all they had overcome, all they had lost and found along the way, and the path that stretched out before them—uncertain, but full of possibilities.
“It’s not an ending, Hunter,” she said, her smile soft, her heart full. “It’s just the beginning.”
And in that moment, with the weight of their mission finally lifted and the future unfolding before them like an unexplored road, Eden knew it was true. This wasn’t the end of their story—it was the first chapter of something new, something they would write together, one day at a time. And for the first time in longer than she could remember, she found herself looking forward to tomorrow.
The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon as Eden—she didn’t think she’d ever get used to being known as Maya enough to use it—and Hunter pulled into the compound. The events of the night hung heavy in the air, a palpable weight that seemed to press down on them from all sides.
Inside the clubhouse, the main room was a hive of activity. Patches and prospects alike moved with purpose, their faces grim with determination. Eden caught sight of King across the room, the sergeant at arms deep in conversation with Darkness and a group of their most trusted men.
Hunter led her over to a quiet corner, his strong hands gently turning her to face him, his eyes searching her face for any sign of injury or distress. “You okay, baby?” he asked, his voice low and rough with concern.
Eden leaned into him, letting his warmth and strength wash over her, drawing comfort from the steady beat of his heart against her palm. “I’m fine,” she said, meaning it. “Just tired. It's been along few weeks.”
As if on cue, King broke away from Darkness and the others, making his way over to them. His face was a mask of grim determination, his eyes hard with a kind of resigned anger that Eden had come to recognize during their time together.
“We need to talk,” he said, his voice brooking no argument. “Now.”
They followed King into the back room, where Darkness immediately followed, his imposing figure silhouetted against the window. The door closed behind him with a sense of finality.
King moved to stand at Darkness’s right hand, arms crossed over his chest, every inch the sergeant at arms—the enforcer and protector of the club.
“I just got word from my contacts in the DEA,” King said, his voice tight with barely contained rage. “They’re launching a full-scale investigation into the club. They think we’re connected to your grandfather’s operation.”
Eden’s heart sank, a cold dread settling into the pit of her stomach. She’d spent years as Eden Mitchell, using the identity to infiltrate her grandfather’s network, making her former life as Maya Wolfe feel foreign, unreal. Now both worlds were colliding in the worst possible way. “What? That’s insane. We had nothing to do with his business.”
Darkness spoke then, his voice calm but laced with steel. “Doesn’t matter what’s true. Matters what they can make stick.” He looked at King, a silent communication passing between them.
King sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “We fight back. We prove that we had nothing to do with Alexander’s empire. And we protect our own, no matter what.”
Hunter’s hand tightened around Eden’s, a silent show of support that made her heart swell with love. “What about the prospect?” he asked, his voice carefully neutral. “The one you think might be your daughter?”
King’s eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous, a protective instinct that Maya recognized all too well. “We keep an eye on her. If she’s really mine, then she’s a potential weakness. One our enemies could exploit.”
Darkness nodded, his expression grim. “We need to know for sure, King. You think you can handle this without compromising the club?”
King met his president’s gaze unflinchingly. “Family and club come first. Always have, always will. If she’s mine, I’ll deal with it. But I won’t let it interfere with my duties.”
As they left the back room, Eden’s mind raced with possibilities. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy—there would be battles to fight and enemies to face. But for the first time in her life, she wasn’t afraid.
She had Hunter, her fierce protector and loyal partner. She had King and Darkness, leaders who would stop at nothing to keep their people safe. And she had the club, a brotherhood that ran deeper than blood.
As they stepped out into the main room, Hunter pulled her close, his powerful body shielding her from the chaos around them. His eyes, dark with need and promise, locked onto hers before his lips found hers in a kiss that stole her breath. It was a promise, a vow, a declaration of everything they’d been through and everything they had yet to face. His hands cradled her face with surprising gentleness, his touch igniting a fire within her that only he could quench.
When they broke apart, she was smiling, her body humming with desire. “What was that for?” she asked, her heart racing in her chest.
Hunter grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief as his thumb traced the curve of her lower lip. “Just reminding you that you’re mine, Maya Wolfe. No matter what name you go by or what storms we weather together.”
The sound of her real name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine. He was the only one who called her Maya now, a rare and private intimacy that belonged to them alone.
They settled onto a pair of stools at the bar, their hands intertwined on the bartop, his thumb drawing lazy circles on her skin. Around them, the club was alive with activity—patches coming and going, prospects running errands, the jukebox blaring classic rock.
As they sipped their drinks, Eden let herself get lost in the moment. The feel of Hunter’s hand in hers, the warmth of the whiskey in her belly, thesense of belonging that seemed to fill her from the inside out.
She knew that there were still battles to be fought. Her grandfather’s empire might be gone, but there would always be someone else waiting in the wings, ready to take his place. Like a hydra—cut its head off and more would sprout up to take its place.
But for now, in this moment, none of that mattered. For now, she was exactly where she was meant to be.
