Page 80 of The Fated Hunter Wolf
I stood over the corpse, still in wolf form, silver fur stained with vampire blood. My chest heaved with exertion and adrenaline, and the shocked stares of the Orion pack were boring into me from every direction.
When I finally shifted back—naked and blood-soaked my shredded clothes scattered around me—I met Logan’s eyes with as much dignity as I could muster.
The remaining vampire presence in my head pulsed with sudden violent interest. Six ancient predators who’d just felt their scout die, who knew exactly where to find the hybrid who’d killed him.
They would be coming to Orion lands. It was only a matter of time. And I’d just revealed that I was exactly what they were looking for.
I’d painted a target on my back.
27
RHYS
The sun dipped behind the mountains, painting the sky in shades that reminded me uncomfortably of blood. I stood on the ridge overlooking the main settlement, watching our people—when had I started thinking of the Heraclids as “our people”?—prepare for what looked suspiciously like either a celebration or a ritual sacrifice. With pack ceremonies, the line was often thinner than anyone wanted to admit.
“Contemplating your imminent doom?” Sable asked from behind me, her approach silent as always. The woman moved like smoke when she wanted to, which was both useful and deeply unsettling.
“Just wondering if this bonfire’s going to be the last thing I see before we march off to our deaths.” I nodded toward Blair, who was adding enough kindling to power a small city. “Seems fitting. Go out in a blaze of Blair’s questionable fire-safety decisions.”
She moved to stand beside me, close enough that her scent filled me and made my wolf settle in ways that were probably unhealthy. The bond between us hummed with something thatwasn’t quite contentment—more like two broken things that fit together better than they had any right to.
“Having any doubts?” she asked.
“About leaving everyone defenseless while we deal with vampire politics? Just a few dozen.” I watched Logan directing torch placement with the kind of intense focus he usually reserved for battle plans. “Staying isn’t exactly an option either. Not with a vampire hunting party circling like vultures with abandonment issues.”
The mention of vampires made her scent spike with anxiety. Whatever her relationship with her vampire side was, it was complicated. Understandably, since around here, that could get her killed.
Logan and the rest would need to know eventually, but the timing right now was all wrong.
Below us, pack members moved in ways that almost looked normal if you ignored the weapons and how everyone kept checking sight lines to the forest. Heraclid families had established semi-permanent camps throughout the settlement. Orion teens chased Heraclid pups between the tents like this was a summer camp instead of a strategic relocation with supernatural overtones.
“Look at that chaos,” I said, nodding toward a group of kids who’d apparently formed some kind of inter-pack cookie-theft syndicate. “Six months ago, those Heraclid pups would’ve been hiding behind their parents. Now they’re running protection rackets on Marta’s baking operation.”
“Integration,” Sable said, her voice almost wistful.
“Don’t let Kenza hear you call it that. She’s still convinced half of them are sleeper agents plotting our downfall through baked goods.”
I spotted Kenza sharing what looked like a real conversation with one of the Heraclid warriors, and my point lost some ofits bite. The truth was, seeing our territory alive again felt… complicated. Good, maybe, but in a way that made me nervous about getting too attached to something that might not last.
For years after losing Nash and Wyatt, Orion lands had felt like a memorial to everything we’d failed to protect. Too much space, too few voices, too many empty buildings in the Old Town. Now the place buzzed with life and laughter, and it reminded me of why we fought in the first place.
It also reminded me of how much we had to lose.
“We should head down,” Sable said. “Logan’s been shooting meaningful looks in our direction, and I think he’s reached his limit for brotherly patience.”
I followed her gaze to where my brother stood beside the growing bonfire, arms crossed and wearing his “responsible alpha about to make speeches” expression.
“Right. Time for the ceremonial send-off to the Southern Council, where everyone pretends this isn’t a trap in progress.” I started down the ridge, Sable matching my pace. “Think Raina will break out the ancient songs? I love those. Nothing says ‘safe travels’ like howling in languages that died out before indoor plumbing.”
“You’re deflecting more than usual,” she observed.
“It’s either that or admit I’m terrified of what happens to everyone here while we’re gone playing supernatural diplomacy.” The truth slipped out before I could stop it, and I felt her attention sharpen through the bond. “Strategic necessity doesn’t make it easier to walk away.”
“Rhys—”
“I know. The council needs to hear about the vampire situation. Sitting here waiting for them to make their move isn’t exactly a winning strategy.” I kicked a loose stone down the path harder than necessary. “Doesn’t mean I have to be happy about timing our departure with when the pack needs us most.”
After moving in silence, we reached the main circle of the Moonstone Plateau. Logan stepped onto the stone platform, his voice carrying across the gathered crowd with alpha authority. “Tonight, we send two of our own to represent Orion interests at the Southern Council. They carry not just our political hopes, but our trust.”
