4

CALIFF

Things just went out of hand.

I couldn’t believe a sheriff knew that our kind existed. I was still figuring out how he found out, but I hadn’t been able to contact Alpha Knight and check out if Sheriff Carter was telling the truth.

It was five in the morning when I woke up to an empty bed. It was unusual for Shadow to wake up ahead of me. Since we mated, we cuddled, kissed, and did a round of fantastic sex before we got up from bed. I also couldn’t reach out to her.

I stretched out and got up from bed. The bathroom was empty. I tried reaching out to our link, but I had no luck.

“Zack?”

“Alpha, what’s wrong?” He looked like he just woke up, too.

“So the answer is no.”

“Wait. What’s no?”

“Never mind. Go back to sleep.”

I changed into sweatpants and a hoodie and decided to go for a run. I stripped off my clothes when I reached the giant tree where we stuffed our things before transforming. I instantly caught the scents of Lyon and Tor walking in my direction.

I shifted into my black wolf and ran. Since our wedding and we went on our honeymoon, I hadn’t wolfed out. Maybe Shadow went for a run, too, but I couldn’t sniff her smell everywhere.

Lyon’s gray and Tor’s light brown wolves followed my trail as we raced through the woods. It felt good to feel the earth against the pads of my paws and smell the fresh morning dew on the leaves.

When the cliff came into view, it reminded me of our wedding and those we had lost in that battle. I looked around but still couldn’t find Shadow, even her wolf.

Lyon and Tor stopped behind me. The cliff view was magnificent during sunrise and full moon. It always took my breath away. I remembered how Shadow and I made a deal before accepting me as her mate. It was terrifying and heartwarming at the same time.

I always knew my mate would be as strong as hers, but never in my wildest dream the Moon Goddess would bless me with an amazing and beautiful woman, let alone a Lycan.

Climbing down, I trotted towards the east, where there was a stream. I still didn’t catch her scent. She could be masking it, or she didn’t come here for a run.

Lyon and Tor were still in my tail as I scurried to the tall grass. Shadow and I fucked like animals months ago, and still fresh in my memory. And there she was, rolling on the wild grass, ready for petting.

Lyon and Tor made a wolf sound of amazement. Even me, her mate, it still amazed me to see her glowing white wolf— a Lycan wolf.

She stiffened and sat on her paws the moment she realized she wasn’t alone anymore. Her eyes narrowed as she saw me strolling in her direction.

I pressed my nozzle against her before licking her, causing her to growl. Lyon and Tor went running away, giving us some privacy. Once they were far, I tackled Shadow and bit her softly on her neck.

She growled, panting, and got on her paws, but I shifted back.

“That’s for leaving without a notice where you went,” I growled back, meeting her angry stare.

She stretched out as she turned to her wolf form. “Maybe we should fuck while in wolves.”

I snorted. “Tempting, but no, thank you.”

She laughed, but it sounded like a snort as I shifted, followed her, and ran back to the camp.

Once we reached the tree, she went to the other tree to put her clothes on. I put my sweatpants and hoodie on before I went to her. She was still putting her bra on when I cupped her face and kissed her loudly.

“Morning, baby.” I looked at her with intensity and a hungry gaze. I wanted to show her that I would always want her even if the world around us became rather complicated.

“Morning.” Her gaze clung to me, worried rather than hopeful.

“What’s wrong?”

“Before you tell me not to do that again. I’ll save you some time. Don’t.”

“I know.” I picked up her hoodie and helped her put it on. “What’s bothering you?”

She sighed deeply, refusing to focus. “I thought we could finally have some peace after what happened at the compound almost four months ago, but here we are again. Zarah wouldn’t just warn us if the threat wasn’t real. I know her.”

“I know, baby.” I rubbed her arms. “And the sheriff. I want to know if he’s telling the truth, but he’s human.”

“He is unless he knows how to mask his scent and emotions because he’s a hunter, but I heard his heartbeat and smelled his fear and respect towards you.”

My brows met. “I didn’t smell anything.”

“You could if you wanted.”

“Yeah, but I was shocked knowing he knew about us.”

Lyon and Tor came back, already with pants on.

“What happened to the previous sheriff?”

“He and his family moved to the countryside,” Tor answered. That was pretty convenient.

“What do you know about the new guy?”

“Sheriff Carter? He seems a good man,” Lyon said, “but looks could be deceiving.”

“I want you to befriend him.”

“Why?” Shadow asked, not hiding her withering disdain.

“Because I want to know if he’s the good guy.”

Lyon and Tor blinked.

“What am I missing?” Lyon asked, ping-ponging his gaze between me and Shadow.

“We’ll talk in the office. I’m starving,” I said dismissively before he could ask more questions.

We got back to the compound. As much as I wanted to shower with my mate, we had pressing matters.

An hour later, we were both ready to work. She kissed me on the cheek before she left our room. I still wanted to say something, but she was already gone.

I was still starving, though. I went down to the dining to find Shadow, Duke, Kindra, my father, Marcus, and the guys.

“Dad, what are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to you about something, but it looks like you have more issues to deal with.”

“Dad, it’s fine. What is it all about?” I sat next to my mate.

Dad waved off. “That can wait. So why are these guys here?”

“I was planning on talking to Elders, but now that you’re here, I’m sure you know something.” I picked up a plate, put some breakfast for my mate, and gave it to Shadow. I grabbed my plate, filled a lot of carbs, and started eating.

“About what exactly?”

“Hunters.”

The room went silent. They all froze, except Shadow, who already knew the news. They held their breaths, and all I could hear was their racing heartbeats.

Shadow was right, and sometimes I forgot that I had heightened senses that I was too focused on one sense alone and on finding a solution to the problem in the pack.

“Hunters?” I instantly felt the fear in my father’s voice.

I drew a deep breath and washed away the fear I felt from everyone. “Yes.”

“Have you heard about hunters in town, Waylon?” Shadow asked.

Obviously, this wasn’t new to us. Hunters had been in every werewolf book, the folktales, and every pup bedtime story, but none of us had encountered one. And there was this legendary hunter that killed hundreds of our kind— the terrible thing was, he was also a werewolf. His aim was to end the spread of our species because he believed we were doomed. We were cursed. We were monsters.

Everyone hadn’t moved or eaten, waiting for my father’s answer.

“Guys, eat. If this is true, this issue won’t be over soon. And I’m sure we can find a solution to this,” I told everyone. Even I, myself, was also distressed. And I was beginning to lose my appetite.

They slowly let go of a shuddering breath in a way that they would be fined if they breathed normally.

“Is there a connection to the dead man the sheriff found yesterday?” Zack asked.

“I’m still trying to find the person responsible, but this one is different.”

“How did you know about hunters, son?”

“Zarah warned us to be careful. There have been some incidents in the south. Alpha King Sebastien might have known this for a while now while we were out of the country.”

Dad nodded, but I felt the heaviness in his action.

“So we’re all in danger,” Marcus said.

“Nothing to worry about right now until we find concrete evidence that there are hunters in town, but just be careful.”

“I will arrange a meeting with my father and Zarah. Alpha and I will get some details about these hunters. In the meantime, this can’t go out of the room until we have relevant facts to support this rumor. We don’t want to cause panic in the pack.”