Chapter 7- Hunting Part I

As Jo led Dante to the hunting ground, the bustling noise of crowd gathering got louder and louder. Much to Jo’s dismay, Dark Slayer pack had annual traditions of hunting and killing of demon slaves. These slaves were usually caught wondering the no-man’s border. Jo knew some of these slaves were not just exiled demons but a mix of also wondering elves, half fairies, and more creatures. Alpha Jayden took great interest in killing them every year in this so called ‘traditional hunt’.

And Jo had a doubt the royal King and Queen were not even aware of this hunt. The hunting ground was filled with various looking slaves in shackles, all looking defeated and tired, signs of abuse apparent with the bruises on their skin. Jo flinched a little at the sight but quickly maintained her posture.

All the higher ranked officials were seated in a tent above the hunting ground, looking comfortable and enjoying the parade. Jo knew all this hunting was really a validation they needed for their strength, how pathetic.

‘Please enter the tents General, I cannot go any further’, Jo prompted the general stepping aside for him to walk past. But instead of just walking into the tent, the general just grabbed Jo’s hands and dragged her inside the tent as well.

‘What in the bloody murders is this general doing?’, Jo thought panicking but tried to look calm in front of many shocked faces. She could not talk back to him in front of so many officials or she would be seen as insolent and thrown into the dungeon. And the last thing she wanted was to create more troubles for herself.

The former Alpha, Warren approached them with a confused look on his face. ‘Greetings General D.Castiel. I see you have taken a liking to one of our omegas’.

Dante just replied with a smile making Jo internally infuriated. Only if she could kick him in the balls where it would hurt the most…

‘Is there a problem?’, Dante asked tightening his grip on my hands.

‘Of course not General. Our people are ready to serve the royal representative in any way possible. Jo, please see to it that all of general’s needs are met’, the former Alpha eyed Jo with a stern look.

‘Yes Alpha, it's a pressure to serve the general. Ugh, I meant pleasure ’, Jo forced the words out of her mouth and gave the fakest smile she had to the general.

‘I would only like to be served by Jolene during my stay here’, Dante proudly announced making Gina giggle who was just standing next to the former Alpha.

She was wearing a low cut-top which showed her cleavage to the onlookers and a below the knee length skirt. Gina could make heads turn with her perfectly straight blonde hair and looks but as soon as they knew her nasty personality and childish tantrums, it would turn anyone off immediately.

Gina whispered slowly so that only Jo could hear, ‘Make sure to keep his bed warm’.

Jo rolled her eyes at her comment. At least Gina was not physically abusive and at Jo’s throat like she was to Lucy and other omegas.

But before Jo could reply, Gina immediately squeaked, ‘Alpha Jayden is here and he looks handsome and dashing as ever’.

Jo turned her head to see that Alpha Jayden had arrived at the tent followed by a silver-haired man who looked like he could be a higher ranked royal visitor. He had a distinctive silver armour, almost similar to the one Dante was wearing. He had the same tall physique as well with a strong aura around him.

‘Ah General C. Bolt, welcome to infamous hunting ground of Dark Slayer pack’, the former Alpha excitedly said.

‘I have heard a lot of good things about the hunt, will see if the hunt really lives up to its name’, Caleb replied with a grin while Alpha Jayden stood next to him looking pissed.

Gina immediately tended to Jayden’s side lowering her top more as if it was not already low in the first place.

‘Please make yourself comfortable, the hunt will begin soon. Guards release the slaves into the hunting ground’, the former Alpha excused himself and barked orders. The slaves were always given a head start in the hunt, but this ground was an enclosed area, so Jo wondered how the head start was helping them at all.

Jo noticed that the silver-haired man was watching her as Dante continued to hold her hands. She saw the two generals look at each other and mind link each other back and forth.

The other general, C. Bolt finally broke the awkward silence and extended his right hand to Jo, ‘Pleased to meet you, my name is Caleb. I can see Dante here is very fond of your companionship’.

Jo was irked at his comment but decided not to react. She was getting annoyed that these generals kept making her address them by their first names, other officials would think she was being disrespectful

‘Yes, it appears so. One might even think I am babysitting him holding hands like this', Jo sarcastically replied raising her linked hands with Dante and ignoring Caleb's extended handshake.

Caleb chuckled but stopped when Dante threw a killer glare at him.

Gina was already by Jayden’s side linking her arms to him and rubbing her breast on his shoulders. Jo grimaced at the sight, shaking her head.

‘My oh my, I never knew Generals were this handsome!’, Jo heard a slu.tty voice from behind and she already knew who it was; the current Beta’s wife Linda. She also had the exact straight blonde hair like Gina’s complimented by a heavy makeup with overly drawn lips.

Neither of the generals looked at Linda but she stepped really close to Caleb making him gag with the thick coat of perfume she had sprayed on herself.

‘Let me introduce myself to you handsome lads. My name is Linda and I am known to be quite the beauty queen around this pack’, she repeated herself again. Her eyes lingered on to Jo and she paused for a second.

‘General you are holding on to an omega. I have three beautiful daughters that take after me and are far better in title and status. Or if you fancy yourself a much older and experienced…’. Linda was cut off when the former Alpha announced that the hunting ground was ready.

Jo shivered at what Linda had just said. No wonder Gina learned who*ing herself when her mother was like this.

Everyone’s attention turned to the former Alpha now as he continued with his announcement. ‘As you know, this year we have special royal guest joining us. We have royal Generals, commanders and warriors gracing our pack, and it is an honour to share this hunting tradition with them. These slaves are wondering demons caught disturbing peace in the no-man’s border. So, we are doing a favour hunting and kill these bastards’.  

The Alpha’s speech was met with roars of agreement. Jo shook her head, not all demons were evil and not all of those slaves were just demons.

‘Under the tradition, each participant is allowed to choose a maiden of any rank to go on a hunt with them. And whoever wins this hunt with most kills can claim the golden coins and a feast will be celebrated in their name! But remember this hunting ground has been especially built to eliminate any powers and shape shifting, so this hunt is purely primal, and combat based’, the Alpha finished making Jo’s eye shoot up. She never heard this part of the hunting rules before. Come to think about it, she never stayed long enough to hear all the rules out before. Shit.

'How did Dante know that he needed to choose a maiden to hunt with and why the heck did he choose me? Wait, did Alpha Warren just say that the hunting ground eliminates powers??? Fuc.k my scent cover will be blown up. I am screwed’, Jo panicked inside her head as Dante looked on hungrily at Jo like a predator had just met it's prey.