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Prologue
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2024-10-29 19:42:56"We hunt those who hunt us" - The Hunter's Code."
As long as there have been werewolves, Hunter has hunted them. These werewolf Hunter families are people who have dedicated their lives to tracking werewolves and other supernatural beings whom they consider a threat to humanity.
The Venandi family are part of this elite league and come from a long line of expert Hunters. As a result, they possess extensive knowledge of these creatures and hunt and fight against them successfully. In addition, they have a vast arsenal of weapons and technology purposefully designed to eliminate werewolves.
Even though the Venandis are incredibly proud of their Hunting business, they have to keep it a secret. Ordinary citizens must not find out about these creatures prowling in the night to keep the peace and order in their rural community.
So, they work regular nine to five jobs during the day, leaving the hunting until after the cover of night.
Once a member of a Hunters family turns eighteen, generations of knowledge get passed down in the form of rigorous training and drilling of the rules, whether or not they want to participate in this brutal business.
These modified rules have been created into a moral code amongst themselves that must be followed at all times.
While simple, the code covers many situations.
~Hunters only hunt werewolves who harm humans as long as there is proof.
~Hunters do not kill younger werewolves, particularly children.
~Hunters do not kill humans.
~Hunters have to follow the "honours code" to end their own life if bitten by a werewolf.
~Not all hunters follow the code.
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HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 1
A sharp rustling noise followed by a bright light burning through her closed eyelids woke Minnow from her restless slumber.Soon, the sun's high position on the cloud-free sky flooded the sizable bedroom. After the housemaid, Ariella pulled the thick dark curtains apart in the two large bay windows facing the bed. "Hey, what are you think you are doing" Minnow hissed, annoyed and threw herself around in the elegant four-poster bed and away from the harsh rays.Ariella didn't care; this wasn't the first time someone in the wealthy Venandi family had yelled at her."Your mother wants you downstairs for brunch," Ariella said instead and walked out of the room and closed the door after her.Minnow grunted unhappily. "Why doesn't anyone understand I don't want to see people?" she rolled out of bed and sauntered to her ensuite. She slipped out of her golden silk nightie and looked at her naked body in the floor mirror.Her previously curvy body had become unattractively thin, and her pale
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 2
The bright sunlight had faded into a warm afternoon glow basking the bedroom in golden glimmers when they finally woke up from their midday nap.Minnow was lying on her stomach. She stretched and yawned, then turned her face towards Saylor's and met his suspicious glare. She could feel the chilled air trail over her bare skin. Minnow immediately pulled down her jumper to cover her back."Why, do you have a bruise from a boot on your back?" Saylor whispered. His voice was horrified.Minnow buried her face in the pillow to compose herself. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it." She grumbled from inside the soft, fluffy layers."Um, I am going to worry about it, ok." Saylor's tone was determined, and Minnow knew he wouldn't back down. "I don't want to talk about it." She whispered and finally met his concerned eyes. Minnow sat up on the bed, and her shoulders slumped."I think you will feel better if you do." His eyes were soft but seemed decided on getting her talking. He reached ou
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 3
Deceived by sleep, Minnow was back in the forest on that dreadful night.She could hear her laboured breaths as she ran out into the small grass-covered clearing amongst the towering trees.The air was crisp and heavy with damp moss and decomposing leaves. Minnow could see her parent's mansion, situated slightly above the Oakheart town. The light at the main gate shone like a searchlight in the distance.Scattered pearls of the faraway gas giants spilt out over the navy blue sky's backdrop in beautiful patterns above the open area.She smiled at the night's hidden beauty and admired how the moon rays basked the playground's shiny metal equipment in glistening silver.Minnow stumbled as her high heels sunk into the moist earth, and for a split second, she thought about taking them off so she could run faster.But being drunk lulled her into a false sense of security that there was no need since she was nearly home anyway.Suddenly, Minnow's stomach churned, and she felt an unfamiliar
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 4
Dovie stopped them before they could escape through the extensive front door. "Minnow darling, don't forget you have a dress fitting later today for your birthday," her mother called out from the top of the wide staircase. Minnow sighed, her shoulders slumped, and her feet dragged a few steps. "Ok, mother, I won't forget. She grumbled without looking back. "Mrs Venandi, you look younger each time I see you." Saylor smiled and waved at her mother, and Minnow could hear Dovie snicker approvingly. Minnow rolled her eyes. "You are so gross." His eyebrows rose, "I can't help that older women love me." he chuckled in defence. "Pretty much all women love you?" Minnow corrected, pushed open the doors, and let in the crisp autumn air. "Well, I didn't want to sound too presumptuous." He winked and walked past her towards the waiting car. Their private chauffeur walked around the side of the shiny black sedan and opened the passenger door. His weathered face broke into a friendly smile wh
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 5
The walking track around the lake looked quiet despite the beautiful autumn weather.They stopped and ordered coffees from a pink vintage coffee van set up for the lakes, usually many visitors.Saylor added a couple of the van's owner's homebaked cookies. He handed the small brown paper bag to Minnow, and the aromas of freshly brewed coffee and warm buttery vanilla filled her nostrils, wrapping around her senses like a comforting blanket.The gravel crunched under their feet as they headed down the dirt track towards their favourite spot at the water's edge. The lake lay motionless and blank in the middle of the network of paths, reflecting the surrounding landscape like an old faded photograph. "I am sorry for before." Minnow felt so ashamed for her behaviour, especially now when she had calmed down. "I thought I was ready," she mumbled and sipped her hot coffee."You don't have to apologise. What happened to you will take time to heal. I am, in fact, proud of you for being so brav
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 6
Back in her room, she finally could breathe again. Her whole body ached from the exhaustion of pretending everything was ok.Minnow grabbed her one photo album from the desk drawer and lay on her stomach on the large bed.She loved looking through the photos of Saylor and her at the lake under the liquidambar tree. In the album's first photos, the two of them couldn't be more than ten years old. Oh, how they had grown practically adults now.Minnow's face broke into a heartfelt grin as she glanced at the younger versions of themselves. So happy, innocent and carefree.Her face soon turned into a frown as the sadness of losing that innocence washed over her. These strange men, these monsters, had stolen something from her that could never be brought back—her virginity and trust in human beings.Minnow's phone chimed, and she secretly hoped it was Saylor. She could need some of his kind words and cheer up.She glanced at the display, and curls rolled like waves through her body."Oh, no
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 7
The town below was engulfed in a kaleidoscope of shimmering lights flickering in the distance as the starry nighttime swept over the Oakheart village that never seemed fully asleep. The garden was cold and completely dark when Minnow and Henry decided to head back inside. It had been quiet and peaceful under the apple tree, but Minnow felt the chill as the darkness swallowed them when the candle in the lantern burned out.It was the most piercing darkness she had felt, awakening her senses with its sharp, crisp smells.The night had never bothered Minnow before, but now, shadows seemed to reach for her at every turn. She could feel her heartbeats quicken, and her hands became clammy.Henry put his hand on her arm, and Minnow jumped from his unsuspected touch."Oh, I am so sorry, Minnow. I didn't mean to frighten you." Henry apologised profusely."That's ok. The dark makes me a bit nervous sometimes." She mumbled, grateful he couldn't see her strained face under cover of night."Come
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 8
Minnow couldn't sleep that night. She was too wired to relax and tossed and turned the night's first half. The clock had entered the hour of the wolf when she finally fell into a slumber, the time when the deepest fears haunted her. The sleepless spell when ghosts and demons are most powerful. Minnow was transported back to that dreadful night everything changed. It was dark, cold and damp in the playground. Minnow desperately moved her shivering body crawling over the wet grass. Dead rotting leaves rose and squeezed out between her fingers as she dragged herself forward on the nature floor. The blood rushed loudly through her ears and blended with her laboured, shallow breaths. Heavy footsteps followed behind, and the clacking sound of the metal as a belt buckle was undone. "No, no, this is not happening." Her brain screamed, drowning out all rational thoughts about fight or flight, freezing her in tonic immobility. A pair of warm hands gripped her bare legs and flipped her for
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HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 16
A steady rhythmical whirring seeped into her ears, and Minnow blinked as her eyes adjusted.An expansive room with a high ceiling and smooth concrete walls stretched out in front of her.She first thought, have I just stepped into a military base? There were desktops alongside the slate grey walls with multiple laptops and computers, the hard-disk access light flickered in the dim glow, and the drives made a high-pitched whining noise as they received continuous data.Above the desks hung large screens displaying what looked like surveillance footage from numerous foreign locations. On the opposite wall were countless glass cabinets with a vast arsenal of weapons.Under a warm light was an old wooden bookshelf adorned with ancient inky treasures lined by size. The wood on the bookshelf looked like it was once a part of a mighty ship that had washed up on a beach one day. But, now finally sat in its forever harbour, in this room. A sturdy steel table stood in the middle, with docume
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 15
The truck ride down the mountain was uneventful. The man who introduced himself as Elias was chatty and vibrant. Aiko wasn't really in the mood to talk but answered Elias's question appeasingly. The rhythmic rocking of the truck made her eyes heavy, and she swung her restless gaze over the stunning nature flowing past the windows. On one side of the road, the knobbly face of the mountain was grizzled and sacristy silent. On the other side, a magnificent panorama view peeked through a harmonic blend of towering emerald pine trees and the ember-red leaves of autumn. "So, are you from the mountain?" She suddenly heard herself ask in a desperate attempt to stay awake."No, I live closer to White Creek. That's where I have my farm." Elias clarified."You are a long way from home," she mumbled and rubbed her narrowing eyes.Sleep seemed hellbent on claiming her right this instant."Yes, but it's worth the trip. I sell most of my produce to The Moonfall town. They are great people," Elias
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 14
The grass was crispy under Aiko's feet, growing freely on the clumpy, mossy mattress floor. A flurry of wind carried a fragrance with it. It was soul-refreshing to smell the mulchy mix of the forest's perfume.Aiko knew the best thing to do when lost in the woods was to try to retrace your steps. It was obviously harder to do when you had been brought to a place blindfolded.So she searched the surrounded area for footsteps. She found large prints near the crater in the ground and glanced in the direction they pointed; she now knew to walk the other way.The hells pit looked like a natural sinkhole with circular earth and stone blended edge. The first blush of light had chased the shadows and banished the gloom, and Aiko could finally see the bottom of the hole.She estimated it was about a 10-meter drop to the smashed cardboard boxes on top of the foam mattresses.The isolated, unpleasant hollow contained nothing but natural debris that had fallen down over time.The ropes twisted fi
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 13
Minnow's head pounded with tension as she slowly returned to consciousness. Her mouth was still gagged with duct tape, and the musky-smelling sack remained over her face.Goosebumps burning like coal covered every inch of her shivering body in the cold night air. Two unknown people dragged her down a quiet, isolated trail. Her bare feet slid across what felt like rotting leaves and squelchy mud.Nausea stirred in her gut, and panic rose instinctively in her chest from being unable to vomit with her mouth covered.They stopped, and the forest sounds could be heard through the sack's coarsely woven fabric. A wise owl hooted in the distance, and a fox's agonizing cries echoed amongst the towering tree giants swaying in the breeze.A gust of icy wind travelled up from underneath. Minnow gasped at the paralyzing fear of being hung over a cliff edge.She could feel the coldness of the rock beneath her feet as her toes curled around the edge in one last futile attempt at survival—Minnow's h
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 12
Minnow shifted her weight from one foot to the other as the guests sang the celebration song at a deafening volume.The unpleasant feeling of being stared at intensified as more people entered her field of vision. She was surrounded from every angle on a razor's edge of panic. Minnow glanced furtively over the shoulder with an urge to run, but where to? Aiko's thoughts and her very different personality exploded through Minnow's mind. She was feeding on Minnow's fears and anxieties, using them to become stronger.Aiko pried among Minnow's memories, ridiculing her for being a weak pacifist. They were nothing alike.Their voices conflicted among themselves—within Minnow's head."Regretting sending me away?" Aiko's voice echoed smugly."Never. I am handling it, ok, so leave." Minnow took one long, slow, deep breath as she endeavoured to convince herself that her fast reply was true. "Look at you all sweaty and stressed. You are pathetic." Aiko snickered."Leave. I don't need you", Min
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 11
As the night continued, Aiko mingled the crowd with elegance and ease. She held the influential businessmen's lingering stare with newfound confidence and calm.Aiko knew the men in the room desired her, and she moved her curvy body sensually and gracefully to tease and provoke.Minnow couldn't control anything happening to her; in what felt like an out-of-body experience. Nevertheless, they remained co-conscious in a state where one person was out, but the other was aware of what was transpiring.Minnow was mortified over the way her alter acted around these big shots.Her grandfather watched her from the centre of the room, surrounded by a group of flatterers. His usual disapproving frown was there, but there was a shift in his glare as curiosity flashed in his milky eyes. "You seem so different. I thought you hated these kinds of events?" Saylor questioned as they danced to the upbeat tunes.He glanced at her suspiciously, and she pouted her full lips and peeked at him from under
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 10
Minnow paced the bedroom floor. An incoherent chatter was heard from the bottom stairs as the guests were greeted and shown into the elegant ballroom.Minnow had been given strict orders from her mother not to come down until she sent for her. She was expected to make a grand entrance when all the guests were gathered. There was a soft knock on the door, and Minnow froze in fear. "Already, surely all of the guests haven't arrived yet?" She mumbled to herself before calling out in a trembling voice. "Come in!"The door creaked, and Minnow held her breath. Her shoulders slumped when Saylor's familiar face peeked in through the door."Oh, thank God. Quick, come in before my mother sees you." Minnow waved Saylor into the room, hurried over and gave him a warm embrace. "Wow. Minnow, you look stunning." Saylor praised and twirled her around in a slow pirouette."I know, right." Minnow winked with a big childish grin. "I bet you are surprised I could scrub up like this." she laughed ha
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 9
Minnow had seen the man stepping out on the road in the rearview mirror, watching her disappear. There was something about that man making him hard to forget. It was the day of the dreaded birthday party. Minnow's room had been transformed into a beauty parlour as multiple people pampered her for the big day. The large bay windows flooded the room with natural light as the afternoon sun travelled westward across the sky. Soft tunes were playing on the stereo, mixing pleasantly with the murmur of low voices from the stylists moving around in the space. Minnow sat quietly on a chair in front of a sizeable lit-up make-up mirror. Her face was etched in a deep frown from all the fuss. None of this was her idea. It was all her mothers doing in her strive for perfection. Minnow had to be shown looking fabulous tonight in front of the more important townspeople. Her mother had been bossing everyone around since the crack of dawn. She had a hand in every detail, leaving no stone untur
HOUR OF THE WOLF Chapter 8
Minnow couldn't sleep that night. She was too wired to relax and tossed and turned the night's first half. The clock had entered the hour of the wolf when she finally fell into a slumber, the time when the deepest fears haunted her. The sleepless spell when ghosts and demons are most powerful. Minnow was transported back to that dreadful night everything changed. It was dark, cold and damp in the playground. Minnow desperately moved her shivering body crawling over the wet grass. Dead rotting leaves rose and squeezed out between her fingers as she dragged herself forward on the nature floor. The blood rushed loudly through her ears and blended with her laboured, shallow breaths. Heavy footsteps followed behind, and the clacking sound of the metal as a belt buckle was undone. "No, no, this is not happening." Her brain screamed, drowning out all rational thoughts about fight or flight, freezing her in tonic immobility. A pair of warm hands gripped her bare legs and flipped her for
