Chapter 9-The Hunt  SERENA'S POV 

 I sensed that something wasn't right as soon as we stepped out of the boundary of the first pack we got to. We were received warmly and had a little dinner at a small in at the far end of the pack and immediately we were on our way again and my heart was beating even when Derrick was walking right beside me .

My stomach rumbled because I had eaten very little but I didn't want to bother Derrick about it, he had done so much for me already.

 

Only the glow of lamplights extending down the road, the hum of the night in the distance and the deserted street. 

I could feel eyes on me though. I felt as if my breathing was labored and that the air itself had become harsh to me.

 “I think something is wrong.” I whispered.

He looked over his shoulder as if he thought someone might suddenly leap out at us from behind .

But then, I heard it as we were almost at the end of the alley. a faint sound that was  hardly audible. Slow, deliberate and too close

My instincts went into overdrive as the hairs on my arms stood on end. Something was on its way to us. 

 Derrick as if he could read my thoughts mumbled .

“Keep walking. ?”

 His hand slid into his coat, his ingers grazing a knife hilt

Despite my best efforts to maintain composure my heart's thumping started to overpower my thoughts. 

I didn't know if it was the hunger or the weariness in me that was making me assume things that weren't there.

But I knew something was wrong.

Someone was following us.

And then I froze. A tall woman standing just beneath one of the fluttering streetlights, her face caught my attention and made my blood run cold. 

I was suddenly struck by the familiar feeling. She was the onem

 The woman who had served  me with dinner the previous evening. 

Although I could hardly recall her name, I had seen her in the kitchen going about her business as any other servant would.

 Up until now I had never given her much thought.

“ Wait Derrick” I muttered urgently trying to sound steady. He took a moment to respond. Rather he stopped me in my tracks,reaching for my arm.

 His eyes darted calculatingly between the woman and the surrounding shadows. He looked scared for the first time since we started running and his jaw tightened. 

For me, not for himself. He gave the order .

“Stay behind me.” in a firm authoritative voice.

 I did not object. When he was acting this way I knew better than to argue with him. His instincts were sharpened in ways I couldn't even fathom.

His shoulders were tense and his muscles were coiled ready to spring at anything and maybe he could shift too. The woman whose face was still in the shadows took a step forward. She then turned to face us as if she could sense my recognition. 

There was no warmth in her eyes even though she smiles, they were icy. She  had eeriee eyes that gave you the impression that you were nothing more than prey.

 Her lips formed a slow smile that made my stomach drop.

 “Hello Serena.”she said in a sweet voice that made me feel scared. “I trust you slept well?”

My spine tingled at the sound of her voice.

 I tried to pull Derricks arm and back away but he was motionless. 

His expression darkened as the realization dawned on him and his eyes narrowed. 

Derricks low poisonous voice made it difficult for me to fully understand what he was saying

“You?” 

He recognized her too.

Suddenly, the moving the surrounding shadows changed and I heard more footsteps—more people.

 A multitude of figures materialized encircling us from all sides. 

I started to panic. The alleyway was too small and closed off. 

“They’re here for us, Derrick” I whispered my hand firmly clutching his  as if that would be enough to protect me. 

I wanted to scream and run but my legs were heavy and my head was cloudy. How could she  be involved in this? How could this be happening?

“Gking shopping or you are going for holidays?” She asked and smiled a little. “ You didn't tell me you now have a mate.”she said turning to Derrick.

Before Derrick could repind, a sharp movement and a flash of something shiny interrupted my thoughts and before I could process it a searing pain shot through my side. Immediately my vision became blurry. 

Serena.” Derrick yelled with a terrified expression on his face as he hurried to drag me to him

But  it was too late. My side hurt too much to handle. As my legs gave way under me, the world whirled wildly around me. 

Derricks face was the last thing I saw before everything turned black his hands were desperately clutching me and his eyes were wide with panic but it was already fading. fading into the night. 

The silence was the first thing I noticed when I regained consciousness. It wasn't a reassuring silence. It was the type that made me feel as though my every breath was being trapped. 

I made an effort to move and open my eyes but it was nearly impossible due to the pain in my side. I had no idea how much time had gone by. 

Although it was still dark outside, I could sense a slight warmth from a nearby person. 

Silence.

That was all that surrounded me and I tried to get my strength, to get up and tell Derrick that everything would be fine but everything had a bad feeling. 

Blood was  smearing my clothes. The pressure of everything pressing down on me was so strong. Derrick's voice was urgent but it sounded so distant as if he were speaking through thick glass: “Stay with me Serena.”

I didn't hear what he said in time. The darkness completely engulfed me. Again