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Chapter 16: A Risk Worth Taking
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2022-09-17 14:08:37Related chapters
The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 17: A Not So Subtle Threat
Willow's head was still spinning from the night before as she walked to work. Her grandmother had offered her the car again, but Willow had too much energy flowing through her. She couldn't keep the smile from her face, even as the rain began to fall. The streets were quiet, the tourists still sleeping off the night before. Willow's heart was soaring, and she knew it was only a matter of time before it came crashing back to reality, but she didn't let that dampen her mood. When she walked into her store, she remembered that she hadn't cleaned up last night in her rush to see Garin. With a groan, she trudged back to the utility closet for the cleaning supplies. She flipped on the radio as she wiped down the tables, singing softly along, the strong scent of the lemon cleaner filling her nose. Mopping the floor, she noticed a curious set of footprints on the wooden planks. They lead to her office. She placed her boots next to the print on the floor. They were much larger than hers.
Last Updated : 2022-09-17The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 18: If They Only Knew
Garin was busy grading terms papers. There were only a few weeks left before the end of the semester and it showed in his students' papers. He groaned as he found another plagiarized essay. It appeared as if one student wrote at least five papers. He took a long swig of the amber whiskey at his elbow, the ice cubes clinking gently. He couldn't stay focused. He kept thinking about Willow's kiss last night. She kissed him desperately. He didn't know why, but it felt like not only their first but also like she was trying to tell him goodbye. Maybe he was reading too much into it. He kneaded the back of his neck and looked at his watch. He had been grading for over three hours. Time for a break. Stretching he stood and wandered downstairs, hoping that there were leftovers in the fridge and no family members anywhere. His hopes were dashed when he saw them sitting at the dining room table, speaking in hushed tones. When they saw him, they went silent. Everyone left except his father.
Last Updated : 2022-09-17The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 19: Love's Sacrifice
"What do you mean the truth? She was in a car accident," Willow said, confused. "Drink," her grandmother said nodding towards Willow's mug. Willow took a small sip of the tart, spicy drink. Willow had never seen her looking so lost for words or uncomfortable. Loriann was staring down at her hands, which were just now beginning to hint at her age. "Your mother wasn't killed by a drunk driver. She was murdered by a hunter. A member of the Red Hoods actually. They claim they don't know who it was, but I never believed them." Willow gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked. Her grandmother shook her head once, her eyes surprisingly dry. Her tears for her daughter had run dry many years ago, she had nothing left. "I didn't know how to explain to a five-year-old why her parents never came home," "Parents? But I thought my father passed before I was born?" Willow felt adrift. What was happening? How did she not remember her father? "No, he died at
Last Updated : 2022-09-17The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 20: A Little White Lie
Garin was feeling strange after reading the history of the Red Hoods. While it was compelling, much of it just felt…wrong. They painted shifters in such a brutal, fierce light which he had never seen in Willow. She was gentle and kind, not the bloodthirsty, baby-eating beasts that were described therein. He knew some of it had to be true. Certain events that lined up neatly with actual historical happenings, such as their origins dating back to around the same period as when the Vikings were rumored to first trade here. His scholarly mind was fascinated at how the shifters fit into the tapestry of history. It should scare him, the things he read. He should at least be freaked out enough to never want to see Willow again, which he was sure was his father's intention, instead, he wanted to know more. He couldn't picture her as a snarling monster. There was definitely something wild about her, but he didn't think that meant the same thing as what the hunters believed. He would ask h
Last Updated : 2022-09-17The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 21: A Clear Warning
Garin stormed away, his head spinning. Fiancé? She had said he was just a family friend. The poisonous thoughts swirled through his mind as he pushed his way through the crowd. Willow's cart was only a few feet ahead of him. He could confront her here, make her tell him what the hell was going on. He couldn't do that to her though and he just wasn't that guy to cause a scene. He watched her serving cider to the crowd, a genuine smile on her face. He felt a pang of sorrow shoot through him. She looked so beautiful, her face red from the cold nip in the air. He wasn't sure if he completely believed Lyall. He didn't like the look of that guy and it didn't make sense that Willow would lie about him. Then again, he barely knew her. Her eyes met his over the heads of the crowd in line. A smile immediately stretched across her lips before she dampened it down. He looked at her sadly. It could have been something, he thought as he looked at her. She waved and he turned, but not before he s
Last Updated : 2022-09-17The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 22: Marking His Territory
Garin stood at the back of the crowd, watching his family's ridiculous display, marching in their cloaks as if they were some specters haunting the streets of Victorian England. He scoffed. He wanted to go home but the road was blocked. He hoped the parade would be over soon. He was going to pack and head back to school tonight. He didn't care what time. He already knew that there was going to be an argument tonight since he hadn't met up with his parents. The crowd began to thin, and he saw his chance. He pushed off of the building he was leaning against but saw that his way was blocked again by people, cheerily talking. He resented them immensely. He would have to cut through the wooded park to get to his car if he even wanted to leave today. He looked back over his shoulder once at Willow's cart, but it was dark now, the large window locked. The streetlights provided some guidance as he weaved around the playground towards the walking path that would lead to his car. It was eeri
Last Updated : 2022-09-17The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 23: The New Alpha
Willow looked desperately around for Garin but couldn't find him anywhere. She didn't think that he had marched with his family, but who knew. She hadn't counted, instead getting out of there as quickly as she could have. A howl sounded. She knew it was Lyall. She looked overhead at the full moon. He would be unstable tonight. He shouldn't be so close to town. He could shift at any time, hurting an innocent bystander. He knew better and yet…here he was. Flaunting their laws. The Red Hoods had made their message clear. She knew that they could hear the howls as well. They would be on guard tonight, possibly even actively hunting. How did everything become such a giant mess? She was frustrated with the entire situation and angry. Angry at them. At Lyall. At herself. At the stupid laws of her kind. She aggressively pushed her way to her car, not caring about being polite. The tourists were so deep in their cups they probably didn't notice. "Crap," she said as she looked down at Lyal
Last Updated : 2022-09-17The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 24: Hard Conversations
"Goodbye, ladies!" Loriann called as she locked the door to the soup kitchen behind her. They had an incredibly successful night and raised enough money to send the sixth grade on their field trip to the Smithsonian in the spring. She pulled her sweater tighter around her frame, smaller than it used to be she noted. Her health wasn't ailing but she was feeling the inevitable tug towards her golden years. She turned the ignition of the old truck, waiting for it to heat up before she drove home. She heard the howls and frowned. They were closer to town than they should be. She had heard rumors of what the Brochades had down at the parade. Tonight, was not the night for Lyall being an idiot. A weird sensation swept her body, every piece of her tingling. Her heart began to race in anticipation as if she were falling in love. It pounded harder and harder. She felt as if she had been running for miles. The moon grew brighter, blocking out everything else except for the pure white light
Last Updated : 2022-09-17
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The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 50: A New Beginning
He knocked lightly on her door. She opened it, clothed in a simple oversized white tee shirt and black leggings. Her long red hair dripped down her back, the tendrils leaving small drops of water on the floor as she vigorously brushed it. "I feel a thousand times better," she said with a smile as her hand grazed her lower stomach. The discovery had happened in the shower. She had noticed her stomach, usually relatively flat, now had a small, rounded bump. She knew that the pregnancy of her kind was faster than that of human women. She wanted to wait to tell him until the time was right. She did look the most relaxed that Garin had ever seen her. Her face was serene and still red from the heat of the water. It was scrubbed clean of any dirt, blood, or makeup. She seemed to have a glow about her. He wanted to just lay with her in his arms forever but instead, he had to tell her the truth about her father. "What's wrong?" she asked, seeing his drawn face. He motioned for her to sit o
The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 49: The Missing Puzzle Piece
"So, what now?" Willow asked as Garin drove towards her house. She realized that this was the first time that he had ever been there, and she was feeling incredibly self-conscious. She groaned inwardly thinking about the posters that littered her walls. It looked like the room of a teenager not a woman in her mid-twenties. "Well, since my father and Silas are dead and my mother is missing, the estate falls to Audrey. She is going to handle everything. I think she has already listed the house on the market." He replied with a laugh. He had told her about killing his father. He said that he had no regrets in doing so but he had a haunted look about him. She reached over and squeezed his knee lightly. "Where will Audrey go now?" Willow asked, already feeling sad that she wouldn't get to know Audrey better. There was something about her that drew a person in and made them feel welcome. "She hasn't said. She owns a small clothing store, but I think she will probably sell that as well.
The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 48: A New Agreement is Forged
The bright white light seared into Willow's eyes. She quickly pulled the blanket over her face, groaning. A sharp pain shot through her side. With a gasp, she pressed her hands to her side. She felt a thick bandage and the night came screaming back. She struggled to sit up, blinking in the morning sun that was streaming through the high window above her. She was on a narrow wooden bed. The room lacked any personal touches and had the antiseptic smell of a hospital but she knew she wasn't in one. The floor was made of wide pine planks. She sniffed slightly and smelled a curious mix of wolf and hunter. Willow grasped the headboard and shoved herself to her feet, swaying a bit unsteadily. A wave of nausea hit her. She tasted bile in the back of her throat. If this was battle, she didn't see the glory in it. She felt hungover more than anything. Teetering unsteadily, she made her way to the door. As her hand wrapped around the knob, it was opened slowly from the other side. Garin's b
The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 47: Healing Wounds
The old woman's eyebrows knit together, her hands running the length of Willow's body. The gaping wound on her ribs was deep. The bullet had lodged itself into one of the bones narrowly missing her spine. She murmured quietly underneath her breath, and pushed a finger inside of the damage, fishing for the bullet. Willow's comatose body spasmed and fresh blood spurted onto the woman's hands. Garin jerked forward but was held back by Audrey and Cole. "Let her do her job. There is nothing you can do right now," she said to him underneath her breath. His eyes were full of unshed tears. His entire countenance looked helpless. "You need to give her space. You'll be able to see her once she is done. Come on," she tugged his arm and dragged him back to the fire. He sat heavily, his head in his arms. She rubbed his back and her worried eyes met Cole's above his back. #### The bullet hit the tray next to her with a crisp metallic thunk. Loriann was holding Willow's arms down while the wis
The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 46: Field of Blood
The pack watched as the hunters made their way through the forests, their black shadows flitted through the trees towards the lodge. "Hold," Rashida commanded, her voice floating through their minds. A low growl rippled through the pack, each one adding their own rage to the rumble. The hunters moved closer; their scents trailed along the snow-covered ground. The pack held, their hackles raised, poised to attack. The hunters suddenly stopped, forming a v-formation. A confusion passed through the pack. Why had they stopped? A figure walked from the center of the hunters, a red cloak blowing behind it. Something glinted in the moonlight as it approached. Whoever it was, was small and petite. A gust of wind ripped the hood from its head and pale hair spilled out. "The Huntress," Rashida hissed, the venom in her voice causing the pack to wince. "No mercy, whatever it takes. We will wipe them from this place. Now!" She howled a blood-curdling shriek. The pack joined, their voices inte
The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 45: Shots Fired
She saw his body, sagged against a tree, nearly the same one that she rescued him from a few months ago. His head was leaning forward, and she could see that his hands and feet were bound. There was a small layer of white flakes on him. He hadn't been here too long so he shouldn't be near freezing, but the temperature could drop at any moment in these mountains. Her snout raised; she sniffed the cold air. His scent was strong, but it mingled with others. She could smell the other hunters nearby. Knowing it was a trap, she forged ahead. She would save him, even if it cost her, her life. #### The Red Hoods gathered at the back of the Brochade estate. Dusk had fallen and the nearly full moon began to peek over the trees. They were all clothed in black, their faces concealed behind woolen masks. While all armed, they carried a variety of weapons, the ammo all silver tipped. Ava walked from the house, her bright red cloak trailing behind her. She was wearing a rather ornate outfit, c
The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 44: A Trap is Set
"And you talked to Willow about it? Okay, I'm in. Whatever it takes," Garin hung up the phone and tossed it onto the kitchen counter as he walked towards the living room. He needed to change before he left. He didn't think his button-down and dress pants would work very well for running through the forest, especially since they were predicting snowfall tonight. He instead, pulled on a black thermal shirt and flannel-lined jeans. He might not be the traditional outdoorsy type, but he did hail from the frigid northeast. He stopped one boot halfway on. He thought he heard the sound of a door closing. He brushed it off, thinking it was probably just his neighbors. The walls were thin in these rentals. Completely dressed, he made sure he had everything he needed: wallet, keys. His phone was downstairs, he would grab that when he left. His hallway was dark when he left his bedroom. "Weird," he said aloud since he could have sworn that he left the light on. It was getting dark earlier n
The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 43: An Attempted Treaty
"Yes?" Audrey called the knock at her door tearing her away from her computer. She hoped it wasn't her mother. She couldn't stomach any more of the marriage pandering. She had already suffered through a few dinners with her intended husband and in-laws. She missed Cara terribly but hadn't had a chance to sneak away to see her since her house had been flooded with Red Hoods. The door creaked open and her "fiancé", Cole, peered around it. She sighed inwardly at the sight of him. "Can I come in?" he asked, looking awkward. She shrugged noncommittedly and shut her laptop. He closed the door behind him and stood looking around, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his expensive, tailored trousers. "You can sit," she said, pointing to the small sitting area near her balcony. He nodded slightly and placed his large frame onto one of the velvet slingback chairs. She sat in the chair opposite him. "So, how can I help you?" she automatically slipped into her business tone. A year pr
The Alpha and Her Hunter Chapter 42: A Sudden Shift
"The wolves are gathering," Silas stated, as he burst into his father's office. The high-ranking members of the Red Hoods were gathered around the long glass table and they all turned to face him. He bowed quickly, excusing his interruption. "Isn't it nearly the full moon?" a black-haired man drawled from the end of the table. Silas didn't like him. He was the father of the man intended for Audrey. Their whole family set Silas's teeth on edge. He didn't know why but there was something off about them. "Yes, but these movements are unusual. We haven't been able to see how many since we are not allowed on their land however, we have noticed many headed this way. Miles believes that they are headed for the alpha's which can only mean a pack meeting," Silas retorted. He sneered at the man. "They must have noticed our own increased numbers. Oh well, perhaps they are actually planning on putting up a fight this time. Good. I've grown bored with the hunt when it is only the chase and ne
