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Chapter 3: The Truth Comes Out

작가: Lauren Rutherford
last update 최신 업데이트: 2022-09-17 14:08:37
Willow tossed and turned. She couldn't get comfortable. Her sheets twisted around her legs and eventually she kicked them to the floor. With a loud sigh, she got up. She checked her phone. 3:03 am.

"Ugh," she said aloud and tossed it back onto her bed. She mussed her long curls and rubbed her dry eyes. She had only managed to sleep for about two hours before it had evaded her completely. Her body felt restless. Feeling trapped, she craved the open air.

Glancing out the window, the moon shone brightly, taunting her. She knew she wouldn't be getting sleep tonight. She padded quietly down the steps. Her grandmother's snores tore through the house, covering the squeaky wooden steps.

Willow stopped by the back door and pulled off her clothes, folding them neatly on the bench tucked away near the coat closet. Naked, she stepped outside. The grass was cool against her feet as she crossed the yard towards the forest. The trees beckoned to her.

She shook out her long hair and raised her face to the sky, the moon bathing her in its chilly glow. The pine tree branched brushed gently against her skin as she stepped into the evergreens. Her feet broke the needles on the forest floor, releasing their spicy, fresh scent. She inhaled deeply, feeling at home.

With one last glance at the moon, she let her true self come out. Her muscles rippled underneath her skin like quicksilver. She fell forward onto all fours and shaggy red hair ripped across her body. Her body jerked and with a sickening crack, her joints snapped and rearranged.

She shook her head once, her snout elongated, and her teeth lengthened into sharp points. With a burst of freedom, she let out a joyful howl. She hadn't shifted in weeks and she felt exhilarated. Her exhaustion melted away as she broke out into a loping run.

Running until she foamed at the mouth, she stopped near the edge of the Estates, panting heavily. She raised her nose into the air and found his scent strongest here. The windows were dark, except a lone one near the top floor. She crept closer, her belly low to the ground.

Garin was sitting near the window, flipping through a large book. His hair was sticking up in many directions as if he had been continually running his hands through it. It gave her a sense of pleasure that maybe he couldn't sleep because of their encounter as well. He threw the book down and shook his head, a look of disgust strewn across his face.

Hands on his hips, he looked out the window. His gaze seemed to travel over the trees to her house. She slinked closer, his scent burning in her nose. She knew she was too close, but she wanted to get a better look.

Moving closer to the gate surrounding the community, she peered through the hedges, getting a glimpse at his house. It was beautiful in an impersonal, abstract way. Large windows and metal were bent together to give the house an industrial appearance. Willow didn't see any movement in the home. Everyone else must still be sleeping.

She decided to get a look at the other side of the house but to do so, she had to squeeze between the gate and the shrubs planted to hide most of the gate. She pressed her body through the small opening, forgetting that her wolf form was much larger than her human. With a growl of frustration, she was past the hedge and her body fell against the gate.

A hot, white pain shot through her side where she landed on the fence. With a yelp, she pulled herself away. The gate is coated with silver. She thought to herself. She was baffled. Her family had never hurt a soul and yet these…people moved into her town and planted their giant house on the hill, watching them as if they were wild animals in a zoo.

She felt a wave of deep-rooted anger rise up and a low, growl rumbled in her throat. They were smart to have this silver-lined gate. Those cowards. Her lips curled back in a snarl; her snout wrinkled. She wished she could tear something to shreds but she was still too close. She needed to get out of here, so she wasn't burned again.

Creeping backward from her hiding place, she began moving slowly, wary of the dangerous gate. A branch cracked and she froze. Someone was close. They were walking near the fence, not quite stealthily but also not trying to be heard. She sniffed.

It had a scent reminiscent of Garin's, but it was softer, not as sharp. She saw a figure approaching, something clutched in its hands. A glimmer of something sparked in the moonlight as the person walked closer. It was a silver-tipped arrow, notched into a small, deadly-looking crossbow.

The bearer of the crossbow, as he drew nearer, looked similar to Garin but his jaw wasn't nearly as defined. He had the mass of the Brochade family lineage, he was huge. She would guess he was nearly 6'4". He moved quitter than anyone of that size should. She supposed it was in their blood.

He turned his head back towards the house and Willow got a full look at his face, Miles. He was a few years younger than her. She had seen him occasionally in town, but they never went to the same school. His parents shipped him off to a boarding school in the city during the week. She turned her head to see what he was looking at. He was also staring up at Garin. He shook his head and few times and resumed his patrol.

Once he was past her, Willow ran quickly back into the forest. She knew that there was a treaty dating back many years that the Brochades were not allowed in this part of the forest. They were not allowed to hunt unless provoked after they had killed out most of her ancestors in a massacre a hundred years ago.

She still didn't trust them. Provoked or not, they wanted to hunt her and her family.

She ran faster, the sun was peeking over the horizon and she wanted to be home before her grandmother was awake. She would get the lecture of a lifetime if Loriann knew where she had been. Pushing open the back door silently, she grabbed her clothes and quickly slipped into them.

She tiptoed down the hallway, leaving small wet footprints on the floorboards.

"Ahem!" she jumped, her hand to her chest. Her grandmother was leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed. "And where have you been?"

"I went for a run. I couldn't sleep," Willow said, feigning innocence and widened her eyes. Her grandmother scoffed and motioned for her to follow her back into the kitchen.

"Sit," she said brandishing a wooden spoon towards the bar stools. Willow sat, tucking her feet under the rungs. Her grandmother pushed a cup of steaming coffee towards her. Willow wrapped her thin fingers around the chipped mug, savoring the warmth. Without her fur, the morning had grown cold quickly.

"I found something that I think you should read," her grandmother pulled a worn leather diary from the pocket on her robe. "It is our history,"

"I already know our history," Willow interrupted. Her grandmother scowled.

"Yes, yes but this is also the history of the Red Hoods," Willow stilled as her grandmother continued. "This is a detailed account of every member of the Red Hoods going back as far as our family. They have hunted and stalked us for centuries. I know Garin is handsome and he has a nicer face than the rest of them, but he is still a Red Hood. It is in his blood to hate you." She slapped the book down in front of Willow who just stared at it.

There was nothing on the cover to belie what was inside. She unwrapped the leather thong that held it closed and carefully opened it. The pages were yellowed with age and soft around the edges where it had been thumbed through many times. It surprisingly didn't smell musty but rather spicy…like her and her house. She gave her grandmother a quizzical look.

"We smell like that to them," she explained seeing the flare of Willow's nostrils. "I burn the extra incense to help ward off any evil but even without it, we have a scent too. It's probably how he recognized you. Well, that and your eyes," her grandmother chuckled.

Even in the early morning light, Willow could see her yellow eyes glowing in the kitchen window. Her eyes were the most noticeable in her family. Her grandmother's were a lighter amber and even her mother's had been a deep tawny, but Willow's were noticeable from across the room. Paired with her deep, red hair she had a hard time blending in.

"Maybe I should get contacts?" Willow murmured and gently turned a page.

Warren Brochade, 1915-2006. Kept residence in Maine. Five known kills.

Appearance: 6'2", 250 lbs. Black hair, green eyes.

Scent: Musky, sharp

Wife: Marianne Brochade m. Willis

Dangerous

Passed in sleep at hospital

There was a picture posted beneath the description. Willow could see the family resemblance.

"This has every member of the Red Hoods?" she asked, amazed. Her grandmother nodded. A crunch of tires of gravel drew Willow's attention from the book. It was only nearing six in the morning. She lifted her head and sniffed gently, oak and cinnamon. She groaned.

"You called Lyall?" she laid her head on her arms.

"Yes. You haven't seen him in a few weeks, and I think it would be good for you to be around him. He will help distract you and keep you safe until this Garin leaves town," her grandmother replied, matter of factly.

A short knock sounded on the front door and Willow stood to answer it. She wasn't looking forward to seeing her intended.

관련 챕터

  • The Alpha and Her Hunter   Chapter 4: Intentions

    Lyall walked in, a smile plastered across his handsome face. "Hey babe," he said and pulled Willow in for a rough hug. He buried his face in her hair, nuzzling her neck. She stiffly returned the hug before pulling away slightly. "You're here early," she replied, looking him over. He looked good, she couldn't deny that. Her grandmother had at least picked her a striking mate. He was tall, not nearly as tall as Garin but he was close. His build was lankier with leaner muscles. Where Garin was refined, Lyall was all rough edges. During the warmer months, he kept his beard short, preferring a small amount of stubble. With autumn around the corner, he had begun to grow his beard out. His ruddy skin was tanned from working outside and he kept his long black hair secured into a tight braid that lay between his shoulder blades. His eyes were a dull yellow-green that had always reminded Willow of a serpent. Today he wore a thick, black cable knit sweater and jeans with the knees torn ou

    최신 업데이트 : 2022-09-17
  • The Alpha and Her Hunter   Chapter 5: Curiosities

    Garin felt a tangible shock as she walked into the bar. He had been keeping his distance from the café all day, hoping to avoid running into her. She looked incredible. He had only ever seen her once, the day before but he hadn't paid that much attention to what she was wearing. He didn't realize how long her hair was. It had been pulled back into a tight braid the first time he had seen her. Now her hair tumbled free over her shoulders, a cascade of rubies in the candlelight. She was dressed in a skin-tight green dress that illuminated her every curve. He noticed a hand around her waist, and it was only then, he saw that she had an escort. This other man irritated him for some reason. He was probably also a shifter, although from what he read, the males weren't nearly as powerful as the women. Their abilities were more sporadic, dependent upon the moon phases as opposed to just ability. Her eyes flashed to his and she looked just as affected as he was. She held his gaze for a mo

    최신 업데이트 : 2022-09-17
  • The Alpha and Her Hunter   Chapter 6: When the Mask Slips

    Willow's heart raced the entire night. She could barely eat. His presence burned itself into her awareness. She was hyper-aware of where he was at all times. Every shift he made in his seat, she viscerally felt it. She felt Lyall's eyes on her every time she shifted to look behind her. "Checking out that guy back there?" he asked sharply. She turned back to him; a blush stained across her cheeks. "No, he's a hunter. It makes me…uncomfortable when they are that close." She replied after a moment. "I've never seen him before. Is he a Brochade?" She nodded. "I guess he is just in town for the festival," she stated. Lyall nodded. His mood evening out now that he didn't think she was attracted to the man in the corner. They were onto their dessert course when she felt Garin stand. Her back began to heat as he drew closer, she felt as if she were aflame. He passed by without a glance at her table. The woman with him spared her a small glance and she felt a traitorous twinge of jeal

    최신 업데이트 : 2022-09-17
  • The Alpha and Her Hunter   Chapter 7: While He Sleeps

    A walk would be nice, she decided, not a run like this morning. Was it just this morning that she had been out? It had felt like a lifetime since then. She wouldn't shift, not tonight. It was too close to the full moon. She didn't want to tempt fate. Tugging on a thick green hoodie, jeans, and woolen socks, she felt better. Calmer. More in control. She braided her wet locks into two tight braids and pulled on a grey knit beanie. The nights were growing colder fast and the last thing she needed was to catch a cold when she had to work the next week straight. She sneaked down the stairs like a burglar on her stockinged feet. Peering around the corner, she saw her grandmother fast asleep, mouth agape, and snoring loudly. Her long hair was unbound and flowed around the back of the chair like kelp in the ocean, swaying slightly with every deep-throated rumble. Willow smiled, her heart squeezing and left through the front door, holding her boots in her hands. Even though she wasn't in

    최신 업데이트 : 2022-09-17
  • The Alpha and Her Hunter   Chapter 8: A Meddling Sister

    After a deep sleep, Willow felt better. Slightly. The image of the wolf head still disturbed her but her resolution to keep a large distance between her and the Brochade family had strengthened here. Here is something that she can control. She will avoid their neighborhood and anywhere else that they are known to frequent, which isn't much in this town. The sun had just risen as Willow unlocked the café's front door. She is soothed by the smell of roasted coffee beans and the quiet of an early morning. Despite being tired, she loves working the entire day. Nothing quite feels as accomplished as seeing the business through from start to finish. Locking the door behind her, she walks to her small office in the back and dumps her purse onto her desk. Even though it has only been about a day, she feels as if she hasn't been here in forever. She runs her hand lightly over the back of her leather office chair, the first thing that she had purchased for herself after opening this place.

    최신 업데이트 : 2022-09-17
  • The Alpha and Her Hunter   Chapter 9: The Other Man

    Tourists swarmed the town. With only a few days until the festival, people were pouring in, wanting to make sure they got a room at the hotel in town instead of having to commute in. The festival lasted all week but on The Fest of the Forest, the real celebration began and lasted all day. It was quite a sensation. People traveled from states away to visit and see the spectacle. It made Willow tear up every year. Many people came to pay homage to The Women of the Moon. What they thought was a folk tale was really the telling of Willow's ancestors. It always warmed her heart to see the people dancing in the streets, bedecked in all sorts of luminaries. She had been so busy she hadn't even had time to think of Garin. Much. It had been a few days since he had stopped here. She hadn't seen him since but every so often she caught a whisp of his scent outside of her door. Being busy had also meant that she hadn't seen a lot of Lyall as well but now, here he came, holding the door open for

    최신 업데이트 : 2022-09-17
  • The Alpha and Her Hunter   Chapter 10: Tracking His Scent

    The rain began to come down harder now. Garin was huddled underneath a tree, the cold rain had seeped into his thin sneakers. He was shivering uncontrollably. He wrapped his arms around his knees, trying to stay warm. He had eaten most of the food in his pack. It was only meant to last three days max. He had only a handful of granola bars and jerky left to get him through, but he had no idea how to get home. He had wandered for two days; the trail being washed out from the storm that had ripped through the mountains. He didn't know what he was going to do. He sat watching the rain pelt down, rivulets of water running down his face and into the neck of his sodden jacket. Willow was irritated. Lyall had come by every day while she was at work until she finally told him that she needed space. He was too distracting. He took it the wrong way of course but at least he had left her alone. She hadn't seen Garin in a while and was crestfallen. His scent was washed away with the freak sto

    최신 업데이트 : 2022-09-17
  • The Alpha and Her Hunter   Chapter 11: An Unlikely Savior

    His scent wavered at the river. Willow bent down, digging her hands into the mud, and lifted it to his face. Thankfully, he had decided to not cross. It would have surely killed him. These were glacial fed rivers, numbing the skin within seconds of contact. He went west. She rinsed her hand and quickly dried it on her pants, stuffing it back inside the gloves she had grabbed as she left her house. This was a furious storm. Thunder echoed miles away, crashing against the mountains that separated them from the next valley. The river was rising, swollen and angry. Torrents of rain continued falling down. She could barely make out his footprints along a drier patch of mud that was slightly sheltered by an overhang of shale. She paused her herself, breathing in his deep, woody scent. He had trailed his hand along here, keeping himself steady. Her heart thrummed. She would find him alive. He had to be. The next part of this trail was the worst, it hugged the side of the cliff with no r

    최신 업데이트 : 2022-09-17

최신 챕터

  • 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

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