Crescent Hunters Place

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The stranger's head is nuzzled into the crook of my neck for a few more minutes when he steps back allowing me free.

"I had to come to see you! I'm sorry, I kept telling myself that things would never work out between us but I feel drawn to you and it's eating me alive." Pain evident in his voice.

I feel my eyebrows furrowing, as I look towards the stranger, "I don't think I understand what you mean? Have you been stalking me? Who are you?!" I feel the thought of danger surrounding me as I think about someone trying to hurt me. The fact that I'm here in the woods, in the dark, alone, with a complete stranger makes things feel even worse.

I stagger back towards the venue, not taking my eyes off the stranger. As I see the venue in my sights I turn around and make a run for it, a growl erupts behind me making me run faster not looking where I'm running.

I trip over a tree root which is protruding out the ground, "Ouch!" I scream the instant impact of my body meeting the floor.

Before I can get up I am pulled into a hard chest, the tingles and heat between our two bodies making my body quiver with pleasure.

"W-who are you?" I feel the tears starting to blur my vision, "If you are going to kill me just do it. Don't make me suffer, just kill me."

"This was a mistake." the stranger said as he let me go. My body felt so empty, his touch still lingering yet the wave of sadness swept over my body as if I had just fallen into a depression.

I turned around expecting to see the stranger behind me but instead saw nothing.

I let out a shaky breath, looking one last time into the distance when I still couldn't see anything I made my way into the venue walking towards where I heard people chatting away.

Reading myself to go out, I place my hair in front of my shoulders, shaking out all the nerves and doing a few stretches. I practised my best fake smile and then opened the door.

Everybody started clapping and I could hear some of them gasping at the dress and some whistling, I nodded feeling my cheeks flush a bright red at the thought of how everyone's eyes are on me.

I took a deep breath before making my way towards the crowd to greet everyone.

My father introduced me to the Knight family, they are the other hunters, in other words, Axel Knight's family and the people who want to be the heads of the hunters. Axel's mom was a charming lady, and she didn't care much for this life which made it ten times easier to have a conversation with her.

Axel's father, on the other hand, hated my father. Behind all the fake laughs and constant "bro" hugs they gave to each other he really disliked everything about us. "You look gorgeous, sweety!" Axel's mom, Mandy said, twirling me around, "You must show me where you got it."

I thanked her for the compliment before excusing myself to meet up with my friends. Before I could reach them Axel grabbed my wrist, pulling my body flush with his.

I rolled my eyes, trying to wiggle myself out of his embrace but I failed when his grip got tighter.

I flashed him a disapproving stare, "What the fuck do you want Axel? Leave me alone!" he looked to the side then back to me with the boyish smirk he thinks every lady likes.

"Oh come on Ketz, you and me both know that you wore this dress to tease me. It's working and I can't wait to see you without it on."

I smile sarcastically at Axel, placing both my hands on his shoulders. I leaned closer to his ear, "You are right, I wore this for you Axel I can't believe you figured it out so quickly. Truth be told though you fucken disgust me!" I said as I kneed him between his legs.

Before anyone could see, I walked off hearing him curse me in between moans of pain.

"So girls, see anyone you like?" I said sitting down next to them.

Talia grabbed me first giving me a huge hug. She moved to Washington when we graduated high school to study to become a doctor, she wanted to change the world, one patient, at a time.

Sienna, on the other hand, was a very outspoken person and believed that everyone should know how you are feeling no matter how much it hurts their feelings.

She had blonde hair when we were in high school but when she was able to dye it she changed it to platinum blonde with purple and blue highlights, the blue complimented her dark blue eyes.

"So have you heard from those boys yet?" I said as I wiggled my eyebrows at Talia. Sienna started laughing but stopped on the instant when Talia swatted her arm. "Bitch!" she muttered, rolling her eyes.

Talia looked like she had been caught out in a lie, "I'm guessing by you dismissing Sienna's laugh there is more to that evening?" I arched a brow sitting down next to Talia.

I looked at Sienna who was rolling her eyes at how discrete and shy Talia was acting, "Oh please could you just tell Ketzia what you told me?" Sienna snapped.

Talia got a fright looking at me and Sienna when all three of us burst out laughing, "You screwed him didn't you?" I said winking at Sienna.

She shook her head trying to cover up her cheeks staining a dark red colour.

"Talia Anna Wilkens, please tell me it was at least worth breaking you're 'no sex before marriage' rule?" I said looking down at Talia. She started giggling, "He is gifted my friends." she looked at both of us showing a measurement of his penis.

Sienna couldn't contain herself and half fell off the chair laughing. "Talia is being modest, he's also got a fetish you know? Our girl Talia is living the freaky life in the bedroom." Sienna said rocking her hips.

We started giggling again and then it went quiet, Sienna and Talia were both looking behind me amazed, Sienna blushed at the site of what was behind me. I gave them a look but they just kept quiet. "Do you mind if I have a moment alone with the birthday girl ladies?" a familiar voice said behind me.

Talia and Sienna left letting me know to call them when I'm finished, and the guy from this morning sat in front of me. He bit his lips as his eyes trailed down from my neck to my low cut dress which exposed some of my cleavage.

I placed my hand in front of my chest, "Uhm who are you? I didn't catch your name." I asked, looking up into his forest green eyes.

"My name is Kye Brecks, I just needed to know that you were okay. And I need to speak to you privately," he said grabbing my hand in his.

I pulled my hand away, getting up from the table, "Was it you outside in the forest? Is it not enough that you are stalking me at work, you have to come here too?" I say in a low shout.

His face dropped as if I hurt his feelings, but he shook it off and looked back in my eyes, "Please can you give me five minutes to explain?" he got up gesturing to the back of the venue, where the forest starts.

I looked around making sure that no one saw us leave before I led the way, when the coast was clear I looked up at him, "So I know what you are and by the looks of it you should know that you are risking your life by being here so why are you here?"

Kye pinched the bridge of his nose before looking at me, "You need to be open-minded about this please?"

I nodded, giving him the go-ahead to speak further, "This morning at the shop wasn't a coincidence. I tracked you there, but not in a bad way. The morning at the lake, when you were eavesdropping; you looked me in the eyes, I didn't want to believe it at first but the night you were hunting me too I felt it." he paused running his hand in his messy hair. "The moon never lies and I know that now. I really don't know how to tell you this." he stopped, denial spreading across his face.

"Spit it out, Kye!" I yelled and he looked up at me, eyes dancing between yellow and green.

He nodded looking up at the sky, "My wolf found its mate, I don't know how it's possible because you kill us for a living but you are my mate."

"Is that why I'm so drawn to you? Is that why I almost fainted out there by ignoring going into the woods?" confusion in my voice.

Kye nodded, placing his hands on my shoulder, "I know this is a lot to handle but I need you to know why you are feeling this way."

His touch making little fires ignite on my skin, "You could end up being killed by me and you still risked your life?"

He nodded, running his hand through his messy hair again. Disbelief coursing its way into my heart, How can I be a mate to someone I've grown up to hate?

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