Page 2 of Hunter

“No way. I’m not leaving you here,” Viktor protested.

“We go together then. Hold on.” With one hand, Hunter reached in his pocket, fingering the crystal. With only one chance to reopen the portal, he prayed it’d stay open long enough for him to get them all through. It sparked as he threw it onto the ground, a soft glow morphing into a swirling cloud. “It’s time. Let’s go.”

“You go first,” Viktor told him. “It might not stay open.”

“Go! Now!” Hunter yelled as he caught sight of the hooved feet approaching. The forked-tongued beast screeched in anger.

As Viktor leapt into the portal, the demon spat at Hunter. The spray of acid burned through his skin, but he held tight to the she-wolf. As the vampire disappeared, the Alpha dove through the cloud, flames chasing him.

Hunter grunted as they dropped through the portal and rolled onto the grass. He cradled the fragile female to his chest and fought the nausea that rolled through him. The escape had been a clusterfuck, but they’d managed to find their way back to their realm.

The Alpha groaned in pain, the demonic acid burning his flesh. “Fucking hell. That asshole got me.” He exhaled a deep calming breath. He’d have to shift to heal. Hunter embraced the stranger he’d brought with him. The moonlight revealed deep puncture wounds marring her body. “Jesus.”

“I’ve got to get Ilsbeth to the coven,” Viktor told him, urgency in his tone.

“No,” Hunter snapped.

“I don’t know about that, wolf. In Hell…” Viktor gently laid the witch onto the grass and knelt before her.

“I said no. I need to talk to that witch. I don’t want her going anywhere just yet. She comes with us.” Hunter shook his head, cradling the female protectively in his arms. “It’s getting cold. We need to get shelter.”

“I know she’s been on everyone’s shit list but…”

“It was my ass that just saved both of y’all. Now do this for me. Just get her inside. We’re all going. Now. I don’t want the pack getting wind of visitors just yet.”

“She’s not in good shape,” Viktor commented as he lifted Ilsbeth.

“Neither is she.” Hunter grunted and shoved to his feet, clutching the woman against his chest. He might be stupid as fuck for keeping a stranger he’d found in Hell, but he couldn’t let her go.

“I’d flash but…” Viktor shrugged.

“This way. We gotta get them upstairs. Fast. Remus is going to be here any second.” Hunter strode across the yard, his back raw from the licks of fire.

“Remus. What kind of name is that?”

“The kind that will kick your ass if you talk shit about him.” Hunter approached the back entrance and clicked open the door.

“You always leave your house completely unlocked? You’re going to end up with a bison in your living room.”

“Who says I haven’t? And for the record, animals are a lot better than humans.” Hunter’s skin tingled as the warm air brushed over him. A shower would help to ease his pain, but he needed to shift.

“You a country boy,” Viktor said in his best southern accent.

“I’m a Louisiana boy. Through and through. One who happens to be livin’ in Yellowstone. It’s a natural fit. A little colder but us wolves love the cold.”

“I’d starve to death out here. How would I ever work on my tan?” Viktor rolled his eyes and followed the Alpha up a grand staircase that led to the second floor. “Nice mansion. For a country boy, you’re livin’ the dream.”

“I’ve invested well. As have you, I’m sure.”

“I do okay.” Viktor shrugged.

“Put her in here.” Hunter nodded to a guest room on his right.

As Viktor set off with Ilsbeth, the Alpha strode toward his bedroom, and quickly settled the injured female onto the bed.

Relieved her breathing remained stable, Hunter knelt beside her and shook his head. Wearing only tattered bra and panties, the injured female’s body had been brutalized. Multiple puncture wounds mottled her skin. She’d been tortured. Who the fuck did this?

“I bit her. As did others,” Hunter heard the vampire confess.