Page 25 of Hunter

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she repeated. The overwhelming vampire magick, dematerializing, had thrown her own energy off kilter.

“We could have walked,” Hunter shot at Viktor, who rolled his eyes.

“How am I supposed to know how sensitive she is?”

“Next time go easy.” Hunter looked down to Willa. “Can you make it to the car?”

“Yeah. I’m okay.” She nodded her head, willing the fresh air to cleanse her lungs.

“You. We’re taking the car.” Hunter shook his head at Viktor who shrugged with a smile.

Willa heard the sound of the ticking mere seconds before the explosion. As they turned away from the door, walking toward the car, the force of the blast sent her flying into the air, landing on the grass. Grunting through the blinding pain, she clutched at the damp earth with her fingernails. All her breath rushed out of her lungs, and as she inhaled, the sulfur rushed into her nostrils. Hell. Wolves.

Hunter growled, and she lifted her gaze, catching sight of the vampire restraining him from rushing into the fire. They exchanged heated words, and as the Alpha shook him off, Willa screamed for him. “ Hunter!”

Death hung heavy in the air even as the flames ebbed. Her head spun at the realization that innocents had been killed. Willa sucked back a sob, the blood of the humans and vampires on her hands. My fault. I should have left.

Willa grunted, shoving up onto her hands and knees. To no avail, she cried out to the Alpha, “No, don’t go. Hunter!”

A firm hand rested on her shoulder. Her stomach tightened in anticipation for his attack. “No, no, no…I won’t leave him.”

“Come now, Willamina. He knows what he’s doing. We’ve got to get out of here.”

“What did you call me?” Splintered memories of Hell slammed into her at the sound of her name on his lips. She punched and clawed at Viktor as he wrapped his arms around her. Struggling, her ferocious energy surged, but she couldn’t break free. “No. I’m not leaving him. Let me go.”

“Sorry, pet. Consider this an order from your Alpha.”

“No, no…” Her voice drifted as she disappeared into the night. My fault.

Willa curled into a ball, shaking. Her skin burned with hellfire, her stomach clenched as the room spun.

The fucking vampire had done it again. With her senses on alert, his familiar scent drifted in the air. Her eyes flashed open to see him staring back at her.

“Get away from me,” she growled. Her limbs, heavy as rocks, wouldn’t move, yet her mind began to race. Hunter. Demons. Vampire. “I’ve gotta go back.”

“Forgive me, but I don’t think you’re going anywhere. If you’d just let me help…”

“No, don’t touch me.” He reached for her arm and she recoiled.

“You don’t seem to understand how this works. I save you from danger. Then you are supposed to say, ‘thank you’.”

“Fuck you,” she spat, bracing herself as another wave of nausea rolled through her.

“Thank you. Fuck you. Close enough.” He shrugged. “I suppose they could be used interchangeably. Although I do prefer fucking.” Viktor brushed the dust off his jeans and sighed loudly as he caught sight of her fiery glare. “Ah, well. Don’t misunderstand. You’re lovely but I’m afraid the Alpha would have my head if I touched you.”

“As if I’d ever…ahhh,” Willa cried, sucking a deep breath through gritted teeth. “What did you do to me?”

“As I explained, wolves don’t do well with the transition, I’m afraid. You should be fine in just a bit. Might I suggest you breathe through it?”

“Are you kidding me? Oh Goddess. It hurts.” She closed her eyes, fisting the sheets.

“Very curious how this affects you. I wonder if it’s the blood.” Viktor plowed his fingers through his blond hair.

Willa’s heart caught in her chest, numb from his statement. “What did you just say? What about blood?”

“Um, nothing really. You know…my uh…” he stammered and turned to face her, “blood.”

“What did you do?” she whispered, her curiosity piqued. The burning in her gut guided her toward the truth. So familiar. A memory lingered in the far recesses of her mind. “I know you.”