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“Your eyes are so pretty! They look like a cat’s eyes. We have big cats here too! Not just wolves. Are you a cat?” She asked. I knew my mouth was open, not sure what exactly to say to this child. But I also knew how shifters reacted to outsiders speaking to their young.
“No, I am not a cat. Are you a cat?” I asked.
“No, silly! I am a black bear cub, and my name is Meesha.” She laughed. She reached out quickly and grabbed my hand. I looked up when I heard a woman calling for the little bear cub.
“Meesha! Where are you? I’m going to find you.” The woman smiled. I could tell when she caught my scent, and her head snapped up. “Meesha! Come here right now!” The female snapped.
“Go on now, Meesha,” I said, pushing the now scared little girl forward.
“Who are you?!” The woman’s growl was low and threatening. Her eyes bled to yellow as she worked to control her shift. This was not the first impression I wanted to make, but I knew how an enraged shifter reacted to strangers around their children. The instinct was so natural I didn’t even realize a blade was on my hand until I tightened my grip.
“Shit.” I sighed as the woman pulled the young girl behind her and stared me down. I saw other female shifters coming, and they did not look happy that I was here.
* * *
I positionedmyself between my car and the female shifters that were approaching. I saw Meesha looking around with confusion written across her face while figuring out what had happened.
“I am no threat to any Pack member here,” I spoke loudly enough that whoever was inside the house should be able to hear me. “Meesha is fine. She just came to say hello, and that was it,” I said, holding up the hand that was not holding a weapon.
“What business does a Hunter have here?” My eyes moved to another female who came to stand beside the one holding Meesha’s arm. She had a Beta look to her and the stance of a fighter. She stood with feet spread apart, arms folded across her chest, but her teal eyes were calm. I couldn’t tell precisely what type of shifter she was, which is unusual. I was a Hunter, and I studied things like this and should have placed what she was by sight alone. Her shoulder-length black hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, and the end of it was the same shade as her eyes.
“Your Alpha invited me here. My name is Devana Okar,” I stated.
“I don’t care what your name is, Hunter. Our Alpha doesn’t deal with Hunters, and since when does a Hunter visit shifter kind?” Her rich cocoa skin made her eyes even more unnatural as they glowed.
“Not Dax, but True Alpha Quinn Savir. I am no threat here to anyone, and yes, your Alpha knows that I am here. I just…” I heard when the front doors opened, and heavy footsteps from six large men came down the stairs. I flexed my hand, making my blade disappear back into its sheath. I did not know why I took my eyes away from the women who were staring daggers at me to look for those violet eyes. It was almost like a compulsion that I had to seek him out, and I hated it. I gritted my teeth together to stop myself from licking my lips when my eyes landed on six feet and seven inches of muscle. The intense way he stared at me had my core clenching in anticipation of what he wanted to do to me. I closed my eyes and turned away because I was losing my damned mind. He was not the reason I was here, and whatever this feeling was or whatever he claimed I was to him didn’t matter. Possessing this gift as a seer determined my life for me because anyone I touched or became close to would be pulled into what I saw. The visions I received were nothing but nightmares that I wouldn’t wish on my enemies.
“I didn’t think this is how we treated guests to our Pack land. Is this how we act, Remi?” Dax questioned the teal-eyed woman. My eyes flicked back to her, and I noticed she now had her head down and eyes cast away. It wasn’t a weakness, but their Alpha and his brothers’ presence seemed to calm the females. I noticed that others were coming from around the large house. I knew most Packs had acres of land, and I assumed the Rayne Pack was no different. The only difference with this Pack was that it wasn’t just wolf shifters present. I could tell they all referred to Dax as their Alpha either way.
“No, Alpha.” Remi agreed. I looked down and saw Meesha looking back at me with a smile.
“I thought not. Since it seems like most of the Pack is arriving, it should be easy enough for me to call a meeting. This is Devana Okar, and yes, she is a Hunter. I am sure you were all aware of a visit from True Alpha Quinn, and with that came the news that every Pack member needs to hear.”
Dax looked around to every Pack member present at the moment before looking back to his brothers that stood like a wall behind him. I noticed another man standing with them, and he clearly wasn’t blood-related, but it was no mistake his position in this Pack. His bronze skin stood out with his short-cut raven hair with a shock of snow-white in the front. He had to be Dax’s Beta, his right hand other than his brothers. I didn’t know his name, but I knew he was a wolf shifter and a strong one at that. His blue-gray eyes looked me up and down before looking away.
“Max, find out a time when every member will be present and set up the Pack meeting at the pit,” Dax ordered. He turned around, and his eyes found mine once again, and the heat I pushed down a few minutes ago came roaring back to life. He walked toward me as if he was on a mission, stopping just a few feet away from me. Then, everyone started going about their business doing what they needed to do before their Pack gathering.
“I know that things are a bit strained with Hunters and supernatural kind, but I hope we can change that for the future,” I said, stepping forward holding out a hand. His brows raised as he looked at my hand and back to my face. His brows were the same shade of midnight as his hair, except when the sun hit just right, I could see the violet hairs peeking through the black hair. I almost put my hand down, but he moved more quickly than I expected and captured my hand in his. His hand swallowed mine, and I felt a tug, and I stumbled forward until I caught myself. I leaned into the pull and turned slightly, placing my left hand on his massive bicep to steady myself.
“Good reflexes. That’s a plus in my book for a Mate to an Alpha. Follow me, we need to talk, and I rather it was behind closed doors.” Dax stated. He let my hand go and moved back to the house before his words registered to my brain.
“Yes! I think you may be right because what I need to say should be private.” I grunted, following him as his deep chuckle landed on my skin, sending tingles through my body. We needed to find this rogue and this demon so I could get far away from this wolf.
* * *
DAX
I didn’t intend to leave Devana outside when I heard Quinn leave. My brothers and my enforcers all but demanded to know what was happening and what I would need from them going forward. I gave them the conversation highlights, but I knew I would need more information on what my Mate saw in her vision. I took the front steps two at a time, all too aware of her fast-beating heart, her scent of jasmine, lily and vanilla that filled my lungs with each breath. I was not looking for a Mate and definitely wasn’t expecting it to be a damn Hunter, but I knew the signs all too well. Well enough. It was no mistake to me, but I didn’t know how she felt. There would be recognition between animals if she were another wolf or even shifter kind. It wouldn’t matter because she would be mine before we completed this mission. I opened the doors, letting Devana pass by me into the house, and I turned my attention back to my Pack, watching as everyone hurried off to get ready for tonight. I saw Thomas watching me, and before he turned away, he nodded as if he knew something I didn’t. I watched as he moved to help Remi gather the shifter children for dinner.
“So has Quinn told you what we are facing?” I closed the door and made my way inside, seeing Devana looking around before facing me. Some of my Pack were still going about their routines in the house.
“He told me what he could, but let’s speak in my office. I need to know everything you know before I can figure out where to start.” She was tall, maybe five feet seven inches, but she still had to look up at me like everyone else. It was amusing to see her taking a step back so she wouldn’t have to look up as far. Her eyes fascinated me the way they changed from green to brown and to gray. Quinn told me she was a seer. Even if he didn’t, her eyes would tell that story on their own.
“That’s fine. Lead the way.” She held a slight accent that I couldn’t place. She ran a hand through her locs that reached the bottom of her neck.
“Follow me,” I said, moving to the stairs. My house was large by any usual standards, but my side of the house was off-limits to all except a select few. I turned right at the top of the stairs, pushing the double doors open to a large office where Quinn told me about this fake Alpha. I knew shit was about to be a wild ride when even he couldn’t contain his anger at what was happening to our kind. I stepped to the side, so Devana had to slide past me, letting her curves brush against my body. Her scent filled my nose, and I heard her catch her breath at the contact. She moved deeper into my office, and my wolf felt content with sharing this space with her. I closed the door and watched her pace in front of the windows, clenching and unclenching her hands. The Hunter was giving herself a pep talk. I could feel my wolf staring at her, ready to claim her, but I knew it wouldn’t be so easy.
“Take a seat and tell me about the vision you had. I want to know everything from what you smelled, tasted, heard, felt, and saw. If what you claim you saw had something to do with demons, then I welcome your help as a Hunter. I’m sure you can understand that others in my Pack or any other shifter will not have the same attitude as I do about this… this partnership,” I said, moving to sit in the single armchair near where she paced. I hoped that she walked by one more time before my words sank into her brain so I could see her ass in those tight-as-hell leather pants. I tried to see exactly where she hid her weapons. The holster under her leather jacket that held her Glock wasn’t meant to be hidden, but I knew Hunters kept blades hidden everywhere on their bodies. I wouldn’t mind when this was all over if we played find the Hunter’s blades so I could caress every curve of her delectable body.
