The Hunter

The Rogue Camp

“Don’t worry,” Claude whispered, matching Collin’s pace. “I’ll be next to you the whole time.”

“So you’re going to help Mira keep anyone from eating me right away?” Collin cocked an eyebrow and looked sideways at Claude. “I’m guessing it’s too much to ask for no snacking attempts.”

“Unfortunately, you’re probably right about that one.” Claude shook his head then sighed. “I’ll do my best, but trust me, nothing will save the poor soul who attacks you from Mira’s wrath. I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that she’s a force to be reckoned with.”

“You could say that again.” Claude chuckled in response, but Mira glanced at them over her shoulder. “It is kind of sexy, though. She definitely knows how to take care of herself.”

A grin broke across Claude’s face and he winked, but his face quickly sobered as he sniffed the air. Collin followed his lead—the scent of shifters wafted around them. How many was still up for debate, but Collin’s guess was that at least ten were following them. The scents mingled together, but the scents of foxes, bears, wolves, mountain lions, and a few other scents he hadn’t come across yet were present.

The buzz of white noise—a repetitive clanging sound, the thumping of someone chopping wood, the cacophony of voices from the shifters, and the roar of engines—got louder the closer they walked towards what was likely the Rogue Camp. The sounds and smells conjured a ton of mental images of what the Rogue Camp would look like, but nothing prepared him for the neighborhood of unique sturdy wooden cabins with gravel roads leading to each of them.

All the shifters in the surrounding area stopped to look in their direction when they cleared the tree line. Mira continued her determined walk while the crunching of leaves from several shifters stepping out of the trees behind them sounded around them.

Several shifters walked into their path while mothers held back their children from running to Mira. A few slipped past their parents and hugged Mira’s legs. A young lion cub tumbled through the tall grass towards Claude who scooped the cub up into his arms. Loud purring came from father and son as Claude nuzzled the little cub.

“Maurice?” Collin could sense all the eyes turn towards him while Claude smiled and nodded.

“Oui.” Claude held Maurice out to Collin, who took the squirming cub. After batting at Collin’s nose a couple times, the cub mewled and pulled himself onto Collin’s shoulders, rubbing his head against Collin’s and purring very loudly in Collin’s ear.

The rest of the shifters moved in closer, watching the exchange between Collin and Maurice. The sneaky lion had done this to help Collin earn the trust of the other shifters. Most of the other shifters would have known Claude’s story by now and it had to be a shock to them for him to so willingly hand his cub over to a Hunter.

A young wolf pup, one of the twins from the cave with Briana, tugged on Collin’s pants. When Collin met the pup’s eyes, the toddler stepped back and waved up at him with a shy grin. Collin leaned forward to pick up the toddler, but Maurice growled and hissed at the pup. The sharp claws of the cub dug into Collin’s skin as Maurice crawled down to curl up in Collin’s arms.

“It seems you’ve been claimed.” Mira smiled and shook her head as she walked over, balancing a cub on her hip. When she got to him, she placed a hand on Collin’s bicep, and Maurice immediately rubbed his head against her hand and purred. “You may have a little trouble playing with any of the other children, now.”

“He is awfully cute, though.” Collin scratched Maurice’s head, which earned loud purring from the cub.  “Could definitely think of worse things.”

“What’s going on here?” A large bear shifter stepped towards Mira and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why the hell would you bring two Hunters here? I’ve been told you’re supposed to be the leader around here, and you’ve gone and endangered every single one of us, for what?”

As much as Collin wanted to punch the giant seven foot plus idiot in the nose, Mira had to handle it. Maybe he could knock him out later. Instead of cowering in front of the huge bear, Mira stepped forward with the pup still on her hip and straightened her stance. The slight stiffness in her shoulders was the only indication of tension.

“I’ll make a formal address to the entire camp later.” Mira’s voice carried over all the shifters and the wolf shifters bowed their heads. “We’ve traveled a long way and need to change clothes and eat. For now, you’ll trust me and step aside.”

The bear reeled back as he clenched his jaw. “I don’t know you,” he snarled, “Why the hell should I trust you?”

A growl ripped from Mira’s throat as she set the pup on the ground while stepping forward until hardly six inches were between them. To her credit, she straightened her back without flinching despite her hurt shoulder. She didn’t bother stepping onto her tip toes, but instead, assumed a steely disposition. All things said and done, Collin had to admit her entire attitude was rather sexy.

“Here’s what’s going to happen.” Mira’s voice stayed steady, even though anger or annoyance would have consumed Collin. “You’re going to go back to your cabin and you’re going to wait until we call a meeting. Do you know what you’re going to do?”

Rage flashed in the bear’s eyes but a hint of something else did, too. A shudder went through the bear before he took a step away from Mira and out of their path. “Go back to my cabin.”

“Exactly.” A brief smile crossed Mira’s face before she continued down the path with shifters practically jumping out of her way.

Collin walked forward with Maurice purring quietly in his arms. Claude walked a step behind Collin while Joshua held up the rear, reeking of fear. The scent annoyed Collin and he could only imagine how much more it bothered the shifters.

A group of shifters stood to the side of the path with scents Collin didn’t know, but each of them was tall and muscular. Their darker complexions stood out among the rest of the shifters. This entire community was more than Collin or any Hunter could have guessed. They had an army at their disposal. The Hunter side of Collin wanted to flare up and sound the alarm of how risky the camp site was, but he had chosen this life with Mira. He had to learn to adapt and deal with the associated risks in a different way.

Before long, Mira stepped up to the porch of a cute cottage-like cabin with beautiful roses, gardenias, and other flowers Collin didn’t know surrounding it. The river stone walkway leading up to the cabin suited Mira somehow, but what interested Collin more was the fact someone had taken pride in caring for Mira’s home. If he had to guess, he would say it was likely one of the many wolf shifters following them.

After all of them stepped inside, Claude shut the door, turned to them, and whispered, “Do you want me to go and fetch the camp doctors?” Claude grabbed Maurice from Collin’s arms, but the cub’s claws flexed into Collin’s skin leaving drops of warm blood in their wake. The cub growled and mumbled as his father settled him into his arms. “Joshua, you can come with me. I’ll have a couple of them take care of you while the others come help Mira. Oh, and if you tell anyone Mira is injured, I’ll personally eat you for supper.”

Maurice growled and stood in his father’s arms as he pawed at Joshua in a display of the most adorable ferociousness Collin had seen. Joshua raised his hands and stepped away. “Okay, okay. I understand my place.”

When Joshua walked out the door in front of Claude, Claude turned back to Mira and Collin. “The camp doctors will be here soon. Be careful you two. It’s going to take a while for people to get used to you.” Claude nodded towards Mira. “Being back, let alone the fact you are dating a Hunter.”

 Mira smiled and nodded at Claude right before he walked out the door and shut the door behind him. When Mira turned and faced Collin, the smile that lit up her face told him that he was in trouble. They finally had time alone, and he was going to have to restrain himself from holding her and cuddling with her until after the doctors left. Not to mention, he had to consider her injured shoulder as well.

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I feel bad about how short this chapter is and how long I've been gone. I'm trying to get back into writing, but it isn't always easy with the new job. It's rather demanding at times.