Hunt

Chapter 29: Revelations

"It's me Kyle... Reyna."

My grip on the knife slips, my body going numb. "No..." I say at a whisper. I already knew the answer to my question before she spoke, but hearing it said out loud still saps all the energy from my body. Like an anvil had been placed on top of my heart.

That moment in the park on a bright full moon feels like it lasted for an eternity. Pinned under the lycan that just claimed she was my girlfriend. I wouldn't be able to move even if I wasn't pinned. Our eyes locked on each others. A monster hunter, and a werewolf. Enemies by nature. Lovers by coincidence. Deceived by fate.

The empty pain in my chest, the sudden anguish in my soul, all begins to burn red hot as my emptiness turns to a deep anger. Where my body had fallen numb and unresponsive a surge of energy rushes through me, an adrenaline rush like lightning. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be Reyna. The girl from California who helped me get through the trauma of my past demons. The girl who I fell in love with outside her front door. Gripping the knife on my hip again tightly I rip outwards, tearing it free from the hilt on my belt. Using any leverage I could get in my pinned arms I thrust the blade upward, yelling in frustration and anger as I attempt to wrestle this beast off of me.

"Get off!" I shout, managing to use this sudden burst of power to drive the knife towards the side of the beast. Only managing to rake the blade across her ribs, not through them like I had tried.

The sudden pain and the burst of speed from me causes the wolf to release me, stumbling back with a pained bark. She winces as bright crimson begins to spread through her fur and cascade to the ground. "K-Kyle..?"

Breathing hard I spin into low crouch, putting a small gap between us. "You're just a monster." I say in a low voice, "You can't be her. My Reyna!" My anger clouds my vision a deep red, the rush of blood pounding through my head and ears. I can only see a dangerous beast ahead of me, a threat to me and my family. Tunnel vision keeps me from caring about anything else, just the white wolf in front of me.

The wolf backs up, limping back away, "Kyle please!" She begs, angling her body to keep her injured side away from me.

Gripping the knife with both hands I lunge forward, my anger guiding the blade towards its mark. All I could see were Julie's scared eyes and a flash of white teeth. I didn't want anyone else be scared of the dark, not like I was. I had failed to keep her safe though, she had seen everything. I could at least put an end to it here and now.

"No!" I shout, tears streaking from my eyes, "Stop saying my name!" Her words only adding fuel to my anger. This can't be her, my Reyna! This monster couldn't be my girlfriend! I drive the knife forward again, my aim true...

But my knife doesn't strike my target down like I had wanted. It never reaches its mark as I slump into the grass, knife plunged up to the hilt into the dirt right at her feet. My body shaking from uncontrollable sobbing. Tears stinging my eyes, causing my vision to blur. I've never felt this way before. This empty. This broken.

"No... no you just can't." I can only manage to say between my convulsions. My anger-fueled moment of action having quickly burned away to ash, being replaced by an overwhelming wave of pent up emotion. All my bottled up sadness and weakness shattering around me like glass, drowning me in millions of broken pieces. I can't see, can barely breath, unable to rise from my prostration. Making myself an easy target.

I'm sorry Amelia. I'm just not strong enough...

Somewhere to my left a growling voice catches my ear, "Reyna! There you are!" Female by her tone. It's enough snap back to my senses, the sudden arrival of a second wolf pulling me away from my resignation like a blast of cold air. Attempting to push myself up, I feel the sudden uncontrollable need to get out of here. "Who's this— You're bleeding! You're hurt!"