Origin

Chapter 37- You shot me

Hunters based on the edge of town named Paradise; six miles from the humans, tucked safely away underground from nosey onlookers was a bit ironic. The cave smelled of sour milk stirred with citrus lime as if someone tried to get rid of the foul stench. I heard other Hunters whisper as they glanced at Buck escorting me to the dungeons.

My picture plastered on their board of names to kill, right beside Zari. Her wolf glared fiercely, bravely and determined to take the onlooker down; her fur colored in crimson. I would have felt honored, if it wasn't for the smell and treatment I received.

It was my karma; Sapphire would say the Moon Goddess put me in the exact spot of my enemies: hung up against the wall with silver chains locked around my wrists, being beaten until my blood colored someone else's hands. Not knowing when my next meal would come, my spit could keep me hydrated for so long until the welcoming of ice cold water used to wake me up, I opened my mouth desperately trying to swallow as much as I could manage before the liquid trickled down my chest rinsing my wounds to be wasted on the dirt floor.

The beatings didn't start immediately though. The thing about Hunters is they enjoy the chase, the mind game of making you believe they are on your side, a friend trying to help you out of a terrible situation, a savior you never knew you needed.

Buck began trying to schmooze me; play with the good guy, ask me what my favorite pastime was. I answered killing Hunters. He let that one roll off his shoulder to ask more about my hobbies, favorite foods, music like he was vetting me for marriage. I would assume he knew I was spoken for.

"I only want to help." Buck said kindly.

"I said all that I was going to say."

"You have said nothing but insults."

"Exactly." I smirked. "I'm not telling you where she is and she isn't coming for me. You either kill me or let me go."

"Why are you so sure she isn't coming for you?"

"Because I told her I hated her, told her to get out of my sight."

"You rejected her?"

"What would a human know about rejection?"

"Tons. Partner, I get disappointed. I see a beautiful lady and I get the wrong signal but I shoot my shot; my heart takes a beating and my ego too if I'm tellin' the truth. But there is more out there to see."

"See I was right. You don't know anything about rejection. Saying no to your fated partner is to be without your soul, to be without your heart."

"And yet." He shrugged, sighing. "You told her to 'get out of your sight'. You continue to say she will not come to you."

I nodded. "Now, you are listening. You are wasting your time."

"You were in the Nomad's territory after being labeled as a traitor to your people. Then, just so happens your mate was seen there only two months before. But, let's go back a couple months before this when you murdered an Alpha on sacred territory. Perhaps the vampire murdered the rest of them, but why would they leave you alive?"

Buck pulled out his fancy clipboard, filling over the first page. "Alpha Malta reports you being the last survivor, desperately holding onto your life and so determined to find your mate you left before the investigators arrived on scene. You know Molly, the investigator found it interesting that your blade matched the wound on Alpha Fuma's skull. Do you want to elaborate what happened out there?"

"No, I'm peachy."

"What does a royal vampire want with a century old werewolf? You were running around according to Alpha Malta, searching for your mate and the vamp."