The Hunted: Book One In The Hunted Trilogy

Marriage

Sally bounded down the stairs toward the work shop. Sally was able to hear every word that Eric and Johnathan exchanged.

"She was bitten?!" Johathan gasped.

Yes sir," Eric replied.

"And you still want to marry her?"

"Yes sir."

"Oh you are a great man! To love my baby girl even when I thought all but me would!"

This was a painful reminder to Sally of what she had become. Slowly she opened the door into the shop and the talking cease. Popping her head out the door, Sally moved into view of the men who sat at her fathers work bench.

"So," Johnathan motioned Sally to sit, "I'm guessing you heard what we where talking about?"

"Yes sir," Sally nodded, "Sorry that you had to be right about a werewolf daughter."

"No," Johnathan shook his head, "you have no need to apologize. That isn't something you spread around sweet heart. I just wished the villagers were wrong."

"Everything will be OK dad," Sally smiled.

"Now what do you say to Erics proposal?" Johnathan asked, a large grin on his face.

"Yes," Sally replied, smiling down a Eric, "I'll marry you!"

"Then I approve," Johnathan glowed, "and you have my blessing."

"Thank you so much sir!" Eric spun Sally around in a circle, both laughed, happy happy beyond belief.

"Thank you dad! I love you!"

"Forever and always!"

After giving her father one last hug, Sally and Eric headed out. Villagers still stared at Sally and Eric. Shaking his head Eric said:

"If looks could kill we would be dead twenty times over!"

Sally laughed and scooted closer to Eric on the small wagon seat. The sun was setting and the sky was going a light violet. Looking up sally saw the moon was slowly rising, it was full. Fear and dread flowed like a angry river threw Sally. She looked to Eric who grabbed her arm showing her he would never leave her side. The wagon slowed to a stop in front of the church building. The church bells rang aloud as Eric walked up to the door.

"Are you coming Sal?" Eric asked

"Werewolves can't enter churches," Sally retorted.

"After their first change," Eric replied, "technically your still human."

"If you say so," Sally shrugged and hopped off the wagon.

Eric had been right! Sally crossed the church threshold with no problems. But once inside the people in the building gave her problems. Words like:

"Filth!"

"Monster!"

"Vile Beast!"

Poured from the on lookers. Sally felt out of place and wished she had stayed in the cart. Eric rapped a very protective arm around Sally and lead her toward where the pope stood.

"Excuse me sir," Eric began, "I have a request."

"And that request is what my dear boy?" The pope asked.

"Will the church marry my fiancé and I?" Eric replied with a question.

"Yes," the pope smiled, "on the twelfth of December at four in the evening."

"Thank you so much sir," Eric bowed and pulled Sally out of the church and on to the wagon.

The ride back to Sampsons was quick and uneventful. Once in the front yard by the gate Eric asked Sally publicly. Answering the same way she did at her house Sally beamed at Eric happily. Many passerby's congratulated the couple. The werewolf hunters grew angry at Eric and spat at his feet.

"Marrying a werewolf," one spat.

"Gonna have puppies?" One jeered as Eric and Sally entered threw the front gate.

As they entered the school students rushed by to get to the dinning hall. Eric motioned Sally to go ahead of him into the hall. Taking Erics hand, Sally entered the hall and went to get food. After grabbing a plate full, Sally followed Eric to where their friends sat. Once she sat down everyone but Eric, ace, and Janace left.

"Some friends you all are," Eric shouted at the retreating backs of Sallys 'friends'.

"Its fine Eric," Sally explained, "it doesn't bother me."

"But they called themselves your friend," Ace spat out his potatoes, "and then, when you need them most they turn their backs on you, literary! It makes me sick!"

"That's their problem!" Sally retorted.

"But they shouldn't act like this to you," Janace growled, "after all it aint your fault."

"'It isn't you fault'," Eric corrected, "not it aint!"

"Still grammar Nazi!" Ace complained and the whole table began to laugh.

Conversation began to dull down as sleep began to cover the group. Tables around them began to empty. Yawning mouths and stretching arms lefts the dinning hall. After Janace fell asleep into her mashed potatoes, the four decided it was time for bed. A bed had been added to Sallys room for Eric. Sally lay in her bed and pretended to sleep as Ace and Erics whispers meet her ears.

"If it comes to death," Eric whispered, "I need to count on you to let us threw .The back gate!"

"If I'm found out they'll kill me!" Ace cried out.

"Would you keep your voice down!" Eric demanded, "Then ill tie you up before we exit the school OK?"

"Alright," Aces voice ended the conversation, "you just keep her safe. She's like a big sister to me you know!"

"Yeah," Eric agreed, "I know."

Feet could be heard leaving the hall as Sally door creaked open. Eric leaned over Sallys ear and kissed her cheek.

"Don't worry my love," he whispered, oblivious to the fact sally wasn't asleep, "I have a plan to save you no matter the out come."

Creaking sounded as Eric got into his bed and blew out the lamp on his night stand. Sally had closed the curtains so she wouldn't shift and was glad when finally, She fell asleep.