Blood Hunter | Tales of the Wild #1

Chapter 6

Being greeted with such aggression wasn't a new thing. It was why as much as possible, she avoided interactions with everyone except those that can handle her. King Jonathan and Queen Jeannie were old and powerful enough to handle the aura she exuded. The others that were in her presence had her concealing herself.

It was easy enough to do at this point. But she made no move to the same when she walked up to the gates of this pack. She wanted to know what weakness they would show if she hadn't hid that part of herself.

And they did exactly what she expected. They armed themselves at the feeling of immediate threat once they appeared to them.

A slap on her arm had her turning towards her son, cocking a brow at him while he wagged his eyebrows at her. She stared at him blankly at the childishness he was expressing. "I should have incapacitated you when I still had the chance."

"You said that like thirty times, maman," he rolled his eyes. "When are you going to let it go?"

"This is why it is unfortunate for you that we are able to live a long life," she replied simply, letting her son sigh and capture her arm in his, placing his head atop hers.

The show of affection would have angered her. In the human realm, something like this was normal but in her circumstance in this monstrous world they were in, there was nothing but danger and if anyone else saw the affection he held for her then they would take advantage of that.

But, with all the power she held, she could not scold her son into not showing his love for her. She had always craved it ever since she was sure she wouldn't kill the babe in her arms.

Besides, there were only little moments now that she'd be able to take advantage of it.

With the promise of war on the alpha's lips, her life was on a clock.

🏹

"Why now?" Were the first words past the alpha's lips as soon as they arrived in his office.

For someone old, their take on their infrastructure was modern. Flat roof, beige painted walls, furnished doors, oak wood floors, and more windows that she could count. She noted that there was a balcony at the west end of the hallway they walked in. Besides the front door, it was the only other exit she'd seen so far.

His office was large. Fit for an alphas meeting. She had been around for so long to distinguish the feel of the pine wood underneath her naked fingers, scraping the callouses on them. The chairs were comfortable—too comfortable that Sebastien immediately sighed in content sitting in them.

Her eyes glanced at the companion of the lycan in front of him. Seated on his right was the beta that she met at the castle and on his left was the woman who was the first and last to turn into her natural form.

Anyone with that instinct, she knew, was a gamma.

They looked distinctively alike—same dirty blonde hair, same strong nose, and even the same scowl. The only difference they held were their eyes and jaw. The woman had brown eyes and the beta had dark blue ones.

They smelled similar too. Besides the usual hint of scent that a lycan would have, they both shared the same nutty smell. It was the final confirmation that they were of blood.

When a hand smacked the table—not loud enough to startle anyone, just enough to capture attention, her eyes met his once again. The simple action alone had pepper and mint swimming in the air. The stronger scent took hold of her.

Right. He had asked a question. A question he repeated twice now. "Does it matter?"

"I prefer honesty, Blood Hunter."

His blue eyes, light like the sky, were imposing. Much like his stature even when seated. "Your preference is noted, Lycan."

It was entertaining to see the Alpha in front of her let out a growl in frustration. Still, she made no move to smile even if she saw her son's lips lifting at the corner of her eye. "I don't like to play games, Blood Hunter. You're here to help us and for that, we require trust. We do not trust you."

He glanced at her son for a second, showing that the sentiment referred to not only her.

"You don't need to trust me at all, Lycan," she spoke dismissively, finding it somewhat entertaining that the three of them were annoyed with her answers. In this lifetime, there were little things that did that. "I'm here. To help. Just like what you asked for. Is this not what you wanted when you came to the castle and spoke to the royals?"

"Wow," the Gamma beside him spoke then. "Torin spoke the truth when he said you're a bitch."

That earned her a small twitch of Red's lips but the Alpha beside her did not find it funny.

"Gemma." He spoke low, voice laced with reprimand and command all at once that made his Gamma sit straighter if it was even possible.

She lifted her hand, waving it. "I've been called worse, Lycan. You need not to fight my battles. Besides, it isn't as if she hadn't spoken the truth. I am one."

The Alpha turned to her, lips curled in frustration she would bet. It seemed refreshing enough—to be talked to without fear or apprehension just like everybody else. Though, she supposedly does not hide her aura around people often. If she did, Red bet that interactions like these would happen more and more.

That would be a shame if it did.

"I assume we are finished with this talk, yes?" She stood, her son doing the same thing. "You don't trust me. Nor I you, Lycan. But here you are and here I am, about to do something that will get us all killed."

For a few seconds, she stood while he sat, blue eyes clashing against her hazel ones. His aura had splintered in the air so slightly that it wasn't noticeable to anyone else but her. Whatever negative emotion he was feeling, she could not see in his expression.

The vanilla peppermint scent was still there lingering, tickling her nose enough that she thought there were candies around them.

Her son was convinced that this alpha lycan in front of her was her mate because the man had said so. She'd known better than to hear and listen about the ramblings of a stranger about mates and bonds.

Clearly, if this man thought it was smart to go up against Joseph Victor himself, then it was obvious that he must have gotten his wires crossed with someone else.

Then, he nodded. "My Beta will escort you to your rooms while my Gamma will have some people take your things to you."

She shook her head. "No need. I prefer no one to touch our things. Especially my weapons."

That seemed to capture their attention even more. They hadn't realized until now that her bow and arrow wasn't on her person.

The light blue orbs that landed on her caught on to what she did.

A show of faith. A way for them to trust her slightly.

She'd come to their presence as unarmed as she allowed herself to be.