The Huntress - The Hunt #1 (COMPLETE)

13. Trouble in Hell.

Ella felt oddly secure laying in Dorian's arms after their forest encounter. They had somehow managed to get back to their house without anyone seeing Ella. Once they were home, they needed to be with each other again, their lust driving them both insane. After several hours of sex, they were both finally spent and calm. Just laying in bed with Dorian, that was something Ella felt truly grateful for.

Although everything outside their little blissful existence was pushed to the background, Ella's new vampire brain was good at multitasking and a part of her was worrying about the near future. She knew enough about vampires to hunt and kill them. How to actually live as one, that was a foreign concept for her. She needed to learn and fast, before she put anyone in danger. Already she could feel her hunger for blood nagging at her. And Dorian smelled so delicious.

"Do you know anything about vampires?" she finally managed to whisper to Dorian. She was scared to bring this topic up, afraid of what she might learn.

"Not much. I have only even seen one before. Before you, I mean. I think we might have some books about them in the pack house library. I will go and get them for you," Dorian offered, ready to get out of bed.

"Not right now. I want to pretend everything is still as it was before I left for that hunt. I want to be here with you, be me, for just a little bit longer. The reality, I'm terrified to live it. What if I can't control my bloodlust and hurt someone, worse I hurt you? And can vampires even get pregnant? You need to have a child. Up until tonight, I didn't even want to consider that option, but right now, I want to give you children. Now that I might not be able to. Does that make me crazy?" Ella ranted. She had a million thoughts running through her impressively fast brain.

Dorian sighed, "I don't care about children. We can adopt a pup if that's how we can produce an heir. It's been done before in other packs. And no, you are not crazy, all these concerns, I'd be lying if I said I didn't worry about them, too. But I am sure of one thing: you and I are going to be fine. We will figure this out, as long as we are together." Dorian's promises were helping calm her erratic thoughts and worries. She was about to drop the subject when a serious concern entered her mind.

"What if the pack doesn't accept me? It was already obvious me being a human hunter was troublesome. Now I'm your species' mortal enemy."

***

Dorian had to admit to himself that Ella was worried for a reason. She was his mate and still his instincts were urging him to go for the kill. Luckily the matebond over-weighed that part of him, but that feeling might never go away. What would his pack do, once they learned about Ella's transformation? They hadn't even introduced her to the pack. No one really knew anything about her, other than she was human and also a hunter. Both seriously complicated things. And she had made an example out of Maia, the unmated female population already had a reason to hate her.

"I pride myself in being an honest man. So, with that in mind, I don't care would be my response. If they find it unacceptable to have you as the luna, I will leave with you. All a wolf wants and needs is their mate. I could never let you go. Besides, being alpha isn't that much fun. It's more work than play. And Mick could take over and handle everything perfectly anyway. I'm not irreplaceable." Dorian believed every word. He would walk away from the pack, if that was the only way to keep Ella.

"Don't. I will not do that to you. I have already made your life impossible. This pack is your family's legacy, I will not allow you to throw it away for me. I know what it's like to live without a home and family, it's worse than you could ever imagine. Even when I was a child, my parents treated me and Tommy like little soldiers. They never cared about us as kids, we were supposed to carry on the family business and smile while doing it. Now that I have seen what a home is supposed to be, I could never take you away from it. Promise me, even if it hurts beyond belief, you will let me go if need be. Promise me this, as I promise you I will leave and stay away, to keep you safe. Promise me!" Ella urged. Dorian's eyes teared up. How could he ever promise something like that to her? There would be no home without her. She was his universe.