New Age Werewolf Series Book 2: Hunter's Daughter, Alpha's Mate

Part 5: Crash Course

We walked upstairs to the library. I hardly came up here. I read a lot, but I honestly brought books I wanted to read. I never thought about the place, considering it more like Dad's den than a family library.

Didi and I sat on the couch and Dad took the recliner. We just sat staring at each other.

"I'm not a bounty hunter," Dad said out of nowhere. "I'm just a hunter." When neither Didi nor I said anything, he exhaled, "I hunt supernatural creatures."

I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows at that. "You hunt vampires--?"

"Usually, and a whole bunch of other things that people don't think exist," he nodded. "but lately it's been--" He looked at Didi. "Werewolves."

I sat still. "What is it, Dad?"

He took my hand. "You have werewolf blood, firefly, you know that--"

I pulled away. "And?"

"You--" His eyes glowed. "You came of age at eighteen."

Didi didn't move. I felt like my stomach dropped to the floor. I had seen my eyes do this in the past year, but I dismissed it as reflection of light. "What does that mean? Mom wasn't a werewolf, so I don't change, and you do."

"Your mother was human, and I loved her more than anything."

"Why didn't you change her when she was dying?" I had to ask it. His not changing her on the brink of death was something I never understood. I would have done anything to save her.

"I respected her wishes," He couldn't seem to look at us. "And she wanted me to focus on protecting you."

"Protecting me?"

"Yes."

"From what? From who?"

"The Kincaid Clan," he answered. "When I married your mother, my clan was against it. When you were born, you were considered--"

"An abomination," Didi said sadly.

"And how do you figure into this?" I asked her. It had not escaped my notice that she had been quiet and unaffected by all this.  She had been my best friend over half of my life, and suddenly I questioned it.

"I am the daughter of a hunter, full human," Didi  admitted. "but unlike most hunters, my family believed in hunting evil non-humans, not just non-humans."

"You see, firefly--"

I rose, needing to get away. "I need a minute--"

Dad grabbed my wrist. "We don't have much time, honey. Sit down."

I looked at him. He looked heartbroken and scared, things I'd never seen in him before. I sat slowly, looking at him.

"The Kincaids seem to want you--"

"Want me dead?"

"We don't know," Dad shook his head. "but Kyros's father Payton came for you, once. He tried to take you, and we fought. I should have not survived, but I guess protecting you gave me strength that saved me. That was years ago."

"They think you're an abomination, Lani." Didi added.

"So they want to kill me," I thought aloud.

"All we know is they have someone who can track you," he told me. "Since you turned eighteen, someone has been able to track you to a certain extent. We don't know how. Didi has never had to sound the alarm for your mother and me to come."

"Why haven't they ever been to school?"

"They seem able to pick you up when you are out and traveling in the summer, but the trails run cold before they can find you at the university."

"Which is why we traveled every summer," I realized. "Moved around."

"They are getting closer, and I believe they are heading this way," Dad sighed. "I wish you hadn't come."

"Do you know what they look like?"

"Your mother sketched Kyros-the son-from memory," Dad said.

"What about the father?"

"Payton was wounded badly, and he is getting old," Dad said, shaking his head. "His son should rise to alpha soon, and he may be hunting you down to prove his worth."

That didn't sound good. He handed Didi and me small sketches. I'd seen him! I grabbed a pencil and sketched the mustache and beard in.

"Oh God, I've seen him on campus." I remembered that day, and never forgotten it. He was in jeans, a long coat, white shirt, boots. He was just walking around, like he was finding his way. I watched him from afar, admiring him. He was the most handsome man I'd ever seen in my life and women far better looking than me were drawn to him, but he seemed to look them over, smile and move on, still looking...for me? 

Didi and Dad looked at each other. "When?"

"Spring semester," I shook my head. I remembered how drawn I was to him, but the feelings were so intense I ran the other way, in fact, I went swimming that day feeling the need to cool off.  I kept that information to myself; it was embarrassing. 

"This is Kyros," Dad said seriously. "He's dangerous, firefly, extremely dangerous."

I just want to say that I picked Henry Cavill for a lot of reasons. First, he's got the build, has some stamina since he runs (like wolves do),  some height, and he's got body hair, which lends to physicality of the character. Second, he is can be highly expressive, nuances and the obvious are not lost on the observer, thanks to those eyes. If this was a movie, he'd be the first guy I'd go after. Honestly, this is probably beneath him, but he might like it because he does go through growth and conflict and such. As you read about Kyros, I'd love to hear your suggestions for this role, it'd be fun!