Hunted

Chapter 3: The Start of Their Competition

I gritted my teeth as the gigantic wolf pressed against my hand and Elliot strained against mine, trying to kill the wolf. I felt the wolf ease back and looked at him, raising an eyebrow and sternly looking at him as he reluctantly backed away. I let my hands drop to my side and checked on Elliot to see if he was okay.

Wolf's POV:

Earlier that night...

I paced back and forth before our campsite. The fire was dying and the darkness began to swallow the light that came from the fire. I paid no attention to it, I could see fine without it. Violetta had gone hunting about two hours ago, she should of been back by now. She told me no matter what she'd be fine and told me not to leave the camp unguarded in case of idiotic animals or thieves. I sighed loudly and ran my hand through my thick black hair. I hated waiting for her. She could be hurt or something for all I know... I groaned and paced again.

Thirty minutes passed and I couldn't wait any longer. I quickly began packing up, putting our stuff in our bags and I hid them carefully in a nearby tree. I started off on a quick jog following her faint scent. My eyes widened and I skidded to a stop. She went beyond our hunting radius. I gritted my teeth and phased into a wolf before continuing on the scent.

I was running for about fifteen minutes before her scent got stronger. A wave of relief washed over me and I slowed my pace down. I was about to reach a clearing when I froze dead in my tracks. A sickly sweet smell filled my nose along with Vie's scent. I narrowed my eyes and growled lowly as my  dark brown fur began to bristle and stand on it's end. There could only be one creature who could have a stench this fowl:

Vampire.

My mind spun off into a panic when I realized that Violetta was with this vampire, her sweet, homely wooded scent mixed with his fowl stench. Repulsive. I carefully moved in between a bush peeking out at the clearing before me. There she was, her back to me, and talking to the repulsive thing. She didn't even sense me coming, I figured the pale boy had her under her spell and I narrowed my eyes even more. I stood their quietly, eavesdropping on their conversation.

I held back a growl as he complimented her braveness and how intelligent she was. She began to explain about how she ended up in the forest. I frowned slightly, recalling that day.

I was a seven year old wolf boy back then who ran away from the pack. I was living off that part of the woods that year, and it was a lucky thing too. It was a light drizzle, and I found her fragile frame lying against a tree shivering and whimpering. I took her into my arms and she immediately took in my warmth and we've practically been inseparable since then, not counting our hunts. I tuned in again watching his face. I saw his eyes dart around and he began to ask her if she was alone. 

Hell no she isn't! I thought as I charged into the clearing. I gently swiped Vie against the tree to her right and waaay more violently lunged at the vampire, pinning him between tree growling. I snarled as he wrapped his claws around my throat. I stood on my hind legs and was about to smother the leech when I felt Vie's tiny hand press against me and I strained a little more wanting to kill the leech. She kept her hand firm against my chest so I eased back and dropped back down on all fours watching Vie expectantly. She glared at me, shooting me a mental 'move back' look and I hesitated before backing up a little further. She went over to the vampire and asked if he was okay. I mentally rolled my eyes and disappeared into the bushes to phase back.

Violetta's POV:

I sighed in relief as  Caden rolled his eyes at me and disappeared into the bushes to phase back. My eyes swept over Elliot as he looked curiously at me and kept repeating he was fine. He leaned against the tree with his sketch book under his arm eying the bushes where Caden disappeared. His gaze moved to mine and his eyes soften up, but quickly regained it's former glare as Caden emerged from the bushes. I turned around and walked over to my bow picking it up and slinging my bow bag over my shoulder walking to Caden as he shot me a 'you better have a good explanation' look and I rolled my eyes walking beside him back to Elliot. They both glared at each other for a while before I cleared my throat walking in between them.

"Elliot, Caden. Caden, Elliot." I said, motioning to both of them. I looked between them as neither of them broke eye contact and each held each other's glare. I sighed heavily. This was going to be a hell of a confrontation. I watched Caden's eyes flicker to mine as I sighed and he dropped his gaze giving a curt nod to Elliot the exact same way I did when I first met him.