The Hunter's Vampire {Re-writing}

Chapter 36 Silent Hunt

Leeland took his time to pick out fresh and ripe vegetables and seasonings to put into his basket as he went down the list of groceries that he was sent off to buy. Adam had given him money in the satchel that he took, and he used it wisely. He ticked off the list and then came around to the last place where he needed to get bread. His eyes widened and he swore under his breath.

The Duncan's bakery had been restored, the sign fixed and the door replaced. He was more than alarmed at the quickness in which they repaired the damages but he knew by what means it took to restore those.

He fixed his basket on his arm and knew that he had to go in, Adam had once said that their bread was the best in the whole village and he couldn't disagree since he had tasted it before and also what Marissa had baked. Leeland made the sign of the cross, remembering his mother's love for God and inhaled deeply before beginning his advance towards the Duncan's Doughhouse that housed the pack of Duncan's that he suspected were an old lineage of pure-blooded Werewolves.

He pushed in the door, hearing the ring over his head, his eyes snapping up before his ears picked up on the footfall of a tall and burly man with thick ginger hair braided back, his full beard shaping his sharp face and his eyes a clear emerald sitting perched upon high cheeks. "Gud day, me boy, how may I help ya?" Irish.

He shook away his worry and stepped towards the tall glass covered shelves that separated him from the man, the shelves behind him all full with baked breads and pastries making the young wolf hungry. "Good morning sir. I wanted to order four loaves of bread."

"Of course. Which ones do ya want?"

"Umm," he looked over the bread and noticed the traditional Irish bread along with other more common types, "I'd like a Milk loaf, a potato loaf, a Rye loaf and a Soda bread loaf."

The older man rose his brows at him with a hearty laugh he said. "Ya 'ave good taste in bread son." He went head to wrapping the bread up one by one as Leeland waited for him to finish so he could hand him the money. Mr. Duncan told him the price and he took out that exact amount and handed it to the older man in exchange for his bread he set them in the basket, happy that it was big enough to take all that he had to get. "Leeland?" his heart sank as he saw the recognized the face of Samson and swore under his breath. "Why are you here?" he asked, his tone making Leeland cringe as he hurried with fixing the bread in his basket. "Sammy, be nice to the guest. I'm sorry, me boy is quite troublesome, and stubborn too." He patted Samson's back and saw how Leeland looked shaken. "Oh, one of your friends Sam?"

"Father, the next batch of bread should be ready now." Mr. Duncan nodded once. "Sure thing son, you man the front, and be kind." He walked off with less than a hurry towards the back kitchens and left the two wolves to themselves. "Didn't I warn you?"

"I'm doing errands for Adam, he favors this shop. I had not intention of coming back here."

His lips curled. "You couldn't lie to save your life could you?" Samson said leaning forward on the counter. His eyes lowered to meet Leeland's. "What do you want with us?"

Leeland stepped forward, taking in a deep inhalation of bravery as he faced this older wolf. "Information. Why is Marissa still unaware of her bloodline, and why are you trying to hide it away from her?" his eyes flared brighter making Leeland take a step back. Samson used the space he made to vault over the counter to land skillfully before him, his stance straightening. Leeland took a step back for each one that Samson took forward until the basket fell to the floor and his back had backed up far enough to hit the wooden door. Samson clicked the lock and turned the key, taking it and pressed a left hand besides Leeland's head. His height making the younger man feel fear once more, making him relive the morning he brought Marissa home. "Please, I don't want trouble." The wolf didn't speak, he sniffed his hair, his collar then growled low. "You smell strange."

"I... I live with a hunter." He snorted, and lowered his darkening eyes, "you're quite adorable for a pup. Maybe you should leave before I become curious."

"W-what?" Samson's free hand crept up his arm until his fingers wrapped around his neck and Samson closed the distance between them. Leeland choked, his eyes dulling as Samson picked him up slowly to match his height that paled Leeland by five inches. "You're becoming a nuisance. Leave before you can't. He released him and he crumbled to the floor gasping from sweet oxygen-filling his lungs with it as Samson loomed over him. He stepped back and gathered the things that had fallen from Leeland's basket. He picked up the basket after tucking back the cloth over it then lending a hand to Leeland who growls at it then swats it away. Samson rolled his eyes, not bothered by his obvious disdain for him after what he did, but he did not care to feel offended. He reached out once more his eyes hard and piercing. Leeland took the man's stubborn offer for help and is yanked back to his feet in one sharp tug. He gasped, falling forward, hands at Samson's chest, Leeland's heart racing as he shoved away from him and grabbed his goods. "Let me out."

Samson didn't move. "The key." Leeland said knowing that the man had locked both the lock and the turn lock to keep him in. "You're no fun." He presented the key and leaned forward, making Leeland jerk back, eyes wavering in their uncertain hardness as Samson unlocked the door and allowed him freedom. Leeland pulled the door open and began to hurry out of the bakery. "If you want more information, meet me when the moon crescents. I'll be near the entrance of the village." Leeland stopped not turning back, his curiosity was strong but his fear of that man was stronger. He turned and nodded before marching off.

Samson smirked, "cute." He licked his lips and turned back and went back to manning the store.

Leeland had left the village to which he walked carefully, his ears open as he listened to the footfall that followed him. He stopped and set the basket down carefully. "I know you're there." A soft chuckle came, echoing the woods a little and the wolf stepped out of the tall trees that framed the way back towards Adam's home, the long shaped indicating the sunset. "Vic."

"Lee." The scruffy young wolf rushed over to his friend as Leeland met him in the middle their embrace tight and long as his eyes watered at seeing the face of his friend. "Oh my God, you're alive!"

"I'm alive, I'm happy you're alive." He chuckled.

"It wasn't easy... Fhalson isn't happy that I was afraid to face the hunters he kicked me out, but I found a home with a widow and her son. I... I'm safe. Are you? You look well."

"Wait, why didn't he kill you?"

He shook his head. "He couldn't bother with how angry he was at the failed hunt a few nights past, hunters had taken too many of them out, I also heard through the woodwork that there was a failed attack on the hunters association."

"Yeah, I know." He sighed. "I'm safe, I'm living good and eating well."

"Can we catch up? I-I only followed you because I was worried you'd be... reluctant to speak to me."

"Never. I'm good, we're good. We can talk."

"Fhalson and Helen, I'm shocked that they let you go."

"I was weaker than the bunch, they gave me time to run and I bucked it to the village, I knew that I needed to get to somewhere safe and that he was too angry to follow far enough away from the hideout."

"It changed, didn't it?"

He nodded. "Yes, they've moved higher into the mountains but they might be gone now since they had planned to lure a young hunter in so they could hook onto his scent and play him for a fool." Leeland hummed as they walked back towards the village. "I've missed you Leeland."

"And I you my old mate." He said in a smile.