Hunted

Bonus Chapter

Here's a little something something for now. It's kind of short. Xander's POV of the day he met Mel at the house after she was brought to the camp. Needed to show you guys a little bit more of Xerxes.

My leg kept bouncing as I waited for the drive to be over. It had been like this since I got that call from dad and had jumped on a flight back home. Xerxes pacing wasn't helping at all and neither was Kenji's consistent chattering. 

"Do you think she'll like me?" He asks bouncing in his seat as we start to get closer to the house. "She has to like me right? What's she like anyway you know her. But maybe not as well as before because you've been out of her life in a way..."

"Shut up." Xerxes and I said in unison. 

"You okay buddy?"

"Of course I am why wouldn't I be?"

"I can feel your nervousness." I chuckle.

"Sorry that's all you."  

Stepping into the house I was tackled by a little ball of pink energy. 

"Hi Xander." She laughs.

"Hey Lilly pop."

"Your mate is pretty." She whispered like it was some secret. 

"Really? Where is she?"

"In the woods." She stops talking all her attention seeming to be drawn by something behind me. I turn around and spot Kenji and sigh. The blush on Lilly's face tells me she still has a crush on my dear friend. 

"No." I tell her putting her back down. She blushes harder and runs off upstairs.

"You're mean."

"You're ugly." I shrug. He gasps dramatically and pouts. "Liar."

"I'm going to find Mel."

"Try not to scare her off. She was raised human so I'd suggest keeping Xerxes a secret if you wanna win her heart." A voice says from the top of the stairs. I look up and spot Carlton and frown at his words. Xerxes slumps in defeat and I can't have that. 

"I'm not going to scare her."

"Have you seen the size of your wolf. Also lets not forget he's a ruthless bastard."

"Not to Mel." I growl before quickly composing myself. "I'll be back in a bit Ken."

"Xerxes no matter how much of a snack your mate is don't try to eat her." Ken calls out. We both ignore him and I make my way into the forest shifting at the edge. 

I see her before she sees me. She's in the centre of the clearing looking deep in thought and absolutely exhausted. We stare at her for a full minute when I start to feel Xerxes' nervousness and for the first time fear. 

"What's wrong?"

"What if I scare her? I don't want her to be scared of me or hate me. Maybe you should do it. I'll meet her when she's more comfortable, when...."

"Stop doing that. She won't hate you. Remember she was made for us. And the moongoddess never makes mistakes."

"Right." Taking in a deep breathe he starts to move quietly not making any noise.

"Stop moving like a predator." I laugh

"Shut up." His paw snaps a twig and his entire body freezes. 

"I said I'm not running away." She groaned but paused when she looked up. "You aren't Carlton."

"She's seen his wolf?" He asks with a hint of jealousy in his tone. "No matter I'm bigger. Wait is that a good thing?"

He tilts his head before I take momentary control and start  lowering us to the ground and putting his head on her lap.

"Do you not understand the concept of personal space? I could shove you off me but you might bite my head off for it." She says glaring down.

He made a sound low in his throat but moved off her choosing to just lie down in front of her. She studied us for a while both of us silently watching each other. I could feel Xerxes relaxing the more he looked at her. 

"Did they send you to make sure I don't run off?" She asked. "I don't have a death wish you know. If my dad sent me here it's probably the safest place to be with people looking for me."

"It is." We want to say but it comes out as a growl. 

"She smells nice." Xerxes sighs closing his eyes. 

"You're probably male based on your size. Don't shift to confirm or deny what I just said. I don't need a repeat of yesterday. The image of a naked Carlton is still burned in my brain." She says and my eyes immediately snap open. 

"I'm going to kill him." I say

"I won't stop you."

"What's got you all riled up. You hear something?" She asks.

I shook my head trying to calm us both down before looking back at her. Carlton could wait.

"Then what's with the attitude? You know what I don't even know why I'm talking to you." 

She stood up and turned to leave but Xerxes not wanting her to go anywhere  shoved her to the ground and she landed on her front. She looked back and caught the smug look on his face.

"Really?"

"What?" He chuckles watching her stand and glare at us.  

"You're lucky I don't have my knife with me. I would have carved your little wolf heart out." she hissed.

Scoffing he turns away from her and we begin to head back in the direction we came from. 

"Where are we going?"

"To kill Carlton. She's not scared of me just mad. Next time she sees me she'll approach me first."

"I don't get you Xerxes."

"Don't walk away from me you little asshole. I'll figure out who you are and hit you over the head with a lead pipe."