The Game Warden's Mate: An Alien Abduction Romance (The Hunt Book 1)

by A. M. Griffin

  “I don’t think that would be wise, Sir. You canceled the meeting that was scheduled right after you took control of the business.”

  Xrez frowned at his appearance. He looked too formal. His clothes were fresh and clean. No wonder he stood out compared to the other hunters. Their dress was on par with the prey while he looked like he was trying to impress a female.

  I am.

  But everyone else shouldn’t know that. Xrez used his claws to scratch at his hair, messing it up. “And? I’ll meet with them once I settle into my new position.” Maybe he should take off his clothes and wear what he’d worn yesterday? Esme didn’t have a change of clothes. “Tell them that I’ll contact them and schedule a meeting when it’s convenient for me.” Xrez crossed the expansive living suite to retrieve his dirty clothes.

  “You misunderstand, Sir. The bureaucrats have scheduled this meeting without you.”

  That statement gave Xrez a pause. “Meeting without me?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  This could only mean one thing. The bureaucrats were up to something. Could they withdraw their support? The number of credits being transferred into their accounts guaranteed their compliance, but no amount would protect them from the Galactic Federation of Planets if it were ever found that they helped with any illegal activities involving humans. Xrez turned on his heel and made his way to the transport bay. “Ready my shuttle, Bradliix.”

  “Of course, Sir.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Crunch. Crunch

  It wasn’t in her head. Someone was definitely following her. She’d first gotten the feeling she was being watched when she was spearfishing at the creek. She hadn’t seen or heard anyone but the creepy feeling played a number on her nerves, and she couldn’t shake it.

  She’d done what Ben had told her and trusted her gut. Someone was watching her.

  First, she’d thought it was Xrez spying on her. By not helping her secure her dinner, she would progress to the next level quicker. But she could tell when Xrez watched her. A warm heat always spread through her body and her insides fluttered in excitement. She could feel his eyes on her without having to verify it. What she felt now was entirely different.

  Nervous energy coursed through her veins. Her heart strained and her ribs contracted. Her mind raced. Every internal warning bell sounded in a panic.

  She looped her purse around her neck and shoulder, securing it tightly in case she had to run. Then she knotted the hood of Xrez’s old coat and tied the extra material around her purse strap. She’d used one of the knives to detach the hood. The bulk of the coat she used for a pillow.

  It smelled of Xrez, and since she couldn’t hold him, she took solace in wrapping her arms around it and dreaming of him. He might miss the hood when she finally returned it, but how could he fault her for making use of it? It was waterproof and just the right size to carry her fish. She couldn’t very well stick raw fish in her purse and ruin her things or hold the squirmy suckers in her hands.

  Leaving the hood behind at the stream had crossed her mind. But that also meant she wouldn’t eat today. With her hands free, she was able to carry the machete in one and a dagger in the other.

  She didn’t run. Predators liked when prey ran. Plus, all she wanted to do was run back to her cave and hide, but she’d fought against that panicked thought. Leading a hunter to her hiding place would only get her cornered and caught. She headed off in the opposite direction, not bothering to use the snowshoes strapped to her back.

  The goal was to get the hunter to follow her away from her cave. If the hunter relied on the gaping holes left in the knee-deep snow and became confident and gave her sufficient distance, she could lead him anywhere. Then she would don her snowshoes and lose him.

  That plan worked out so well in her head.

  Fifteen minutes later and she knew her plan wasn’t working at all. Not only did the hunter not let her get too far ahead, but he was also closing in. She could feel it.

  Esme walked faster. Her heart slammed against her ribs. She couldn’t catch her breath fully. She glanced over her shoulder for the hundredth time. Nothing was behind her except the greyish-white trees and snow covered ground. She’d traveled so far from her cave that the greenery that thrived in this God awful place was gone and she was back to the area where everything appeared sad and dead.

  Should she use an escape pod?

  She glanced behind her again. No other tracks in the snow but hers.

  This technically wasn’t an emergency. Esme didn’t want to risk using one of her two pods when she hadn’t seen a hunter. What if her gut was wrong and this was just a case of overacting nerves? That thought and the fact she didn’t know how long she had in Level Two made her scratch the idea for the moment.

  “Maybe this is all in my head,” she whispered to herself. “It’s just my nerves. Nobody’s following me.”

  “I can assure you that you are being followed.”

  Esme startled at the voice. It came from her comlink.

  She lifted her comlink to her mouth. “Who are you? Are you a hunter?” she whispered. Xrez told her the hunters weren’t on the same frequency as she was. Had he lied to her?

  “I’m not a hunter.”

  She waited for him to elaborate but was met with silence. “Care to tell me who you are then?”

  “No. Stay on the path you’re on.”

  She immediately veered to the left. She would be a fool to let someone walk her into a trap.

  “Why have you turned? I told you to keep straight.”

  “Says the creepy voice coming from my comlink.”

  “Despite all of my misgivings, I’m trying to be of service. You’re going the wrong direction.”

  Crack. Crack.

  The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Nope. She was definitely being watched. She couldn’t second guess herself about that. What was the hunter’s plan, wear her down? Well, it was working.

  She just assumed it was a hunter. Is an arrancar stalking her? Esme didn’t know what would be worse, stalked by a hunter or an over-sized wolf-beast. One wanted to make her his mate, and the other wanted to eat her for dinner.

  She walked faster, huffing out each breath she took in. Everything burned, including her lungs. The hunter didn’t need to watch her to keep track of where she was, all he had to do was follow the sounds of her heavy wheezing, coughing and sniffling.

  Crack. Crack.

  Startled, Esme lost her footing and fell forward. She landed face first against the ice-snow mixture. Her nose crunched and pain fired behind her eyes and up through her skull.

  Thump.

  Her heart slammed against her chest.

  Esme scrambled to turn and tried to stand but slipped again. The toes on her boot wedged into an ice pocket. One of her ankles twisted in an odd angle and she was squarely on her butt. She finally saw him. He’d dropped from one of the trees. That was the only explanation for his sudden appearance and no footprints behind him.

  No wonder she hadn’t seen him before. She’d been looking for someone on foot, hiding behind the trees, not on them.

  Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

  She’d seen Xrez spying on her through the trees. She should’ve known to look there. Forgetting about the most basic survival tactics would get her captured.

  The hunter had on a full-fitting bodysuit, like Xrez wore, except his was white. The hunter had light blue skin. His skin and suit had him blending well into the snowy landscape. He had a muscular build, but not as big or tall as Xrez. If it weren’t for his face, his body size and type would’ve passed for a physically active human man.

  “This was a lot easier than I thought it would be.” His full lips curled into a smile. His voice didn’t match his body, it caressed her ears and seemed nice and appealing. If she was stupid enough to close her eyes, she could picture him as someone sweet and comforting.

  The hunter crouched and ran his fingers over the snow. Everything about him appe
ared nonchalant, but if she believed he was more interested in the snow instead of her, she would end up his mate.

  As he focused on the snow, she studied him. His face was diamond shaped and his ears and chin protruded at severe angles. His jaw had four points that were adorned with silver hoops. His ears had hoops as well, one in each pointed lobe. In his broad flat nose was a septum ring.

  His eyes, while wide and deep-set, matched his face to make it more appealing. His irises were coal black. There were ridge designs in his forehead. He only had hair on the very top of his head, and it was pulled with a binding into a high ponytail.

  Esme clenched her jaw and slowly maneuvered her foot from its catch. She didn’t know why but she knew it was imperative that she not whimper in pain in front of this hunter.

  He glanced at her, his obsession with the snow broken. “Are you stuck?” he asked with a hint of excitement in his voice.

  “No. I can still run, kick…fight.” Slowly she stood.

  He observed her, knowing why the gamers of The Hunt referred to her as prey. She felt every bit of the name. His stare bored through her. He seemed to be measuring and weighing his options.

  “You aren’t my first choice.”

  Esme raised her eyebrows and motioned off to the side. “Feel free to keep moving then. I’m sure the love of your life is still out there somewhere.” Guilt sliced through her. Was she sending him to get Payton, Yesenia, Min or Miranda? She didn’t want to get captured, and she also didn’t want one of the others to get caught either.

  Esme cursed under her breath.

  There was an awkward silence before he threw his head back and laughed. If Esme thought the voice didn’t fit the creature in front of her, his laugh was even more disarming. It sounded like a chorus of children singing. It had a lulling effect, comforting. She could sit here and listen to him laugh and talk forever.

  In fact, why not do that? She could rest her feet and legs, catch her breath. Maybe use the fire sticks to eat her dinner right here? He might want some too?

  Her collar buzzed, sending a short wave of shock through her body. She didn’t know why it had given her a small jolt, but she was happy for it. The electricity was enough to get her out of the trance she’d been in.

  What the hell am I thinking?

  “You made a joke. Wait. Or is that what you humans call sarcasm?”

  “Sarcasm.”

  “Ah, sarcasm. The two seem interchangeable at times, no?”

  “I-I guess.”

  “Hm…” He looked off to the side as if in deep thought.

  Would Ben or Xrez consider this an emergency?

  A hunter who has some kind of calming effect on me. Yes, definitely.

  “Humans are fascinating.” He turned back to look at her. “I can see why the warden is interested in your species. Naïve like children. So much to learn and so malleable.”

  “We aren’t naïve, and we’re a pretty stubborn species. I mean, the glaciers on Earth are melting away, and we’re still fighting with each other over if global warming exists. You’ll find that we’re much more trouble than we’re worth.” She rambled when she should be running.

  No. Don’t run. He’ll chase me because it’s in his nature.

  “You’ll be someone else’s trouble. Not mine.”

  An ounce of hope filled her chest. “So you aren’t going to try to capture me?”

  He cocked his head to the side. “I haven’t decided yet.”

  “But you just said I would be someone else’s trouble.”

  “I’m not here for myself. I’ve been hired to secure a mate for a customer. He’s much too old and out of shape to participate in The Hunt, but he is very adamant in securing a human mate. Humans are rare, you see. You might actually enjoy your life as his mate.” Then he shrugged. “Or maybe not. Az’ud is known for his temper.”

  Esme gripped her weapons tighter. “I think I’ll pass on that offer.”

  “Would you rather be the warden’s mate?”

  Warden? “I don’t want to be anyone’s mate. I want to beat The Hunt and leave this place.”

  The hunter seemed to not pay attention to her. “Maybe I should capture you. The warden would pay me more than Az’ud would for you.”

  Esme backed away slowly. “Listen. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t want to be captured by anyone.”

  “But what choice do you have?” He prowled closer. His steps were stealth with predatory grace.

  “I killed before, and I’ll kill again,” she threatened. Her voice a warning. “You’ll be dead, bleeding out in the snow and I’ll be far, far away.”

  The hunter crouched low and inched his way toward her. His steps were measured and sure, light on the snow. “Yes, I heard you were quite the killer, little prey. You will find that I’m not so easy to kill. Should we test how well you can defend yourself?”

  Blood rushed past her eardrums, so loud, almost drowning out his words. She had to get away from him. She got lucky once but wouldn’t chance it again. There was no way she could fight this hunter.

  She slowly slipped her weapons into her purse. His eyes locked on her hand movements and one side of his mouth twisted into a smile. Did he really think she would give up that easily? She lifted her finger to press for an escape pod.

  Zwipt. Zwipt. Zwipt.

  If Esme didn’t see the arrows stuck in the hunter’s skull, she wouldn’t have believed the blurs cutting through the air came from a weapon.

  There was a sense of surprise across his face before he closed his eyes and slumped to the side, hitting the snow with a thump.

  Esme inhaled sharply and looked around in a panic. Surely she was next.

  “I swear. What was the game plan here? Talk him to death?”

  A cry burst from Esme’s lips when she recognized Miranda’s voice.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Miranda stepped from behind a gnarly-gray tree that would’ve fit perfectly in a Brother’s Grimm novel, and out into the open. She had a rope tied to her middle, secured with a double knot and the other end was linked to a sled she’d made out of branches and padded with a sleeping bag. On the inside was Adam and on his lap, Lexi, both in snowsuits that looked like miniature versions of what she and Miranda wore.

  Adam beamed when he caught sight of Esme. His cheeks were red and windblown, but he looked happy and healthy, just as Esme had remembered him. He waved excitedly. “Hi, Esme!”

  Esme let out a gasp. She’d prayed she would get to see them all again. Her heart swelled and words choked in her throat. “Adam!”

  She didn’t care who or what heard her yell. She was that darn happy to see them. Esme beat a quick path through the snow, closing the distance between them. She dropped to her knees in front of the sled and pulled Adam into a tight hug, squishing Lexi between them. Lexi squirmed and giggled.

  Esme rained kisses on their cold cheeks. “Oh, my God! I missed you guys so much.”

  “Hey,” Miranda wiggled her fingers at Esme. “The one who saved you from that hunter is right here.”

  Esme wiped a tear and stood to hug Miranda. “Thank you,” she whispered. She hugged her tight and buried her face in Miranda’s neck. “I really didn’t want to kill him.”

  “Kill this guy?” Miranda huffed and pulled away.

  She trudged through the snow to where the hunter laid sprawled. Esme followed. Miranda nudged his hulking body with her boot. He didn’t make a sound or twitch.

  “He isn’t dead,” Miranda said. “He’s been hunting me since I left you and Ben. I keep trying to put him down, but he magically recovers.”

  Miranda pulled her foot back and kicked him again, much harder this time. If he were alive Esme thought he would’ve been groaning in pain. But her kick had the same response. Nothing.

  “Must be alien mojo or something,” Miranda continued.

  Esme stood next to Miranda and stared at the hunter. He looked even bigger and imposing up close. His face was slack
but still held a grimace, as if he was mad he’d been killed. There was a dark green substance that seeped from his skull where the arrows stuck in nicely. The green stuff, which she guessed was his blood, dripped across his eyes, down to his nose to fall onto the once crisp white snow.

  “Um, I think three arrows to the brain definitely did the trick this time.”

  Miranda pulled her lips to one side. “Look at his chest. He’s still breathing. I’ve tried stabbing him where I thought his heart was.” She lifted a foot and rested it on his chest. “I’ve even bashed his head in with a rock.”

  Esme couldn’t imagine the shy single mother bashing in someone’s head. But then again, not so long ago Esme wouldn’t have ever guessed she would become a murderer.

  “I almost decapitated him too, Miranda continued. “That took a lot of work.” She glanced back at the hunter and frowned. “He just keeps coming back like new.”

  “So first of all. Wow. You would think that after all that he would stay away from you.”

  “You would think. But he just won’t leave me alone. He was following us when you crossed his path. He left us alone abruptly and I got curious and followed him.” She shrugged. “He says that he has a buyer lined up for me.” She humphed. “No thank you. So I decided to kill him and keep killing him until death finally sticks.” Miranda tilted her head to the side. “I haven’t tried burning him yet.”

  As crazy as she sounded, Miranda had a point. These hunters had a particular agenda and unless Miranda wanted to be an alien’s mate and her kids calling him, “Daddy”, she had to do what she had to do. “We could try the fire sticks. It might take him forever to burn, but it’s worth the try.”

  “Save ‘em.” Miranda gave Esme a wicked grin. “I found a torch that’ll burn him up real good. I think one of the hunters accidently left it behind.”

  Esme raised an eyebrow. “I guess Christmas came early.”

  Miranda turned to Adam. “Baby, can you hand mommy the fire-thing?”

  Adam rummaged through Lexi’s diaper bag and handed his mom a black and red metal tube that was about an inch thick and three inches long. It could’ve passed for a regular pipe. If Esme had seen one lying around, she probably would’ve stepped right over it.