The Hunting Game: A Fantasy Romance Novel

by Leila Vy

  He turned to the group of girls and then back at me. “They do it every day.”

  “Do you have a mate, Noor?” I asked.

  “Not yet, but I do hope to find her soon. It would be nice to finally be mated to someone you are destined to be with,” he said truthfully, and I nodded my understanding.

  “So how about you and I—” I was about to ask to join in on the training when I felt a pair of eyes burning through my back. I already knew who it was even before turning around. Titus was making his way down the hall, his forest-green Henley stretched tight against his upper chest and muscular arms, and his hand shoved into his jean pockets.

  “Well, there he is,” Noor said. Titus walked up to us a scowl on his face. When he came to my side, he placed a hand on the back of my head and placed his forehead on mine.

  “Why are you always wandering off?” he whispered.

  “Do you want me to just stay in our room until you come back?” I argued back because it wasn’t going to happen. He looked like he was actually considering it, so I changed the topic.

  “I was looking for the breakfast room.”

  “You are far from it, ma cherie,” he spoke.

  “I didn’t know where I was going, so I walked around and ended up here,” I responded. He broke into a grin, and I could see the laughter reflecting in his eyes.

  He sighed. “It seems we are in need of a tour of the pack house. I would ask someone else to do it, but I think it is best if I do it.”

  He wrapped an arm around my shoulders protectively. As we headed up, he spoke again, “By the way, your sister is on her way here.”

  I paused, and he stopped to look at me. My sister was coming? There it was again. The gut feeling that something was wrong.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “I am not sure, but your father called to inform us she left.”

  “Alone?” I asked.

  “It would seem so,” Titus replied, but I could see how this was also affecting him. He was also wondering what was going on in my old pack. “I sent Christian to go wait for her at the airport. She should be here in half a day.”

  I sighed. So my gut was telling me something was wrong after that phone call, and now it just kept gnawing at me. It felt like one of those feelings you get when you feel trouble was just right around the corner.

  “I hope everything is okay…maybe I should call my dad?” I asked.

  He looked down at me and sighed. “He is busy, mate. When a pack loses their luna, it is a total frenzy. Trust me when I say, we should wait for your sister for answers.”

  ***

  Kailyn

  The moment I got off the plane and went through the narrow passage, I had no clue how to get to Patience’s new pack. All I thought about was running away. I didn’t realize what I was doing until I got here. Nervousness settled in as I hoped someone here spoke English. I walked around until a scent hit me. My heartbeat quickened, and my hands grew clammy. I tightened my hand into a fist as I felt a pair of eyes looking at me.

  No.

  This is not happening.

  I maneuvered away from the eyes burning through me and began running. I will not look back. This was a nightmare, and I needed to get away fast. It was bad enough that my chosen was Kyle, Patience’s true mate. To find my mate here was a cruel twist in fate. I would not do it. I couldn’t do it because I was ashamed. I mated with a chosen instead of waiting. My true mate deserved someone better. I saw a huge crowd, and I knew I could lose Kyle in that crowd as well as mix my scent in there enough to confuse him. I quickly headed into it.

  My body rubbed against everyone else’s as they moved in the same direction. When I emerged, my eyes darted around, seeking an escape. When I saw a dark hallway, I ran as fast as I could down that hallway and continued to make random turns until I found myself a door that was unlocked. Immediately, I moved to open it, quickly darting into the pitch-black room. I leaned against the doorway and clutched at my chest that was now aching.

  Why did fate have to be so cruel and complicated? I was so ashamed of myself. The mistakes I had done and the truth that was hidden was killing me, and now, I met the one thing that I never thought I would see.

  Distantly, I heard faint footsteps, and my body stiffened, fully alert that someone was getting closer. I quickly darted around the pitch-black room, seeking a place to hide, but tripped over a box and went flying down onto the ground. I covered my mouth from screaming as I felt pain shot through my ankle. Getting up on my hands, I pushed myself back until I hit the wall away from the door and curled up my feet close to me as I waited. My heart was beating so fast against my chest. I thought even the other person could hear it, human or not.

  The footsteps stopped in front of the door I entered. Oh, no. Go away. I held my breath as I waited for the other person to leave. After a moment, the footsteps started retreating, and I exhaled with relief. Crawling on my hands and knees, I made it to the door where I opened it slightly to peek out. The scent that hit me told me it was Kyle who was tracing me. I swallowed hard, as it was the most alluring scent I had ever smelt before. The ache in my chest stirred again. I would never be able to experience this, and it was my entire fault. I had no one else to blame but myself.

  I crawled out of the room and pushed myself up to a standing position. Well, half-standing. I was leaning against the wall as my ankle was throbbing. It would take at least a few hours for it to heal.

  “Damn it,” I muttered, moving slowly I was going to make my way to the information desk and ask for a phone, so I could call Patience to come and get me.

  My chosen’s scent still lingered in the air, and I found comfort in it. My wolf was definitely happy. Her ears were perked and alert. She wanted to see him, but she knew we didn’t deserve to.

  I walked for a little bit before I frowned and looked around. I had absolutely no idea where I was. I sighed and fell down on my butt, as I was too exhausted to even continue. I sat down and looked down at my hands, content in just sitting here and drowning in my misery with my mate’s scent wrapping around me, as I could smell he was just here.

  A pair of white shoes appeared in front of me. I blinked a few times as I stared at it before my eyes traveled up from the shoes to meet the owner. What I saw took my breath away. A beautiful male standing in front of me was staring at me with intense russet-colored eyes. The connection was instant, and the pull was strong. I felt my soul literally being yanked closer to his. Subconsciously, I shook my head. No.

  I began crawling away from him, but his hand came out to grab my shoulder, pulling me back against the wall again. I closed my eyes tightly, refusing to look at him. I could feel his breath on my cheek as his nose touched my face.

  “You smell like another male, but the bond I have with you tells me you are mine,” he said huskily. His voice was controlled and steady, but that controlled and steady voice was what scared me. There was a hint of a threat behind it. I swallowed hard again.

  “P-please, let me go,” I whispered.

  He chuckled wickedly. “Why would I do that, mate?”

  “Because I am not y-yours,” I said quietly even the words were hard to force from my lips.

  I felt his hand on my cheek and then down to my neck. The instant cold and pleasurable tingles that spread from that touch had my body melting. It was nothing I had ever felt before; even with Kyle, it wasn’t like this.

  “This tells me otherwise,” he replied softly. Dear goddess, his voice was so deep and masculine that it sent shivers and goosebumps spreading all over my body. The way he had that French accent had me weak. “Open your eyes.”

  I shook my head and closed my eyes tightly.

  “Open your eyes, or I will kiss those luscious plump lips of yours right now.” He demanded, his voice hard with little patience. My eyes opened immediately to look back into his orbs.

  “You can’t force me to do anything. I will have my sister’s pack hurt you. They will find me. They live here.” I thre
atened. He arched an eyebrow at me, and it was the sexiest thing I had ever seen. Damn him! Damn mate bond! Resist, Kailyn.

  “Interesting,” he murmured.

  “Yes, her mate is the alpha! He will rip your head off if you force me to do anything I don’t want to.” I threatened angrily. “It’s best if you let me go.”

  “Oh, what would be the fun in that? I think I quite enjoy the idea of taking you away,” he said nonchalantly.

  “Please just let me go.” I tried again. “You won’t want me.”

  His eyes darkened immediately to pitch black. “Don’t speak for me. You don’t know what I want.”

  I tore my gaze away from him, tears streaming down my face now. He moved to cup my cheeks so that I would look at him, his eyes turning back to its normal color. His gaze softened as he saw tears running down my cheeks.

  “I have been waiting for you for years. I am not going to let you go that easily, Kailyn,” he gently spoke, and my heart again came to a stop. How the hell did he know my name?

  “H-how—” I began, but he interrupted me with a devilish grin.

  “You look a lot like your sister. She hasn’t met me, but I have heard a lot about you two. Imagine my surprise when my mate comes stumbling to me,” he said, and I looked at him with my eyebrows furrowed, clearly confused.

  “My name is Micah Beaumont, Alpha of Red Thorn.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kailyn

  “I can’t,” I said quietly. “Please, just let me go.”

  Micah did not look happy. In fact, he looked furious. He moved to scoop me up into his arms. My arms quickly shot around his neck to hold on in case I fell.

  “You aren’t going anywhere,” he replied. “I’m taking you back, and if you think about leaving me, I won’t hesitate to tie you to my bed.”

  I gulped and looked around for some kind of help, and as if Moon Goddess above heard my prayers, a tall, dark-skinned man appeared around the corner. His eyes immediately landed on us, and a firm line formed on his mouth as he walked towards us with purpose. Micah noticed that I was quiet and turned to look.

  “Well, Beta Christian, isn’t it nice to see you here as well?” Micah said nonchalantly.

  “Very funny, Alpha Micah. Let Kailyn go.” He ordered.

  Micah arched an eyebrow before laughing, his chest rumbling against me. “You have no power to order me, Beta. Know your place. She’s mine. I’m taking her back to my pack.”

  The tall, dark man looked from Alpha Micah to me, and I could see the surprise in his eyes before he quickly masked it and turned back to Micah, his face void of emotion. He looked very dangerous. In fact, both males in front of me were oozing testosterone and male dominance.

  “Who are you?” I asked. Micah growled lowly.

  Beta Christian turned towards me. “I’m Alpha Titus’s beta. I was sent to escort you from the airport. Is it true that Alpha Micah is your destined mate?”

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  Micah and I both said at once. I turned towards him, and he glowered at me. “Put me down.” I demanded.

  Micah grinned at me. “I like it when you are feisty.”

  Oh dear goddess above, this male, he was really going to drive me crazy with those smiles. My mind fluttered back to Kyle, and guilt set in. I couldn’t do this to him, could I? Even with the things he had done, I couldn’t fully blame him. We were both in love, and he gave up Patience for me, but then again, he just told me he wasn’t mine. I gnawed at my bottom lip crazily, and I started to squirm in Micah’s embrace as all these thoughts were driving me a little mad.

  “Stop moving,” he barked at me, his eyes still on Beta Christian.

  “Alpha Micah, I will not leave without her. My alpha will have my head.” Beta Christian reasoned as he moved closer to us.

  “And I will not leave here without her, and if that means ripping your head off, then so be it,” he growled back. I began rubbing his back in a comforting manner. I didn’t realize what I was doing until Micah turned towards me. I stopped immediately and turned to Beta Christian.

  “Is my sister aware I am in Paris?” I asked.

  He nodded. “I came to bring you to our pack, but it seems we are in a predicament.”

  I turned back to Micah. “I will go with you, but you have to do something for me first.”

  He eyed me suspiciously. I could see it in his russet-colored eyes that he was debating if he should take the bait and agree or if he should just rip Christian’s head off. I was pretty sure a big fight would break out as Christian did not look like an easy beta to take down.

  “What are you hiding in that pretty little head of yours?” he finally asked.

  I sighed. “Nothing! I just want to see my sister. I really do need to talk to her. We have so many things we have to clear up. You caught me in a bad time.”

  He looked at me warily before turning to Christian. “Very well. We will go to your pack. Inform your alpha of my arrival, and I will be bringing a few warriors with me as I am on your territory.”

  “You can come later, but for now, I will take Kailyn with me,” Christian said, and Micah snarled his response.

  “No! She’s mine, and she is coming with me. You have my word, Beta. I will bring her to your pack.”

  ***

  Patience

  I stood in our bedroom, pacing as I waited for news of my sister’s arrival. Titus sat on the bed, watching me walk back and forth. After a while, he sighed and stood up as he walked to my side and wrapped his arms around me.

  “Don’t think too much. Christian will bring her back. I trust him,” Titus said gently.

  “I know. I am just worried about what happened at home. Can you call him again?” I asked, turning to find comfort in his big arms.

  He chuckled. “He will call when he has brought your sister.”

  “But that was like hours ago!” I angrily said.

  He was about to answer me when the phone rang. We both turned towards it as it was on the bed. He let me grab it, and he answered it. I listened to what they had to say, but he turned away from me as he spoke in French again.

  Damn French language.

  I moved closer so that I could hear more of what was going on, but Titus had already hung up before he turned towards me. His face remained passive, but his shoulders were tense. I could sense his uneasiness about what he was going to tell me.

  “What is it?” I asked. “Is it about my sister?”

  “Christian went to the airport to go pick up your sister, but it seems that she has run into her destined mate there, and now, Christian is coming back empty-handed. Your sister and her mate will be arriving after Christian,” Titus said.

  “What? She found her destined mate? What about Kyle?” I asked. Titus turned sour at the mentioned of Kyle’s name.

  “Those are questions I can’t answer for you, ma cherie. You will have to wait until your sister arrives. It is her decision to choose her destined or her chosen.” He pulled me back into his arms as if the distance was unbearable. He sat on the bed and pulled me to sit on his lap.

  “If she goes back to Kyle, then her destined will be mateless, and if she goes with her destined, then Kyle will also be mateless,” I said and frowned, and Titus began sniffing my neck. His nose was trailing my skin like a feather brushing gently.

  “She is in the same predicament as you. If she chose her destined, will you go back to Kyle?” he asked, and I could see how rigid his stance was as he waited for my answer.

  Would I go back to Kyle? I didn’t see that happening. My time with Titus had somehow strengthened my bond with him. Also, after the Moon Goddess visited me in my dreams, how could I turn my back on what she had given me? Although, I hadn’t figured everything out completely. I have a feeling that what she had given me had something to do with Titus. His touch stirred a burning desire inside of me that not even Kyle’s could compare.

  With Titus, there was this tug the minute I saw him. The w
ay my wolf instantly reacted around him told me she also viewed him as her mate. Her allegiance with Titus shocked me the most. Everything with Titus was so much stronger at so many levels compared to Kyle.

  “No,” I whispered, and I felt Titus relax a little before he kissed my neck and trailed up to my jawline.

  “Good, because I would have to kill that mutt,” he muttered, and I couldn’t help but smile. He was really a possessive and protective mate.

  I moved so that I was straddling him. It was the first time I initiated this kind of intimacy, but I really wanted to see his face. The way his icy blue eyes looked at me brought a shiver down my spine. His eyes were so intense and raw. I cupped his cheek, and he didn’t move a muscle the whole time. He sat frozen to his spot, watching and calculating my moves. I leaned down and began trailing kisses on his left jawline up to his cheek, and then gently kissed his lips.

  When I pulled back, I smiled in satisfaction, but he growled and put his hand at the back of my head as he crashed his lips against mine. Oh dear, that was a completely different kiss from what I had given him. His tongue darted out to lick the seams of my lips, asking for entrance, and I willingly opened them. A throaty groan left his lips as his tongue slipped in immediately to claim and taste every crook my mouth.

  At first, I was unsure of what to do, but soon, my tongue was playing with his, fighting for dominance. He was relentless and demanded me to submit. When I didn’t, he pulled my lower lip into his and gently nipped it. A small moan escaped my lips, and a satisfied rumble came from Titus’s chest. I melted in his arms.

  He flipped us over like nothing as he maneuvered me under him—one hand in my hair, and the other one on my waist. He placed himself between my legs. His lips left mine and trailed down to my pulse where I felt him inhale sharply.

  “Your scent it drives me crazy,” he whispered huskily. “It is something I never smelt before. It is so pure and sweet. It is taking all of my strength not to mark you yet.”