Hidden Wolf (The Hunted Book 1)

by Tamara White

  My eyes widen at that. It’s fucking news to me. Dad can’t let Duncan have me on a hunt, and not with two guys who aren’t trained to handle a wild wolf.

  “Does he have a wolf in mind? One he’s been tracking?” I inquire, donning the dutiful hunter role. I’ll talk to Dad about the rest of it later.

  “Ah, yeah, apparently up in Hot Springs, a state forest has had some disappearances, and it all points to wolves taking people for food. We’re going to check if there is a pack nearby.”

  “A pack? You’re sure?”

  He nods, his eyes displaying his fear. He should be scared. Hell, he should be shitting himself. Dad and I have yet to go up against a pack. The most we’ve handled at once was three, and that was on a full moon while I was shifted. Dad was almost bitten that night, something that is a death sentence for most hunters.

  To take his sons up against a pack is just fucking suicide. Something I will also be mentioning to my father.

  “Well, what’s this?” The high-pitched voice interrupts my inner ranting at how stupid Duncan is. “Babe, I thought you were gonna sit with me. What are you doing sitting with the trash?”

  “Don’t, Hannah.” Ash’s voice is soft, but his eyes are like steel.

  “Aw, babe, are you sticking up for the poor girl?” she coos, running her hand through his hair, her nails scraping along his scalp like that of a territorial cat.

  I roll my eyes at her. “Look, you may like guys who are submissive, but they’re not my cup of tea, so maybe you should stop acting like a bitch in heat and learn the definition of friends,” I suggest, keeping my voice sweet and innocent, even though I’m mocking her.

  “Excuse me? Did you just call me a bitch?”

  “If the shoe fits.” I shrug, packing up my lunch and stowing it in my bag. I get to my feet, winking over at Ash. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  I know I shouldn’t antagonize Hannah any more, but she makes it so damn easy. It’s like she’s got a perpetual stick shoved up her ass.

  Before I can move past her, she’s got a grip on my arm, her nails digging into my skin. My wolf is growling inside, and I have to close my eyes, take in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. When my wolf is somewhat calmer, I open my eyes and level her with a glare. “I will only tell you once, get your hands off me before I paint the ground with your face.”

  “Oh, what, you think you’re some big tough shit? I’ve dealt with girls like you before. All talk and no action. So listen here,” she murmurs in my ear, most likely so no one else can hear her, but I’ve had enough. I place my free hand over hers and clutch her fingers, prying them from my arm, ensuring to add a little extra pressure until she cries out and flings my hand away.

  She cradles her injured fingers, her eyes welling with unshed tears. “What the fuck is wrong with you? You broke my hand!” she cries out loud enough for the whole cafeteria to hear. Most likely she intends to get me in trouble with some member of the faculty or to make me out to be the bad guy, so I respond just as loudly.

  “I asked you to get your hands off me, but you refused, so I removed it for you just like I warned you I would. It’s not my fault you’re not as strong as you make everyone think you are.”

  With that, I walk away and leave the muttering of our classmates behind. Sure, I definitely applied more pressure than a normal human would, but no one else knows that. That’s the beauty of growing up controlling my every move. I was able to bruise her fingers enough that they’d be healed in day or two, but now she looks like a weak ass pussy to everyone else who witnessed the display.

  Chapter Eleven

  It’s been five days since my last encounter with Hannah, and now it’s a fresh start to the week. It seems my little stunt in the cafeteria got the point across. The rest of the week she steered clear of me, even if she did still throw glares my way.

  It’s now Monday morning, and Dad and I are finally going to have that much needed talk we need to have.

  We haven’t had a chance, mainly because he’s been doing back-to-back shifts all week. The only other times we’ve seen each other is the small, early morning training sessions that have had Jayden, Tyler, and Ash at our home. Obviously, that wasn’t the best time to bring up such a thing like me being unable to hunt with them on a full moon due to the fact that I shift into the very creature they pursue. I’m sure it wouldn’t have gone down too well.

  Dad made sure to drop me a text last night that we would be talking before I left for school. I think he could see how much it was bugging me. But we just haven’t had the time.

  I plop down at the counter, digging into the leftover steak and eggs Dad has piled on a plate for me.

  Jay, Ty, and Ash left about an hour ago, each of them happy with the progress being made. Though I suspect the only reason they are making such progress is that their dad isn’t breathing down their necks and insulting them for their lack of abilities. With my dad and me, they are being given the space to thrive and learn more effectively.

  It just sucks for me that I have to keep myself on a tight leash. As far as the boys are aware, I’m learning just as much as they are. It helped that Dad started off their first lesson with us by doing the same thing I showed Ash. It made it seem like I was more of a beginner and I could play off any lucky shots based on their inexperience.

  Jay, while a fully-fledged hunter, is nowhere near the skill level my father is. It has me a little concerned for him. He’s old enough to go on hunts alone. If he does that on the full moon, he could very well get himself killed. On regular hunts, when the moon isn’t high, he could be capable but still, it’s a niggle of worry I don’t need to focus on.

  I have my own shit to deal with. Like this upcoming hunt.

  Done with my breakfast, I push away my plate and glare at my father as he leans against the kitchen sink, sipping his coffee.

  “What’s the plan? Because I know you can’t be stupid enough to let me go on a full moon hunt with other hunters.”

  Dad sighs, setting his cup down and crossing his arms. “We have no choice. Duncan overruled me and brought it to our council. Since you have been on hunts with me alone, they deemed it the perfect opportunity for you to create relationships with other hunters in your generation.”

  “Seriously? Duncan has that much pull?”

  The council he’s referring to is just a bunch of old hunters who hate wolves and think they can annihilate them all in their lifetime. There’s no strict structure, no set rules, but apparently they all have ins with the human government and law enforcement, which makes them valuable. If a hunter gets caught killing a wolf, and its body turns human, or they kill it while in human form, then they have the reach to get it covered up and avoid hunters being jailed.

  “Yeah, Liza, he’s got that much pull. There’s talk of him taking a spot on the council if one of the current members was to die. They love his anti-wolf speeches and plans to wipe them out. So for now, we have no choice but to go along with the hunt and hope that if you do a poor enough job, he won’t ask us again.”

  “Oh, great, so what do you expect me to do then? Just hide in a bush when the shift takes me?” I roll my eyes at the mere thought. “I’ve gotten good at holding off the shift, but if we’re on a hunt, you know I won’t be able to push her back forever. She’ll sense blood or the adrenaline from the others and then bam, I’ll be a wolf in the woods with hunters, each of whom are armed with silver fucking bullets!”

  “No, when we go on the hunt, I’m going to suggest we split up. You with the boys, me with Duncan. I’ll direct Duncan to the supposed pack he’s found, while sending you off to hunt after a hypothetical lone wolf that’s separated from its pack. When you disperse, take the boys in deep and then run off and shift. Hide in the woods as a wolf, a place where none of us can find you, then when the shift lets you go, come out of hiding and pretend you got knocked out.”

  I just stare at my father as he runs a hand through his shaggy brown hair, a sign he’s stressed out.
I want to point out all the flaws in his plan, but I can see it’s already bothering him enough, so I just let it be. I’ll just have to make it work.

  The boys are fast, but on the full moon, I’m definitely faster. I could make it work, but it’s going to be tricky as hell. I’m going to have to be sneaky and quick, and I’m still going to have to double back to keep watch over them. As much as Dad says I should just hide, if there’s a pack nearby, they’ll pick up on their scents. If the wolves were slow and the boys knew where they were coming from, they could shoot them before they attacked—but they can’t sense those things, I can.

  It’ll be best if I shift and watch over them from afar in case a wolf tries to attack. I can kill it before it ever reaches them.

  “Alright, Dad, we’ll do it your way. But if this is how it’s going to be here, we may have to move again. Or I may have to. Duncan doesn’t strike me as the type to let go easily, and for him, I’m the perfect version of what his sons should be. I can’t afford to have his eyes on me all the time because it’ll only be a matter of time before I slip up and he sees the part of me that’s not wholly human. Then it’s a death sentence.”

  “If he doesn’t let go after this hunt, we’ll move.”

  “Maybe it’s time I leave.” Dad’s head snaps up, his eyes narrowed in anger at the suggestion. I shrug as I make my way to the sink and rinse my dishes. “We’ve got to look at the reality here, Dad. No matter where we go, you’re always going to be stuck with me and the problem of me being a wolf. Maybe it’s time that we let go of each other. Without me, you could go back to being a hunter and you could live wherever you wanted without a care in the world.”

  Dad slams his hand on the bench, rattling the glasses on the shelf. “Elizabeth, you are not a burden, and talking like you are, it really pisses me off.” He takes in a breath to get a hold of his anger. “If it comes to it, we’ll move. I won’t risk you being outed to Duncan or his family. It’ll suck packing up again so soon, but if it has to be done to keep us safe, then it’s worth it. You’re worth it.”

  I dry my hands before leaping at him and wrapping him in a tight hug. I know this isn’t easy for him. It never has been. He’s always sacrificing for me. Work, friends, and sometimes love, all to keep me safe. He’s the best father a girl could ask for.

  “Alright, enough of this mushiness, you’re gonna make a grown man cry if you keep this up.”

  I step away from him, pretending I don’t see the sheen of unshed tears in his eyes.

  He clears his throat and grabs his probably now cool coffee before gulping it down. “Right, get your shit together so I can drop you off at school. I’ve gotta go and sort out the necessary preparations for this hunt. Duncan may be a popular guy around the campfire, but he’s let himself get so out of the loop that he only has minimal weapons and ammo. I’ve got to drive an hour out of town to make sure we’ll have enough for this upcoming hunt.”

  “I should be ready in a few minutes. I was smart last night and made my lunch before bed. Figured it would make this morning easier.”

  He’s nodding, but I can tell he barely heard a word I said. He’s lost in his thoughts, most likely with all the preparation that needs to be done.

  I leave him to his deliberations, grabbing my lunch from the fridge and getting my bag ready. Once I’m all sorted, I simply wait by the door, knowing Dad will come out once he’s organized his thoughts. He needs to have everything perfect, to know how it will all play out, or he won’t be able to function. We still have a fair amount of time before the full moon, but every day of prep we can get is a day we can get a handle on the situation. Maybe I can convince Dad to let me go visit this place where the pack is supposed to be and scope it out before the hunt. He may not be too happy with the idea, but I can shift into my wolf and pick up the scents of the pack. It would make us a little safer knowing just how many wolves there are rather than just going in blind, which it seems Duncan is expecting us to do.

  A crazy thing, really, when his sons are barely trained.

  Dad comes out of the kitchen, his eyes no longer filled with worry over the hunt, instead glinting with determination. One that tells me his inner planning is now sorted.

  “Come on, Liza, let’s get you to school.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Ah, fuck. Dad isn’t going to like this.

  I stare at my bloodstained hand and the girl on the ground, cursing when I hear Principal Gibbons shouting at people to move out of the way. This isn’t going to look good.

  It started as soon as homeroom commenced. Hannah and her three friends began talking about some epic prank they had planned. I knew it must be for me, mainly by the way they kept casting glances my way.

  I should have known the little bitch wouldn’t let it lie. As the day progressed, more and more people started muttering to each other about a showdown between Hannah and me, but yet I was the one left in the dark. If I got too close to anyone, they immediately clammed up, but no one understood I could hear them regardless.

  Ash tried to warn me to stay away from Hannah in between classes, but he was quickly prevented from explaining when the girl in question strolled by and pulled him after her.

  I tried to be on the alert, but nothing could have prepared me for all the crap that fell out of my locker. STD pamphlets, abortion leaflets, drug addiction brochures, condoms, photoshopped pictures of my head on bodies of people with crusty sores, and so much more.

  The thing is, normally I wouldn’t be bothered by such a petty scene, but the whole school was out in the halls.

  I started picking up all the items without a care in the world. Such things don’t bother me. Ash suddenly dropped down beside me and helped.

  When I thanked him, well, Hannah decided to escalate the situation. She grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet, resulting in me dropping all the items. Her nails dug into my arm, yet again, and it pissed me off, but I was able to rein the wolf in and keep her anger at bay.

  “How dare you speak to him, you filthy whore!” she screamed at me, spittle flying over my face. I didn’t respond, not giving in to her shit. I peeled her hand off me, ignoring her and the crap all over the floor, and opted to just grab my stuff and get out of here, but she grabbed me by the hair, and what happened next was instinct.

  My bag dropped, I spun, and one fist landed in her stomach, the second in her perfect little face. She was thrown back by the force of my last hit, landing sprawled on the floor, whimpering.

  Which is where she still is now, sobbing like a fucking pussy and clutching her broken nose.

  Principal Gibbons makes it to her, asking what’s wrong. When he’s finished, he gets up and helps Hannah who leans into him for support. A female staff member I haven’t yet met comes running from the surrounding mass, watching on, and puts an arm around Hannah’s waist, assisting her to stay on her feet. The girl throws a smug smirk my way before limping off with the staff member, like this was her intended plan all along. And it probably was. She just wanted to antagonize me.

  “What do you have to say for yourself?” Principal Gibbons is pointing a chubby finger in my face.

  I sigh and meet his dull brown eyes. “I was defending myself when a girl grabbed me, but you don’t care about that, do you?”

  “Excuse me? What I care about, young lady, is finding out why one student felt the need to assault another! I think it’s best you grab your things and follow me.”

  “Sir, it wasn’t her fault!” Ash tries to interject.

  The principal shuts him down with a glare. “I don’t want to hear any of it. Off to lunch.” He scowls at the rest of the students in the hall. “Go on now, all of you, get back to it.”

  Something tells me Hannah has the faculty wrapped around her finger. Other schools I’ve attended required witnesses when a situation like this unfolded, but it seems Mr. Gibbons doesn’t give a shit about that. Rather than argue that fact with the principal in front of everyone, and risk him getting pissed over being
called out, I just pick up my bag and follow him like an obedient pupil.

  Once we get to the office, I offer the secretary a smile before plopping down in one of the plastic chairs by the door. I know the drill. It’s not the first time I’ve been sent to the principal’s office.

  Principal Gibbons closes the door, turning to face me with a stern glare. “I don’t know how you did it in your old schools, but we don’t hit one another here. If you have a problem, you come to a faculty member. You don’t resort to violence.”

  “Yeah, well, in my other schools, staff members didn’t let bullies get away with the shit they pull like that bitch Hannah!”

  “Watch your language!” he growls. The nice principal at orientation is no longer visible. He’s like a different man. Still bald and short but with resentment for a girl who would hurt his prized cheerleader.

  “Well, when there is another more suitable word that isn’t a curse, then I’ll use that, but really, sir, if you’ve been around that girl even once, you know the type of person she is. And that’s a bully. What I did out there, I did because she grabbed me, not once, but twice. If you choose to let her transgressions go, then you may as well let mine go too.”

  He looks flustered by my words, and the secretary has her head down, trying to hide a smile. He stomps off without a word, going into a smaller office and slamming his door. It rattles, the glass shaking from the force of his anger.

  He storms back and forth in his office, muttering under his breath about stupid teenagers. The secretary, a young woman in her late twenties, grins over at me. “That’s the first time any student has had the balls to stand up to him and Hannah. I think everyone is just too afraid because she’s his niece.”