1. Braken

I recognize her the minute I see her. I never forget a face, a name, or a story—especially if the story is laced in darkness.

But tonight isn't about her past. It is about right now. The present.

She stands on her front porch, beneath the red light, with a certain confidence that only those who have seen their fair share of horrors possess. It's as if she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, but is determined to keep moving forward, no matter what the cost.

I watch from afar, hidden in the dense forest.

Stalking.

Planning.

She has signed up for The Hunt, and the night is ready to begin. By turning on her porch's red light, dressing in her white nightgown, she has given her only signal of consent. Every year after the Harvest Moon, primal play is the only thing that exists on this island. It nearly consumes us all.

Women sign up to be chased with the knowledge that a basket full of money and gifts will await them in the morning on their porch—a fucked-up version of the Easter basket.

The men wear stag bone masks and hunt the women down with the sole intent to fuck them however they choose—an even more fucked-up version of the Easter bunny.

Every weekend, The Hunt happens until winter comes. It's the way of Heathens Hollow. Always has been.

Raw.

Savage.

Depraved.

She will be my prey, and I the predator.

A game of submission... or is it?

I know from the moment I see her that she differs from the rest. Her eyes hold a certain fire, a passion that burns bright despite the darkness that surrounds her. It's as if she dares me to come closer, to take her on and see what she is truly made of.

I creep through the trees, my heart pounding with excitement and anticipation. This is what I live for, the thrill of the chase, the rush of the taking.

This is why I do The Hunt. Why I embrace every part.

As I draw closer, I take in the way she holds herself, the way she stands tall and proud despite the danger that lurks around every corner. It is a challenge, a dare, and I am more than ready to accept it.

I whistle in warning. An eerie sound the hunters give.

She isn't a novice to the rules of the game, so she'll know it means I am near.

I step out of the shadows, and my eyes lock on hers. She doesn't flinch, doesn't back down. Instead, she holds my gaze, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. It's as if she knows what is coming, as if she is ready to face whatever fate has in store for her.

A fierce determination blazes in her eyes, a burning fire that refuses to be extinguished. It's as if she is daring me to take her down, to break her.

For a moment, we stand there in silence, each sizing up the other. Beneath my bone stag mask, I part my lips and say one word.

"Run."

Without a word, she turns and sprints, in mere seconds disappearing into the forest, her body a blur of motion.

The hunt is on, and I am in pursuit. Her bare feet slap down as she runs, leaves and branches rustle as she dodges through the trees. I am hot on her trail, my senses sharp and alert.

As we run, glimpses of her reveal her long, dark hair whipping behind her, her body in a white nightgown moving with a fluid grace. A wave of desire washes over me, a primal urge to catch her, to have her. This is more than just a hunt, this is a game of seduction, of desire and passion.

I chase her deeper into the forest, the trees and foliage rushing by in mayhem. We move as one, predator and prey, locked in a dance of danger and desire. I feel the heat of her body, the scent of her sweat and fear driving me onward.

For a moment, we are two animals in the wild, fighting for survival, but I am the stronger of the two, the one with the upper hand.

I lunge at her, gripping her hair and pulling her back. She lets out a scream that echoes through the forest and sends blood straight to my cock. But I don't stop. I keep moving, dragging her deeper into the darkness.

She fights back, her fists pounding against my chest, but I enjoy the struggle. It only makes the prize sweeter at the end.

I throw her to the ground and mount her, pinning her wrists above her head. She looks up at me with a mixture of fear and defiance. It's as if she is waiting for my next move, unsure of what will happen next.

I lean in close, my breath hot against her skin. "You're mine now," I whisper. She can hear every word.

She doesn't respond, but the fire in her eyes burns brighter than ever before. She reaches up to trace her fingertip along the ink on my tattoo. A moment of intimacy. A moment of connection.

"Mine," I repeat, as if she needs to hear it again.

The rules of the game are to keep the mask on, but the bone disguise gets in the way of what I want to do. I want her to see me. To see the man who is going to fuck her tonight like no one has ever done before.

But then something shifts in her expression, and I realize I have underestimated her. She isn't going to just spread her legs and allow me to do anything I please.

She uses the moment of distraction to twist her body and kick me off, sending me tumbling backward. She springs to her feet, and for a moment we are evenly matched, both panting and sweating from the chase.

"Is that the best you got?" she snaps with defiance in her posture.

The thrill of the hunt courses through my veins once more. This is no longer a game of submission, but a battle of wills.

We circle each other, our gazes locked. It's as if we are both waiting for the other to make the first move—a move I am glad to initiate.

I lunge at her, hoping to catch her off guard. She expects my move and ducks beneath my grabbing hand, her fist contacting my neck, her knuckles grazing my jugular.

The pain only fuels the fire that burns in me, and I grab her wrist with one hand, and her throat with the other.

She lets out a pained scream, scratching my neck, just below the mask. But I'm undeterred, my grip tightening around her throat.

She tries to fight me, but it's no use. I am stronger than her, and this is my game.

I tighten my grip on her throat, cutting off her air supply. She opens her mouth to scream, only to let out a surprised gasp. She tries to pull away, but I'm strong, and I won't let her go that easily.

As she struggles, I pull her closer, my lips brushing against hers. She tries to pull away, to give herself some space, but it's no use.

I bring the bone mask close to her. "You're mine," I repeat, my voice deep and firm.

I am a broken record, but those are my favorite words when it comes to her right now.

I tackle her to the ground. Before she has a chance to react, I have her wrists pinned above her head, my body on top of hers.

"No use fighting." I brush my lips against her ear, my voice low and husky.

"I don't belong to anyone," she counters, a challenge.

I grin. "Oh, but you do."

Our bodies shift, her small frame moving beneath mine, twisting and turning to free herself from my grip. Her hips move restlessly beneath mine, sending a rush of blood to my cock.

I flip her over onto her belly, pushing her face into the dirt like the primal beast I have morphed into tonight. I pull out my cock, rip off her white panties and bury my dick deep inside her cunt, digging my fingers into her hips.

"Oh god," she moans, her voice muffled by the ground.

She bucks her hips, her body fighting against mine, as if she wants us to change positions. But I won't let her free. I am going to fuck her like the animal I have become.

I grin into the darkness as I hold her there, pinned to the ground, my cock pounding into her like a jackhammer.

The Hunt. The night where we both can release the primal urges locked inside.

"Say it," I command, gripping her hair and pulling back her head. "Say you're mine."

She doesn't respond, but I don't care. I won't give her a choice. I'm going to fuck her until she submits to me.

I spank her ass, hard, a punishing warning.

"Say it." My words rise in volume.

She shifts beneath me, her hips bucking and moving, her body responding to my touch, to the feel of my cock hammering into her.

That's enough. I lean in close to her ear, my lips brushing against her skin. "Say it," I demand as I spank her ass again.

"Never," she answers between her pants.

A wicked smile masters my face as I come deep inside of her. "Oh you will, my fawn. Trust me. I like a challenge, and I crave the hunt."