Chapter 20

Hunter

H unter stared at his future queen with a feeling he never felt before for someone else. Pride. Dylan fought intelligently and with such concise movements that she eliminated her foe quickly. He watched her with awe as she could fight this well, and not once did she draw on her Shadowborn ability to win. He was taught that Shadowborns were an evil breed his whole life, using their abilities to overcome any fight and manipulating the fight with them to win. Dylan didn't have to do that because she knew how to engage in battle without them.

How did the academy get it so wrong?

Throughout all of his lessons in life and every person he had met, the consensus was that Shadowborns needed to be eliminated from this world because if they grew to enough numbers, they would take over the first chance they had. When he received the file on Dylan, knowing her father had managed to keep their pack hidden for so long enraged him, fueling his need to complete this mission swiftly and without mercy. Yet, then, he had met her. There was something about how she carried herself and seemed to treat everyone equally. There were moments where he could see her bloodthirsty side, but it all appeared to be empty threats, and she was venting to her friends and mate. That seemed to be typical behavior from females.

But this fight for her life made it clear to him.

Dylan Pierce was unlike the Shadowborns his Alpha and anyone else thought they were, and he would not complete this mission. It did not help that he felt the overwhelming need to touch her. He fought with his wolf on a daily basis about the need to touch her, open the mate bond between them, and mark her as theirs. Considering he was never allowed to have a mate bond before, Hunter knew that the Great Moon had to be intervening in his life. Once any wolf completed in an academy. A ritual was performed so he would never have the chance of finding a true mate. Over the years, he had watched numerous males find their fated mate and openly talk about how overwhelming it was for them once they saw the woman they felt was their mate and their need to claim her. The moment his eyes landed on Dylan; it was clear to him that something inside of him had opened up. For the first time since the academy, his soul felt open to the light that a female had brought to a male. It was just a small ember of a flame, but it was still something he had been unable to ignore since the first time he saw her.

It was becoming something of an overwhelming need to be in her presence at every minute of every day. Hunter had noticed that he needed to be in her vicinity, smell her scent, and create an opportunity where he could touch her. His wolf would howl in his mind every time he allowed Dylan to make the first move. Who knew if he was wrong about this in the first place? He had no one he could ask since the other enforcers would not have been given this opportunity like he had. If he was the first enforcer ever to be given a true mate, then the last people he could ask were those who joined him at the academy, graduated before them, or were there now. He couldn't ask the males around him how they felt when the mate bond struck them, because it would give his cover away. Until he knew for sure that Dylan was his, he would need to keep a low profile.

But how am I able to do that when I become a stalker who is always trying to find a way to be around her?

Hunter had followed them and fought the urge to kill them all when he was proven right about them. They knew it wouldn't have been an even match if Dylan had been with her mate and friend. Dylan had already shown the leader of this little group that she was more powerful than her during that combat class. The female obviously could not handle the fact that Dylan had won that fight and had won Jackson. Hunter had bid his time in the shadows to ensure that this match would be fair. Once the two others joined in, he knew he had to step in and make it a fair fight.

Now, he was standing over one of the females as Dylan threw back her head and howled in victory. Once the word had got out that this happened, Dylan would need a witness on her side. He was grateful that he followed them down here and he could be that witness for her. This could allow him to show her that he was not an enemy of hers. With any luck, he would also be able to reach out with a handshake to seal the deal that he would go to bat for her. Then it could mean his undying need to know if she was his fated mate would end.

Dylan was now staring at him. The other two females had run off once they saw Dylan end their leader. Hunter thought about keeping them in place but decided against it. He had met his possible mate's eyes, and he fought a sudden urge to run over and lick her muzzle. Her wolf's eyes were glowing from having to kill its opponent. He had seen the other female eyes and saw what Dylan must have. The female had lost herself to her wolf and would no longer make rational decisions. It was clear that was what happened since the female would not leave Dylan's mate or her alone after they completed the bond. Dylan had every right to kill this female, and he would tell that to her once they were in human form.

It's sexy knowing she can handle herself. Nope. It's not something you want to think about before you change back to a human. I don't need to make this female think I only followed her so I could do something naughty in these woods. Dear god...That thought didn't help at all.

Hunter pulled on the magic that allowed him to shift from wolf to man, feeling his body contort and stretch so he could walk on two feet. His joints ached from having to shift back and forth in such little time, but he did not show his discomfort in any way. Dylan had shifted as well. Hunter noted that it had not taken Dylan long in either of her shifts. Something only powerful wolves were able to do. Hunter had stashed backpacks throughout the woods and learned the school had done the same when he found some of them when he had put them in place. He walked over to a tree nearby and grabbed clothes from within it. It was nothing fancy. Just a pair of drawstring pants and a T-shirt in various sizes. He didn't know Dylan's size but took a guess and tossed her a pair of clothes. She stared at him with a questioning look. Hunter knew he needed to start talking.

"I noticed those three coordinated that attack. I followed them to help."

"Thank you." The words seemed hard for her to say. Hunter tried not to feel hurt that she didn't seem to want his help at all.

She has two mates already. Jackson would have helped her if he knew where she was.

He was stupid to let her out of his sight.

When are females supposed to do anything?

"I know those other two will try to paint this in the most negative way they can. I assure you; I will be your witness if you are called into question about this."

"Lupe is already aware that Camilla was a problem. Pretty sure they would let it slide since she was always down my throat about how Jackson was hers since we were mated."

A pang of jealousy ripped through him as she talked about her mate. She had a softer tone when she mentioned him just now. He hoped one day she would say something in that tone about him.

"I apologize you had to go through that. I've never crossed someone who didn't understand the rules about mates."

"I need to get back. How do we find everyone?"

Hunter knew how to get back to the class. He could follow his scent back to the right trail and then find the track the others had taken. However, as he stood there with Dylan, he wanted to tell her everything. He didn't want any secrets between them. He needed her to know that even though he was sent here to destroy her, he would do everything in his power to make her see that she was his, and he would return home with her. If that meant breaking every vow he had made with the Academy and the Monarch, so be it. His wolf cried out for her as well as his soul. This was not something to ignore. If the Great Moon had stepped in and given him a mate, he would have devoted his entire life to ensuring Dylan had everything she ever wanted.

The problem with this plan would be telling her the truth that she would not like to hear. That could mean he would risk her hating him and wanting nothing to do with him.

She will reject me.

We are at a school that can help with that.

His wolf was right. They were at a school that was designed to help mates get together. If Dylan rejected him, he could go through these classes and become what she wanted him to be. If that meant going through a mentorship that told him everything he had done wrong as soon as he stepped foot on this property, then he would do it. Everything inside of him told him she was his mate. A lifetime of being told he would never get one, and then standing in the presence of the one person who could make him feel whole, then that was more than a perfect reason to tell the truth and suffer any consequence that came his way.

"Dylan, I need to talk to you about something."

She lifted an eyebrow at him. The air around her changed, and he could see her muscles tightening. He almost drooled when she folded her arms across her chest and leaned to one side to make her hip pop out. There was something about this pose that said Dylan was not going to take any shit right now. Even though things were about to hit the fan with his admission, it didn't stop him from blurting out the truth.

"I am not who I said I was, and I want to apologize right now that I have been living a lie around you."

Her face scrunched in confusion. "Huh? Why are you apologizing to me? If you are living a lie, that is on you."

"Because you are the one person I should never lie to."

Dylan's face fell. He could see that she was catching on to what he meant. Maybe she felt the same pull to him as he did to her. If that was the case, then she knew he was going to say that he thought she was his mate.

"I won't deny what I feel when I am around you. For the first time in my life, I feel as though I need to be honest. I spent my life lying to others so I could get close to them. That was part of my job. I never felt shame when doing so because it was saving hundreds of lives. What is the cost of one life against hundreds of others?"

"Uh, broody boy, I don't understand what the fuck you are talking about. Can we just get back with the others? I don't have time to hear you clear your conscience."

Hunter growled. "No. You need to hear this."

Dylan growled back, and he felt the swell of her power sweep through the area. "I need to get back to the rest of the group so I can go home and forget this bullshit happened. I killed someone tonight. I need to tell Lupe, so Camilla's body is returned to her pack for a proper burial. She was a bitch, but not a complete asshole that doesn't deserve some dignity."

Spoken like a true Luna.

She has honor. A beautiful thing and almost rare these days.

I can't agree more.

This did not help his wolf calm down. Seeing Dylan be an incredible leader already made him and his wolf want to rush over and claim her right then and there. Without the mate bond forming, there could be more problems than solved. He needed to touch her. He needed to confess to her how he felt and hope she would grant him the opportunity to know if she was his or not.

"I think you are my mate, Dylan Pierce. I went through my whole life being told I would not receive one. However, I cannot ignore what I feel for you any longer. The pull toward you and the need to touch you so the mate bond can form drives me crazy. I am now fighting my wolf to do whatever it takes to touch you so I can be proven right that you are mine."

"Listen, I know females can have multiple mates, okay? I understand that you think this way. But this is not the damn time for you to profess your feelings and try to claim me like some barbarian. Now knock your shit off and help me find the damn others so I can get this over with. I'm anxious as hell to tell a damn teacher that I ended someone's life! That's if the tattletale twins aren't doing that right now!"

"I need to know if you are my mate! I spent my whole damn life being told I wouldn't have one after a ceremony was completed to get rid of any possibility of that happening! Now I am standing in front of a female that I cannot stop thinking about, wanting to touch, and feel an overwhelming need to claim!"

"Well, that's too damn bad for you! I don't care if I am your mate or not right now! I especially don't want to know what kind of ceremony takes away the chances of someone having a mate!"

"I am an Enforcer!" Hunter bellowed. Dylan recoiled at the confession. Everyone knew in their world what an Enforcer did. No one knew who any of the Enforcers were because their identities were hidden. "I went through the ceremony to sever any possible mate bond from my life because it would only distract me. I don't know how or why this has happened, but since I have met you, I am distracted from my mission."

Dylan's arms dropped to her sides and Hunter could see her stepping from one foot to another. She was itching to run. It was never a good idea to run from a predator, and every werewolf knew that. The scent of her fear hit his nose and it made his stomach twist. He wanted to throw up from making her feel that way. Another indicator that she was his mate. No male could ever hurt the female that was promised to him by the Great Moon. Even scaring her made him want to throw himself off that cliff. She was his to protect, not scare.

"You were sent here on a mission? Who? Who has the Monarch deemed worthy enough to be slaughtered by an Enforcer?" There was tension in her voice. She had a feeling she knew what his mission was, and she became more scared of the answer.

Hunter licked his lips and bowed his head. "You. Your mate had sent word to the Monarch about you being a Shadowborn. The Monarch doesn't understand why he didn't know about your existence. Silas has spread the word through the packs that you are a threat to our very existence because of how you held his place."

"I HELD HIM IN PLACE BECAUSE I AM MORE DOMINANT!" she screamed. Her face was painted red with anger, and he could see her taking deep breaths to keep her wolf in check. Her teal eyes were faintly glowing, and Hunter wanted to pull her against him to comfort her. She continued before he had the chance. "I am not a threat to anyone! If Silas wants me to be the big bad wolf he thinks I am, then he can come to this forsaken school and challenge me! My pack has done nothing but exist, and people can't stand up for it! It is sickening that people think Shadowborns are going to take over the world WHEN WE ARE OUTNUMBERED BY THEM!" Dylan started to pace, and Hunter watched her claws elongate at her sides. "If he sent you, that means you were sent here to kill me." She stopped and looked at him. "Why haven't you tried? You have been stalking me since you arrived, but you haven't done anything to take my life. Why?"

"You are my mate, Dylan Pierce. I cannot hurt you even if I wanted to."

"How the fuck do you know? I feel no mate bond with you."

"But you feel something."

He knew it had to be true. He felt the same thing. Hunter noticed her looking at him longingly any time they were in the same room or even smelling the air after he had walked by. She felt it too but did not want to admit to it. It probably had something to do with Silas, which only made me want to hurt the pup more than he already did by putting this hit out on his mate.

"I don't know what I feel."

Hunter shook his head. "You are lying. You have been through this twice. You know exactly what you are feeling. I don't know why you are denying it, but-"

Pain exploded in his cheek, and he took a step back before he could process what happened. His eyes closed as he rubbed where the pain had been and when it subsided, he reopened them. Dylan was holding her hand but was snarling at him.

"Fuck you!"

The heat in his chest spread quickly through him, and he breathed as he dropped to his knees. Dylan had her eyes closed and her face was scrunched up as she grabbed onto her chest. Hunter's eyes filled with water as he felt a rush of emotions flow through them. Anger, confusion, and fear. These emotions were not his, and he knew he had been right in that precious moment.

Dylan Pierce was his fated mate.