Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

HUNTER

H unter stood in the dimly lit hallway of the abbey, staring out a narrow window at the expanse of land stretching beyond the stone walls. The weight of his situation settled uncomfortably on his shoulders. This was unfamiliar territory for him—relying on others. He had always operated alone, following his instincts, his millennia-old knowledge of the supernatural world. But now, things were different. There was more at stake than his personal mission to hunt rogue vampires. There was Mercy.

He ran a hand through his dark hair, frustration coursing through him. He hated the feeling of helplessness that came with needing assistance, but more than that, he hated how much his thoughts kept circling back to her. Mercy was… different. More than just his fated mate. She was independent, stubborn as hell, and so unwilling to trust him that he wasn't sure if she ever would.

It wasn't like he could blame her. He had seen the anger in her eyes, the way she had looked at him like he was nothing more than a predator, a creature to be despised. That stung more than he wanted to admit, especially since he had felt the undeniable connection between them the moment their eyes had met on that cliff. But Hunter wasn't na?ve. Mercy had her reasons for hating vampires, and if he wanted any chance of breaking through her walls, he needed to know what those reasons were.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Brie appeared at the end of the corridor, walking toward him with her usual confident stride. The leader of the Shadow Sisters, Brie was no stranger to difficult situations, and her presence alone commanded respect. Hunter straightened, pushing aside his frustration as she approached.

"Hunter," Brie greeted, her voice steady. "You seemed deep in thought."

"I was," he admitted, turning to face her. "I'm trying to figure out how to handle Mercy."

Brie's lips quirked into a small smile. "Ah, yes. Mercy. The first thing is to understand you will never ‘handle Mercy.' She won't be handled by you or anyone else. Besides which, she's not exactly the easiest person to get close to."

"No," Hunter agreed, his voice tight with tension. "She's not. And yet, we both know that she and I are fated. We're… connected."

Brie raised an eyebrow. "Fate doesn't make things easy. In fact, it usually complicates them. Especially when it comes to Mercy."

Hunter's gaze narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Brie leaned against the stone wall, folding her arms. "Mercy doesn't trust easily. She's been through a lot, more than most people realize. She's strong, yes, but she's also guarded. And with good reason."

Hunter sensed there was more to the story. "What happened?"

Brie hesitated, her gaze flicking to the floor for a moment before meeting his eyes again. "She lost someone. A long time ago. Someone she cared about very much. A vampire killed them."

Hunter felt the words hit him like a punch to the gut. That explained the hatred in Mercy's eyes whenever she looked at him. The anger, the cold distance she kept between them. It wasn't just because he was a vampire; it was because vampires had taken something—someone—from her. Someone, something precious.

The revelation that Mercy had lost someone she deeply cared about to a vampire immediately weighed heavily on Hunter's mind. The conundrum for Mercy wasn't just rooted in her innate dislike of vampires, but in the deep, personal trauma she carried—a trauma Hunter now represented, whether he wanted to or not.

For Mercy, the situation had to have become increasingly complicated as her relationship with Hunter developed. On one hand, she was drawn to him in the same way he was drawn to her, unable to deny the connection between them—the pull of fate that seemed to bind them together. But on the other hand, he was a vampire. Vampires were the very creatures who had stolen something irreplaceable from her, someone she had loved.

She had to feel torn, caught between two worlds: her past, stained with the memory of loss and pain, and her present, where she found herself increasingly entangled with a vampire. The same emotions that flared into anger when she thought of her loved one's death had to arise when she thought of Hunter but for different reasons. How could she possibly justify to herself being a fated mate to someone who embodied everything she hated? Everything that had once shattered her world?

Brie sighed softly. "It's not something she talks about, and I don't expect she ever will. But it's important for you to understand that winning Mercy's trust isn't going to be easy. You can't just expect her to accept you because you're fated to be together. Fate doesn't erase the past, and it doesn't make her pain go away."

Hunter's jaw tightened. "I never expected it to be easy. But I'm not going anywhere."

Brie studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Good. That's a start. But if you want any chance of getting close to her, you'll need to build trust. And not just with her."

Hunter tilted his head. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that Mercy trusts the people here. If you want to be in her life, you'll need to form relationships with the people she trusts. Start with Colby. He's been a close friend of hers for years. If you can get him on your side, it might make things a little easier."

Hunter frowned, the idea of needing to win over her friends feeling more like a strategic move than a heartfelt one. But if this was the only way to get through to Mercy, he was willing to do whatever it took.

Brie straightened, her expression softening slightly. "Look, I'm not saying you have to become best friends with everyone here. But you need to show her that you're not just here for yourself. You're here for her."

Hunter nodded, understanding the weight of her words. He needed to prove to Mercy that he wasn't just another vampire passing through her life. He was here for her, and he wasn't leaving.

"Thank you," Hunter said, his voice sincere. "I'll talk to Colby."

Brie smiled faintly. "Good luck. You'll need it."

With that, she walked away, leaving Hunter standing in the corridor, her words echoing in his mind. He had a plan now, a way forward. If gaining Mercy's trust meant forming alliances with the people around her, then that's what he would do. Starting with Colby.

Hunter found himself outside, the cool evening air brushing against his skin as he focused his senses. He knew Colby was nearby—he could feel the man's energy, wild and untamed, much like the animal he shifted into. But locating him would require more than just a guess. He needed to shift.

With a deep breath, Hunter let his vampire form dissolve, the smoke-like mist that accompanied his transformation dissipating into the night air. In its place, his body elongated and morphed, his muscles shifting and stretching as he took on the form of a lynx—Colby's shifter form. It was a trick not many vampires could pull off, but Hunter had learned the art of shapeshifting long before most of his kind.

In lynx form, his senses sharpened, and the faint scent of Colby filled his nose. He darted through the underbrush, his paws silent against the ground as he followed the trail. It didn't take long to find Colby, who was in his lynx form, running through the trees just outside the abbey's grounds.

Hunter joined and ran alongside him, their movements synchronized as they weaved through the trees. It was a silent understanding—no need for words, no need for explanation. The run itself was an initiation of sorts, a way for Hunter to show Colby that he wasn't just some outsider looking to impose himself on his territory.

After several minutes of running, Colby slowed, and Hunter followed suit. He trotted toward one of the containers stashed around the countryside that contained clothing for those who found themselves in need. The two men shifted back into their human forms, the transformation smooth and seamless.

Pulling on their clothes, Colby glanced at Hunter, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Nice trick," Colby said, his voice casual but with a note of approval. "Not many vampires can shift like that."

Hunter shrugged, his expression calm. "I've had practice."

Colby's eyes gleamed with amusement. "You must've, to pull that off. I don't see many of your kind running as lynxes."

Hunter crossed his arms, leaning against a nearby tree. "I wanted to talk to you."

Colby raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "About?"

"The witch and vampire I was hunting," Hunter said, his voice serious. "I need to go back to the subterranean cavern where I found them. There's something there—something I think I missed. And I could use some help."

Colby studied him for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. "You want me to come with you?"

"I need manpower," Hunter replied, his tone steady. "This isn't just about me anymore. Whatever they were doing down there, it's bigger than just a few rogue vampires. And I think it's connected to the fae/wolf-shifter we found."

Colby's expression darkened at the mention of the fae. "Yeah, that situation's strange. We need to get to the bottom of it."

Hunter nodded. "That's why I'm asking for your help. You know the people here better than I do. If you can bring a few of your men that you trust absolutely, we can figure out what's going on."

Colby was quiet for a moment, then nodded. "All right. Meet me in the courtyard within the hour, and we'll head out."

Hunter's shoulders relaxed slightly, a sense of relief washing over him. This was progress. Not just in the mission, but in gaining Colby's trust. "Thank you."

Colby shrugged, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Don't thank me yet. We haven't even started."

With that, Colby turned and walked back toward the abbey, leaving Hunter standing in the woods. He watched the man go, knowing that this was just the beginning. If he could get Colby on his side, it could go a long way toward winning Mercy's trust.

One step at a time, Hunter reminded himself. He wasn't the kind of man to rush things, but he also wasn't willing to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. He had to prove to Mercy—and to himself—that he could be more than just a vampire hunting rogue creatures. He could be her partner, her equal.

When he returned to the courtyard an hour later, the air was thick with anticipation. Colby stood waiting, flanked by three other men—shifters, judging by the energy radiating off them. They were all strong, capable, and ready for whatever lay ahead.

"Ready?" Colby asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Hunter nodded. "Let's go."

The group set off; their footsteps silent against the cobblestone path as they made their way to the church where Hunter had first found the subterranean cavern. The night was dark, the sky clear but moonless, casting long shadows across the ground.

When they reached the church, Hunter led them inside, his senses sharp as he retraced his steps. The scent of magic still lingered in the air, faint but unmistakable. He motioned for the others to follow as he approached the hidden entrance, the one he had discovered by chance the night before.

Colby and the others watched silently as Hunter pressed his hand against the stone, feeling for the mechanism that would open the door. With a soft click, the wall shifted, revealing the narrow passageway that led deep underground.