Chapter 27: The Hunt Begins

I hadn’t even gotten back to the cabin from the Gauntlet when Derek said my next task was waiting.

“This is a hunter’s trial, ” he said as we stood in the Redwater pack’s main hall. The council members and warriors had gathered and were looking at me. “You must hunt and kill a beast on Redwater land—alone. ”

I clenched my jaw because I’d hunted in Midnight Moon before—but never alone. Alphas always gave omegas the drudgery—cleaning, preparing meat, skinning prey—never the kill itself. That was the warriors’ and elites’ territory.

Derek must have sensed my faltering, for his expression grew grim. ‘If you can’t live in the wild, you won’t live through what’s coming. ’

I knew what he meant. Jared’s men had already reached the borders. My time in Redwater was limited. If I didn’t prove myself, I’d always be a liability.

I lifted my chin. “What am I hunting?”

“A duskfang.”

“That shook the crowd. A duskfang was no mere prey—it was a ferocious predator, an oversized wolflike creature with razor-sharp fangs and enhanced senses. Even veteran warriors found them hard to kill.

Derek’s lips curved into a smirk. “Still willing?”

I clenched my fists, squeezing out the doubt that wanted to swallow me whole. “Yes. ”

###

The hunt began at dawn.

The air was crisp, and my senses sharp as I entered the forest. I had nothing but a dagger and a bow with a single arrow. One shot, one chance. If I missed, I’d have to fight the beast with just my wits.

I followed the trail of movement quietly. Duskfangs were nocturnal hunters, and when they were done for the night, they would go back to their den. This was my best shot—to catch it before it got completely comfortable.

A broken branch, a fresh claw mark on a tree, the slight smell of blood

I pushed on, staying low. My heart pounded. Every step had to be perfect. One wrong move, and I’d be the hunted.

Then I heard it—a low, guttural growl.

I froze and pressed myself against a tree. The brush rustled,d and a shadow moved through the clearing ahead.

The duskfang.

It was even bigger than I’d thought, its enormous body covered in thick dark fur. Its fangs glinted in the early morning light, its yellow eyes watching the surroundings. It knew something was wrong already.

I lifted the bow. My hand is steady. One arrow. One shot.

I exhaled slowly and aimed at its neck.

Then, just as I let fly the arrow, something snapped behind me.

A second duskfang.

###

The arrow struck, piercing the first duskfang's throat. It snarled and thrashed.

But I had no time to celebrate.

The second duskfang sprang at me from behind, forcing me to roll to the side. Its claws raked the ground where I had stood, pulling up dirt and leaves.

My bow was useless now. I reached for my dagger.

The animal circled me, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air. It was testing me, deciding if I was prey or a threat. I gritted my teeth, refusing to allow fear to take hold.

Then, without warning, it charged.

I slid out of the way just in time, barely escaping its jaws. I slashed at its flank with my dagger. The duskfang roared, but it didn't stop. It spun around, slashing at me with its huge paw.

The pain in my side screamed as I hit the ground. I blacked out. Blood was pouring from a fresh cut on my arm, but I forced myself to move.

The duskfang loomed over me, ready to strike again.

And then, suddenly, it stopped.

Its ears twitched. It sniffed the air again.

And then, to my horror, it turned and bolted into the trees.

Confused, I stood, wincing as my heart throbbed in my ears. Why had it backed away? Duskfangs never left a kill unless—

A new scent filled the air.

I hardly had time to turn when a third figure stepped into the clearing.

Not a duskfang.

A Midnight Moon warrior.

###

The warrior wore dark leather, the hood of his garment only partly concealing his face. He crouched like a hunter, his hand on the hilt of a curved blade.

I staggered to my feet and clutched my dagger. ‘You’re a long way from Midnight Moon, ’ I said coldly.

He tilted his head, studying me. “Jared sends his regards.”

My blood turned to ice.

Jared had sent someone after me. Not just spies—assassins.

I tensed as the warrior came. His movements were fluid and practised. He was a killing machine, trained to do the job quickly and efficiently. I couldn't make a mistake.

He swung first, the blade flashing toward my throat. I barely blocked it and felt the shock up my arm. He was stronger than me.

I needed to be smarter.

I spun, slipping under his guard as my smaller frame allowed. My dagger sliced across his arm, drawing blood. He hissed but didn't slow.

He feinted left, then drove his knee into my stomach.

I stumbled back. My vision went fuzzy for a second, but I concentrated.

The duskfangs.

The second one had run away because it was afraid. It wasn't afraid of me, but something much worse.

I glanced down at the duskfang I'd shot earlier. It was still alive, just barely, but its breathing was laboured.

An idea sparked in my mind.

I backed away toward the wounded animal, sure the assassin would follow. He took the bait and closed the distance.

Then, as he took another step forward, I sank to the ground and cut the string that bound my arrow to my belt.

The scent of blood filled the air.

The wounded duskfang’s eyes snapped open.

With a snarl, it lunged—not at me, but at the assassin.

The warrior barely had time to turn as the duskfang swung its claws at him. Fangs clamped down on his arm; he shrieked and struggled, but the duskfang ripped him apart.

I didn’t stay to watch.

I grabbed my bow, turned, and ran.

By the time I reached the Redwater camp, my legs were shaking; my body throbbed, my wounds burned, and I was breathing in ragged gasps.

But I had survived.

Warriors glared as I stumbled into the clearing. Derek was there, his gaze on me the instant I arrived.

“You’re late,” he said, his voice unreadable.

I looked up, blood dripping from my arm. ‘I killed a duskfang, ’ I said, tossing the broken fang at him.

A murmur went through the crowd.

Derek’s eyes narrowed. “And?”

I shook my head, brushing away the sweat on my brow, and said, 'Jared sent an assassin to kill me. '

Silence fell.

Derek’s face went sour. His jaw clenched. He stepped closer and studied me as if looking for a lie.

Finally, after a long pause, he turned to the council.

“She passed,” he said.

The warriors around him looked shocked, then pleased. Some nodded, others glanced at each other. Even Cassius looked impressed, if grudgingly so.

But Derek’s gaze stayed on me.

“This changes things,” he murmured.

I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I did know one thing—Jared wasn’t giving up.

And neither was I.