133- The Hunt Before Dawn
POV Edric Eldoria:
“I need to hunt, clear my head—do something.”
Andrei nodded.
“Go bring back our dinner. Hunting will help you settle your thoughts a bit. I’ll stay here with the men in the meantime.”
“Thank you, Andrei,” I said with a short nod.
“We’re here for you—for your cause, which is our cause. There’s no need to thank me.”
I turned on my heels and walked away, focusing on the hunt ahead. I put as much distance between us as possible, far enough that no sound would disrupt me and no scent would confuse my senses.
The forest here was different. While the Tharnak woods were tall and spaced apart, letting sunlight filter through, these trees stood close, their canopies woven together tightly, forming a thick ceiling that blocked almost all light.
A stag’s call echoed faintly.
I shifted into the essence of the predator inside me. My mind merged with my wolf instincts, guiding me through the shadowed forest as I advanced silently toward my prey.
Every muscle in my body was tense, primed for the strike. My senses sharpened, catching every sound, scent, and movement around me. I was submerged in a world that felt ancient and feral.
My steps were light, silent, crushing the snow with precision.
I spotted my target—a lone stag drinking from a narrow stream. Moving with calculated grace, I crept closer, crouched low among the shadows so as not to be noticed.
I controlled my breath, slowed my heartbeat, becoming a phantom among the trees.
The stag lifted its head, dark eyes scanning the surroundings, sensing the danger lurking near—yet it lowered its head again, reassured.
A predatory smile curved my lips.
It was as if the wolf itself flowed through my veins, granting me strength and speed beyond human limits.
I lunged forward, hands shifting into sharp claws as I sprang. In one swift, precise motion, I seized the stag, ripping from it a strangled cry of fear and agony.
My jaw opened in a guttural snarl, releasing all the rage coiled inside me. I sank my fangs into its neck. Hot blood surged into my mouth, awakening primal hunger.
In a frenzy of instinct and need, I tore into the flesh, devouring the raw meat with savage ferocity. The metallic taste of blood coated my tongue.
I fed on the warm, fresh meat, realizing how much my body craved it—how starved I truly was without noticing.
When I finished, I lifted the animal and threw it over my shoulder, carrying it back to my men.
Night was settling in, the gray sky darkening by the second.
When I reached them, I dropped the stag to the ground with a dull thud. They had lit a small fire and sat around it, talking and laughing.
“Dinner is served,” I announced.
They passed around canteens filled with ţuică, drinking to warm themselves for another night in the woods. The meat was separated, chunks of raw flesh torn and eaten as they congratulated me on the hunt.
Hunting was instinct—an essential part of who we were. It came as naturally as breathing, yet we always praised one another for a successful kill.
I stepped away and leaned against a tree trunk, arms crossed over my chest. Andrei approached, offering me a canteen of ţuică. I accepted and took a long drink.
“Tomorrow is a new day, Edric.” He tilted his chin toward the others.
“We’re here for you, and we’ll go with you until the end. We will find Lunara.”
For the sake of all humanity, I hoped he was right.
My beast was on the verge of collapse without my mate.
And I—the man—felt exactly the same.
(...)
POV Lunara Grimwald:
I blinked, once again trying to adjust my eyes to the brightness flooding the room, just as I needed to do every time I slowly returned from the forced sleep. The familiar smell of the place drifted toward me.
I went completely rigid, wishing I could go back to sleep—sink into the dream-filled void where I’d been trapped for the last few days.
Gathering courage, I opened my eyes and pushed myself up in a jolt, confirming what I already suspected. We had arrived in Eclipse, and I was in Alessio’s house—more precisely, in his bedroom.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and sat at the edge. I rubbed my face, sighing.
After so long away, returning to that place was the very last thing on my list of plans.
What a fucking mess.
Escaping him would be even harder now. It was no longer just a small group I needed to flee from, but the entire pack. Last time, Elowen and I only managed to escape because of the chaos caused by the wolves who had turned against them.
I stood, testing the strength in my legs before walking away from the bed.
His room was exactly as I remembered it—except for the overwhelming scent of bitch embedded in the air, mingled with his own.
I pushed the door open and stepped out, only to stop when I found Kellan in my path. The alpha looked me up and down, wrinkling his nose in disgust.
“Well, look who finally woke up,” he murmured. “Sleep well? How does it feel being back home after so long?”
I wasn’t sure which of them was more detestable—him or Alessio. Honestly, every male in that pack was equally awful, locked in a tight competition for who was the worst.
I ignored all his questions.
“Where is Alessio?”
“Oh, how cute—you’re already a concerned little bride worried about your future husband?” I stayed silent, staring at him with my head tilted. Kellan huffed and rolled his eyes. “He left food for you and said you’d better behave.”
As much as I wanted to fight him, to start an argument, I needed to eat. Hunger was no longer a vague feeling—every ounce of energy my wolf had stored was gone. I was weak and dizzy. I needed food.
Their house was small and simple. Open living room and kitchen, two suites, a shared bathroom, and a laundry room.
I moved through the familiar kitchen, gathering everything I needed, knowing every corner of that place. I prepared scrambled eggs with bacon while drinking an entire liter of milk straight from the bottle.
I felt Kellan’s eyes on me—watching, analyzing, curious and suspicious.
During my engagement to Alessio, he barely spoke to me, but he had never been rude. Treating me well had been part of his elaborate plan to murder my parents and eradicate my family on the day of my dream wedding.
I barely tasted the food, swallowing chunks without chewing, so desperate with hunger it felt almost painful.
“Careful not to get fat eating like that,” Kellan remarked. “My son prefers thin females.”
I glared at him with pure hatred.
“My health and well-being are not subject to your son’s shallow preferences. And besides, his opinion means nothing to me.”