The chilly breeze cut through the morning as I stowed my suitcase in the trunk of the car that one of Hunter's wolves had brought for me. It was a familiar scene, but everything now felt different.
Hunter and Zora emerged from the cabin, their conversation's tone hanging in the air, an inaudible whisper to my ears but laden with tension. I closed the trunk with a sigh, watching as Zora stood before Hunter, her eyes expressing concern.
“Are you sure about this, Hunter?” Zora inquired, her words weighing like a premonition. “You're taking too much risk. You're going against the pack's wishes.”
Hunter nodded, confidence in his eyes contrasting with the unease in Zora's. “I'm sure, Zora. The pack will understand, and you, as Luna, will handle it.”
Zora sighed, a gesture filled with resignation. “I'll miss you.”
Hunter approached and kissed Zora's forehead, a farewell gesture. “I'll be back soon.”
Turning to me, he met my gaze observing the scene. Zora, in turn, locked eyes with me and said, “Bring the father of my children back unharmed, understood?”
Zora's tone hinted at concern or perhaps a threat, but I wasn't there for unnecessary confrontations.
“You'll have him back without a scratch,” I replied, my voice firm.
Hunter and I got into the car. As we settled, he instructed, “Drive to Denver first.”
I raised an eyebrow, surprised, and asked, “Why do we need to go to Denver?”
Hunter, looking out the window with a serious expression, replied, “I need to inform my business partners about my trip.”
“Business partners? Since when do werewolves have business partners?” I questioned, looking at Hunter.
He cast an enigmatic glance in my direction. “Fierce, there are many things you still don't know about me. It will become clear soon.”
The engine roared, and the road stretched ahead of us, promising to reveal unknown secrets and challenges. I was about to embark on an uncertain journey alongside Hunter, the man who now, against all expectations, was willing to help find our lost children.
---
Driving through the bustling streets of Denver, I observed the city unfold before me, transformed since the last time I was there. Tall buildings rose, silent witnesses of progress. Beside me, Hunter was focused on his own thoughts, but curiosity consumed me.
“Denver seems to have grown a lot,” I commented, trying to dissipate the tension in the air.
Hunter nodded, eyes fixed on the road ahead. “A lot has changed since you left.”
“Where is this place?” I asked, my gaze seeking the direction indicated by Hunter.
“We've arrived,” he casually responded, pointing to one of the largest buildings on the street, boasting a sign that read “Blackthorn.”
I parked the car in the spacious Blackthorn building parking lot and looked up, impressed by its grandeur.
“Wow, so you're a partner in this company?” I asked, curious.
“You're about to find out,” Hunter said with an enigmatic smile.
Who could this mysterious business partner of Hunter be, and why was his name associated with something so grand?
We walked into the lobby, where a beautiful brunette woman, the receptionist, warmly smiled. My eyes widened when I instantly recognized her as Cierce, an omega wolf friend from the time I was part of the pack.
“Cierce?” I exclaimed, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Cierce chuckled softly. “I work here now. I'm so happy to see you, Fierce.”
Hunter, in turn, interrupted our conversation and asked, “Cierce, is everyone in the conference room?”
“Yes, Mr. Blackthorn,” she replied, indicating the way.
“Blackthorn...” I whispered, barely believing what I had just discovered.
Hunter confirmed with a nod. “Yes, I'm Hunter Blackthorn. Well, I believe you and Cierce have a lot to talk about.”
He walked away, leaving me there, stunned by the revelation. My gaze followed Hunter to the conference room, and then I turned to Cierce, perplexed. Cierce, sensing my bewilderment, offered a sympathetic smile.
“It's a shock, isn't it?” she commented.
I nodded, unable to articulate words. Cierce led me to a quieter space, where we could talk without being interrupted by the reception's hustle.
“Blackthorn?” I repeated, seeking clarification.
Cierce nodded with a conspiratorial smile. “Yes, Fierce. Hunter is the Alpha King, but here, he's known as Blackthorn, the leader of the Blackthorn Enterprises, a conglomerate that spans multiple sectors.”
My mind spun with this revelation. Hunter, the Alpha King, was also an influential businessman in human society.
---
My lips remained slightly parted, absorbing every word Cierce shared. The revelation about Hunter, now Blackthorn, was like a piece of a puzzle I didn't know I was trying to solve. Circumstances had changed drastically since Alastair's death, and I was stuck in a world that metamorphosed as I tried to understand.
Cierce continued to tell the story, and I listened attentively, attempting to reconcile the man I knew as Hunter with this new role as a business leader. After Alastair's death, Hunter took over the pack and faced challenges I could never have imagined. Denver was growing uncontrollably, threatening the reserve where we lived. The scarcity of game animals became a constant reality, forcing the pack to resort to extreme measures, such as scavenging for food in human refuse, to survive without violating the rule of staying away from humans.
In this challenging scenario, Hunter had a vision for the pack's future. The rule that once protected them now seemed to be a threat to their existence. So, Hunter decided to flip the situation. He chose not to hide but to integrate into the human world. However, many pack members had no experience with humans, unaware of their practices and customs.
Dedicated to helping his pack, Hunter made the radical decision to learn from humans themselves. He started small, with a lumberyard, and gradually expanded his ventures. A small rustic furniture store was the beginning, and hiring pack members with their supernatural skills facilitated exponential growth. Thus, a modest lumberyard transformed into the grand Blackthorn.
As Cierce detailed this extraordinary journey, I absorbed the magnitude of the changes. Hunter, or now Hunter Blackthorn, not only led a pack; he had become an influential businessman in human society. An unexpected complexity surrounded the man with whom I had shared a significant part of my life.
A silence hung between us, and I finally closed my mouth, still processing all the information. Cierce watched me with a mixture of sympathy and understanding.
“I know it's a lot to digest, Fierce,” she said gently.
I nodded, feeling the weight of the responsibility that fell on Hunter and, by extension, on me. The future of the pack, now integrated into the human world under the name Blackthorn, was intertwined with Hunter, and the quest for my children only added more complexity to this narrative.
I closed my lips, absorbing the information. “Understood. And how about you and Hunter...?”
“Mutual gratitude,” Cierce explained. “He found me when I was in a tough situation
. Offered me a fresh start, as I helped him when you were injured by the Bear.”
I raised my eyebrows, surprised. “I didn't know Hunter had told you about that night.”
My thoughts delved into that crucial memory. The fight against the grizzly bear, the intense pain, arriving at the den. Cierce continued, responding to my pensive expression.
“He didn't need to tell. He came to me with you in his arms, Fierce. Asked me to save you and not tell anyone. Said he'd do anything to ensure you were okay. That night changed many things.”
Cierce's confession brought forth memories I had kept tucked away in a remote corner of my mind. Hunter, now an Alpha, revealed a vulnerability I didn't remember existed.
“I had no idea he had told you,” I admitted, my voice softening. “I thought it was a secret between us.”
Cierce smiled a touch of understanding in her eyes. “He asked me not to tell. But I can't deny he was scared that night, Fierce. I had never seen him so vulnerable before.”
I looked at the story from another perspective, recognizing that, in his own way, Hunter was willing to break his own rules to ensure my survival.
“That's in the past,” I murmured, seeking to bring the conversation back to the present. “In the end, Hunter chose Zora as Luna and didn't want to be with me.”
Cierce nodded, acknowledging the truth of my words. “And how has your life been since then? What happened after you left the pack?”