6. Chapter 6
Chapter six
Hunter
H unter was pretty sure he’d just made a fool of himself in front of Destiny Duvalle. Again.
If he hadn’t already been so furious and humiliated by Xander’s escape last night, he would’ve been mortified by the discovery of his pack leader in the popstar’s room. As it was, he’d been acutely aware of everything about her, and it took all of his discipline to focus on getting Xander to safety and cleaning up his mess. He hadn’t let himself look at her for more than a few moments at a time. He couldn’t. It was like trying to stare directly into the sun.
But Hunter was looking at her now and he was enraptured by what he saw. He watched her settle on the low stage, a look of serene concentration stealing over her lovely features. It was his second favorite expression he’d seen on her face so far.
His favorite was the look of death she’d been giving Xander when Hunter arrived to retrieve him from her room. Her green eyes glittered like a panther, and her posture held the predatory grace of a wildcat. Hunter thought that she might well have tased Xander if he hadn’t arrived when he did, and it would’ve served the asshole right. Destiny Duvalle’s face had said she was over Xander’s bullshit, she didn’t give a fuck who he was, and she wasn’t putting up with it. Hunter liked that.
Hunter and Greyson had been putting up with Xander’s bullshit for far too long. In their determination to help him succeed, they’d somehow turned into enablers of his bad behavior, and it was getting them nowhere. It was nice to meet someone who so immediately cut through Xander’s arrogant-but-charming facade.
The arrogance was all an act, but it took time to get to know the man beneath. Hunter had met Xander back when he’d tried much harder to please people, eager for friends who didn’t care that he was Prince Alexander Stepanov, heir to the Avondalian throne. Hunter, on the other hand, hadn’t tried to please anyone. He’d always been happy to keep to himself and wasn’t used to the company of people his age. He and Xander were an unlikely pair.
Hunter’s beta grandmother had homeschooled him during his early years, so going off to an alpha academy had been something of a culture shock after years with her and the little old Chinese ladies she hired as tutors in an attempt to connect Hunter with the mother he didn’t know. The most time he’d spent with other children had been during his martial arts classes, and even that hadn’t lasted long. Hunter advanced to the adult classes before he’d turned twelve. He’d never had to manage his temper around peacocking young alphas.
After he revealed and somehow landed at an obscenely expensive and exclusive alpha academy, his volatile young hormones immediately landed him in a few fights, which he won with brutal efficiency. The other boys quickly stopped challenging him. He could’ve taken over the so-called cool crowd, but he didn’t like any of them or care about their dumb interests. He preferred that everyone do him the courtesy of leaving him the fuck alone. Until he met Xander.
Hunter hadn’t submitted to Xander as pack leader because he was the prince, as Xander probably thought. No, he’d submitted to Xander’s leadership because he actually believed Xander could be a great king. He was charismatic, had a big heart, and a knack for putting people at ease. It’s how he’d gotten past Hunter’s self-imposed solitude. He could play the role of Prince Alexander and be incredibly likable when he wanted to be. The problem was he didn’t often want to be anymore.
Hunter knew that Xander hid his good nature because he didn’t trust people to value him for who he really was. The burden of the crown had always haunted him. He was constantly worrying about disappointing his parents, but actively defied them at every opportunity, then felt awful about it and ended up wallowing in self-pity. It was very poor-little-rich-boy-woe-is-me bullshit, and Hunter had had enough of it.
Xander had gone too far last night, using his bark to send Hunter away, and endangering himself needlessly. He knew that for Hunter to resist the command, he would’ve had to challenge his authority as pack leader, which would fracture the pack unless Xander then submitted. Part of him thought Xander welcomed the challenge, that he wouldn’t have fought for his position. He might’ve been hoping Hunter would resist and take the weight of leadership off his shoulders.
Hunter would never do that. He still believed that Xander had what it took to lead them. And Avondale. Hunter prided himself on being a good judge of character. It’s what made him so good at his job. He was sure Xander would be great, just as soon as he got his head out of his ass.
Hunter was also suddenly sure that the pack needed an anchor, someone who would balance Xander and bring peace and purpose to their dynamic. They’d been off kilter for a while, as though they were missing some vital piece. Hunter had thought it was because of Xander’s reluctance to accept his position, but now he saw there was more to it.
He was surprised he’d never considered the possibility before, but now it seemed blatantly obvious that Pack Stepanov needed an omega. They were fated to have an omega. And not just any omega.
Destiny Duvalle.
The moment Hunter caught her scent, he knew. He’d spent years honing his instincts and observation skills, watching from the outside, seeing what others overlooked. When he smelled Destiny, he was immediately struck by the rightness of it—the way her peppermint and cinnamon fragrance mingled perfectly with Xander’s sage and hint of nutmeg. Later, when they’d all been in the gym together, their combined scents had settled the matter beyond any doubt.
It was a scent match. An actual scent match , despite the rarity of the phenomenon and the unlikely scenario that had brought them together at the perfect moment. Hunter had never known anyone who’d found their scent match.
He couldn’t tell if Greyson and Xander had realized the truth yet, though he suspected they were both aware on some level. How could they not be? Hunter could feel the pull of Destiny right now, making it hard for him to stay on the room’s perimeter where he could watch for signs of trouble. As vigilant as he typically was in social situations, he found his eyes constantly drawn back to the omega on the stage.
Hunter had been a big fan of Destiny Duvalle for years. She was one of his first crushes, and he’d had her poster on his wall back in the day. Hunter’s grandmother had looked at the poster and warned him about falling for pretty faces. Hunter knew Meemaw Debbie’s disdain was more about his mother than Destiny.
He’d heard plenty about the gorgeous omega who’d appeared on his grandmother’s doorstep with an infant in her arms the day after Debbie had buried her only child. Even before DNA testing confirmed it, Meemaw Debbie claimed she knew her son had sired him. She said she could feel it—that he’d been a gift from God sent to help her deal with her grief. She’d made sure her grandson never felt the loss of the mother who’d left him behind. Hunter’s mother had moved on, found a pack, and built a new family, but his grandmother had held on to Hunter and a lifelong grudge against pretty young omegas.
Still, he’d caught her singing along to Destiny Duvalle’s music on several occasions. Deciding that his grandmother secretly approved of the popstar, Hunter didn’t feel guilty about making her the object of his adolescent daydreams. But all of his fantasies paled in comparison to meeting the real woman.
Of course, she was beautiful. But beautiful was too common a word to describe her. Destiny Duvalle was magnificent .
She strummed her guitar, her rich, sultry voice filling the room. Her cat-like green eyes were closed, dark hair parted down the center to frame her heart-shaped face and falling around her shoulders in soft, beachy waves. The look on her face was so peaceful it made Hunter’s heart ache. He studied her wide forehead, high cheekbones, and alluring cupid’s bow mouth. He wondered if her tawny skin was as soft as it looked, and how good it would smell up close. And her body—he couldn’t even think about her body. He’d definitely lose all his focus if he started down that path.
Hunter wanted to memorize everything about her. Every moment he’d spent around her so far had been captivating. Looking at her, knowing what she was, what she was meant to be, was so completely overwhelming. Hunter was looking at his forever and he was impatient for it to begin.
But he couldn’t rush her, and he definitely couldn’t just tell her that she was their mate. He needed to show her who they were. Thanks to Xander, they were off to a rocky start. She deserved better and Hunter knew she wouldn’t settle for less than she deserved. Destiny was a fucking firecracker. When Xander was being a prick in the gym, she hadn’t missed a beat. She’d just watched him with those wildcat eyes, then sliced him with her claws. Their omega might have a sweet veneer, but there was plenty of sass and sense beneath.
The audience burst into applause as she finished her first song. She smiled her stunning smile, lowering her head in polite acknowledgment. The picture of elegance and poise, her comportment befitting a queen. Hunter felt a surge of pride.
“I am so grateful to Queen Raina, King Anton, King Malik, King Raj, and King Vasili for inviting me to perform tonight. It is so special to be able to celebrate Princess Natalya’s sixteenth birthday with you all.” Destiny beamed at the royal family, her smile warm and inviting. It made Hunter want to be closer to her. “I was sixteen when I got my big break, and I remember all the joy and growing pains I experienced at that age. It can be hard, figuring out who you are while the world is watching you. Everyone has an opinion, and a lot of them aren’t very nice. I’m sure it’s even harder for a princess than a popstar. But it’s wonderful to see what supportive friends and family you have, Princess. It’s a rare and precious thing to have people who know and love the real you.”
Hunter realized he had unconsciously moved nearer to the stage, just barely remaining in the shadows. He’d been completely engrossed in Destiny’s speech, trying to catch the meaning behind every word. It couldn’t have been easy growing up under constant media scrutiny. He knew how hard it’d been for Xander. When they’d met at the academy, Hunter had seen how people used the young prince, trying to get close to him for clout or to get viral content for social media. Despite their obvious dislike for one another, his pack leader and the popstar had a lot in common.
Hunter scanned the room, confirming all was well. Everyone seemed captivated by Destiny, including the prince. Xander sat beside his parents, positioned purposely at the end of the first row, where he could exit discreetly whenever he’d had enough of the music he claimed to despise. But it didn’t look like he would be going anywhere anytime soon. He was leaning forward, watching Destiny with a strange expression on his face. Hunter didn’t know what that was about, but he did know his pack leader had done everything possible to make a terrible impression on their future omega. Hopefully, he was regretting that now and figuring out how to make it up to her.
“Anyway, I wrote a song for that sixteen-year-old girl and all the other girls trying to take up space despite the world trying to make us feel small. Your mother said it’s your favorite.” Destiny smiled at Princess Natalya, who squealed and bounced in her seat. “This one is for you, Princess. Never forget, you’re the master of your destiny.”
Destiny strummed a faster, heavier tune, her expression fierce and confident. Hunter remembered when “Master of My Destiny” released and you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing the girl power anthem. It became the soundtrack of every movie scene where a woman did something badass. Nat had driven the entire household nuts, playing it repeatedly every chance she got.
It sounded different on acoustic with only Destiny’s voice and the guitar, but no less powerful. The fire in her eyes made Hunter imagine her leading the country, ruling alongside her kings with conviction and grace. He couldn’t help but also imagine letting her take charge in the bedroom. He’d love to see her make Xander kneel and beg, just the way he liked. It was a kink they shared—Xander liked to be dominated and Hunter liked to direct and watch. Among other things.
Hunter took a deep breath, bringing his attention back to the room. This was no place for his dark fantasies. He’d return to them tonight, when he jacked it to thoughts of all the interesting positions the four of them could get into.
Hunter resisted the urge to adjust himself, eyes scanning the room. Grey and Genesis were sitting together, whispering while watching the performance. His packmate was glowing with happiness. It made Hunter’s heart feel lighter. Apparently, Grey wasn’t wasting his Christmas miracle.
When Hunter turned back to Xander, he found the prince’s eyes still fixed on Destiny. Maybe, just maybe, Xander wouldn’t waste Pack Stepanov’s miracle either.
For the next two hours, Destiny serenaded them, sharing stories between songs, and taking questions from the audience and the press. She handled the questions expertly, even when they bordered on rude. A few reporters seemed fixated on Destiny’s single status, and the packs she’d rejected in the past. Hunter bristled, but stayed quiet, even though he wanted to tell the nosey journalists that Destiny had been waiting to find her true mates.
Hunter had often been called “intense”, so he knew how a move like that would go over. He knew better than to be so blunt at this stage. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t help things along.
After the show ended, Destiny lingered to pose for photos and greet anyone who wanted to meet her. Hunter saw how people relaxed under her attention, how she seemed to make each person feel special and interesting. It was incredible. Meanwhile, Xander stood with his parents and their guests, doing a fairly good job of feigning interest in their conversation, while constantly sneaking glances at Destiny.
Hunter joined Grey and his sister, who were talking near the door. It looked as though Genesis was the only reporter who’d stuck around after the show. She seemed reluctant to leave, obviously enjoying her time with her brother.
“I’ve got to go!” Genesis’s huge eyes widened as she looked at her phone. “One of the other reporters just texted me and said there’s a snowstorm coming, and it’s supposed to be a big one. They’ll be grounding planes soon.”
Hunter heard Greyson hugging his sister goodbye and offering to walk her out, which she refused, but he was only half listening. He was thinking that there might be more to this whole Christmas miracle thing than he’d thought. This had to be some kind of divine intervention.
“I wonder if I can get close enough to say goodbye to Destiny,” Genesis said, looking worriedly between the door and the crowd surrounding the singer.
“Go, Gen, or you’ll miss the White House gig,” Greyson said, pushing her toward the exit. “I’ll tell her you were in a hurry.”
Genesis let him lead her away, then paused again, twisting back toward Destiny. “Oh, but she delayed her flight until tomorrow. I should tell her about the storm, or she’ll end up stuck here for God knows how long!”
“We’ll tell her. We won’t have as much trouble getting close to her,” Hunter said, stepping quickly into the reporter’s path. “Go before you miss your flight.”
Genesis nodded, but there was something penetrating in her gaze. She was like Hunter—good at reading people, which probably made her as good at her job as he was. Hunter could tell she saw right through him. They watched each other for a long moment. Then Genesis grinned, thumped him affectionately on the shoulder and hurried from the room.
Grey gave Hunter a sidelong glance. “What was that about?”
Hunter shrugged. “Your sister is smart.”
“That she is,” Grey replied, his voice full of pride. “Well, we’d better hurry and tell Destiny about the storm, so that she can try to get out of here tonight. I get the feeling she wouldn’t be happy about being stuck with us for a few extra days.”
Despite his words, Greyson made no move to approach the popstar. They stood silently for a few moments, watching Destiny Duvalle smile and sign autographs. She was magnificent .
“Perhaps we shouldn’t interrupt,” Grey said quietly. “It would be incredibly impolite.”
Hunter felt a smile tug at the corner of his mouth. “You’re probably right. Let’s wait awhile.”