Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Jin looked out the window and grinned as her eyes took in the countryside. She turned to Hunter and smiled widely.
“You enjoying the trip? It’s much faster to get around by vehicle.” Hunter grinned as he watched her nod excitedly.
“Yes, this is fun. It is quicker than walking, but not as fast as riding a dragon.” She giggled, then looked back out the window.
“You’ve ridden on a dragon before?” Hunter asked curiously. The rest of the passengers quieted down as they looked at her with interest.
Jin had a soft smile resting on her face as she continued to look out the window. “Yes. I have.”
“Oh wow. That’s amazing. Did you grow up together?” Hunter asked casually.
Jin opened her mouth but continued to quietly stare out the window. “We’ve only known each other for a couple of years.”
“How did you two meet?” Renee asked, engaging in the conversation.
She stared out the window blankly for a moment before she turned and looked at them, her gaze shifting from Hunter to Chasen and back to Renee.
“She’s the one who rescued me. My past is a bit dark to be talked about on only the second day of knowing everyone.
” Forcing a smile on her face, she stared back out the window.
Chasen noticed how Jin’s hands squeezed together. He balled his own into fists again as he watched her hide behind her smile.
“Oh, umm … well, what was the dragon’s name? You seem like you’re friends.” Renee cleverly tried to lighten the mood.
Jin’s gaze softened with a smile as she looked back at Renee.
“Her name is Ciana. You guys will meet her soon, as long as you’re okay with that.
” She looked at Hunter, who nodded. “We split up when I went looking for Hunter. She went scouting for the demons, trying to get an idea of their movements.” Jin looked down at her hands. “I hope she’s okay.”
“I’m sure she is. Dragons are really strong,” Susan reassured Jin with a kind voice.
Jin nodded. “You’re right. I know you all will love her.”
“You say that like she’ll be living with us …” Chasen trailed off, sounding a bit annoyed.
“If she’s welcome, she would love to stay. Not indefinitely, but until the war is over. Her parents are away traveling the world, so she’s been on her own for a few years.”
“What about the kingdom she’s from?” Hunter asked.
Jin shook her head. “Ciana isn’t from a kingdom.
She grew up in one of the utopian villages.
You know, the villages where all species gather neutrally.
Her parents raised her there to keep her safe.
She’s special, and they wanted to make sure she was raised away from anyone who might wish to abuse her powers. ”
“You trust us with such a secret?” Sam asked with a wide grin.
Jin nodded. “Yes, you’re all nice people. I know you would never take advantage of her.”
“You trust us?” Chasen asked, and her eyes flickered up to meet his gaze. “Well then, I want to know about your past.”
“It isn’t that I don’t trust you. Honestly, I don’t know why I trust you all already. Is that weird?” Jin asked, but not really expecting an answer, she continued. “It’s just that my story isn’t an easy one to digest.”
“I trust you too, Jin. I don’t think it’s weird. It doesn’t matter what your past is. Not to me. And if you ever want to talk about it, I’m ready to listen.” Hunter leaned over and patted her shoulder.
She looked up at Chasen. “If you really feel like you want to know now, then I’ll tell you. But maybe we should leave that conversation for this evening. It’ll ruin everyone’s mood to hear it now.”
After hearing that, Chasen felt his chest squeeze uncomfortably. Was her past that bad? He felt the urge to wrap his arms around her and let her know she was safe with him.
Shit. Why was he feeling like this? There was just something about Jin.
Something that made him irritated at the way his body was reacting.
He turned and looked away from her, back out the window.
“That’s fine,” he managed to reply. Meanwhile, he was waging a war within himself.
A war that had him questioning everything.
Jin looked at the big building they pulled up to, which seemed to stretch far in the distance. She suddenly felt a bit nervous. There were so many people going in and out. A warm hand landed on her shoulder, and she turned to see Hunter’s bright smile.
“Time to get you some clothes.” Hunter scooted out of the vehicle and then turned, offering his hand to her.
He pulled her up to his side and watched her eyes flicker around nervously.
“I would stay with you if I could, but Sam and I have a meeting to attend. Renee and Susan will be with you, though.”
“That’s fine. I’ll be fine with them.” Jin smiled at Renee and Susan. She walked up toward the girls, who excitedly began to drag her into the building.
Hunter watched them until they disappeared.
He had to go lead a roomful of alphas, who did not like to be told what to do or to be challenged by anyone.
It wasn’t in their nature. This was his task, though.
He had to get the alphas to fall in line under him.
The red energy he’d felt inside of him this morning began to slightly swell again.
It didn’t disappear this time but remained at the surface, quiet but present.
Chasen followed them over to the conference room inside the mall, where the meeting would take place.
“I guess this is where we leave you, Chase. Go raid the food court. We’ll see you shortly.” Hunter listened to his brother’s low growl before he and Sam entered the room.
They heard gentle murmuring as they walked into the room.
The space was decorated in a red carpet that had many circular tables set up.
Alphas and their betas were all seated at these tables, and dozens of different packs were represented.
As Hunter entered the room, Luke from the Cedar Pack walked up to him.
“Hunter. You definitely have your hands full here.” Luke chuckled and looked back over his shoulder.
“I brought my son along with me instead of my beta. Kyle is taking over for me next year, so I want him to get used to these events.”
“Hunter!”
Hunter turned and smiled. “Uncle Drew … Ace. I’m glad you guys could make it.”
“Are you kidding? We have to be here. We need to show our support and get these demons taken care of when the time comes.” Drew, Alpha of the Red Grove Pack and his mother’s brother, was one of Hunter’s biggest supporters.
Hunter nodded his head and looked out at the crowd, seeing many unwelcoming stares, including one from Alpha Will from the Birchwood Pack. He listened as Blaze growled in his mind.
We should kill him.
It's alright, Blaze. We deserve better. A true luna would have been loyal.
It was a good thing Chasen wasn't here. He would have made a scene and gone on a rampage. If it was up to him, Alpha Will would be dead. It was in the past, though. No matter what happened, it was over.
He looked back at the raised platform behind him. Might as well get started.
“I guess this is a real case of getting fed to the wolves.” Sam snickered at his own joke. “Seriously, you’ve got this, Hunter.”
Hunter let out an airy laugh and sighed, taking authoritative steps up onto the platform, and walked toward the podium. He turned and looked out over the men sitting there, waiting for him to speak.
“I’d like to start out by thanking you all for coming. We are gathered here under grave circumstances. As many of you know from firsthand experience, demons have been assembling en masse. Our packs are continually colliding with them during patrols. Some of us have even experienced casualties.”
“It’s not our fault that other packs are weak,” a voice growled from the crowd.
“It has nothing to do with a pack being weak but with the ever-increasing presence of an enemy. A war is approaching. There is no avoiding it. We must unite together and band against a common enemy. This is much bigger than you all know. The demons are going to make their move to claim all of the earth’s surface.
If we don’t act now, there may never be another opportunity to defend ourselves. ”
Yelling and snarling immediately filled the air.
The idea of going to war with demons made some of the alphas nervous and even angry.
Not everyone had been troubled by demons, and those failed to see how this was their problem.
Others were demanding they all unite, having had mass casualties.
The loud voices and growling continued to rise, the room echoing with the increasing anger of the growing mob, with alphas lashing out at alphas.
The red energy inside Hunter started resonating within him. The light grew and seized his body as a mighty roar escaped his lips. “SILENCE!”
The growling and shouting ended, and everyone turned to look at him immediately after his command.
Hunter growled and looked out over the other alphas. An authoritative strength spread through him as he cast his commanding glare over everyone.
“There is no choice in this matter. The packs will unite and fight against the demons when the time comes. We will defend our territory. We will protect our kind. We will join forces with those who fight against the demons. This is our one shot, and I will not let anyone’s pride get in the way of this.
This moment is too important,” Hunter snarled out angrily.
Power filled his voice, a strength he’d never felt before. “Is that understood?”
“Yes, Alpha,” all the wolves said in unison.
Hunter looked over the room, wide-eyed. What just happened here? He felt a strange power continue to seep out of him. He watched as his uncle Drew and Luke approached the podium cautiously.
“What is it?” Hunter asked.
“How long have you known?” Luke whispered, awestruck.
“I never thought I would live to see this day,” his uncle Drew said in a breathy voice.
Hunter chuckled, hopping down beside the two men. “What are you senile men talking about?”
“Do you know what you just did?” Luke asked, his eyes widening in shock. It was apparent that the young alpha in front of him didn’t have the slightest idea.
“He doesn’t even know.” Drew looked at Luke, then returned his gaze to Hunter. Just wait until Asher and Lita find out. He couldn’t believe it. But he’d witnessed it himself. He’d felt it inside him. There was no denying who his nephew was.
Hunter looked up at the still-quiet crowd. What was he missing? He looked back at the two men in front of him, raising his brow at them. “Would you care to enlighten me, then?”