Page 16

Hana

THE HUNTER’S MOON

B ent over, with my hands braced on my knees, I listen for signs of the maniac with the gun coming after me, but all I can hear are the ragged sounds of my breathing and the thunder of my racing heartbeat.

That man was going to shoot me!

No, Hana. He was going to rape you first, then shoot you!

My hands shake as everything starts to hit me. If the wolf hadn’t come to my rescue and knocked his aim off?—

I push myself upright. I haven’t heard any more gunshots, but I can still hear the man’s screams. Did the wolf kill him? What if that monster hurt my wolf instead?

I need to go back. I need to make sure my wolf is okay.

I turn around, but then stop. Girl, what are you doing? You need to get the fuck out of this forest.

My ears are still ringing from the way-too-close gunshot and anxiety is squeezing my chest like a vise. Leaning against a tree, I press my palm over my sternum and force myself to take deep breaths .

The wolf is fine. And thanks to him, I’m all right, too.

I take another deep breath.

Everything is okay now.

Except, it’s not. I can’t stop worrying about the stupid wolf. Why do I even care?

Something bright catches my eye and I look up as the biggest, fullest moon I think I’ve ever seen rises from the treetops.

With my head tipped back, I push myself away from the tree as a howl like nothing I’ve ever heard freezes me in place.

It’s a tortured sound that lifts the hair on the back of my neck.

Instinct warns me to turn around and run away .

But worry for my wolf has me rushing toward it instead.

By the time I reach the clearing, my breaths are coming fast and when I see the reddish body lying limp on the ground my hand flies to my mouth as a sob chokes me. Where is the hunter? I scan the trees, but there is no sign of him. Biting down on my lip, I inch closer.

Oh God, he’s not moving.

But then— there —his chest rose. He’s breathing.

Relief floods my veins, and I start to move toward him, only to stop again, something’s not right. The way he’s lying, he’s curled on his side, but not like an animal. I move a little closer. Is he bigger than I remember? His fur is shorter, too. And?—

I don’t know what I’m looking at, but this thing is definitely not a wolf.

Huge claw-tipped hands cover his face as he begins to twist and writhe on the ground. This thing is the same reddish color as my wolf, but his coat is shorter, sleeker. Curiosity has me stepping even closer, needing to get a better look.

Suddenly, he explodes up and I stumble back against a tree. The monster pulls his hands away from his face and looks down at them. Turning them from front to back, flexing his fingers. Standing upright, he must be close to seven feet tall and packed with solid muscle.

The fact he’s standing on two legs, has two arms, and similar stature is where any resemblance to a human man ends. He has pointed ears on either side of his head and a face that belongs in a horror movie, along with glowing yellow eyes, a flat nose, and wide mouth filled with sharp teeth.

His arms are thick with muscles and his wide chest flexes with his movement.

An angry patch of puckered skin high on one shoulder shows where he was shot.

An angry gash cuts down his other side. Rippling abs roll down his stomach to where a pronounced V draws my eyes to the thick patch of fur between his legs the size of tree trunks.

My eyes hover there. Do not wonder what’s hidden under that fur.

I lick my lips. I’m so wondering. Especially when he grabs it.

Squeezing my thighs together, I shift my weight, causing the leaves under my feet to rustle. I barely notice the sound, but the monster’s head snaps to the side and his eyes narrow when he spots me.

I go still. His nostrils flare and his lips curl up at the corners as he takes a step in my direction.

With my back pressed to the tree, I have nowhere to go.

My heart pounds in my chest as I watch him come closer and closer…

and closer… until he’s directly in front of me.

Slowly, he crouches until we’re eye to eye.

Surprisingly plump lips spread around a dangerous pair of fangs into something that could almost be called a smile.

He's so close I realize his eyes aren’t yellow at all, but gold with striations of bronze and ink.

Round pupils flare suddenly, until the dark depths eat up all but a thin band of gold.

Reflecting the moonlight streaming down from above us, he leans in until he’s so close the heat from his breath burns against my skin.

He closes his eyes and inhales deeply.

“Mate,” he growls.

When he opens his eyes again, they lock with mine. My mouth falls open to—to what? To ask him what he just said? What he means by it? Did I even hear him correctly?

Before I can do any of those, something bounces against my leg. I glance down and— Oh my .

A whimper squeezes past my tight throat at the sight of his massive cock jutting out from his hips. It’s straining and hard and freaking huge! My cheeks burn hot and when I try to swallow, my mouth is dry.

My cheeks burn with embarrassment—and arousal as I snap my thighs shut, trying to smother the sudden flare of heat igniting between them.

The monster leans in, pressing his nose to the side of my face as he sniffs.

My eyes slide closed at the soft puff of his breath sending shivers skittering across my skin before he drags his tongue up the side of my cheek.

It’s longer than a human’s, warm and damp, and I whimper at the soft touch across my skin.

“Mmm,” he moans as he pulls back enough to look at me again.

“Please… please, don’t,” I beg. Although I’m not sure what exactly I’m begging him not to do. Eat me? Fuck me?

An uninvited memory of the dream I had of him parting my thighs and dragging his tongue through my throbbing pussy has my core clenching and a moan slipping past my lips. I want to press my palms into my eyes and hide from the sudden erotic daydream. This is not the time or place for fantasies.

The monster drags another deep breath through his nose and when his eyes snap to mine they are nearly all pupils. “ Mine ,” he growls.

Before I can do more than shake my head, his arms curl around me and he lifts me off the ground. My scream falls on deaf ears as he drapes me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and runs off into the forest.