Eclipsed Hearts

Mission Brief

Ian might be a hunter, but that was where our commonalities ended. His lip curled a little before he continued. The Damson clan had a reputation. Maybe he was pissed his clan was wiped out and ours had never been attacked.

“I know your clan is renowned for their... prowess... at hunting, but this guy isn’t like a normal werewolf,” Ian snarled. “If you’re going to pout, do it somewhere else. I don’t need someone throwing me off my game in a life-or-death situation.”

Now I was scowling. I wasn’t pouting! I never pouted! What an asshole.

“I asked for help from the clans and they sent me a Damson. If you aren’t everything a member of your clan should be, then tell me now. I don’t have time to babysit if they decided to send me someone who isn’t experienced.”

“Watch yourself,” I warned.

I’d had it with this guy. The last thing I needed was a lecture from someone who was asking my clan for help! Maybe it seemed like I was pouting because I didn’t really like him. No one could normally read me, but it seemed like Ian was able to pick up on the little things.

He might be dealing with some serious ѕhit, but that didn’t mean I didn’t have a right to how I felt. I didn’t need to like him and he didn’t need to like me. This wasn’t how he should be treating a peer who had literally done nothing to him.

“I’m not a kid. I’m here to take care of a job, not to impress you,” I replied with a glare.

Ian scoffed. “Good, because I’m not impressed at all.”

My eyes narrowed. Who the hell did he think he was? I wasn’t about to take his attitude.

“You’re not in any position to talk down to me, Ianto. You need my help and if you keep acting like an asshole, I can always leave.”

“Then why don’t you run along home and I’ll ask for a different clan to help me. I’m sure the mighty Damson clan doesn’t like the idea of hunting a single killer werewolf when they usually go after packs full of defenseless women and children.”

The look on his face was deadly. His expression held a threat, a dare, and deep in his eyes a plea. I was just as observant as he was and as much as he could read me, I could read him.

His jabs were beginning to piss me off. Normally, I could keep my cool, but this man irritated the hell out of me. I fought the urge to throw my water in his face, or worse....

“Listen, Jerkface, I’m not running away. My clan handles its business. I suggest you do the same. All that matters is this job. I’m here to help you whether you like it or not. You better get used to having me around because once we start hunting this thing, we’re in this together until the end.”

He looked at me coldly. It was clear he wanted someone else to come assist him, but if there was even the slightest chance the werewolf he was after was the one who killed my family, I needed to stick it out. Asshole or not, I wasn’t leaving until that werewolf was dead.

“I’ll work with you, but I want to make one thing clear. No matter what, we are not friends, lovers, or anything in between. This is not a relationship and it is not the start of anything other than a short-term collaboration. So don’t go falling in love with me,” Ian said with a nasty smirk.

I gritted my teeth, feeling like I was talking to a brick wall. When did I say anything about a relationship!? I wasn’t here to find love or anything like that. I was here to find a werewolf and kill it. What the hell had he experienced to be acting like this?

“Trust me, I’m not looking for any of that, and even if I was, it wouldn’t be with you. I’m here to do a job, and then I’m out.”

The sooner this job was over, the better. I couldn’t imagine having to put up with the guy for too long. Hunts could take hours, days, or weeks. I prayed for the shortest possible hunt.

“Good. This wolf never stays in one place for very long. I know a few locations where he likes to show up. It just depends on what he is feeling like that night. He’s trouble. He enjoys killing and got a job doing what he loves. He works as an assassin and a mercenary so he can get paid to kill people. He’s more dangerous than the werewolves you normally hunt,” Ian told me.

My reassurance must have calmed him down. He didn’t seem so bad when he was in work mode. If he could stay like that, we could actually get along.

“Sounds like a real piece of work. How did you find him if he moves around so much?” I asked.

Ian rolled his eyes and looked at me as if I was a complete idiоt.

“I hunted him, like we’re trained to do. I’m not divulging my secrets to a Damson. Focus on the job. I know Damsons think the only good werewolf is a dead one, so let’s just focus on killing this one for right now. You’ll get to taste blood, don’t worry.”

Rage boiled inside of me, threatening to burst. What the hell was wrong with him? Had my family crossed him before and not realized it? Why did he keep attacking instead of trying to work together?

“Listen, jerk, my family was killed by a werewolf, possibly this werewolf. You can spare me the anti-Damson speech. I have a right to hate and hunt werewolves. Those monsters took everything from me. Quit picking at me when I’m asking reasonable questions and trying to help you,” I growled.

A flicker of sympathy quickly came and went from his eyes. I was glad it didn’t stick around. I didn’t say that for the sympathy. It was so he would realize I was serious about the hunt and he would know I wasn’t going to stop.

Ian looked off to the side. His profile was attractive, but his attitude soured any sort of appreciation I had for that.

“We’re hunters. We make enemies. If you’re going to kill werewolves, then expect to be killed by werewolves. I took care of the majority of this hunt. For weeks, I gathered information, stocked up on provisions and ammunition, and risked everything to get anything relevant that could help us kill this monster. You just got here and you’re criticizing my work? You are as arrogant as I’ve heard.”

“The only thing you know about me is my family name and what we discussed here. Apparently, you’ve never worked with anyone else, because finding out the process of the information gathering can help to figure out next moves, things that might have been missed, and other connections. You’re judging me based on your own perceptions of my family and what it means to be one of the top hunter clans in the country,” I said.

“Just like you judge all werewolves based solely on the fact that they are werewolves? Maybe I’m just returning the favor and judging you according to your own standards,” Ian replied.

I glared at him. No one, especially no other hunter would use the werewolves’ perspective to turn the tables on me. I just told him about my family, but he isn’t going to back off. No one had ever questioned the way I did things or thought, only tested them.

“Well... you’re still a jerk,” I whispered.

He wasn’t wrong. I was fighting for my family, but the rest of my clan only needed the excuse of a person being a werewolf to decide they deserved to die. I never went on pack raids, only on attacks against bands of werewolves or lone wolves.

Ian laughed, catching me off-guard. The laughter made his face lighten considerably and he was somehow even more handsome. I pinched myself on the leg for even thinking something like that.

When he calmed down, Ian reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, then slid it across the table before standing. I watched him get up.

“That’s the address where we’re meeting. Tonight, at seven. Don’t be late.”

He smiled at me and my heart fluttered a little. I tried to ignore it. Damn it. I hated him. I didn’t want him and I certainly didn’t want to want him.

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I muttered sullenly.

Ian scanned over me briefly, but I pretended not to see it. He sighed and his face softened.

“Look, if you want to leave, I won’t stop you. I’ll even tell them I sent you away. Are you sure you want to be part of this?” he said in a soft and quiet tone.

I looked up at him, startled by the sincerity in his voice. I stared at him for a few seconds, trying to process what he was saying. It really sounded like he cared about what I wanted. This was actually what I wanted so the answer was simple.

“I’m here to do a job. I know you hate having me around, and, frankly, I’m not thrilled about being your partner either. The most important thing to know about me is that I don’t back down. I’ll see you at seven,” I answered, picking up the slip of paper.

He nodded. “See you then.”

With that, he headed out of the restaurant. A few people looked at me as I watched him leave. I hoped this werewolf was the one who killed my family because I was tired of this. All I wanted was to lie down and give up.

Please let me finally rest.