Hunted [First Half] ✓

Chapter Seven: A rift in the plan

CHAPTER SEVEN:

A RIFT IN THE PLAN

{hani blithe's point of view} 

Something is not right. 

    The night was cold as if it was flinching away from me. As soon as I signal the mission as a go, the confidence vanished into thin air. Not once did I felt like everything was in ease or all that was planned tonight will be in place. It was eerie, somewhat confusing my brain at the rumbling and anxiety that was mixing on my head.

      I was thankful that my body didn't mind the confusion, I continue to stride in the East with what seems like a confident manner, never once losing a beat and looking as intimidating as I can be, the perfect sight that I want everyone to see. The only thing that's keeping me sane is my gun that somewhat bounces along the fraction of my thigh.

       The mutt froze, raising a hand as a sign for a halt to his peers. His nose was twitching and I wasn't even scared that he could track me for it was impossible. My scent—along with the three idiots—is already masked and nowhere close to making them sniff even a small ounce of our true scent.

      "What is it?" I heard one mutt ask, confused.

      The man continues to sniff the air, "Something is a bit off."

       "Should I alert the beta?"

       I flinched and the transceiver almost seems like it is on mute, making the four of us to see the flaw in every part of the plan if the beta did plan to enter the show. I have learned that the three—Alpha, Beta, and Delta—were different than these normal mutts. They were quicker, stronger and they sniff like a f*****g dog... well, I mean they technically are a dog.

       "No," I almost breathe out a relieve sigh at the response, "He already has a lot in his plate. This couldn't be that bad. We can handle this with ease."

       It takes whole willpower to not scoff at the mutt. However, that is not my mission. All I have my eyes on is the fact that Nvae must be in a huge s**t right now and if another one tried to stop me from rescuing her —may it be Mason or not— I swear to all things that are holy, I will strangle them with my silver chains until they cough blood.

+bzzt—

"Hani! With you walking like you're in a catwalk doesn't make them seem not suspicious about our presence."+ Alexis's annoying voice ringed in the transceiver.

      I grinned, "Why thank you, you useless mammal."

      The mutts looked around the place, calculating the place like a hawk. A smile decided to show on my lips, clearly amused by these set of mutts. They are clever and very much aware of their surrounding, I give them that.

      Pushing my amusement aside, I already put things in my hand. I wouldn't just wait in the dark, lurking for an attack until I get spotted; I am not stupid like Alexis. The way that the ball rolls was soft, as if the ground was cradling it; but no matter how soft it sounds, the wolves grew aware of it.

      Impressive senses. 

      I scoffed, shaking my head. I compliment a mutt, that's a first.

      As if on cue, the equipment stop on the pool of wolves, sending them all to give a little distance to the small ball. Some shifted into their beast while some were carefully examining the ball from the distance.

       My eyes trailed to the surrounding, making me see silhouettes inside the building that they seem to be guarding. It doesn't even take a single second for me to realize what that building is for. The dim lighting, the strong structure of concrete and those wolves that seem to be in individual patrol in every floor were enough to scream two words. Prison cells.

       Loud whoosh from the equipment knocked me into reality, marking my eyes back to the set of mutts not that far from where I'm standing. White thick gas surrounds the whole forest, making some guy to bark up some order that my ears couldn't quite comprehend. Some wolves ran into different directions while the others just shifted.

      "Wolfsbane!" I heard someone roared.

      "f**k! Alert everyone to the safe house, quickly!"

      A smirk escape through my lips. Others automatically shifted back into their human form, knowing that their wolves are basically useless with the chemical. Wolfsbane is kind of like a poison if you might say. The first effect would hinder them to communicate with one another inside their head. Soon enough, it would weaken the beast inside of them, stirring them back to their human bodies. As the effect finally engulfs them, they would be vulnerable as hell. It has a lot of effects, the powerful one would result in their death—but this equipment only holds a little dosage, just enough to knock them out cold.

      Deciding not to waste another time, my feet already grab a hold of me. One second, I was calculating everything. Now, I'm out of the shadows and visible to their shifting brown orbs. All their eyes were fixed on me, making it hard to not grin at how they were slowly getting engulfed by the Wolfsbane. Countless black eyes found my dirt colored eyes and soon as I push up a mocking grin, they already know who I am.

      Well, this is going to be fun.

       A mutt charged into me and I didn't need another second to think before my right hand caught his neck to hold him in place. A quite simple skill, if you ask me. He seems rather surprised in my grip, knowing how deadly my stance is. One look from my eyes and I saw him shiver, seeing the fury that was burning through my eyes. My brown orbs mirrored the night—dark and furiously dangerous.

      Devastation. Death. Destruction.

      Revenge.

      Kill.

      Kill them all.

      "Boo." I mocked.

       The others growled at me but they were still in their ground, never once moving and keeping track of everything. I could see some hesitation in their eyes as their posture shifted into something more lethal, letting me be aware that they're ready to pounce on me as soon as they have their signal.

        But before I could have any fun in killing them all—or any violent action could even emit from both sides, another person made a different move, cutting our chance to decide for a fight. Another gas laced with Wolfsbane erupted in the very clearing, letting the effect to progress much faster than before.

           I didn't even have the chance to comprehend everything before the poison hit the wolves at once, letting their bodies to drop into the forest floor like a set of domino. My eyes found the shining green eyes of Mason, I could see his posture is calm but his eyes, well his eyes tell a different story. He was angry, very angry. I throw the man on the ground, seeing that he's already unconscious.

+bzzt—

"What the hell happened in there!? They're just unconscious, right?"+ Alexis asked.

      "Mason, what the f**k? I almost killed him!"

      "That's the f*****g problem! We're not hunting them." 

       He reminded me with a stern and cold voice, letting me flinch at his tone. I could see some conflict in his eyes but he masked it away before grabbing the guns out of my comfort and back on his.

        "Focus on the mission and save your desire to kill them aside. You go and save squirt without an act of violence as the three of us have the perimeters."

+bzzt—

"Heading west, clearing."+ Alexis muttered.

+bzzt—

Heading south, clearing."+ Steven's thick voice rolled out.

      Mason nodded, looking back at me, "I got north then."

       I nodded meekly before mouthing a soft roger on the transceiver. I feel like Mason just splashed cold water on me—but instead of cold water, he spilled nothing but the truth. The desire to kill these mongrels does get me in trouble for a countless of times. Most of them were the reason as to why I ended up into some prison cell, in need of a rescue plan.

       The thirst to kill them is my first instinct. I want them all dead, just like how they killed my parents. I want them to suffer and be devastated, letting them be aware of how they bring the death of every single person that meant everything to me.

        The smell welcomed me to one of the places I hate most—dungeon. The whole place has some lit lighting to what seems like every pillar, it was just a small light which also seems to be covered in silver around it and also way too far for the reach of the prisoners, not that they could touch them with that amount of silver. Silver metal bars were on every side, providing to what they call 'home' to their prisoners.

       All the beatings, harsh violence, repulsive abuse on a woman's body—they're all coming back to my guarded mind. May it be hunters or some innocent humans, these mongrels just don't give a single damn.

       Every single one of the prisoners was beaten to a pulp, almost making the whole idea of death as a taste of heaven on your blood drowned mouth. The prisoners seek euphoria with the devastating idea of the afterlife while those monsters let me see them in agony, trying their best to let some answers to escape my mouth.

      To which I never do. They didn't know that I was trained enough to not let any secrets of the headquarters out of my mouth.

      My pace was careful and silent as my eyes wander around the cells. All the prisoners were knocked down, bodies on the ground as the smell of metallic hugged my nostrils. I still try to be careful to not alert some mutt who could be guarding the place. My weapons are all in Mason's hands and he did mention to not let my thirst to come first.

       "—sedated human. What's the worst that you can do?"

       I stilled in recognition of that voice. It was vaguely familiar in my ears, making me feel the warmth that I lost along with her. The words after that were somewhat muffled but I know that the voice belonged to her—to Nvae. Is she talking to someone?

        f**k. She's not getting tortured, is she?

        As a body dropped into the floor, my eyes saw a figure of a woman inside a prison cell. I finally let out a relieved sigh, followed by a smile; seeing that I know that familiar locks everywhere. Not even giving myself another minute to think things, I let my strides go a little bit faster.

        "How can I help you escape this place now, you i***t?" she exclaimed.

         I grinned, finally finding my voice, "I can help."

          As my thick voice surrounds the room, she gasped before letting her head turned into my direction—in a very dramatic way, I tell you. Nothing but a sense of complete shock is printed along her usually calm face; probably thinking that another person was creeping behind her. My feature flashed along the light from the moon, letting her eyes to somewhat light up as smile flash into her face.

       "Hani!" Nvae hollered, her posture was now loose.

        I immediately grab hold of her, engulf her into a tight hug. The knots on my heart, the feeling of losing another member of my family is now finally gone and replaced with nothing but relief. There were no words to express how grateful I feel now that I have her in an arms length. To say that I was afraid, that someone who I now see as a part of my family would be cast away from my care, would be an understatement.

      For a moment there, I almost condemn myself to all the lives that have been put into waste all because I didn't have the strength to take care of them.

      "I was worried, you fucker!" I snapped, pushing her off me.

      She lights up a smile, "You can't dispose of me that easily, you—" her words were muffled by a painful groan that snapped us out of the trance.

        Nvae suddenly grew aware, as if there was a light switch or something, before she ran back into the cell, trying to find ways to aid the man who has no article of clothing in his torso. He was ripped, packed with every muscle in the perfect places. His face seems youthful, exactly Nvae's type. I grinned.

      "Ah, so this is what you've been doing." I teased.

      Nvae rolled her eyes, "I am not you."

      "That's below the belt," I fake a gasp.

      "I didn't ask the part on where you normally strip a male, Hani." she mocked.

       I chuckled, "You grew up, all in one day? Well, I am amused."

       She continues to look at the man, looking like a professional doctor while the man did nothing but breathe, as if that was a hard task. Nothing but fresh wounds were carved into his torso, making me cringe as my brain ransack all the possible ways that he has got those wounds.

        I didn't even move an inch as my eyes scan the signs of him being a wolf. Nvae might be a hunter but she's stupid as s**t. If you manage to get her out of some trouble or save her life, she wouldn't give a crap if you were an enemy or not—you will officially have her trust. Seeing that he was wounded and she was not, I can say that he accepted all the beating for her, which explain why she's worried about the man.

       Okay, I nodded to myself. That's a reasonable hypothesis. As soon as I found nothing red on his neck, I release a sigh. Okay. He's human. Thank the heavens!

       I push the transceiver on before speaking, "I got her."

+bzzt—

"Is she hurt?"+ Mason asked.

       I shook my head as a reply. After a complete minute of hearing nothing from them, I almost slam my face to my hands as I remember that they couldn't see my actions, "No, but we got some company."

+bzzt—

"What? The wolves should be unconscious now."+ Steven informed.

+bzzt—

"That side is fully sedated. Please don't kill anyone."+ Alexis mumbled.

       I rolled my eyes, "No. It's a human. A man, actually. Trapped in the cell with her. He's unconscious and fairly beaten."

+bzzt—

"Be there in a minute."+ Mason announced.

      I moved inside the cell and noticed the red marks on his wrist, probably restraints. My forehead creased and soon enough, I see silver cuffs that were now loose. All the evidence that it was used on him was on the hairpin that was still placed on the keyholes, obviously, Nvae did her thing and unlock the cuffs.

        Nvae released a deep breath as she continues checking for a pulse, even opening his eyes to see if he is now getting his consciousness back.

        "Calm down. Mason would be here in a second."

        "I'm just checking some vitals. Sorry, I just promised him that I would help him esc—" Her words halted, finally realizing my words. Soft amber eyes followed him before her lips parted, "Mason is here?"

         "The three idiots are outside, checking the perimeters." I chuckled softly when the three of them cussed on the transceiver. Well, oops?

      Nvae just grinned before pushing herself up. Her actions let me see the red stain that continues to drip along the side of her jeans, metallic scent that punched through my nostrils was enough evidence that it was indeed, blood. My breath hitched as soon as I saw the ripped part of her jeans, showing that deep cut that she managed to have.

      "They hurt you." I accused.

      She grew stiff, fear somewhat consumed her body, "Hani, this is just—"

      "Okay, calm breaths. They wouldn't hurt you now," my hand found her shoulders, squeezing it softly to give some comfort into her. As her mouth formed into a smile, I let my mouth to do the same, "We have you now and if they ever thought of getting away from this, they have another thing coming."

      "But they didn't—"

      I let my hands cover her lips, preventing her to continue her words as a slam vibrated through the room. My posture grew stiff, taking a good look at every little detail of the room, finding the source of the noise. As another bang roared in the room, Mason's buff figure arrived at the prison cell.

      "Hey squirt," he flashes that smile before grabbing hold of Nvae, spinning her in circles as he takes a good hold of her. Mason smiled before messing her hair, "We were worried about you."

      I grab hold of Nvae, pushing Mason off of her. As he shot this curious gaze at me, my hands point the man on the cells, "Time is not our friend here. The man is unconscious. Carry him out, Mase."

      No arguments were added into the conversation as I drag Nvae out of the room and Mason trailed behind us. I heard Nvae mouthed out a gasp as she witnesses the countless bodies of the mutts that were unconscious on the ground, making it look it they're dead than dozed off.

      "What equipment did you use?" Nvae questioned almost instantly, making me detect the worry that was laced in her voice.

      I huffed as I shook my head, "Why does that even matter? They're not dead, a bummer but they'll get there soon enough."

      "Hani! What equipment did you use?" she snapped, fury was swirling in her eyes.

      My eyes found hers, completely confused at her sudden outburst. She would usually agree with my words, even adding some sort of cruelty to their current predicament. But her eyes right now were burning with rage, as to what? I don't even know.

      "The wolfsbane ball?" I answered, confused. 

      "What!?" She snapped, looking bewildered in my answer, "You used what!?" 

      "Are you angry that I already used the unfinished equipment?" I asked, somewhat confused.

      The rage in her eyes suddenly died down, "I, urhm... well, I..."

      "There's no time for words."

      All of our eyes snap back into the source of the voice, Alexis. He reached our spot, crouching down as his hands take hold of his knees, his chest is heaving. Alexis was still trying his best to catch his breath when Steven appeared on the other side with the same state as him.

      "I have others trailing on my side. Tons." Steven announced.

      "On my side too. Hundreds." Alexis finally breathes out.

      "Well since killing is not one of the f*****g choices." I muttered.

      My eyes snap back into Mason, letting him get noticed the venom that was laced in my words. I was not happy with that order of his—not even for one bit. If I just didn't see him as an older brother, I would have not to pay attention to his words—but sadly, he is right. Killing them would somewhat stir the headquarters.

      I shook my head, "We don't have any choice but to run away from this place."

      "Roger," the three agreed.

      Nvae almost let her hands slip out of my grasp but I already dragged her away from this place. I wouldn't let another part of my family to die from the hands of these monsters—never again, will I ever let Nvae or myself to be exposed from these monsters.

        We have to get away.

— ✾ —

{beta jax beckett's point of view} 

If anything vexed me at this very moment, I am ready to kill. 

     The door banged in volumes, creating friction of no other than fear and fury in my beast. I was agitated, completely out in the edge just a minute ago and this wasn't helping. 

     The whole pack is in chaos, a lot of things are disappearing and rogues are going in and out the pack as if we're neutral. I was lethal, dangerous and one flinch could make me end someone's life.

      My beast continues to roar in my head, letting everyone in the link flinch at the intensity of his voice. He was agitated, angry and stressed. I was just a temporary Alpha and for f**k's sake, I now understand the fury in Maddox every single time that there was an attack. 

     It's not even helping that my beast wants our mate, badly. My eyes flutter close as I take deep breaths, trying my best to keep it calm and not lethal. Surging inside the house, almost in the form of shifting my beast would scare my mate away.

      Scaring my mate would be the last thing in my f*****g list. 

      "Beta!" A voice rang in the halls, making me flinch at the panic held in his voice.

      Putting no time in decisions, I listen to my beast. I moved towards the voice in full force, fury in my eyes and fur were almost visible in my arm. I saw the warrior pale at the possible sight of my beast but I pay no attention. I was angry, lethal, and dangerous. I could kill anyone who ticks me at this point.

       "The East Wing is laced with a huge amount of Wolfsbane." He announced.

       Drixon pushed the door open in panic, carrying the same news that the warrior has. My hands were in fist, mind linking the warriors who are present in the East Wing. I hear faint answers, letting me be aware of the poison that surrounds the place.

'Hunters! Hun—' A warrior from the East Wing passed a link through the whole pack and my eyes snapped wide.

        I didn't need another word as I ran back into the house, making my way to my room, seeking to see the safety of my mate. One single scratch or claw on my mate will make me set the forest on fire. My beast is shifting, trying his best to claw his way out in the surface and that's not usually a good sign.

       Everybody in the pack house seems tensed in my regal posture and as soon as I push my bedroom door open, a loud menacing growl resonated in the whole house, letting their tensed figure intensified. I could almost feel my beast in the surface, clawing his way to control my body.

       "THEY HAVE MY MATE. GET THEM. NOW!" I roared, loud.

       All the women and pup ran into the safe house, cradling their children as the warriors were in a rage, but not as much as I am. Nobody needed another word, seeing that all of the warriors shift into their wolves as I ran with them. The pack needed their beta female, seeing that the Luna isn't here to guide us yet—and I, f*****g need my mate. If these hunters try to put any bruise in her body, I will skin them all alive.

'East Wing, heading to North.' Drixon mindlinks me in a hurry.

       My feet double their pace, almost making me want to be in my wolf to at least let me be much faster. My beast continues to interrupt my thoughts, wanting himself to be out, but I didn't let him and he snarled. Shifting into my beast would scare my mate away and that'll just end with her running along with the hunters. I wouldn't want that.

        I reached the circle of the pack warriors where the hunters were cornered. There is a woman hunter among them who seems like she's calculating everything as three men were glaring back at the warriors with just an amount of anger as we all feel. A man was behind one of the hunters and I sniffed, wanting to growl out as I smell the rogue with them. A rogue! The same rogue who touched my mate!

       Their eyes weren't on me, it's on the countless wolves that were surrounding them. I could see that they have no plan on attacking which is just making me utterly confused. As my eyes followed the woman that was hidden in their middle, among the three male hunters, I couldn't stop myself but to growl. All eyes were now focused into mine, stirring the hunters in an alert, probably knowing my position.

       "Blond—"

       The soft voice of my mate was cut off. My mate pushes the men out of her body, trying to take her first step to walk towards me but a man grabs hold of her wrist before pushing her back in the circle. Not fully having control, the beast inside of me, growled at them, making them flinch at the regal sound of his growl.

       "Get the f**k away from her!" I snarled.

       The man just grinned at me before letting his hands snake around her waist before pulling her into his side. My mate tensed before taking a good look at me. I see nothing but confusion and fear in her eyes. I snarled as I try to take a stride towards them but then it easily halted to his reply to my actions.

       He let his left hand point a dagger right into my mate's neck as the other hand keeps her in place, not giving her an escape. My breath hitched, and for the first time, my wolf grew quiet as my eyes to mirror nothing but a complete sense of fear.

— ✾ —

{hani blithe's point of view} 

        As a silver knife touched a fraction of her skin, I noticed that all of their faces turned visibly pale as Nvae almost try to cast Mason away from her body. To say that I was confused would be an understatement. I know that Mason couldn't kill Nvae even if his life depended on it. He treasured her way too much.

        There was a long pause as if everybody was conflicted to what they're going to do. These three idiots were keen into their plan on not attacking everyone, which seems fairly odd to me. Mason, Alexis, and Steven were violent hunters—it doesn't exactly show at how soft they are to both Nvae and me, but they are.

      Usually, they are the ones who plan on attacks, killings. All their killings were brutal, never did they even let a single mongrel escape or die normally. They were that lethal to werewolves. So now that they're going all non-violent, I'm confused.

       As the man takes a step forward, a yelp escape in Nvae's mouth. Mason removed another distance of her neck from the knife. My eyes grew wide, seeing that one single mistake and she would bear a scar on her neck. I tried to move, wanting to smack the back of his head—if only Alexis wasn't holding me down.

       What the f**k is going on?

       "Why don't you try another step, Beta? Let's see what will happen." Mason taunted.

       I flinched at the title. Beta? Why the f**k is Mason challenging a beta? 

       Is he f*****g mental? 

       That's it, isn't it? We're all gonna die and it's all because he's f*****g stupid. 

       I mean, I do admit that I am fantastic at killing their kind but I never lay a single scratch to the Alpha, Beta or even the freaking Delta—I have no chance of survival! 

       A controlled growl vibrated on the Beta, his eyes were swirling into another color, making my eyes to grow wide. What the f**k? They can do that?  

      "I can kill you." The Beta gritted his teeth.

      "True," Mason stated, before a smirk escaped his lips, "But not before I can kill her."

       Nvae bites her lips, not seeing the lie in Mason as her eyes fogged over, probably scared for her own life. The Beta's eyes moved on Nvae, he then flashed a small smile—a smile that wasn't that noticeable if you're not paying great attention to him—as if he was soothing her that everything would be okay. I watch them closely and it surprises me how Nvae pushes out a breath, nodding at him.

      What just happened?

      "Now, all of you will back out before I impale the knife on her neck," Mason instructed.

      Nvae whimpered followed by the internal battles of the beta. The knife reached her neck, making her flinch and stay rooted in her place. One application of a single pressure, she would bear a scar. Seems to me that it was enough to let them back down, giving us space for us to run away from them which would seem pretty stupid by now since they run like a f*****g rabid animal.

       "I think not," the Beta replied, now seemingly calm.

       Mason was about to bark a response but another set of wolves just ran into the circle, crowding us but they still keep a small distance. The forest grew cold, sending a shiver into my spine. I could feel someone lurking into the dark, a sign that I wasn't really looking for.

      "Well, well, well. Would you look at that? A hunter."

       A voice so dark, so broad and so define ringed through the forest. I shivered, making me think that it was the wind that flows through the dark but frankly, I know deep within me that it wasn't the reason. I was excited, on the edge and for an unknown reason. My mind was confused, wary, in searching for something unknown.

       "This is a surprise, truly." The voice then again voiced out.

       A man moves out of the shadow and my knees almost fell at the intensity of his stare, even with the power in his strides. I could feel the power radiating in every muscle that was carved on his body. His eyes were focused on me, not once did an emotion slipped from his sculpted face.

       He grinned, making me want to buckle my knees, "I'm in a ride, then."

       Everybody bowed their head in submission but never once losing their stance for awaiting the attack. It was complete silence until they all voice out a dangerous word. 

      "Alpha."

      Oh f**k.