Eclipsed Hearts

The Weight of the Hunt

[Bailey]

Ian’s storming out of the hotel restaurant didn’t escape my notice. I could see the way he glared at me as Keaton Black came over to talk to me. At least his eyes showed his anger. The rest of his body language said he didn’t mind much until he left. That was when the intensity of his anger hit me.

“It seems like your friend wasn’t too happy to see us talking.”

“If he knows what I know, he’s probably pretty angry. Your pack kills hunters. If I heard correctly, your pack is the one that destroyed his hunter clan. How could he possibly be happy about seeing someone from the same pack that was responsible for the death of everyone he loved?” I scoffed.

Keaton watched Ian leave out of the corner of his eye. “Indeed. How could he feel anything other than anger,” he whispered.

“You’re not going to get a chance at my family. I don’t care how many times you give me your contact information.”

“If what I found out when I called my father is correct, you might find yourself in need of our help. I’m not requesting information about your family or other hunters. Like I said, your father gave us hope. None of us want to kill people. We have to in order to protect others. Just like you think you are.”

“Think!?” I hissed. “A werewolf killed my family. I know I’m saving others!”

“Keep your voice down. There are more of my kind here than you think and you only have one ally, other than me. What do you think a werewolf survivor of a hunter attack would feel? Seeing a hunter here with so little protection. This would be a good time to get rid of part of the problem. How many people know your investigation led you here?”

The way he asked that, his meaningful gaze, told me he knew a lot more than I did. I didn’t like that. Was there a survivor of one of my family’s attacks on this little island? I hadn’t told my family where I was heading, only that we were about to enter deep cover for a week, so I would be unreachable.

“How many more of your kind are here?” I asked, avoiding the answer he sought.

“It seems we both have information we are still choosing not to entrust the other with. This isn’t conducive to a successful alliance,” Keaton responded.

I narrowed my eyes at Keaton, feeling a surge of unease ripple through me. As much as I wanted to dismiss his warning, a small voice in the back of my mind urged caution.

“Fine. We can keep our secrets, but if you are my ally, then you will let me know when I’m in danger,” I said.

The left corner of his lips curled up into a pitying smile. “My dear Ms. Damson, you were in danger from the moment you boarded that boat to come here. Keep your doors and windows locked and try to stay in populated areas. If I see you in trouble, I will assist, but not at the expense of another innocent werewolf.”

“I guess our alliance only goes so far.”

“It goes far enough for me to warn you that you have a price on your head and there are at least five people here who would love to claim the paycheck from ending your life. I don’t kill for money, so I don’t have an interest in accepting. Watch your back, Ms. Damson. I would hate for what small connections you still have to your father’s dreams to be extinguished with your life.”

With that, he turned to find the hostess and got seated in a corner, away from the windows and doors. His warning washed over me. Not that no one had ever tried to kill me before, but it was different when someone was offering money for my death.

My uncle might get ahold of more information, but I didn’t want to risk anyone knowing how I found out about it. If my family sent a team to save me, there would be casualties. I needed to keep this from them to protect the innocent people who were here for this convention thing.

After that revelation, my appetite was long gone. I dropped a five on the table and left the dining room. Keaton watched me leave but didn’t acknowledge me in any other way. I appreciated him not rubbing in the information he gave me.

I didn’t know how to deal with it. Keaton told me I was being hunted by people who were only interested in the money and wouldn’t care about what kind of person I was.

I didn’t miss the irony. I’d killed for less.

As I wandered into the lobby, I felt suddenly drained. Why was I tired? If I lost energy, I wouldn’t be able to fight whoever might be trying to kill me.

I sat on the couch in the lobby and stared at the floor. Was it possible that someone here knew who I was? Were they really planning to kill me?

Closing my eyes, I wished the real Mari was still alive. She was the only person I felt comfortable opening up to. I missed her more than I could possibly say.

Just then, a soft hand touched my shoulder, causing me to startle and look up. Standing before me was a young woman with gentle eyes and a warm smile. She had a comforting presence about her that instantly put me at ease.

“Are you alright?” she asked softly, her voice filled with genuine concern.

“Yes, thank you. I’m fine,” I replied.

“I’m only asking because your eyes are so melancholy. Would you like to take a walk with me? You don’t have to talk, we can just walk. Maybe it will help with whatever’s going on in your head.”

“No, thank you. I’m waiting for someone.”

“Oh, should I wait with you? If you have a look like you did before, then maybe it would be best if you didn’t meet with the person alone.”

“NO. Thank you,” I answered sternly.

The young woman looked slightly taken aback by my response, but she recovered quickly, offering me a kind smile before nodding and walking away. As I watched her retreating figure, a pang of guilt washed over me for the way I had dismissed her concern. She had only wanted to help, and here I was pushing her away…. But that was how it worked in my life. A normal person would be in danger, and an enemy could take that chance to kill me.

I leaned back against the couch, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath to steady myself. The weight of Keaton’s warning still lingered heavily on my mind, the knowledge that danger lurked around every corner making my skin prickle with unease.

Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the quiet of the lobby. I tried not to look for him, but failed. My eyes found him as if he were wearing a flashing sign.

Ian.

He glanced at me, then looked away. I got up and left the lobby. There wouldn’t be any help for me here. Even calling my uncle wouldn’t help. If he didn’t send people to watch out for me, he still wouldn’t understand how I felt.

The only reason I didn’t let myself die was so I could avenge my family. I was afraid of dying before I got that chance. What I really wanted was for someone to understand me and what I was feeling. What I really wanted was for someone to make me feel better. But that wouldn’t happen.

I was alone.

As I made my way back to my room, the weight of my loneliness pressed down on me with each step. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, suffocating me with the reality of my situation. I needed to come up with a plan, a way to outsmart whoever was after me and turn the tables on them.

But as much as I tried to convince myself that I could handle this alone, a part of me longed for companionship, for someone who could share the burden of my secrets and fears. With a heavy heart, I reached my room and stepped inside; the silence wrapping around me like a shroud.

Before I could close the door, someone pushed in behind me. I turned quickly to fight them off, but found myself wrapped in a hug. My whole body stiffened.

“You looked like you were about to cry, Mari. I know you’re a talented actress, but I got the feeling it wasn’t an act. I don’t know what’s going on, but… just accept this and don’t go thinking it changes anything,” Ian whispered as he pushed the door closed with his foot.

Part of me wanted to fight, but I was so tired of carrying it all by myself. My throat tightened, and I gripped his shirt.

“Someone is trying to hire people to kill me,” I forced out in a strained and quiet voice.

“I know. Don’t worry. I won’t let them kill you, Mari. We’re going to make sure you get revenge on that werewolf for what he did to your family.”

Ian’s words washed over me like a soothing balm, bringing a sliver of comfort to my weary soul. Despite his gruff demeanor and rough exterior, he had a way of understanding me in a way no one else did. His promise to stand by my side and help me exact vengeance on the werewolf who had torn my family apart gave me a flicker of hope in the darkness that surrounded me.

I pulled back slightly, meeting Ian’s gaze with a mixture of gratitude and determination.

“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Don’t thank me yet, Damson. Accept the hug and we can talk more later.”

He pulled me closer and I let myself relax in his arms. He was like me. Ian understood me in a way that no one else ever could. He lost everything the same way I did. I closed my eyes and breathed him in, letting his presence soothe me.