Mated To The Werewolf Huntress

Chapter Three

SASHA

I frowned at the old book I held in my hands. The library had a whole section dedicated to books that only talked about werewolves, and I was all for it. But I was still a little bit surprised to see a very ancient book in the library. I hadn’t even thought for once, that there would be a book that dates back to 200AD, in our house.

I placed the heavy book on a mantle and opened it. Yeap! I already knew I wouldn’t be able to read it, even if I tried. Hah! It was filled with so many symbols and drawings that looked like rubbish to me.

Still, I continued to flip through the very huge book, frowning as I flipped. I sighed in frustration at understanding absolutely nothing in the book, and was just about to close the book when I saw the unmistakable writing from a ball pen.

What?

I knew for a fact that there was nothing like ball pens in ancient times. Heck, even a little kid would have known that. I peered closely at it, to see that whoever had scribbled on this page, had done so in shorthand. I couldn’t hate myself more for skipping those classes in high school. And I always proudly said I would love to study business if I got the chance to go to a university!

On the page, there was a symbol of a cup, and different weird s**t that looked like plants, each had something written under them, which was also in an ancient language. But then, right under one of the plants, I saw the tiny writing of a ball pen under it. The only English word in the whole book.

Wolvesbane.

I frowned and looked over the page again. No other English word on it. From what I understood, this was a page where they were probably writing about a cure or something, mixing different herbs to make it, blah blah blah. I huffed in annoyance and closed the book, putting it back in its place.

Suddenly, the idea of reading did not sit well with me again, so I headed out of the library, feeling very hot and sweaty. I hadn’t even been in there for up to an hour.

Why was the weather so hot anyway?

I peeped through the window and glanced at the river which was so tempting to me. I had earlier planned on swimming in the indoor pool in the mansion, but the weather was just too hot for me, and in an instant, I knew where I wanted to go swimming. I ran back to my room and grabbed myself a swim suit and rubbed sunscreen all over my body, before heading outside.

“Yes…” I sighed in satisfaction as the cool waters of the river enveloped me. It wasn’t a deep river, but it flowed a very long distance. So long, my dad had marked away our territory, claiming anything could happen if anyone swam that far. And had placed a time limit for which we could swim in the river. No swimming after three pm. Oh well, I wasn’t exactly a fish to stay in the water that long.

Sometimes, I just felt like my father had a personal problem with the river. I had never seen him go into the water. Never.

I closed my eyes and just allowed myself to float for a while, enjoying the cool water against my skin. The heat I had been feeling before was gone.

“You couldn’t even call us to join you!” I was immediately startled and turned to see my two friends standing on the bank of the river. Elena and Keith were twins, and were on the same level as I was. We had become friends a few years ago when I had just graduated from high school.

“I am trying to enjoy my leave! Besides, I thought you guys were at the training ground with James.” I splashed around, trying to keep still in the water.

Keith rolled his eyes and just tossed his clothes away, jumping into the water. “Training grounds are a bore without you. Besides, all level twelve and eleven members are in what they describe as a ‘gathering”. Keith said, combing his hands through his hair.

Evena dove in and splashed some water at her brother. “They all seemed weird today and dismissed everyone while they went for their gathering.” She explained and ducked when Keith splashed water at her, causing it to land on me. I laughed and splashed back.

But my mind was quite bothered. I had noticed how quiet uncle Riley had been earlier when he had been to my room with my breakfast. And as rare as a leave was for one person, it was almost impossible to close the training ground for everyone and send them home.

Something must have happened.

I wondered what it was.

“First person to swim to the duck tree!” Keith shouted and we all got serious as we swam to the tree. It was just an old tree stump which was shaped like a duck’s feet. We had found that spot shortly after we had become friends, and had made it our spot.

I got there first and got out of the water, while I waited for the snails to reach me. “Well it’s about time you all got here.”

I mocked them as they just rolled their eyes in unison. Twins.

Elena was the first to get out of the water. “You know, I feel something is up with those top-level hunters.” She said, looking around the dry woods.

“Elena! You don’t have to speak so loudly! You know there are still some hunters out here in the woods, and they could hear us.”

“Keith’s right. And you are right too, Elena.” I said, picking up a stone and tossing it into the water. “ I know it’s not supposed to concern us, but I can’t help feeling suspicious about it all. I hate that they don’t tell us anything.” I hated the ‘level’ s**t.

Keith grunted and started to throw stones into the water too. “I just hope it’s nothing too dangerous.” Keith said. I tuned and looked at the both of them. They were completely fraternal, it was fun. But they still managed to do things in unison, and that was funny too.

“I hope so too.” I thought about telling them what I had seen in the library, but immediately decided against it. It wasn’t so much of anything. I put it off my mind immediately and continued throwing stones with my friends.

It was an unplanned visit to our spot. We usually went with things for picnics during the weekends. And clothes too. It was always fun.

“Jeez Sasha, why are you sweating so much?” Elena asked, staring at me with a lot of concern.

“You just literally came out of the water!” Keith echoed and I looked down to see my body glistening to much. I had been so deep in thought, I hadn’t noticed the heat creep into me.

I was dripping.

“I don’t_” I was cut off when a level ten hunter came out from nowhere, interrupting us.

“What are you three doing here?” He asked, his mask covering his face, but I could tell who he was.

“Tristan. You know we come here every weekend.” I explained, feeling so hot I could barely speak.

He eyed me up and down and faced away from me. “Go home, all three of you. I’m giving you thirty minutes.” He said and turned to go back into the woods.

“Jeez..as if the day isn’t weird enough.” Elena commented and jumped back into the water, with Keith following behind.

I flipped my hair behind the back of my ears with shaky hands, and touched my neck out of habit. Only to feel and realize that my necklace was gone.

Oh dear!

I looked around but found nothing. My aunt had given it to me for my nineteenth birthday, and I had not pulled it off since then.

“What’s wrong, princess? You heard the hunter, we need to go!” Elena shouted from the water.

“My eari_” something shuffled in the bush and I watched in horror as a squirrel stared back at me from just a few feet away, with my necklace in its tiny hands.

One step towards it was enough to tell me chasing after it was going to be a total waste of time. In a blink of an eye, it was gone, and into the woods, with my necklace. A part of me wanted to chase after it, but I knew Tristan was going to have to report me to my dad.

Between punishment and a necklace, I didn’t need to be told what to choose.

“Can you believe a squirrel just stole my f*****g necklace?” I grumbled and dove into the water, bearing the mocking of both Keith and Elena, who teased me all the way to the ‘pack house’.

Fuck!

Fuck!

I really loved that necklace!