“You’re a Werewolf Hunter, Vanessa.” I wasn’t expecting that to come out of his mouth. How will this affect us? Can I control it around him? How did this happen? How did I become this? How did I become a killing machine?

“We had a couple things happen to confirm it. One was the wolfs bane and lavender burning. It helps with a wolfs first shift by keeping the Hunters away. When Sam shifted it triggered the Hunter in you. That’s why we always do it in a house and board up the windows because every time a Hunter sees a werewolf change the Hunter gene starts becoming dominant. We burn the flowers to keep them at bay. We’ve been able to almost eradicate them because of it.”

“How do you know these things about Hunters?”

“My Grandmother was a Hunter. She meet my Grandfather and they were mates. Luckily she was a Hunter in training. She was going to accept the honor later in the week, she refused it instead to be with my Grandfather. She had learned a lot about the Hunter’s by then and was able to tell us. She hid from her mother who was one of the greatest Hunters and remained hidden until my Father was six.”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to Caleb.”

“Thank you, but it’s fine. My grandparents went for a stroll and were soon surrounded by Hunters. They killed off three of the Hunters, but they were outnumbered and quickly defeated. My Grandmother had the option of abandoning the pack and joining the Hunters or dying like the dog she was she had just lost her mate and was devastated she choose to die with my Grandfather. Her mother came forward and did the job herself.

The beta became Alpha until my dad shifted and he took over. Soon he found my mom a daughter of the Hunters she ran away from them to be with my father. My uncle turned out to be her protector and so she never had to leave the house and be in danger.

My dad decided he wasn’t going to take the same chance his parents did. While she was pregnant with me he lead a mission to destroy all the Hunters in a five mile radius. He defeated the last one as I was born.”

“Oh god. I’m so sorry Caleb.”

“It’s nothing, but now you’re a Hunter and a Luna. You have to make a choice.” My ring tone went off as he was about to say what my choice was.

“Hello?”

“Vanessa? Get home right now. Don’t talk to anyone. I need to talk to you.”

“Okay Grand-mama.” I hung up and turned to Caleb. I was about to say something when Caleb put a finger to my lips.

“Your Grandma said no talking to anyone.”

‘That doesn’t mean I can’t think to anyone.’ I said through our mind link.

‘No it doesn’t.’ I thought back to the tingle I felt in my lips in the training room and I guess he saw what I was thinking.

‘Caleb? What are you hiding?’

‘I kissed you to try and bring you back. It worked a little, but not completely.’ He kissed me? Visions of our first in my room crossed my mind and I didn’t know if they were from Caleb or my own. I’m starting to wish he made it last longer. Caleb smirked at me and I mentally face-palmed myself for thinking that while I was still in the mind link.

I closed my eyes in humiliation and I felt the familiar fire in my lips again. I opened my eyes to see Caleb kissing me. I closed my eyes and moved my lips with his. He licked my lips and I granted him entrance. His hot breath mingled with mine as our tongues danced.

‘I’m thinking some very naughty thoughts right now.’

‘Caleb. You know I have to get home.’

‘Or I could keep you hostage here.’

‘Yeah, but knowing my Grandmother she would trample the village to look for me.’

‘Who says you’d be in the village?’

‘Caleb. I have to go.’ Regretfully he pulled away from the kiss and I groaned my displeasure at the fact and that made him smile again. ‘What? You thought it was easy for me to have to go?’

‘Yeah I thought you wanted to.’

‘I never want to. I just have to go before I get grounded and I can’t do that for weeks.’

‘I would sneak into your room at night.’

‘We have a grounding room. Its called the basement. You stay down there and that way no one can sneak into your room. There’s no electronics down there and you don’t get any bars on your phone.’

‘Geez lock down much?’

‘Yup. Now can you unlock me so I can go? And I need a ride. I’ll come back later for my stuff.’

‘Yeah. I can do that.’ He quickly unlocked the cuffs and took off a Golden headband I hadn’t noticed was on my head. ‘The headband finally got you back to us.’

‘Ah okay. I was really lost huh?’

‘Yeah you had me scared. I’m going to make sure everyone has one of these and can put it on you if you go back there again.’

‘Okay. But maybe I should go back. I can see if I can learn any more than your Grandmother did.’ He picked me up and carried me to his car. ‘I could have walked.’

‘Yeah I know. And maybe. I just don’t want to lose you again.’

‘You won’t.’

‘I hear they now force you to choose sometimes.’

‘Maybe maybe not. If I’m co-operative and don’t give them crap for it maybe they will let me choose.’

‘Lets hope so.’ He thought, starting the car and driving off. We arrived at my house in five minutes. I gave him a peck on the cheek before jumping out of the car and running up the steps to my house and running in the door.

“What happened today Vanessa Ariel?”

“Geez what did I get in trouble for? You only use my middle name when I’m in deep crap.

“Yeah well explain how Aretha was found unconscious in your training room?”

“What? Who’s Aretha?”

“Aretha? Aretha is your Hunter self? Didn’t she explain this?”

“No. No one told me anything. Some chick who looked kinda like me said I would know in time what she was, but that’s it!”

“Who shifted. Who did you see shift?”

“Grand-mama. What are you talking about?”

“You’re a Hunter. To be sent to the training room you have to have seen a Werewolf shift.”

“Where’s Katy, Grand-mama?”

“I sent her to a friends. She doesn’t need to know about this yet.”

“How do you know about this?”

“Because I’m the lead Huntress. It’s my job to know. Now who shifted.”

“Sam.”

“Oh that’s regretful. Did you kill her?”

“No. They were prepared. They took me to a safe room and brought me back.”

“Who was prepared? How did they bring you back?”

“The Moonlight Forest pack. The had suspicions of me being a Hunter and they were confirming it. Aretha fought for a good half hour against them, knocking out four and injuring ten before they subdued her by putting Golden cuffs on her wrists and ankles and a Golden headband on her head.”

“Why do they care if you’re a Hunter, Vanessa?”

“Because…Because.”

“Spit it out!” She yelled.

“I’m the Alpha’s mate.”

“Damn it!” Grand-mama picked up a vase and threw it against the wall.

“You’re going back into training until we can get rid of the Moonlight Forest pack. All we have to do is get Aretha back to full health and then she can help us kill them.”

“No! Grand-mama I love him!”

“Who is the Alpha? You have to learn how to be heartless. You’re going to kill him.”

“No! I won’t!” ‘Caleb help me she’s saying I have to kill you!’

‘I’m coming’

“Oh yes you will kill him Vanessa, because if you don’t then he will die a slow painful death whereas you killing him will be quick and painless.” I turned and ran to my room. “You have ten minutes Vanessa. That’s when we come and take you to the training center.”

I pulled out my duffel bag and filled it with everything I would need. I grabbed my Birthday gifts and put them in the bottom of the duffel bag and piled as many clothes as I could out. I opened the window and climbed out. Nymeria whimpered from the bed.

“Come Nymeria. We have to escape.” Nymeria ran to me and jumped out the window.

‘I’m here. I’m just outside the house can you make it?’

‘I just climbed out of my window. I’m on my way.’ I ran to the front of the house and threw open the door to Caleb’s car. I heard my Grand-mama call to me from inside the house, but it was too late. I was already closing the door to Caleb’s car.

“Please tell me you brought the headband.”

“I did. It’s under your seat.” I pulled it out and put it on.

“Protect me Caleb. They want to take me to their training center. My Grand-mama is the head Huntress. She says I have to kill you to learn how to be a heartless killer.”

“It’s okay babe. I’m taking you to the pack house. If any Hunter gets in the neighbor hood we will know and we will keep you safe.” I could feel myself shaking and Nymeria curled up on my lap.

“Nymeria says she doesn’t like seeing you sad.”

“What?”

“I can understand Nymeria because I’m part wolf.”

“Oh. Thanks Nymeria.”

“She says she wants you to be the one to use her real name.”

“Aw thank you Nymeria what is it?”

“Myrna.”

“That’s very pretty Myrna, but I think I’m going to use Nymeria because I’m to used to it.”

“She says that’s fine and that you’re the only one allowed to use Myrna.”

“Thank you Nymeria.”

“She also says that she doesn’t like me, but she will tolerate me because I am your mate.” I laughed and held Nymeria up in what was supposed to be a attacking pose.

“Get him Ny!” She helped me out by fake swatting him. We laughed and then continued the car ride in silence. I thought back to what happened with my Grand-mama. I actually defended Caleb by saying I loved him. I have no idea where that came from. I’m not even sure if its true.

I know I love that smirk of his. The way his eyes shine when he’s happy, or getting in or out of trouble. And I always have had a thing for guys with tans and major abs. And those silver eyes. I get lost in them every time. I guess, maybe…maybe.

‘Maybe what?’

‘What all did you hear?’ I said feeling mortified.

‘Everything from what happened at your Grandmother’s to the maybes.’

‘Oh god.’

‘Hey no go ahead and continue. I like hearing what people think is sexy about me.’

‘I think I’ll go die in a hole now.’

‘No no sorry. I didn’t think it would be embarrassing for you.’

‘Oh no its so not embarrassing for your boyfriend to hear your private thoughts telepathically that just happen to make you sound like a sex crazy maniac.’

‘You didn’t sound like a sex crazy manic. You sounded like someone finding out she’s in love.’

‘I’m still not sure about that one though, Caleb.’

‘Still trying to deny the truth? Okay do you need reassurance?’

‘I’m not denying the fact that I love you because I don’t know.’

‘Okay then. I love it when you absent mindedly twirl a lock of your hair on your finger when nervous.’ I put my hand down that I just noticed was twirling my hair.

‘And how you’re cheeks turn red when you’re embarrassed. The way you’re hair falls into your eyes after you run your fingers through it. The way your eyes change colors to match you’re mood, but they always manage to stay a color of the ocean. The way you bite your lip when you’re uncertain about something.’

‘You have so many girls who would kill to be with you. Other than the mate thing why would you stay with someone who isn’t pretty?’ Caleb pulled off to the side of the road and stopped the car.

“What makes you think you’re not pretty Vanessa?”

“Because I never have been. I’m average. Nothing sticks out about me. I stay with Sam and Arthur because they are practically the only ones who don’t say something mean to me.”

“Vanessa. You are beautiful. I am very lucky to have you. I don’t know how I missed that all these years.”

“That’s very sweet Caleb, but I don’t need the lies.”

“Damn it Vanessa.” He said his face turning to one I had seen multiple times. He was frustrated. “You are amazing, don’t you understand that.”

“Thank you Caleb.” I kissed his cheek, but I still wasn’t convinced and I’m sure he knows it.

“You know what Vanessa?”

“What?” I said turning my face back to his.

“There is only one girl I want. She is beautiful and sexy and she can make me do anything by giving me a pouty face and she doesn’t even know it. I would do anything for this girl and she needs to know that.”

“Well I think she’s starting to know Caleb, even if she still doesn’t believe she’s sexy or pretty.”

“As long as she knows the others.” I gave him a sweet peck on the lips to show my gratitude and we were on the road again. Caleb sniffed out my sister and we parked outside the house she was in. I ran out of the car and furiously pressed the doorbell.

“Vanessa are you alright dear?”

“No. I need my sister to come with me.”

“What happened?”

“Something personal. I really don’t want to talk about it but Katy has to come with me.”

“Okay come on in.”

“Thank you.” I said rushing for the room I knew she was in.

“Van what are you doing here?” she cried.

“Katy I know you’re probably going to be upset at me but we have to go somewhere. Please hurry up and get packed.” Katy looked me over and started packing, she must have seen something off in me to not even make a fuss. She quickly said an apology and a goodbye to her friend and we were back out to Caleb’s car.

“Where are we going Van? This isn’t the way back to Grandma’s cottage.”

“We aren’t going back there Katy.”

“Why not!” she whined from the back seat.

“Because something has happened if we go back I am in danger. I can’t leave you there to be in trouble for my actions. I don’t want to lose you Katy.”

“Okay. Will we see Grandma again soon?”

“I don’t know Katy. I don’t know.” I said as Caleb parked in front of a giant mansion. Katy and I just sat there staring at the enormous building mouths open before getting out of the car.

“Welcome to your new home you two!” Caleb said giving us both a big hug as he lead us to the house.