IMPORTANT NOTE AT END~ PLEASE READ 

(and please comment throughout this chapter please :)

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The constant tick of Brydene's sewing machine filled the flowery scented air of her home. Her gentle fingers pulled and tugged at the soft looking white fabric that slid across the flat white part of the machine, which the small needle rapidly punctured. Brows creased in concentration, she followed the path of the needle making sure every stitch in her creation was perfect and aligned flawlessly. 

Turning my attention away from Brydene's state, I pulled my knees to my chest and clasped my hands together around my shins. Sitting at the foot of my bed, I find myself gazing out the large window of their home that threw an orange-yellow hue across the room with a warm radiance.

Staring at the endless sky, the vibrant colours of blue merging into a purplish pink, before melding into an orange that kissed everything below danced across my entranced vision.

Drinking in how beautiful the setting sky looks, I couldn't help but remember the breath taking view when I had sat in the high treetops by the Den; my home.

How the breeze gave my body soft caresses as it continued on its way, gently brushing my hair until my spine tingled with the feeling.

How the air seemed as refreshing as a cool drink from a pond on a hot day that makes sweat cling to my skin.

How the sweet calls of birds and croons of animals below bidding their goodnights were soft whispers in my ears, while others awakened and left their shelters for the long night ahead.

How wonderful and free I felt sitting within the canopy, absorbing and relishing in everything around me as I gazed with awe at the setting sun and the brilliant colours splayed across the sky that would soon mask over with darkness.

I missed that feeling.

I missed my home.

Staring longingly at the mass of green vegetation inviting me to spring off this bed and venture into its tempting depths, I blew out a deep sigh and dropped my gaze to my hands lazily linked around my shins.

It would be nice to be in the forest again.

It would be nice to get away from all this excitement and run away from the constant, empty, nagging feeling embedded in the pit of my stomach that dwelled with a never ending need to be satisfied.

The feeling of something missing.

And part of it, a certain someone.

A certain someone I hadn't seen in weeks since our last anger-filled encounter at the café, nor the hunter reunion in Brydene's front yard earlier today.

It was honestly pitiful of how much I wanted to see him. How the relentless hole in me ached to feel his aura brush against mine even the slightest, and the shameful measures I'd go to get just that.

Throughout the weeks of being stuck in this dreadful house, I had gotten extremely good at throwing my senses out even farther than I ever have before, trying to find entertainment somewhere other than this area.

From following the presence of a fox scrounging the forest floor for food and pouncing on unaware mice, to experiencing and savouring the floating freeness within a falcon soaring high above Avalin, it became very clear whenever he came around.

Although I never saw him, I knew he was there.

I could only ever feel his alluring aura beckoning me to follow him whenever and wherever he was venturing in the forest.

Within the smallest second of sensing his aura coming into my range, I'd feel the small prickle of his presence against my mind sending my nerves into a frenzy like a litter of excited pups. I'd rush to the window, eyes scrutinizing the treeline in great detail to be greeted by mocking luscious trees shuddering their branches as if laughing at my desperation of seeing him. This only ever caused me to turn away in defeat and plop down on my bed where I stayed until I felt him again and would repeat the process.

This taunting cycle always held the same outcome.

Yet even though I was always filled with disappointment and was never awarded with seeing his tall lean figure, dishevelled dark hair and deep, guarded green eyes haunted with memories of his past and hatred directed towards me, I was meagrely gratified for a few seconds with the comfort of his aura grazing against my own.

And sadly, I thrived off that each passing day.

Every time, it was like some weird comfort that felt familiar, like the brush of Accalia's or my family's conscience on my own. It was confusing as hell yet I savoured the few moments he came around nonetheless.

Father would be outraged with me, infuriated.

He'd permanently ban me from ever leaving the Den, then mercilessly track down and kill the hunter piercing my thoughts at every moment regardless of the circumstances.

Gnashing my teeth together at the thought of Tarrin's life lost to my Father's sharp canines that drained his life, left my stomach plummeting faster than a falling comet.

Get over yourself.

Heaving a long needed sigh, my stomach sank in dishearten along with thoughts of him. Watching as my thumbs twirled and danced around each other as my thoughts wondered to memories of home, the melodic tone of Brydene's voice dragged me back to reality.

"Is everything alright Dawn?" She asked lightly, yet a heaviness of concern linked her airy tone.

Apart from being held hostage, locked in a house for weeks where the forest was within my desperate reach, surrounded by hunters itching to know more about me and trying to kill my family, constantly bothered with thoughts pleasant and unnerving about him and my wolf side pulsating against my skin every torturous second to shift; I was just dandy.

I spare a short glance in her direction to notice her paused sewing job; her thin, smooth hands holding the white cloth in place, her foot hovering ever so slightly over the small pedal under the table that made the needle jab angrily at the material, and the feel of generous, pale blue eyes holding mine in slight worry as she patiently waited for my answer.

Skirting my eyes away from her sincere ones, I briefly looked out to the treeline for any signs of change, before deeming nothing has happened and shaking my head to let long bronze hair tumble over my shoulders in soft waves.

"I'm fine," I responded shortly, releasing my entwined hands and letting my knees fall into a cross legged position. Running a hand through my hair, I closed my eyes and momentarily enjoyed the feeling of the pads of my fingers lightly pressed against my scalp as they followed their route through my hair. Stopping when they encountered knots that tugged uncomfortably on my head, I continued detangling the mess.

"I didn't ask if you were fine," Brydene hummed, her full lips quirking ever so slightly at the sides. "I asked if everything is alright with you," she repeated knowingly, ticking a shaped auburn eyebrow upwards when successfully noticing something bothering me.

"Everything is perfect," I muttered sarcastically, shuffling stubbornly to turn my back towards her and have a clear surveillance of the untouched treeline laughing at my contained state.

Forcing myself to breathe a steady intake of air to calm my sensitive nerves ready to snap on someone if I didn't get out of this stuffy, overly flower scented house.

Once again, the feeling of my warm shins pressed against my arms came to me as I pulled them back to my chest and interlocked my fingers to hold them in place.

"If you say so," Brydene murmured light heartedly, and I almost think she was about to drop the subject before she piped up something I knew was bound to come. "But if you want to talk about anything, I'm always here," she pressed, the invitation in her voice very clear.

A moment passed in silence as she hopefully awaited a reply, as if that pause would magically make me open up and express all my problems in great detail inside and out.

Like hell I would.

One tick, followed by another tick filled the air, until the constant thrum of the working sewing machine penetrated the silence again and again.

It surprised me Kenneth hadn't woken up by the irritating sound making my skin tingle with annoyance. He must be a heavy sleeper.

Tossing my senses in the direction of Kenneth's room, he still napped peacefully and no doubt was re-energizing for the meeting the hunters had tonight. The same type of meeting that Kenneth was beaten at last time for not hunting.

Flashes of his bruised cheek, dried blood forming around the cut of his left eyebrow, his torn clothes and battered body danced across my vision as I center in on his heartbeat thumping in a peaceful, rhythmic time.

Not even the slightest disturbance that would note the obnoxiously loud sewing machine woke him.

Or maybe the sewing machine wasn't that loud.

Maybe I was just getting annoyed by every possible thing like the clouded scent of only flowers in this house that stuffed my senses, or the constant piercing jabbing sound of the machine, or Brydene trying to nose her way into my problems in a concerned way, or maybe how the trees mocked me...

I need to get out of this house...

Fidgeting, I started to twirl my thumbs once again and readjust my position on the bed.

Movement out of the corner of my eye drew my attention and I almost flung myself out of the bed before realizing it was only the small twitch of a squirrel's fluffy tail perched on a pine's branch before launching itself out of my site.

Closing my eyes, I let my head fall forwards to rest on the caps of my knees.

But, when I heard a soft puff of air escape from behind me, I knew Brydene was ready to start another conversation.

"That was a pretty bold move Wesley pulled earlier," she stated, not bothering to halt her sewing this time.

Fresh fragments of sensations netted over my cheek like strings of dull electricity at her words. The sensations from Wesley's thumb trailing down my skin with a path of nerves awakening in its path were still vivid in my mind.

Untangling my hands, I reached up and roughly rubbed my cheek as if that'd calm the sizzling nerves and remove the feeling from my mind. In the end, it did little and if anything, made them oversensitive.

With something else to be annoyed about, I shrugged my shoulders in response and tried to forget about it even though it was near impossible with the leftover sensations.

Seeming to not give up, she tried again.

"Is anything going on between you two?"

My brows furrowed at her words.

The covers on the bed shuffled as I turned to face her with a quizzical expression. I'm met with her slightly smug features at finally catching my attention.

"What do you mean?" I asked warily, watching her hands intently as they pulled and pushed the material intricately.

"I mean, do you two have chemistry?" She reiterated, jumping slightly when her machine suddenly stopped. Reaching to open the machine, she took out an empty spool before replacing it with a fresh one. Weaving it around a series of complicated metal pieces, she suddenly slammed it shut and began working again.'

Chemistry?

When seeing I wasn't understanding what she was saying, she tugged her bottom lip into her mouth with an excited nervousness and flickered her gaze to settle on me with a newfound gleam.

Then, she blurted it.

"Do you feel anything towards Wesley?"

Tingles on my cheek seemed to bubble in enthusiasm at her response, while my heart sputtered to a stop.

Do I?

Does she mean the airy feeling I get when he looked at me in a way that his hazel eyes shine with a glowing happiness that made me smile? Or the feeling I get with the thought of him always intrigued by my well-being and making me as comfortable as possible? Or maybe the way his touch made my skin prickle in reaction?

Yet when my mind lingers to him, the things I felt towards Wesley dulled and seemed less complicated in comparison.

"I don't think so," I responded uncertainly, dropping my gaze to watch as I wiggled my toes against the white bed sheets.

Was she meaning what Mother and Father had? Like the type of emotional connection between them that was different from what I felt towards Atticus, Accalia or Seff?

"None at all?" She pressed with slight disbelief, once again concentrating on her work but her train of thought refusing to stray from the topic that interested her.

"I'm not sure," I responded honestly. I didn't know how I felt about all these new things I had been experiencing lately. Especially the ones directed towards him.

With determination to understand and dig into what I had been feeling lately, she continued her bombardment.

"I mean this in the way I like Kenneth. Obviously you won't feel so strongly towards Wesley yet since you met him only a few weeks ago, but liking someone in that way is different. When you like someone, you always want to be around them and simply enjoy being in their presence. I mean, do you look forward to seeing him whenever you can? And when you do see him, do you get a warm fuzzy feeling in your chest or butterflies in your stomach?" She asked in excitement, flickering her gaze to me to gage my reaction. Yet although she believed I might have felt this towards Wesley, the blush creeping up my cheeks and butterflies flipping in my stomach were directed for someone else.

She completely described how Tarrin affected me.

"You do!" Brydene cried abruptly, making me jump. Project forgotten for an instant, she clasped her together and lets a bright smile stretch across her beaming face. "Oh I so knew it, this is perfect!" She gushed, mind reeling with scenarios of Wesley and I.

"I do not!" I growled, narrowing my eyes at her with such intensity her enthusiasm faltered and her smile dropped like a dead bird.

Staring at me with a disappointed, confused look as if my words didn't make sense, I knew I had no choice but to reword what I said if I wanted her to drop the subject.

"I don't like Wesley... at least not in the way you described," I murmured, still trying to ignore the twisting of my heart at the thought of Tarrin. "He is just a friend and I appreciate his kindness towards me. Apart from you, he has been the nicest to me and I enjoy his company... but I don't like him like you like Kenneth." Or how Mother and Father loved each other, I silently added with a grim expression.

Memories of Mother and Father brushing against each other in greeting, play fighting until the moon rose, and pressing their heads together with such love it made a tear spring to my eye.

Unlatching my fingers, I quickly reached up to wipe away the small drop of wetness that glistened from the light shining into the room. Thankfully, Brydene didn't seem to notice as her gaze was drawn to her work.

"Oh."

That's all she said. A single breath was all it took for her hopes to deflate. Gazing for intently at her work, she slowly began tugging, pulling and puncturing the material once again.

"Why did you get so flustered then?" Brydene asked quietly, her final attack at the topic.

And it didn't take me a moment to answer.

"I wasn't thinking of Wesley."

But she didn't hear.

I didn't say it loud enough for her to hear.

It came out more like a silent breath lost in a storm only to be heard my own ears in that exact moment. And just like that, the words are gone.

But then, I felt it.

The slight pressure against my mind was all it took for me to launch off the bed to the window and throw out my senses.

Except this time was different.

This time I saw him.

The first time I had saw him since the café.

His endearing, tall muscular figure was just within my sight of the window as he slunk to the edge of the trees that mocked me, before breaking into a hard sprint and disappearing into the shadows.

My body nearly vibrated, my skin ached, my mind whirled in the familiar comforting pressure of his aura.

But it wasn't enough.

I know I couldn't let him go this time.

I needed to see him again.

I needed answers.

"I'll be right back."

The words barely brisk past my lips before the ground was flying beneath my feet and I was sprinting towards the treeline, Brydene's frantic demands falling behind me.

Within a few meters of the trees who used to taunt me at being captive, I sprang into their thick branches with triumph and started escalating higher and higher.

Rough bark grated against my palms as my feet absorbed the impact of each rough branch flying beneath me before driving off to propel me higher. Cushioning each landing with a slight bend in my legs, I used the momentum to launch to a branch almost out of my reach but grinned proudly when my fingers enclosed around its girth. Strands of my long bronze hair lashed into my vision as the wind caressed my body in kisses as I soared through the foliage.

I couldn't help but let out a relieved laugh as my muscles acquired a burning sensation at not being used for much too long. My body revelled in the exercise and I found myself falling into a steady rhythm as the bark coarsely scratched against my limbs. Thrusting myself off them, I reached out from habit and caught another branch with an unrelenting grip.

Letting my eyes fall shut, I lose myself as I gracefully climbed through the trees.

It has been so long.

Breathing evenly as my body exerted itself, a smile played on my lips at finally being able to be in the wilderness again, but a thought caused me to slow my pace.

I don't need to go back.

I could leave right now and disappear from the hunters. Yet the thought of Brydene being as crushed as last time when she thought I left had me second guessing myself.

I'd at least have to say goodbye to her.

Yet all my thoughts are suddenly put aside as his aura crept up to brush against mine, sending webs of delight trickling across my skin throbbing to shift.

Slowing my pace, I dropped my gaze to swiftly scan through the foliage of branches and green leaves below tainted with the glow of the setting sun.

Loading my legs, I swiftly launched myself to another branch before I halted myself along with my breathing. A figure was swiftly weaving through the forest at a progressively quickening pace.

Tarrin.

Briskly walking and maneuvering through the trees so well you'd think he lived here for years. I couldn't help but stare in awe as his body wound through the dense landscape. Sturdy legs carried him so effortlessly over fallen trunks and roots protruding from the ground, you'd think he was as agile as a fleeing deer. Muscles rippling in rhythm to his steps, his sculpted shoulders flexed slightly beneath his black shirt as he pushed away branches jutting out before ducking his head and continuing on.

He seemed so at ease here, completely different from the stiff way he interacted with everyone. Nonetheless, his eyes darted at every moving thing around him, fully alert to any dangers that might jump out.

Except from his body's posture and the way his movements slightly jerked at unexpected sounds, made it seem he wasn't here to mourn his fiancé, but to search for something.

I could tell by the purposeful way he strode, how his eyes had an awareness in them but also anticipation.

Leaping effortlessly to another branch, I followed him and as I landed almost directly above him, his feet dug into the ground and his hand instinctively shot to his belt.

Carefully, I caught my next branch and landed with ease. Settling my weight low into a crouch, I stared down at him with interest.

Swiveling his head from side to side, he turned cautiously on the spot as if a timid animal would crawl out of the brush any second.

"Come on," he murmured urgently yet softly, with eyes darting towards the brush as if his faint words would magically make something appear.

Swallowing awkwardly when his voice of velvet so mesmerizingly deep and rich reached my ears, I felt my heart thump heavily at realizing how long it had been since I last heard him speak.

How just a few simple words was enough to lodge a lump of nervousness into my chest and prevent me from thinking straight.

Subconsciously, I leaned closer to get a better view, and he immediately tensed as I did so.

Then, he looked up.

Directly at me.

Heart sputtering to a stop, my breath suddenly died.

How did he know I was here?

Emerald eyes contrasted by the glow of yellowish-orange widened in surprise as he travelled the length of my body standing high in the trees. From his expression, it was clear he thought I'd be the very last thing he'd see here, before his features morphed into confusion.

Tightening my grip on the rough branch, I watched anxiously as all confusion vanished from his eyes and a stone cold look I had gotten used to replaced it in all but a second.

Before I knew it, a sleek black pistol with red feathered darts clipped on the side was aimed directly at my chest.

Lurching backwards in alarm as if the fear ignited within me quaked my body, memories of the dreaded contraption pointed at me countless times before was once again a reality.

"What are you doing out here, alone?" Tarrin asked incredulously, his stern tone fueled by intense hatred towards me. Brows furrowing in distrust, he continued to analyze my position as if I'd flee at any given second.

Flickering my stare from his striking features prominent in the glow of the setting sun that gave him a godly appearance and made my nerves sizzle delightfully, to his threatening gun gleaming menacingly at me, then back to his handsome face, I deemed it impossible to settle the anxiousness pumping into my blood.

"I lived in the forest all my life," I retorted defensively, glaring at the tranquilizer that refused to back down. "You can't expect me to stay locked up in that house for weeks," I bit out, my voice projecting a lot less controlled than I imagined as anger clashed with my anxiety as it began broiling through my body and heating my bones.

How did he expect me to just sit pretty in that hell hole that reeked of only flowers, the constant ticking of a sewing machine, Brydene's tedious nosy ways and the skeptical eyes of Kenneth forever?

There was no way he'd ever bear that torture. Especially since Brydene gave off the impression she annoyed him most of the time. Although it seemed that was a common reaction when a girl was involved.

Mashing his lips into a firm line while considering my words, I silently commended myself for getting something across to him finally. It was probably the first time it has happened.

"Who is supposed to be supervising you?" He demanded with a harsh pitch to his voice as he shuffled on his feet to readjust his weight. It seemed I wasn't the only one uncomfortable with the situation.

He jerked back in alarm as I dropped gracefully to a branch below to get closer to him, a quirk of a smile tugging at my lips along with a tilt of my head at his reaction. With his aura flaring in surprise, it subconsciously grazed against my own that helped sooth my racing mind and I sighed in content.

Even if it was a little, the contact on my mind brought comfort I was in need of. The same comfort of my loved ones who were long out of my range.

Happy with my altitude that was still far too high for him to reach, I readjusted by lowering myself into a squat on the hefty branch and leaning against the trunk that comfortingly scratched my skin.

"Kenneth and Brydene," I responded easily.

Oddly, heat began creeping along my cheeks as I took note of the way his eyes roamed over my figure, not seeming to linger too long in one place, but long enough to get a good picture before zoning back in on my eyes that never abandoned his.

What was that about?

"Where is Kenneth?" Tarrin nearly growled, now clearly irritated by everything about the situation. About having run into me, and now having to deal with it, and especially me noticing his eyes trailing over my figure.

Biting my bottom lip, I deemed it okay to let my eyes innocently travel the length of his nicely shaped jaw ticking as he grinded his teeth together in aggravation, which I couldn't help but find amazingly attractive whenever he did it.

"Sleeping," I answered simply.

"And Brydene?" He snapped, continuing to entertain me by grating his teeth together that made his jaw do the thing.

A twitch of his finger that is settled on the steel trigger lured my eyes away from his jawline to the gun still pointed at me. I gulped, failing to ignore the anxiety and fear crawling over me like insects scuttling across my skin, but with the empty black hole of the barrel all too familiar from being shot once, tranquilized multiple times and almost shot on the beach, it made it quite difficult. I had no intention of reliving those moments.

"Probably waking him up to come after me," I said truthfully, thinking back to the rhythmic beating of Kenneth's heart still fresh in my mind as I recalled his sleeping state at their house. The place Brydene was screaming at me to come back.

Glancing down at my toes that wiggled against the bark of the branch I was crouched on, a small hint of guilt welled within me at leaving but I pushed it away. I had good reason to do this.

Raking a free hand through his hair while closing his eyes, his fingers twitched yet against the cold trigger. As if he wanted to pull the steel hook and send a dart flying into my chest. Something I absolutely did not want him to do.

Yet nonetheless, I smirked in amusement as he seemed to get more fed up by my answers and the irresponsibility of his comrades. Clearly, he wasn't enjoying this at all.

I was.

"Come down. I need to take you back," he said exasperatedly, the angered string to his voice now gone and replaced by the will to get this done and over with.

With his beautiful green orbs never breaking contact from my own, I quipped stubbornly, "No."

Startled by my answer, he seemed taken aback as his mouth slacks in disbelief.

"Excuse me?" He asked incredulously, brows raising, eyes widening, his entire expression changing into one of astonishment at my bold answer towards him.

"I said no," I repeated confidently, crossing my arms over my chest and finally breaking our stare to watch a bird enticed by my presence swoop down to perch on a twig a few feet away. Smiling as its small little grey head moved in a twitching-like manner, it sized me up from different angles and I sat down on the branch before lying back against the trunk for a more comfortable position.

"I don't want to waste a dart on you," he growled in a warningly manner, gripping the gun tighter so his knuckles turned a pale colour around the hilt.

"Then don't," I replied, throwing him a sly smirk before returning my attention to the little grey bird who hopped to the edge of the branch to get as close to me as possible without leaving the safety of the branch. Stretching its fluffy feathered neck out as far as its small length would allow towards my form, it suddenly fell a little too far forward and furiously began flapping its wings to rebalance itself.

I snickered at the small bird. It so desperately wanted to see why it was so allured towards me yet was too skittish to take the leap.

Planning to help the bird get over its wariness, I held out my hand palm down with my finger loosely outstretched. Surrounding the bird with my serene, warm atmosphere, I waited.

With one last tic of its head in my direction, it elegantly lifted from the twig that sprung back into place and fluttered down onto my finger causing my heart to sing with having interaction of a wild animal after so long.

Running my finger gently along its head to its grey and white tail feathers , it ruffled its wings in bliss and sang small contented chirping noises from its beak.

Shuffling of boots made me turn my attention towards Tarrin, and at his bewildered look, I became thoroughly entertained.

Eyebrows rose in shock so small creases formed on his forehead, mouth slightly agape as if to say something unbelievable, and his dazzling eyes wide and blinking with astonishment.

It was like he never saw anyone have a bird land on their finger before.

I couldn't help but laugh lightly at his bewildered features.

Yet I noticed as I continued to laugh, his expression changed even more into something different. His gaze became more relaxed and his lip barely quirked at the corner, enough to cause a sliver of his straight white teeth to peek through.

Yet as soon as I noticed this, he clamped his mouth shut like a child caught sneaking desserts it shouldn't have, while pulling his features back into a grumpy, stern scowl.

And just like that, he was back to his old self.

"You're leaving me no choice," he spoke with a newfound agitation. With the help of his other hand raising to steady the tranquilizer, he peered down the sights targeted on me.

"Go ahead. Shoot and I'll fall unconscious against this tree and when I come to, I'll still be in this exact spot because you don't know how to get up here and retrieve me," I retorted with a smirk.

Abruptly, the small sensation of tiny claws grasping my finger disappeared and I look back just in time to see the bird spring off my finger into the air with a single beat of its wings.

Looking back to Tarrin who followed the bird with his awe in his eyes until it was out of sight, I couldn't help but marvel him a bit more before steering back on track.

"And you know it doesn't take me long to overcome your strongest tranquilizer dosage," I added with a smug look as I returned my stare back to him, knowing I was right.

And he knew it too.

His scowl deepened.

With an ever tightening grip, and an aggravated grunt, he lowered his tranquilizer in defeat and hooked it stiffly into his belt with a click. Reaching for the left side of his hip, he unclipped another weird block object I had seen before and brought it to his mouth, while still holding eye contact with me.

"Don't bother coming after Dawn, I have her under control," he bit out, making it blatantly obvious how unimpressed he was at having to deal with me. Especially since Brydene said she'd be able to handle me and Kenneth wasn't even awake.

Yet although that thought came to mind, I was shocked as a delightful shiver twisted down my spine like a thin vine from the way my name rolled off his tongue.

With an apologetic, short response of gratitude from Kenneth, Tarrin stiffly shoved the object back to his hip where it attached.

Shaking off the shiver lingering on my back, I planted a pleased grin on my face and swung myself into a sitting position with my legs hanging over the edge.

"It doesn't seem like you have me under much control now, does it?" I teased superiorly, tilting my head as my legs dangled and casted moving shadows upon the forest floor covered in fallen leaves I found myself fascinated by.

Looking back to him, I couldn't help but snort in enjoyment when his jaw once again goes rigid and he refused to acknowledge my observation.

Weaving a hand through his hair in frustration yet again, I watch, captivated by his movements as strands gave way before lazily dragging back up when his fingers move passed them.

Dropping his arm in frustration, he pauses for a moment, before roughly hitching both thumbs in his belt loops, wandering over to a tree and sliding down its trunk until seated comfortably. After his gaze scanned the area a few times and deemed it safe, he crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and relaxed against the tree.

Cheekily, I laughed at his childish behaviour. Ignoring me never worked. It reminded me of Seff when I'd bug and hang off him as a child and he would try to ignore me so I'd leave him alone.

That never happened.

"Aren't you concerned I'll run away if you nap?" I pressed curiously, tilting forwards before dropping to an even lower branch and landing with the cushion of my muscular legs.

Not even a fidget of response.

Leaning so my shoulder melded against the tree trunk, I crossed my arms over my chest and peered at him curiously.

What game was he trying to play? He wasn't stupid. He knew how much of a threat I could be and how I easily got away often... or at least how I attempted to. It seems he always found ways to foil my escapes every time at any hour.

"Tarrin."

Emerald eyes immediately zoned in on my own intensely.

I choked as he suddenly shot awake at the mention of his name echoing timidly on my lips for the first time and I swallowed to get passed the awkward lump in my throat.

Body unmoving from the seriousness edge to his stunning eyes boring into mine, I was left breathless like a punch to the gut. His stare was so heavy, as if logs were loaded onto my back and at any second I'd buckle underneath them and become crushed.

Flickering his gaze between my two eyes, his defined jawline stiffened while his teeth clamped shut.

You messed up Dawn, I chided myself, feeling quite clueless as to why he was reacting the way he was to me calling him by his name. The only thing I could go off was his eyes drilling me so intently a large predator could be sent cowering.

Other than that, is expression was completely and utterly blank.

Do something!

"I-uh... aren't you worried I'll get away?" I repeated quietly in discomfort, slugging my words down my constricted throat as I pressed my fingertips into my suddenly clammy palms.

Glancing between each of his beautiful glistening orbs, a tight ball expanded in my chest that made it hard to breathe as I found it impossible to gather a trace of what he was hiding beneath the unbreakable surface of his exterior.

Forced to shatter our eye contact like thin ice smashing as I could no longer take his penetrating stare, I pushed away from the tree. Turning to grab a branch in order to hoist myself higher as if distancing myself would lessen the piercing vice of his eyes, I'm stopped at the deep seriousness of his voice reverberating to me.

"No."

Grip digging harshly into the branch, I attempted to ignore the tingles flooding every small vein in my body like a dangerous poison from the rich sound.

"Why not?" I inquired quickly, turning my head slightly to hear him better.

Silence.

One second passed.

Five seconds passed.

Fifteen seconds passed.

Tension filled the silence between us and when I was convinced he wouldn't answer, a small sigh escaped his lips followed by a response.

"Because I will know if you leave," he answered honestly, his words having a tone with tiredness as well as withdrawing important information, while also acquiring a hint of something I couldn't pinpoint.

Curiosity spurring my questions like a horse kicked into a gallop, I was desperate to take advantage of his talkative state before he completely shut down on me.

"How can you know that?" I probed, mentally urging him to continue.

"I have my ways," he remarked shortly, purposefully giving me brief answers that didn't answer my original inquiry but left ideas reeling in my head. "I knew you were here, didn't I?"

Images of his shocked emerald eyes easily finding mine before pulling a gun on me flashed across my mind. How as soon as I came in very close coordinates to him, he practically swiveled towards my form high in the canopy.

As if he sensed I was there.

Releasing the branch that now had my clammy hands all over it, I pivoted so I was facing Tarrin only to find him completely settled back into the tree. Napping again.

Frustrated, I was about to fire off another question burning my tongue, but with his features falling into a relaxed expression, I couldn't help but stare as the agitated lines between his brows smoothed over into perfect skin. How his soft lips lost their tension and parted to allow soft breaths to rush past, while peacefulness seeped into his body as if he absorbed the serenity of the forest through his pores. He looked so calm compared to the rigid way his was acting before.

Biting the inside of my cheek tenderly, I was tempted not to speak for I would interrupt the peaceful atmosphere he suddenly developed, but the questions whizzing through my mind on replay motivated me differently.

"How could you tell I was here?" I pushed, gazing captivatedly at his mouth twitching at the corners. As if he was holding back a smirk.

Did he think this was funny that I was dying with questions because of his vague answers he purposefully gave?

"Does it really matter?" He replied haughtily, tipping his head ever-so-slightly as if he wanted to hear my response, yet his eyes remained closed.

Glaring at him, I had the sudden impulse to smack the smirk playing on his face that sent my heart reeling. His actions were definitely giving me the impression he thought this new conversation was a game. Then it came to me; he was trying to get payback for making him look like a fool earlier and not obeying him. Yet at the same time, I found myself smiling because he was rarely this nice to me other than the time he let me sleep in his home.

Images of the glowing candle cascading its warmth on his muscular bare-torso and back flooded my mind and for once, I was glad Tarrin's eyes were closed so he couldn't see the hot flush of my cheeks. Quickly adverting my gaze to my hands settled on the tree trunk's rough exterior, I remembered he had asked me a question.

"Yes, it does matter," I piped back with a voice still timid from my thoughts.

I needed to know how he knew I was here. Could he sense me like I did him?

Lowering my weight, I dropped to another branch and as I do so, his jaw gave the smallest twitch this time. Like he knew I was drawing closer and couldn't help his movements reacting.

And as I analyzed his bodily movements from my nearing presence, a plan formulated in my mind. I could only hope he wouldn't stab me for it.

"I don't think it does," he mocked with a quirk of his eyebrow, an easiness entwining his voice that released previous tension in the situation.

"But I need to know," I pressed urgently, while silently descending onto another thick branch that bent slightly with my added weight. I earned another miniscule fidget of his jaw.

Swiftly, I dropped lower and lower, never taking my eyes off him to make sure he was reacting with my nearing presence as well as keeping his eyes shut and relaxed.

Once perpendicular to his form, I landed with a final soft impact onto a branch still high out of his reach.

Tensing my muscles, I slowed my breathing and focused on my task.

Thrusting off, air whipped passed me and I readied myself to collide with Tarrin.

Then his eyes flew open.

Pain raked up my back, blinding me like the morning sun. Wind was sucked from my lungs as my back crashed into the ground from trained arms throwing me. Blurry eyed, I wheezed, trying to wrench air into my body past the barrier blocking my airway. Dizziness wafted over me like a settling fog and my head began to spin in response.

Reaching to steady my light-headedness with my hand, I panicked when I felt my hands restricted. Chest heaving with adrenaline, I ripped one of my hands away from restraint and winced when it jostled my back sending sharp needles down my spine. Lifting my free hand toward my forehead, I gently placed it over my eyes to wait out the unpleasant sensations coursing through my body.

Squeezing my eyes closed, a moan struggled passed my lips as a waft of pain shot through my body again like a cold, piercing bullet.

Drawing a shaky breath in, I began to question if it was my impact that left me paralyzed like a frightened hare, or the bewildering answer his reaction gave that traumatized me the most.

Tarrin can sense me.

He was able to deflect my attack because he sensed me barrelling towards him with his eyes closed. If he hadn't reacted, hadn't sensed my incoming form, he would be pinned on the ground with the surprise of his life.

But he did react.

All the times I tried escaping, Tarrin always prevented me. Always knew where I was. Like the time at Wesley's when I first attempted leaving and he stopped me before I set foot on the grass. And when Kenneth, Brydene and I were at the café, he had to know I was there.

This was why.

A groan rattled from my throat as my back convulsed in a new wave of shock and my thoughts were set aside for another time as I tried to settle my nerves.

After a few moments of the pain dulling, and a plentiful supply of oxygen residing in my lungs, I removed my hand. Squinting my eyes at the blurry figure hovering above me, I blinked groggily and gradually, the image before me sharpened.

My pulse quickened in my veins as alarm slammed into my chest cavity making my heart stall at our proximity.

With a strikingly mischievous expression, Tarrin stared down at me with admirable, vibrant green eyes sparkling with triumph while straddling my hips and holding my waist down with his other hand that spread tingles throughout my torso.

Focusing on keeping my breathing even after losing it just mere seconds ago, I deemed it futile as his lips parted to allow fresh breath minter than peppermint to fan over my face.

Unable to help myself, I inhaled allowing his scent to drown my lungs in paradise.

He smells so divine...

I wanted to scream from the thrum of my sizzling nerves.

Gulping down the strong urge to press my twitching fingers against his inviting lips, I suddenly jerked in surprise as my skin exploded pleasantly from his hand skimming my bare waist to readjust for a firmer grip.

Get over yourself!

I almost growled in response at the newfound frustration gradually building in my veins. This whole situation was ludicrous. I, a huntress who could tackle Charm wolves, shoot animals through the eye with a sleek arrow, outrun murderous hunters and dig a bullet out of my bare flesh... was now out-reflexed by a man who had an unexpected grip strength of a viper and formally trained muscles pinning my body to the ground.

Through all my years of toughening up and experiencing bizarre situations, nothing could compare to what this man had hidden away. It seemed he always had new tricks up his sleeve.

And now, I was succumbing to an old one.

Forcefully dragging my eyes away from the outline of his lips, my gaze followed his jawline that for once, wasn't locked in irritation. The sight was a pleasant change that sent my crazed butterflies mad.

Taking in a ragged breath concentrated with the smell of his vanilla, earthy scent caressing my body, my heart begun thrashing erratically in my chest when noticing his face descending towards my own.

What was he doing?!

Chest rising and falling rapidly, I found myself intrigued by his actions and allowed him to dip lower... lower...

My breath hitched in my throat as his lips hesitated a few breaths from my own.

Flickering my eyes up to him, my ears began to pound with the relentless thudding inside my chest as I was met with amused emerald orbs gazing into my own. Breathlessly, I take in the mischievousness pooling in his eyes that I had never seen so plentiful before.

He seemed so content, so serene, so... happy.

Yet when dropping his gaze to my lips, a flash of a grief skirted across his eyes before disappearing without a trace.

I had seen that look before and the only time it ever appeared was when he thought about her.

Immediately my thoughts were diminished as his head shifted.

Nerve endings firing faster than a falling star at the pressure of his presence, the warmth of his body, and the dangerous temptation of his lips, I watch with bated breath as his lips twitched before suddenly lowering passed my own.

With an alteration of his rhythmic breathing, his velvety voice reverberated in my ear and shot electricity down my spine that prickled to my toes.

"The only thing you'll ever need to know, huntress," he murmured lowly, huskily, his smooth voice sliding over me like an airy mist. "Is you will never get away from me as long as I am alive."

A chilling brisk of air nipped my neck as he drew away until his striking features hovered above my own; his eyes conquering mine with a daringness swelling within to challenge his weighted words. But even though the clear warning behind his words was real, the playfulness emerging in his expression was much more plentiful and made my stomach flip.

Then, Tarrin's body swiftly rose from my own, bringing the last bit of warmth with him as he released my hand and waist that pulsated with leftover tingles from his skin.

Not hesitating, I pushed to my feet and took a couple steps away to put much needed distance between us. Breathing in deeply to calm my frazzled nerves and building irritation at him, I felt dirt tumble off my skin onto my bare foot from my clothing. With a forming scowl, my hands began smoothing over the dirty dark green material of my outfit to brush off particles of soil clinging to it. Glowering as I watched dirt and dust plume off the cloth, I felt my cheeks flare as Tarrin's eyes followed my movements as if enjoying seeing me wipe away the remnants of my unsuccessful pounce.

I bet he now thought he was all high and mighty from deflecting my attack. Thought taking out the 'mysterious huntress' made him invincible. I could feel it in his stare. I could feel his ego boosting. I didn't need to see his face in order to know there was smug look adorning his features.

I turned my back to him. Maybe if he wasn't directly in front of me it would lessen the heat of his burning gaze waiting for me to meet his eyes. And also keep him from seeing the new hot wave of blood rising to my already rosy cheeks.

Continuing to wipe off my dusty clothing as it rubbed underneath my fingers, I began to get annoyed with not only my clothing and plan that took a turn for the worse, but the constant whisper of his words hanging in my ear that added to the list.

You will never get away from me as long as I am alive.

That sentence began repeating over and over in my mind, relentless as it engraved itself deeper and deeper, frustrating and angering me further than I already was.

"We'll see about that," I muttered challengingly, the words much too faint for his pathetic human ears to pick up.

Yet the very confident pitch to his voice as he had spoken these words baffled me most.

How was he so sure of his statement?

What made him so assured?

It seemed the answer to all of this was just out of my reach, taunting me like the trees that once cackled at my captivated state. But nonetheless, it worried me the same. All of Tarrin's secrets left me on edge. Kept the hairs on the back of my neck raised.

With one last brush of my hands, I wiped the last speck of grime off my clothes that still required a thorough cleaning in the river and turned to face Tarrin who—I had guessed correctly—had smugness plastered on his face like it deserved to be there.

I glared at his amused face, crossing my arms over my chest stiffly as I waited for him to speak. I knew he was dying to say something witty. I could feel it on the tip of his tongue.

Glowering at his relaxed figure that gazed back at me lightly with enjoyment, I couldn't help but feel my mood lift as well and a grin tease the corner of my lips. It wasn't often Tarrin was like this and to be around him without his usual hardened expression made it difficult to maintain a bad mood.

Even if his elevated mood was caused by me getting pummelled into the ground.

"Are you ready to go back yet, huntress?" Tarrin asked quirkily, his tone strangely uplifting as if he was actually enjoying himself. Yet I didn't fail to see his inquiry was a clear jab, aimed to show off his small victory.

This was his plan all along as soon as I failed to comply with his first attempt at getting me to cooperate and go back to Avalin with him.

All of this was to get me on the ground.

To wait me out until my curiosity got the best of me and I did something stupid he could capitalize on.

Yet even though I could just jump back into the safety of the trees and restart, an odd feeling of respect towards his wit kept me grounded and I felt as if I had to respect that.

But I still refused to answer. He didn't need any more satisfaction and I wasn't going to give him any more than I already had.

"Alright," he said passively, lazily raising his hands to a surrendered position. "Follow if you'd like, but remember—I can always find you."

Dropping his hands, I was dumbfounded as he sent a charming grin my direction that sent my heart spiralling, before swiveling on his heel and beginning his trek back the direction he came. The crunch of twigs and leaves under his worn black boots were the only thing that indicated he wasn't waiting for me as his body became sheathed by vegetation.

Then, his words struck me.

Intimidating thoughts of his black stallion breaking through the brush and tearing after Accalia and I on East Point View. Vivid memories of his form blocking the exit to the cave and grasping a deathly knife posed above his head ready to plunge into my heart at Hollow Falls. Horrifying images of him shooting the young fawn emerging from the long grass and finding me in Pine Meadows.

He found me.

He always found me.

He always knew where I was human or wolf because he could sense me.  Sense my charm.

He sensed where I was fleeing after the sunrise incident and led the hunters to me, and also felt me near when I spied on him mourning at Hollow Falls—how his body shot up when registering I was there. Or at the beach when he was fast asleep...

It all began to make horrifying sense.

Tarrin was like a human bloodhound for charm wolves.

And if he could find me—a mere half breed with limited charm flowing through me...

He could find my family too.

I stumbled as nausea pounded into my head like a hammer striking steel and my knees threatened to bail underneath me.

This was not good.

Definitely. Not. Good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soooooo maybe think of this as a late Christmas gift or early New Years gift? 

I AM SO SORRY OH MY FRIGGIN GOSH!  But instead of pummeling you guys with excuses because I have many, I can only hope you'll somehow forgive me :(

I feel so bad for not uploading and I'll be honest, I feel my writing is getting horrible because I haven't written for so long nor read books cause of stuff happening in my life.  And this is partially because my writing style significantly changed over the last few chapters.

EXAMPLE OF HOW I USED TO WRITE:  I glared at his amused face, crossing my arms over my chest stiffly as I waited for him to speak. I knew he was dying to say something witty. I could feel it on the tip of his tongue.  

EXAMPLE OF HOW I WRITE NOW: I glare at his amused face, crossing my arms over my chest stiffly as I wait for him to speak.  I know he is dying to say something witty.  I can feel it on the tip of his tongue.

And yeah, with the new way I was writing I was having extreme difficulty getting into character and just letting the words flow from my mind... so I tried changing back and it worked much better for me.

I WILL GO BACK AND EDIT THE CHAPTERS I WAS WRITING IN THE 'NEW' WAY

... ANYWAYS, thank you all that have stuck with this and I hope you love the extra long chapter that I found got interesting ^_^

PLEASE COMMENT ME WHAT YOU THINK!!!!!!

and click that little vote button :*

Happy Reading ^_^

x_Firelight_x