I don't think I've said this before, but when I wrote the first chapter to Night Hunt, I had intended for it to be a standalone story. It was my first attempt, and I had just wanted to write a quickie for fun. Thanks to your comments and encouragement, this story has grown into something else entirely. I can't believe this is chapter 14!
To those who are here for the first time, I hope you like what you read. I'd recommend starting from the beginning, but please bear with the choppiness at the start. I'd like to think that it gets better as it goes, but let me know what you think!
To those who have been following this story, thanks for all your likes, votes, comments, and emails. I never expected to have the responses that I did, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm hoping to put more chapters up with less of a wait in between (starting with this one). I think the writing is getting faster, with more experience, and with a clearer idea of the direction the plot is taking.
Enjoy! XOXO
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Sam and Connor reached the edge of the forest. They had walked back together, Connor going at her pace as her body continued to repair itself.
They exchanged theories as they walked, speculating.
"I don't like it one bit," Connor growled. "Something doesn't add up. What were they doing out here? And I don't mean just in the middle of the forest. Why did they pick Creeksville, of all places?"
"We know it's isolated here. Why would this town help them take over the world? They must have come here to hide something," she said, feeling like she was stating the obvious, but just wanting to think aloud.
"The question is, what are they hiding?
Why
are they even hiding, if they think they can freely hunt humans," Connor pondered.
Sam saw the look of disgust on his face and knew how he felt. She knew that rebels surfaced all the time, wanting freedom from the Governance. They thought that they owned the world, but never gave any thought to the bigger picture. She was glad that she and Connor were on the same page.
"I wish we could have kept one of them alive. We could have pushed for answers," Sam sighed. "At least we found their hideout, thanks to you. If only we could break into their computer system. I bet there's stuff in the we could use."
Connor grunted in agreement. "That'll be a job for the Governance and their tech department. I wouldn't mind sticking around to help Tyrus on this case though. It looks like he and the Governance could use some help. Imagine if Tyrus had walked into this alone, like they had intended. Bloody Karina, I bet she didn't care about the outcome when she sent him in."
Sam shot him a look of alarm. Her hand reached up to rub the smooth skin of her neck. She nodded grimly in agreement, her mouth forming a tight line. The four vampires had been dangerous. It had been a close call for her. Too close. He was right, it could have been Tyrus.
They stopped at the spot where Connor had stashed his clothes. He shucked on his jeans quickly. She couldn't help but feel a little relief when he pulled his shirt over his head. Even though she'd tried not to let her eyes wander, his naked body had been... distracting.
As he dressed, Sam adjusted her braids till they were covering the tips of her ears. Wouldn't do for any humans to see them. She checked her sword, making sure that the spell that concealed it to humans was still in place. They'd washed off most of the blood from the fight in a stream that they had crossed earlier.
Standing at the forest's edge, they paused. Only a short distance separated them from the bed and breakfast, where they would join the others. Sam had the odd feeling that as they left the forest, she was leaving something behind. She stood, rooted to the ground. For some reason, Connor had stopped moving too.
His gaze dropped to her neck and she thought she saw him shudder.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, his blue eyes filled with genuine concern.
It really hit her then. She could have
died
today. She swallowed.
"I'm good. Healing," she replied, her mouth dry.
"Are you sure?" Connor asked, leaning forward and placing his hand over where her wound had been. Almost as if he needed proof that she was okay. His hand lingered, but she didn't shrug it off.
"Yeah. Uh, thanks... for saving my life. I mean it. I owe you one," she said quietly.
He didn't respond, only stared back at her, with a look in his eyes that she couldn't quite place. A muscle in his jaw ticked. They were standing so close, she had to crane her head up to look at the big werewolf. When had that happened?
Connor's hand was still on her neck. He absently stroked her skin, lost in thought. The warmth of his fingers sent a shiver through her. Their eyes locked, and she was surprised at the intensity with which he was looking at her.
His gaze dropped to her lips. He stood still for a beat... two beats, watching her. When she didn't move, he lowered his head. His hand slid around to cup the back of her neck. His thumb brushed the sensitive spot behind her ear. She realised with alarm that he was slowly closing the distance between them.
She should stop him. Really, she should. But her body seemed to have a mind of its own. Her breath hitched. Her lips parted slightly. She already knew how it felt to have his arms around her. In short, good. Really good. He'd been warm, solid, and very, very male. How would it feel when their lips connected?
The realisation of what she was thinking hit her with a jolt. This was
Connor
.
She cleared her throat and jerked back, breaking the moment. He snatched his hand away as if it had been burned. The werewolf shook his head, as if he too had been caught unawares by what he was about to do.
"Connor... I have a boyfriend." Damn it, why had that not been her first thought? She felt a flash of guilt that she had nearly forgotten about Enrique. In fact, she hadn't spared her boyfriend a single thought since she'd entered the forest.
She caught the split second look of rejection on Connor's face before he masked it. His eyes blazed, turning icy blue.
"What, the incaendo? You still really believe he's being loyal to you, waiting patiently back home for you to return?" He asked incredulously.
Sam felt a burst of anger at his words.
"What's your problem? He's not any of your business," Sam spat out. "You don't even know him." She couldn't fathom how on earth they'd gone from sworn enemies, to almost kissing, in one day.
Men... Trust Connor to take a word of thanks and turn it into an invitation. Was that all men could think about? They were just starting to be able to share the same space without trying to rip each other's heads off. The stupid wolf had to ruin it, of course.
"Obviously, I've had a moment of temporary insanity. This never happened," he said angrily.
Yeah, sure. The last time he'd said that, they'd been spooning in bed. She'd thought she'd buried that memory, but his words brought it back with an aching vividness. She was as eager as Connor to forget that any of it had ever happened.
Really, it was just a kiss. An