A Hunter's Keep - #1 of "The Hunter's Series"

Lizzy’s POV

“Wake up!”

My eyes jolted open, but sleep was still clouding my mind. I hardly recognized Jack’s face this late at night.

“What?” I groaned, pushing myself to become more awake. My eyes found the clock on the nightstand. The red illuminating lights telling me, it was just passed two in the morning. What the hell---?

“They need you downstairs!” Jack continued, pulling off my cowers.

“In the middle of the night?” I groaned, trying to find his eyes in the dark room. “Seriously?”

“I don’t ask the questions, Liz,” he said and took a step back. “I just follow orders.”

I frowned. Something tole me, that he didn’t want to meet my eyes. I grunted, before dragging my feet off the bed. By instinct I first went over to check up on Sif. She needed to be changed…

“What are you doing?” Kevin asked from the door.

“I just need change her diaper,” I whispered so she didn’t wake up. “It’ll be just a minute!”

They didn’t protest. Which I thought was odd. If there was some kind of emergency, they’d tell me to hurry. Yet, it seemed that they wanted to let me have this moment of extra time. I didn’t fully understand it. They shared some glances, but it was hard to make out in the dark. Though the anxiety in the air was thick enough to cut through.

“There!”

I put her back under the cover, using my own as a shield around her, now that I was off the bed. I was ready to follow them downstairs, when Kevin stopped me, and told me to get dressed, before going downstairs. That’s when I finally was close enough to notice their eyes. I knew that look. Regret and shame. Seen it my entire life in my own reflection.

“What’s going on you guys?” I asked nervously, when I came out in a fresh set of changed cloths. “Is Sif in danger?”

Jack shook his head, turning away from me. Kevin looked to him as if he wanted some reassurance but didn’t get any. He sighed before turning to me.

“You should really start thinking more about yourself, Liz,” was all he said, before opening the door. “Come.”

The second I entered the room, I knew something wasn’t right. The big man on the sofa immediately rose to his full height, towering over most men in the room; except for Derik. That’s when I knew I was face to face with another alpha…