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

Lizzy’s POV

“Lizzy,” Derik said, his voice calm, but stern. I glanced over from the man in front of me and to Derik. He hid it well, but he was on edge. “This is Alpha Vector. We think, he knows who Sif’s family is and where her home is.”

Well, that son of a---

I grinded my teeth. So much for his promise!

“Thanks, but I already know that,” I said sternly, not taking my eyes off of him. I don’t know why, but the need to shield her from these people went up to a million. They were going to try and take her away from me!

“Lizzy, we’ve already talked about this,” Alpha Derik growled, annoyance clear in his voice. I swallowed. Gone was the carefree and kind mand, I was starting to consider my friend, and in his place was the alpha wolf I’d never wished to meet.

“No, you talked, and I ignored you,” I muttered bravely – or foolishly, since that only resulted in an eruption of growls from the other wolves. I saw how Derik’s jaw clenched and his arms automatically crossed over his chest. He was pissed…

Suddenly the man, Alpha Vector, stepped forward. His eyes dark and vengeful. I tried not to gulp but didn’t succeed. My heart sank and before I knew it, I’d taken a step back away from him.

“Is this her? Is this Sif’s mother?”

He held a picture up in front of me. For a second I couldn’t even take my eyes away from his hateful gaze to even look at the picture. But once I did, it wasn’t hard for me to recognize the woman in it. Although smiling and looking full of life in the photo, I recognized the face. When I last saw her, she was desperately handing me her baby – Sif! Begging me to keep her safe. Her hair was drenched in sweat and stuck to her face. Her skin pale and frame malnourished, but it was definitely the same person…

I don’t really know what happened next. I didn’t confirm or in other ways give away I recognized her. But they’re wolves, so I really shouldn’t be all that surprised that they knew.

A loud roar erupted in the room and I was hanging a foot in the air. Alpha Vector’s huge hands crushed against my airways. The blood flowed to my head, my pulse drumming in my ear. I struggled to breath, while the room around me all sat into motion. I couldn’t follow their movements. I didn’t know what was happening. Desperately I tried to remember my training, but it’d been so long…

“We need her alive.”

Derik!

The hold on me was released and I fell to the floor. I stumbled against the wall, trying to hold myself up while gasping for air.

Suddenly two strong hands grabbed me and pulled me off the floor. Before I knew what was happening, we were outside. The dark consumed us, and I could barely keep up with the fast paste they were going. Once I finally managed to shake off my shock, I realized, that we were heading for the prison…

I gasped, trying to stop. But it was useless to struggle against two full-grown werewolves. Fear and panic were starting to creep up my spine. No…!

That’s when I heard it. Crying in the distance. My heart stopped.

Sif!

I turned to the sound. Sif was being carried to one of the cars outside the house. Her cries and screams filling the void in my heart like knives.

“Where are you taking her?” I asked, desperate and terrified. No! This could not be happening! They couldn’t take her back! They would kill her. If she went back to her pack, they would…!

No one answered as I was pushed forward. Confirming what I already suspected.

“NO! You can’t take her,” I screamed, trashing around trying to get free. The grip on my arms tighten; leaving red, swollen bruises. I didn’t care! My heart was beating like a sledgehammer against my chest. Panic and fear consuming my every thought.

“SIF!”

From the corner of my eye, I finally saw Derik and against all odds, I felt relief, when eyeing his huge frame in the doorway.

“DERIK!!!” I screamed. He looked up; but didn’t move. His arms still tightly crossed over his chest. My heart clenched. His eyes were dark with regret and hate…

“You can’t let them take her!” I screamed anyway. Desperate. “You promised!”

He didn’t move. His eyes didn’t leave mine. He just stood there, letting everything that happened around him continue. Suddenly my body became numb. I couldn’t feel my legs or arms or--- the void my heart had become.

“No!”

The word wasn’t more than just a whisper. He didn’t move! He wasn’t going to save her!

“NO!!!”

I screamed. I fought and trashed in my captors’ strong hold. That son of a bitch! He was going to let them take her! He was going to let her be taken!

I screamed.

And screamed.

But no one cared.