Chapter 8 The Hunt

Chapter 08 My head snapped at once, and Aiden also turned slowly to Ryan at once. "What?!" I beat him to it. Ryan shrugged. "She said she wanted to make sure you were fine, so she offered to come and you know, she can be persistent, very persistent" Ryan muttered. I bit my lips as I leaned further into the seat. What a great way to ruin the day. For a moment, I thought I saw Aiden take a glance at me through the rearview mirror but I was probably wrong. "We're here" Ryan announced, stretching his arms. Yeah, the eerie feeling was beginning to kick in now. "Will I die here?" I muttered as I stared into the dark, scary woods. "No" Ryan said and grabbed my hands. "Stick with me and you shall be fine, princess" He said with a wink. Aiden walked past us and my brows furrowed but we followed behind him anyways. "Hmm, seems you two brought your girlfriend" That was Aaron's annoying ass. We ignored him and took our place behind the Alpha's coop. It was his coop against his brother's. "...And if you're all ready, let the hunt begin" The sentinel finally completed after reading the rules over and over again. The coop with the highest number of kills wins. I shuddered as I stared into the woods again. It was dark, eerie and endless. "Sorry, I'm late" That was Ariana as she rushed to our side. Aaron's face twisted in disgust as he stared at us. "Bunch of losers" I heard him muttered. Alpha Caden glanced at Ariana, then Aiden who ignored him and only looked forward. He was probably wondering why there were two of the same people or why Ariana was invited when he had only allowed me. I saw a little flicker of sigh leave his lips before looking forward. "And, begin!" The sentinel announced and immediately, bones snapping, crushing and twisting was heard, I shut my eyes immediately as howls of wolves filled the air. Alpha Caden's wolf was black and mightily huge, his howl was the loudest as the grounds below us shook. And Aiden, a silver wolf, one of its kind. Every wild in Coldtown Pack was jealous of his wolf, and even a rumor once led out that his father was too. Aiden's wolf was huge, exactly as big as his father's and that seemed to scare everyone at times. If he was as big as his father when he was barely eighteen, how big and strong would he be when he was his father's age. Alpha Caden's wolf snarled in satisfaction as Aiden stood beside him and everyone cleared the path for them and they stood at the frontline. Aiden's uncle and Aaron also came forward, standing right beside each other, opposite Aiden and Alpha Caden. Ryan's wolf was black and big, not as big as Aiden's but as big as it should be for his age. He turned to me and I stepped back a bit. It wasn't my first time seeing him or Aiden in their wolf form but it still did something to me whenever they turned. "Get on" He said. I nodded and was about to get on when Ariana slightly drew me back. She smiled. "You should ride with Aiden instead, and I shall ride with Ryan" She said with a wink as she hopped on Ryan's wolf who snarled. "It's fine Ryan" I said. "Get on too, I can take you two" He said. "Really?" I asked, he only repeated "Get on, Arielle" I was about to get on when I felt him behind me, Aiden. He grabbed me like I was a piece of paper and placed me on his back then nodded at Ryan who also nodded in return and I took that as some words were exchanged between them. "Grip me tighter, Ari" His voice came out in a hushed deep tone and I pressed my thighs against his sides tightly and I gripped his fur gently. He suddenly raised both of his front kegs making me fall on his back. "Grip me tightly, Ariana" He hissed and I did immediately, he was so full of fur, I could barely feel his skin despite gripping tightly. Aiden took his spot beside his dad again, and I looked forward at the many wolves before us and my stomach sank deep. I was scared, like they were all looking at me, their eyes, some blue, green and the alpha's, red. And Aiden, I leaned down a bit to get a glance, it was Silver, just like his fur. I shivered before sitting properly again. "And.. begin!" The sentinel announced and sounds of whoosh, howls filled the air again. And Aiden took off at once, almost sweeping me off his body but I held on tightly, wind rushed past me as I clung to his thick fur, my heart pounding. His powerful muscles ripped beneath me, each stride smooth yet terrifyingly fast. The forest blurred, shadows and moonlight dancing around us. I tightened my grip, breathless, I let out a silent shriek as he grabbed a deer ruthlessly and tore into its skin. Oh dear Jesus, why was I here again? I couldn't do this or I would shut down dead in fear, so I shut my eyes. Blood filled the air as the wolves around us tore, slashed and broke ruthlessly. And it was finally over, everything was peaceful again, quiet, no blood, no cracking, everything was.. silent at once, I was dropped to the floor gently. I snapped my eyes open. It was dark, quiet. We were at a river, we? I snapped my head looking around for any signs of him. Where was he? Did he just drop me here alone in the wilderness? "No." His voice sliced through the silence. He was inside the river, na.. naked. I couldn't see him but I could see the upper exposed part of his body. I gulped down on nothing. "I'm here" He said as he swam towards me. "W .why are we.." I couldn't complete my words before he pulled me into the water with him and I let it out, a scream.