LOSE ME OR HUNT ME.

Sarah's POV.

"She won't find out if you don't tell her!" I heard Miguel say, he was with someone, and I grew curious and wondered who they talked about. I rested my left ear on the door to make sure I heard everything, even though they whispered.

Today was his birthday and I had wanted to surprise him with a pretty locket of high value...sentimental value, it had our pictures in it. And also his favorite vest and jacket; I got the presents ready, all in a well-wrapped box. I was so excited as I hurried towards his room, ready to kick his door open, only to be stopped by the suspicious conversation that went on and on.

"I respect you as leader of the pack Fortis...but I also respect you as a friend...please she doesn't need to know about this." I heard Miguel speak, he sounded more like he was pleading.

"You're lying to that poor innocent lass, you're deceiving her, and you claim to love her?" The so-called Fortis spoke, he sounded older...

"Who are they talking about?" I muttered to myself.

"And what's going to happen to Kate?" Fortis asked him almost immediately.

"I don't know, " Miguel told him.

"You're talking nonsense! And you rather stay with a human? A werewolf hunter, an enemy, a threat! Not just to you but to the rest of us!" I could feel the heat of Fortis' anger.

Everything was becoming clear to me...I didn't want to make conclusions but I knew they spoke about me...

"Does she know you're an Alpha, a full-blooded werewolf?" Fortis asked.

"Well, I'm yet to tell her," Miguel responded letting out a deep breath. "I wanted to tell her that today," He added.

"And you think, she would accept that fact?" Fortis asked mockingly.

"She'll understand..." Miguel's words trailed off.

At that moment, I knew that Miguel had a secret he was hiding...I remembered the frequent urgent calls, even when we went out on dates, his sensitivity to sounds, and that uneasiness anytime I spoke of myself, being a hunter, and how I had wanted to be like my grandmother, who could slaughter a whole pack of werewolves with her strategic plans.

"Is that what you think? Do you think she'll understand? Someone who comes from the family line of the most powerful werewolf hunters? Do you know how dangerous that kid is..." Fortis asked.

"I know...but Sarah would understand, she got to...I mean, we've been dating for two years, and she loves me." Miguel was so confident..

"Would she still love you if she ever finds out about the very night you slaughtered her mother?" Fortis asked and silence crawled in.

I didn't gasp...I just stopped breathing for a moment; hot tears ran down my cheeks; I covered my mouth; I was going to scream any minute.

It couldn't be, Miguel would never...

"Her mother tried to kill me!" Miguel defended, " I just had to do something, I couldn't run...she...she got me all trapped, and ...and," He stammered, " I just had to do something." He finally admitted.

"But that doesn't mean you didn't...and you know the funniest part of everything? Your Mom murdered her Father. The poor creature is orphaned, thanks to you and your Mom." Fortis said he scoffed.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen..." Miguel told him.

But Fortis refused to accept whatever he said, just as I found it hard to believe whatever intentions he had.

"We both know that was what you wanted, and all these happened while you still dated her.

"Everything is different now," Miguel claimed.

"And if not for this cursed feeling you call love, you would have killed her and the rest of her family...but your love won't stop the others," Fortis told him as I heard him drum on a surface with his fingers.

"You wouldn't dare to hurt her..." Miguel said.

"Nope. But I would do anything to protect my pack even if it's to kill."Fortis stated clearly."And I hope she finds out that you'll be having a baby with Kate soon."

I felt as if my heart had been pierced by arrows with bitter poison. I felt weak in the knees...my lips trembling, my hands grew cold and I struggled to breathe.

A baby? I couldn't believe how much Miguel had taken away from me...I couldn't believe he had betrayed me all these while and still claimed to love me.

I recalled my mother's dead body, lying on the dry grass, cold and bare...her body spoke of gory violence.

I remembered taking her into my arms, trying to wipe off the thick, red-black blood that had covered her face. I wanted to look at her pretty face for one last time. But her face was brutally disfigured.

My hands grew pale and cold as I recalled that very moment, my hands were shaking as I struggled to remain calm.

The box I had filled with presents dropped heavily to the ground making a loud noise.

I gasped, breathing heavily. They stopped talking and I knew I had gotten into trouble.

***

Miguel's POV.

Our eyes darted towards the door.

Someone was there, someone had been eavesdropping on our conversation.

"Who's there?" I asked, moving slowly towards the door. I twisted the doorknob, and Fortis nodded in agreement, ready to attack whatever danger came for us; I opened the door slowly; I was being careful, though.

There was no one there. I stepped out and scanned the corridor with my eyes, and nothing looked suspicious...

I sighed, nodding disappointedly. I turned to go inside, and a box wrapped in colorful nylon wraps caught my attention; I looked at Fortis, who wore a suspicious look on his face...

"It's not a bomb." I joked, chuckling.

I tore the wraps into shreds, opened the box,, and...

"What is it?" Fortis asked.

"It's a birthday card," I told him as I unpinned the card to gain access to what was written on it...

It was Sarah, God it was Sarah!

I looked up at Fortis; somehow, my muscles stiffened, and I became strangely afraid, full of concern; many thoughts raced through my mind.

"What is it, lad?" Fortis asked, looking at me with lidded eyes, "Ahh!" He exclaimed, " Kate got those for you? I never knew she was good at surprises," He added.

I ignored him and stuck the card in my pocket, dropping the gifts as I ran off without a word.

She must have overheard our conversation, she did...God damn it!

I was so scared, I searched for an explanation, something to justify what I had done to her, the pain I caused her, the lies I had told her...

I mounted my bike, put on my helmet, started the engines, and sped off...

What was I going to tell her? What if she never forgives me. I needed her to understand, I wanted her to know that I loved her now more than I had pretended to do so in the past...

I recalled the moment we spent together, how much she trusted me enough to confide in. Although that was part of my plan, I didn't plan for any of this to happen; I didn't plan to fall madly in love with her. I pulled right in front of her house, got off my bike, and flung my helmet... I hurried towards her room, that was where she would probably be.

Her door was slightly open; I pushed it back quietly, finding my way in; I watched as she packed up her belongings, her face covered in tears, her cheeks red and swollen.

"Sarah..."I called out to her softly.

With immediate effect, she grabbed her bow and arrow, aiming at me.

" Don't even come close!" She cried mucus oozing from her nose as she sniffed continuously...

"I can explain," I told her, motioning to her to calm down.

"There's nothing to explain!" She sent one arrow flying swiftly toward me, but I was swift enough to dodge it, and it struck the wall, creating cracks that went in diverse directions.

She was about to pull out another, but I was fast enough to hold her down. I held her against her bed as she continuously struggled, trying hard to set herself free.

"Let go of me!" She wriggled, but I wouldn't let her go...

"Listen to me!"I begged, and somehow she managed to kick me off her body as she had aimed for my groin.

I gained balance, but it was too late, Sarah

pulled out a knife.

"You stay away from me Miguel Ronnes." She warned; her green eyes spoke of rage and fury; one would think that her ginger-red hair would soon go ablaze.

" I know I should have told you a long time ago. I wanted to, but I couldn't; I didn't have the courage; I was so scared," I spoke quickly.

"And you still had some nerves to show yourself." She spoke in a low tone of voice.

"I came to apologize. I'm sorry..."I said, looking away; I could barely look at her; her gaze tortured my conscience.

"That's it? Sorry?" She cried harder, " Would an apology bring my parents back? And plus you had a mate, you slut!" She rubbed her face; green veins appeared on her forehead, evidence of the frustration she felt at that moment; I was sorry for her.

"Leave Miguel, before I do something I might just regret." She sniffed.

"Sarah try to understand," I pleaded consistently.

"There's absolutely nothing to explain here! Everything is clear to me: the first day we met at the bar, the promises you made to me, the care and affection; I was so blinded by this fake love that I let my guard down...I ...I...trusted you, I shut down all sorts of negative thoughts, and I gave you my all! And all this while, it was all part of your master plan," She spoke, and at that point, I could feel the pain she felt; at that point, I hated myself.

"It wasn't all that..."I defended shamelessly.

" You wanted to use me as bait!" She shouted at the top of her voice and her sentence replayed in my head.

***

Sarah's POV.

"I'm going very far from here, don't you dare come close to me or any member of my family... cause if you do I promise, I'll make sure I end your life in the twinkle of an eye," I threatened him, I had every reason to end his life, every reason to slice his face, I could do that, I knew I could, but I felt that was not possible, and even if it was, it wasn't going to be that easy.

A part of me hated him so much, and another part of me loved him just the same.

I zipped up my bag and grabbed my bow.

I turned to face him; his brown eyes that once spoke of warmth and affection were now filled with this uneasiness. I could not care least about whatever he felt. I wanted to hate him for the rest of my life.

"Listen to me, Sarah, I know how much you hate me right now; trusting me would be the last thing on your mind, but before you go, I need to tell you..." He was serious...his uneasiness made sense now, something bothered him.

I chose to ignore him, wiping off the mucus that oozed from my nose with the right sleeve of my sweater.

"I know you would be going to Shale Town through The Great Peak route...but you gotta follow the Creeks route if you want to get there safely..." He said, and I turned to look at him; I was surprised but tried not to show it.

"And how did you know I was going to Shale Town?" I asked.

"Your uncle lives there...you told me once before...at the river Bank on your birthday."He answered nervously..

I can remember that day vividly; it was my birthday. I had told him a lot of things about me, and at that moment, I regretted my actions.

"Thanks for the advice, Miguel...but it's my ride, and I choose the route that favors me best..." I told him as I turned to leave.

"I just want you to be safe." He said with sincerity in his voice, this sincerity I chose not to believe.

"Right now! With you! I ain't safe. You dated me because you were after my life, deceived me into saying confidential stuff...now tell me...who should I be careful of?" I told him, and without any further word, I hurried out of my room.

I got into my car, put my stuff in the car booth, and drove off, my hands tightly gripping the steering wheel.

I was going to Shale Town...

Through the Creeks route.

***

It grew darker and darker as the evening crawled in; the creek route was so creepy, and I was so afraid.

I played soft music to help me cool off.

The road was empty and dark, only the headlights of my car could lead me as I drove...suddenly my car stopped, suddenly broke down and the headlights went off, I grabbed my torch light and went out of my car to check what the problem was...

The radiator of my car looked all good, its engine looked fine to me...I searched for mechanical problems but my car was totally fine.

I sighed as I didn't know what else to do; I was in the middle of the Creeks route, a place I didn't think was safe to be, and plus, I hardly traveled through that route, so I only used a location map on my phone, as a guide to Shale Town.

And this happened, my car suddenly broke down in the middle of nowhere.

I wanted to call somebody...maybe Miguel? No, I dared not.

"Look who's lost in the territory of her enemies." A voice spoke, and I made an immediate turn...it was a lady just about my age; she had a protruded belly, her grey eyes glittered under the moonlight, and her white wavy hair danced in the direction of the wind.

Soon some other strange people began approaching, though they were still behind her...men and women alike...

I was too scared to move, they were a pack of werewolves ...I knew I was outnumbered and couldn't fight, and even though I did, it was almost clear that I wouldn't win.

If this was a trap, I didn't want to believe that Miguel had just led me into it...

"What do you want from me?" I asked as I moved back a little.

"Look at who's scared, the daughter of great hunters," She tsked mockingly, " I should have known, that you were one easy meal on my table." She spoke with a smile that looked more like a wry.

I looked down at my frozen feet, this couldn't be a trap.

" I knew Miguel would tell you to come here." I looked up at her sharply. "He despised you that much." She ran speedily towards me and grabbed my hair, hitting my head against my car window until it cracked, then she threw me down on the ground, and I lay down flat; I became weak and dizzy as the world around me wouldn't stop spinning. Warm liquid crawled down from my nostrils to my lips... I tasted blood.

Sarah's POV.

I opened my eyes slowly...everywhere was completely swollen by darkness as I couldn't see a single thing.

Soon the lights came up and I felt a sharp irritation in my eyes, I looked away almost immediately breathing heavily...

I looked up, my eyes still lidded somehow, the light that radiated from the light bulbs were so bright and I was kept directly under them tied up to a chair.

Soon some one walked towards me...

I could recognize those grey eyes and of course the white hair...

"You're awake. It's good that you are,"She said rubbing her protruding belly gently.

"What do you want from me?" I was too weak to say anything.

"What I want?" She scoffed." I want to end your life Miss...or should I say mistress?!" She slapped me hard on my left cheek, and the stinging pain lingered, I looked at her from her head down to her toe, then back to her belly.

"You're Kate?"I asked and she slapped me again and pulled my hair.

"Yes I am you whore! And you? I know you of course, Sarah Blackwell...daughter of

Dantes, great granddaughter of the great werewolf hunter, Shawn Blackwell..." She tsked and pulled my hair even harder. "Too bad you didn't prove well enough to your father that you could be a skilled and strong hunter...you're a big disgrace I'm disappointed." She paused and started pacing to and fro."You had a werewolf by your side all this time and you never knew, or did you get rid of your skills for love's sake?" Kate mocked.

I looked into her eyes, and found myself chuckling, a chuckle turned into laughter and laughter into a hysterical one.

She looked me in the eyes as if she searched for something there.

"What is this all about?"I asked her in a low tone of voice.

She frowned, giving me that questioning look, more like a confused look.

"Is it because of Miguel? You know how much he despises you not me." I was weak.

Kate growled angrily...

"What little dog? Miguel probably would pluck out your teeth if he found out that I was here...innocent me." I licked my upper lips and tasted blood, surely I didn't need to be told, surely I was covered with wounds, wounds that stung badly. "He hates you now believe me," I paused to see her reaction, her grey eyes glowed in blue, I noticed her canines were longer than usual. "But he doesn't hate you because of me," I continued, " He hates you because of you."

Kate held me by the throat, lifting me up together with the chair I was being tied to.

"Do your worse," I said through clenched teeth.

And she flung me away like a light feather, and I found myself landing hard on the ground, the chair broke into pieces against my back and it was like my spine was broken, like my ribcage was dismantled...

My vision became blurry, I could feel my heart race, I was in excruciating pain, I could hardly bare it. I groaned, and tried to move, but with every move another sharp pain followed, I could feel it in my bone marrow. I felt paralyzed. I coughed hard, and spat thick blood, suddenly everywhere started to spin slowly being clouded by darkness, I could hardly breathe...I

***

Kate's POV.

"She's not dead, is she?" I motioned to one of the youngest wolves in my pack who had been watching from a distance,to go check on her.

"She just passed out," Robert looked up at me, " not away." He added.

I sighed.

"How long would it take before he gets here." I grew impatient.

"Who gets here?" Robert asked and I just ignored him stroking my hair.

"Where are the others?" I asked him.

"Everybody's outside, talking, and wondering..." He shrugged.

I looked at an empty space first and then I gazed at him, giving him that thoughtful look.

"What are they talking about? What are they...wondering about?" I asked folding my arms across my chest.

"I don't know, something that has to do with an unrecognized pack, seeking to dominate other...packs." Robert spoke not so certain, but I chose to believe him.

"How come I'm hearing this for the first time? Like we've never been so involved with other packs..." I rubbed my belly gently unknowingly...it had become a habit.

I looked at Sarah who made little movements.

"She will never die, will she?" I found myself asking, with so much hate and anger.

"She will, only if you slice her throat." Robert said and stole a glance at me, " I didn't mean that...I mean we still need her, she has always been a bait since the beginning...and we are not close to the end so...we keep her, alive. I just came in to draw your attention and remind you." He said, then he looked at Sarah, motioning to me with his head to do the same, and I did.

"And what's with her?" I asked, caring less.

"We both know that Fortis wouldn't be happy if she was in bad shape,"He drew his hands from his pockets slowly, "And Miguel?"He continued, " He'll burn this place in the ground with you in it."

"You dare..." I growled.

"Just a piece of advice little Luna, we both know Miguel is going to be next Alpha soon, with nobody to tell him what to do...with no one to stop him, or change his mind, so you better start thinking..." He said with a smirk.

"Did you walk in here to threaten me,little wolf?" I boiled in anger.

"A piece of advice." With that he walked out.

I spat, the warehouse smelt like rotten food.

I walked up to Sarah, kneeling down beside her.

" You really are a bitch, are you?" I sighed, stroking her hair,a part of it was soaked in blood...

"How did you do it? You and Miguel?" I scoffed, " Like he was supposed to hate you, detest you, kill you... I should have been the one to befriend you, deceive you, lie to you and then kill you. There's nothing special about you." I said to her body that almost looked lifeless.

I heard his footsteps, he was here.