Meanwhile, as Kai ventured back into the woods, he bumped into Drew and Tyril.
"Mind telling us where you've been, Alpha?" Drew asked with her arms on her hips. She was always quite judgy in her behavior, Kai thought.
"Just dropped Maia off and went scouting for a while. No big deal."
"You were always a terrible liar, you know." Tyril walked up with his arms crossed.
Their whole behavior was reminding him of his late parents, and Kai quite literally hated the feeling. The reason would be understood soon.
"Okay, what do you guys want from me?" Kai asked.
"We hope you know what you're doing, Kai. She is a human, the Hunter King's daughter at that. Do you know what could happen if the elders found out? You could be banished, or taken as the enemy." Drew spoke with concern.
"I can take care of myself just fine, Drew. Besides, she's growing on me."
Tyril walked up to his Alpha's face. As a Beta, the next in command and companion to the Alpha, he was not afraid to tell Kai the stakes of the situation without sugarcoating it.
"I can feel your inner wolf yearning for her. In case you don't realize, you haven't been this way with a woman for the past five years. And you're 25."
"So what are you saying?" Kai asked inquisitively.
"I'm saying that she might be the one destined to be your mate, Kai. And that shouldn't be possible."
At those words, even the forest seemed to freeze in silence, right before Drew broke it.
"That's nonsense, Tyril. We all know a wolf can't be mates to a human, much less a hunter at that. Have you lost your mind?"
Kai reasoned the idea. He knew he should have rejected the possibility of such even happening. But surprisingly, he didn't mind. But of course, this topic was getting sensitive. Who said anything about mating? Tyril was just being extreme.
"I'm just hooking up with her, okay? I mean, we all love to have our fun, right?" Kai had to lie to deviate where the topic was going.
"But there are other she-wolves at your beck and call for you to hook up with. Why her?" Drew asked with that annoying motherly tone.
Kai was getting tired of the routine. "Look, I can make my own choices. Now can we go on a scout and stop talking about any of this?"
"Fine. But don't say we didn't warn you."
With that, the trio took off, prowling through the night and scouting ahead. The moon hung high in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the forest. They moved silently, their senses heightened, alert for any signs of danger.
As they moved deeper into the forest, the faint sound of footsteps reached their ears. Kai signaled for Drew and Tyril to stop, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the sound.
"We're not alone," Kai whispered, his voice barely audible.
They moved stealthily towards the source of the noise, their movements synchronized and fluid. As they approached a clearing, they spotted two figures—Michael and Diana. The hunters were clearly on a patrol, their movements cautious and deliberate.
"Great, just what we needed," Tyril muttered under his breath.
Kai signaled for them to stay hidden, observing the hunters from the cover of the trees. But fate had other plans. A twig snapped under Tyril's foot, the sound echoing in the stillness of the night.
Michael and Diana spun around, their weapons drawn, eyes scanning the darkness.
"We know you're out there!" Michael called out, his voice steady. "Show yourselves!"
Kai stepped forward, his presence commanding. "We mean you no harm."
Diana's eyes narrowed. "Kai. What are you doing here?"
"Scouting," Kai replied calmly. "Just like you."
Michael's grip tightened on his weapon. "Stay back, wolf."
Tyril and Drew emerged from the shadows, flanking Kai. The tension was palpable, a powder keg waiting to explode.
"This doesn't have to get ugly," Kai said, his tone even.
"Too late for that," Diana shot back, her eyes blazing with determination.
Before anyone could react, Michael lunged forward, his fist colliding with Tyril's jaw. The force of the blow sent Tyril staggering back, but he recovered quickly, his eyes flashing with fury.
Tyril roared, his body shifting into his werewolf form as he charged at Michael. The ground trembled under his weight as he collided with the hunter, their struggle fierce and primal.
Diana moved with supernatural speed, her gun aimed at Kai. He dodged her shot, his movements a blur as he closed the distance between them. He grabbed her wrist, twisting it and forcing her to drop the weapon.
"Nice try," Kai growled, his eyes glowing with a predatory light.
Diana smirked, her free hand lashing out to strike Kai across the face. He barely flinched, his grip tightening on her wrist.
"You're strong," Kai acknowledged. "But so am I."
He released her, spinning and delivering a powerful kick to her midsection. Diana staggered back, but she recovered quickly, her eyes filled with defiance.
Meanwhile, Drew faced off against Michael, their movements a deadly dance. Michael's strength was formidable, but Drew's agility and speed gave her an edge. She landed a series of rapid blows, each strike precise and calculated.
Michael growled, his frustration evident. "You're fast, wolf. But not fast enough."
He swung his weapon, the blade glinting in the moonlight. Drew dodged, but the blade grazed her arm, drawing blood. She hissed in pain, her eyes narrowing.
"You'll pay for that," she snarled.
With a burst of speed, she tackled Michael, her claws digging into his flesh. He fought back with brutal strength, their struggle a whirlwind of motion and violence.
Kai and Diana circled each other, their eyes locked in a deadly game of chess. Diana moved with a grace that spoke of years of training, her every move calculated and precise. Kai admired her skill, even as he prepared to counter her next attack.
"Give it up, Diana," Kai said, his voice low and dangerous. "You can't win this."
Diana's lips curled into a fierce smile. "We'll see about that."
She lunged at him, her movements a blur. Kai met her head-on, their bodies colliding with a force that shook the ground. They grappled, each trying to gain the upper hand.
In the chaos, Michael managed to throw Drew off, his eyes blazing with rage. He raised his weapon, aiming for the kill.
"Drew, look out!" Kai shouted.
But it was too late. Diana, seizing the opportunity, drew her bow and fired. The arrow flew true, striking Drew in the shoulder. She cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground.
Drew was sucked of strength, she looked around helplessly as her vision blurred into oblivion.