FATED TO ALPHA HUNTER BY VENNEH LISAH

𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕:

The sound was so deep and menacing that it raised goosebumps all over my body. The hair on my head stood up, and an icy shiver slithered up my spine, making my stomach drop. The feeling rushed over me so quickly that it was like I had jumped off a tall building. The plummet of my stomach as I came face to face with him in his Lycan form terrified me.

Arman had gone, and a savage was in his place, his voice also a harsh growl as I stepped back and hit the door. His entire body shook with anger. I suddenly understood why everyone feared the man; even when he tossed me aside, he wasn't this rage-filled. This was something else entirely, as no part of him was human. He was a monster, primal and animalistic on a scale I had never seen before.

"Mine! You will submit....." His words cut off, and he blinked, shaking his head. His claws raked down the door behind me, sounding like nails on a chalkboard. I gritted my teeth, and he stumbled backward, looking shaken, like he had no control.

"Where is your guard?" he snarled, turning away from me and putting some distance between us.

"Outside," I lied, not wanting to get anyone in trouble, especially Desmond. Gary was angry enough at him earlier when he found him sleeping.

"You should go back to the room, my queen," he snarled.

"But Rina...." I started.

"I said the room, now go. I have to leave anyway," he snapped. "My king....." I started.

"I said no! Now get out!" he screamed at me, and I shook my head before turning on my heel and rushing out. Gary stood by the door and jumped when I came out before he sighed.

"I told you he was in a bad mood," Gary said, and I growled at him before stalking off down the corridor toward my room. Just as I reached the doors leading toward the stairs, they burst open, and Desmond crashed through them, looking frantic. The look of relief on his face when he spotted me was evident as he clutched his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"You said you wouldn't leave," Desmond complained.

"Sorry, I had Gary with me. I didn't want to wake you," I told him, taking the arm that he offered me when Gary called after him.

"Desmond, a word," he said. I chewed my lip, hoping I wouldn't get him into trouble. Desmond sighed loudly but stopped before walking back down the hall. Then Zara came up with the King's lunch. She stopped, looking at Gary and Desmond, who were talking.

"My queen, how are you feeling?" she asked, cupping my face with her hand. Before I could answer, I heard Desmond growl before yelling at Gary.

"F*****g bullshit!" Desmond yelled.

"It's an order. You need sleep," Gary snapped at Desmond.

"I will lock the door and sleep on the couch," Desmond attempted to reply.

"Travis is her other assigned guard. The King trusts him, and so do I," Gary insisted.

"Get anyone else; I am telling you something is off with him," Desmond argued.

"Oh, for f**k's sake, is this about the assignment last year? Are you still mad about that? He proved he had nothing to do with sabotaging you," Gary tried to reason.

"No, it's about her safety. I couldn't give a f**k about anything else. But..." Desmond trailed off.

"What happened?" Zara whispered to me, and I refocused on her. "I'm not sure. Desmond keeps taking Travis's shifts, he said he doesn't trust him," I explained, and then I heard a growl.

Desmond cursed under his breath before stomping back over to me. "Come on," he said, looking furious, and he gripped my elbow, leading me away from Zara, who looked confused.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Gary pulled me from the next eight-hour shift," he blurted out.

"It's fine. You need sleep," I assured him as he pulled me up the stairs.

We made it back to the room in record time, with his long strides as he tugged me after him. "Slow down!" I told him, stumbling on the top step. His hand gripped my arm, stopping me from falling.

"Sorry," he said, leading me to the room. He pushed the door open.

"Just sleep; I'll be fine," I said.

"Gary ordered me back to my room to ensure I sleep. Just be careful around Travis. I'm setting the alarm and will speak to some other guards to keep an extra eye up here," Desmond almost looked frantic.

"Don't trust him, Ania. Just stay in your room. The moment I can come back, I'll be here, just..." He cursed, shaking his head.

"Make sure you keep the door locked. Promise me you won't let him in here!" Desmond said, gripping my arms.

"Okay, I promise I won't let him in the room with me," I told him. Not that I would; I barely knew Travis. So I doubted he would try to come in here, anyway.

"It's fine. I'll see if Zara will stay with you while the King is gone. Dwight can't be too much longer, surely," Desmond muttered, rubbing his chin.

"I'll be fine," I told him.

"You know where my room is, right? Wake me if you need me. You also have my number on the phone; just press number three. It speed dials straight to my phone," he instructed.

I nodded, wondering when I'll be tethered to them for the mind-link. I also wondered if the lack of sleep was making him paranoid. He sighed before kissing my forehead and hugging me, something he had never done before. "Don't let yourself be alone with him," he whispered before walking out. When I nodded, I watched him leave, wondering why he felt so strongly negative about Travis.

𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕

I had no idea what had come over me; I almost attacked her. Her scent was still intense despite her no longer being affected by it. I didn't mean to snap at her, but I would have taken her right then and there if she hadn't left. It took me twenty minutes to calm down enough to shift back. I grabbed the bottle of whiskey off the side table and took a swig.

"You bloody idiot, are you trying to get yourself killed!" I snapped at Gary.

"I'm sorry, I thought you had control, or I wouldn't have grabbed her," he defended himself. I clicked my tongue and cursed, shaking my head before taking another swig from the bottle.

"Just let me explain to her," Gary said, but I shook my head. "No, I want her to give herself to me when she wants to, not because she feels forced because my life is at risk," I told him.

"Arman?" Gary cursed.

"The injection only lasts for two days. We have some leeway. Ania may change her mind," I told him, although I wasn't sure she would.

"And if she doesn't?" Gary asked. I bit the inside of my lip.

"She will," I reassured him.

"If she doesn't, I will tell her," Gary snarled, and I growled at him.

"You'll die, then what? You'll let her live with that guilt. No one can protect her the way you do, Arman. Think it through," Gary urged.

"I don't want her to feel obligated," I told him.

"I won't let you die, and neither will she!" he snapped. Gary tossed me some pants and a shirt, realizing I was still naked. I took them, slipping them on and doing up the buttons. "We should leave. I want to get back before tomorrow," I ordered.

"We shouldn't go, not while you're like this," Gary argued.

"Exactly why we're going. I'm struggling to hold myself back. Now grab the keys. We're leaving," I told him, grabbing my wallet off the desk and stuffing it into my pocket. I pushed the doors open and walked out toward the front of the castle. I needed to be away from her for a little while, just until I got these urges under control.

However, when I reached the door, I stumbled, vertigo washing over me, and the room tilted and slanted, making me stumble. My hand went out, catching myself on the wall before I passed out. A cold sweat caused sweat to bead on the back of my neck.

Everything was telling me to hunt my mate and mate with her. Gary gripped my upper arm. I blinked, trying to force the effects away.

"You should stay," he murmured, but I shook his hand off. "I'm fine, we'll be gone only 12 hours max, plenty of time, and by the time we get back, my libido should be nearly worn off," I told him

Gary growled disapprovingly but said nothing as he started walking out.

"Don't worry," Gary reassured me. "Dwight is on his way back from the business trip and should be here before we return."