Chapter
One
What the fuckdid I agree to? My pulse jackhammers in my throat as I strain to see through the black hooded cloth over my head. It’s useless. The motion of the truck as it flies down back roads to god knows where is my only indication of time passing.
When Dee suggested that we sign up for this Annual Halloween ‘Primal Hunt,’ it seemed like a fun adventure. A scary time of being chased through a corn maze by masked men who wouldn’t actually hurt you if they caught you. Taking a haunted hayride to a whole new level.
Granted, I had been drunk off my ass when I filled out the application. If I read the fine print, there’s no way on earth I would be wearing cuffs with a bag over my head in the back of a truck heading to an unknown location in the middle of nowhere—wearing a bunny suit—with at least ten other people.
I’d be at home in my PJs eating so much candy—the only kind of hangover I’d have tomorrow is a sugar one.
The rules, at least the part I read, demanded that participants wear something innocent or a costume that’s prey. And to arrive au natural with nothing to hide our scents.
Why not wear a mask that covers half my face?
At least then, if I run into someone I know, they won’t know it’s me. Unless I've been close enough for them to know my natural perfume. But even that’s slightly tainted by my nervous energy right now.
I can’t imagine being chased through the woods by someone like Jerry Johnson, a beta who would love to play alpha, even for just a single night.
Growing up with half the town makes the chances of knowing the hunters pretty high. And I'd like to stay in the dark on that count.
Wind whips around us, making it impossible to talk, and I’m only thankful the night isn’t a freezing cold one. Perks of living somewhere that’s warm seventy-five percent of the time, I guess. Tires crunch over gravel as the driver comes to a halt.
The clang of the tailgate hitting the bumper fills the air, along with the creaking of someone climbing up into the bed. A large someone. Dee squeezes my fingers attempting to hide the fact that she’s been trembling since we were loaded into the back of the truck. The girl on my left yelps, and then the air next to me feels empty, even without being able to see.
“This is going to be fun, Ally,” Dee whispers, her words muffled, but her fingers shake in my hold, giving her fear away.
Guess I’m not the only one second-guessing being here.
“If we die out here, I’ll never forgive you,” I whisper loudly.
Hands wrap around my biceps and haul me to my feet, earning a surprised squeak from me. Then another set of hands wrap around my waist and lift me from the vehicle. My booted feet find purchase on the soft ground, and the hood’s drawn off my head.
Before me is a shirtless, masked man, his blond hair sticking up in crazy, untamed curls above the wolf-looking ears. His blue eyes drop from mine and travel over my body. Earning me asinister smile as it curls up the edges of his wide mouth. He looks like every bit the predator he's dressed as.
His musk, a tantalizing deep amber wood, announces his designation as an alpha, and it makes me squirm as I inhale.
He swipes his tongue out over his lower lip, bringing his gaze back to mine. It makes my heart beat double time between my thighs, and I clench them together before slick can gather.That'snot what this is about.
“Well, hello, little Bunny,” he says, the gravel in his voice doing insane things to my body before settling in the same place I'm currently throbbing, between my legs, like a physical touch. “Are you ready to run?”
A thrill courses through me, reminding me why I signed up. Hot damn. I might like this little adventure after all.
Dee appears next to me, her hood removed, and he turns his attention to my best friend before I can reply. He takes in her costume with a slow perusal of her thin body. “A naughty nun?” He chuckles and fingers the cross hanging from her neck. “Luca will like you.”
Another man, this one wearing a mask that looks like a crow, with hair the same color as the feathers, approaches. He has a button-up black shirt, rolled up his toned forearms, and a pair of black slacks that will give him an edge at blending into the dark corn stalks behind him. Much better than the shock of white of my barely there costume.
His attention glides over me, and I have a feeling he’s taking in more than he gives away. “Taunting the fresh blood, Oz?”
Oz–the wolf–brings his eyes back to me, his smile growing wider if possible. “A bunny, Wade, just for us. Beck will be over the moon.” He trails a long finger over my cheek just below where my mask begins as his gaze does a lap around my face.
My lips part as I inhale deeply, the sweet smell of maple and amber wood mixing together as the scent of pure alphas fillsmy lungs, mingling with the soft scent of damp earth and pine that surrounds the corn field. Why does it sound like they are planning to hunt me for more than just the purpose of catching me? And why does that thought light me up?
Wade faces me, tilting his head, looking for all the world like the bird he’s dressed up as. A bringer of death. He steps into me, and my cuffed hands bump against his thigh as he captures my chin between his fingers. Wood and fresh syrup wafts off him, and I lick my lips. Unconsciously leaning into him.
He chuckles, low and deep, as his thumb glides over my lower lip. “Is that right? Are you just for us? A little rabbit to be chased through the maze and caught in our trap?”
Whoa. I’m pretty sure the application didn’t mention anything about this. The air catches in my throat on my exhale as it hits me. Their musks, at least a muted version, are familiar. I know them.
