Rage pumped through my body like blood. These bastards made my mate cry. They invaded her. They hurt her. And they will pay.

I caught a scent and hurriedly headed toward it. They could probably smell all the blood on me. I'd already killed seven. About ten were left, and I was saving the worst for last. The thought of the number of people that hurt my mate infuriated me more and made my legs move impossibly faster.

Let me take over, my wolf demanded, but I kept him at bay. This was my Hunt, not his. He'd taken control too many times, but not this time. He began pushing against my boundaries in an attempt to take over, causing a supernova of pain to erupt through my head, but I kept going, having dealt with the pain of what I am so long that it didn't bother me anymore. I had to keep fighting him.

There. I could see her. Her brown fur boldly stood out from behind the bush she was trying to hide behind. Without wasting a moment I lunged at her, knocking the wind out of her as I landed on top of her. I opened my jaw and dug my teeth into her throat before I slowly applied pressure wanting her to feel every ounce of pain she'd caused my mate. I basked in her gargled screams and howls of pain as blood filled her mouth and mine before I effortlessly crushed her throat, efficiently ending the struggle and her life. I smiled at my work. She hadn't even made it out of my territory.

I quickly dig into her corpse, breaking through her ribs like I had with the others before I wrapped my teeth around her heart and pulled it out. I'd burn it in the fire pit along with the other traitors. I knew that once the heart was burned, the wolf it belonged to would be in a purgatory-like limbo unable to escape until their body was reunited with their heart by either burning it too or by letting it naturally turn to dust.

Suddenly the sharp smell of another scent rushed into my nose followed by countless others. Without a moment's hesitation, I ran and continued on my Hunt in search for the other bastards who'd signed their death wish the moment they'd laid their eyes on what was mine.

Eight down. Nine to go.

***

"You cheated!" Matthew whined as my character reached the finish line before his once more.

"Probably. I was just pushing random buttons until my character went faster," I shrugged, acknowledging the possibility.

"Yeah, whatever," Matthew childishly pouted before he grabbed the popcorn bowl and stomped out of the room presumably to fill it. For some reason I always felt at ease with Matthew. Like no matter what I said or did, he wouldn't care. He'd simply laugh and go along with me. I wish Greyson were like this. I wish I didn't have to fear or hate him. But it was his choice like it was mine for making a "mistake" and almost getting my back broken.

"The Hunt's almost over," Matthew announced as he re-entered the room, a bowl full of popcorn in his hands. "Only four left. He should be home late tonight if not early tomorrow."

To most wolves, the news of their mates returning would have them going crazy and jumping for joy, but it was the exact opposite for me. Dread filled me like dye in water and fear replaced the marrow in my bones. I blinked back my tears and nodded as Matthew put the bowl in my hands. Crying wouldn't do any good. It didn't bring my parents back, didn't stop Phoenix or the pack from abusing me, and it definitely won't stop Greyson.

"Come on, let's start another round and the loser has to pick up the mess I may or may not have created in the kitchen."

"How can you make a mess making popcorn?" I chuckled as I raised an eyebrow.

"Honestly, how do I do half of the things I do?" He asked as he chose Baby Peach as he always did and I went with Toad.

"You're so going down," Matthew smirked as he chose the race we did.

"I don't know about that. I'm pretty good at pressing buttons," I quipped half-heartedly as the countdown started and the race commenced, and even though it was the most fun I've had in a while, I couldn't stop the fearful tears that silently rolled down my cheeks.

***

I awoke to the smell of blood hanging heavily in the air. I slowly peeled my eyes open and looked at the clock on Greyson's nightstand. 12:17. I groaned and sat up just as the door opened, revealing my naked blood covered mate.

"I didn't mean to wake you," his gruff voice said as his eyes met mine, tiredness and irritation were evident in them. "I killed every mutt who dared to lay a finger on you."

I knew I should be happy and thanking him for making them pay for what they did to me, but seeing Greyson covered in their blood with the knowledge that I was the one that led to their deaths made me feel worse. Unable to think of anything else to say I whispered, "Thank you." He gave me a nod before he headed into the bathroom to undoubtedly wash off all the blood.

"Avery," he called after a few moments, causing me to jump a bit. "Come in here." Swallowing, I threw the covers off me and stood up, causing Greyson's shirt to fall to its full length on my body which was a bit past my knees before I did what he asked.

"Yes?" I questioned, running my fingers through my hair as he turned on the shower.

"I'm tired," he stated, as he put his hand into the shower in order to test the water, "and I want you to wash me."

My throat became dry as memories flashed through my mind of men who'd forced me to touch them and please them despite my obvious discomfort. "Greyson, I can't-"

"I wasn't asking," he coldly stated cutting me off. "Now get over here, and it'd be in your best interest to not make me ask twice."

Anger boiled in my veins as I felt my skin heat up, letting me know that my wolf starting to rise to the surface. "No," I growled out despite my better judgment knowing full and well that simple word could sign my death wish but I didn't care. I'd rather die than submit to him like a lap dog.

Greyson tensed before he slowly looked at me, rage evident in his eyes due to my disrespect. "I'm sorry, I must have misheard you. What?"

"No," I said once more before I swiftly turned on my heels and started toward the door, but before I could even take two steps, my wrist was violently grabbed before I was pinned against the very door I was trying to walk out of with Greyson's angry face hovering mere millimeters from mine.

"You do not say no to me, do you understand?" He sneered, the stench of the blood on his body burning my nostrils.

"I am your mate, your equal," I growled, causing Greyson's grip on me to tighten, but I didn't stop. "If I don't want to do something, you have no right to force me to."

"You want to bet your life on that?" He said in a deathly low voice as his skin began growing hot against my own, letting me know his wolf was starting to get the best of him.

"Yeah," I said, lifting my head a tiny bit. "I've dealt with men like you all my life-egotistical bastards who don't care about who you need to use or break to get what you want. You're just like Phoenix, you're just like my old pack members, and exactly like the men and women who hurt and invaded me. So go ahead and kill me. Torture me. Do whatever. You'd just be proving my point."

A deep growl resonated within his chest and within a second, his massive hand was tightly wrapped around my neck. My eyes grew wide as my air supply was abruptly cut off. My lungs screamed for oxygen as I clawed at his hands to let go. "No one has ever spoken to me with such disrespect and lived another minute, so consider yourself lucky," he growled as my head started spinning. "As for those pathetic excuses for wolves you compared me to, I am nothing like them. I respect your limits. I just value discipline and respect, something you obviously lack. I also thought you'd trust that I wouldn't use you or force myself into you, but since you're so stubborn and refuse to learn, you bring these punishments onto yourself, not I."

Despite my situation, I scuffed. He'd never given me a reason to trust him. Besides, if he was going to kill me, I might as well really get his blood boiling. "Burn in hell," I choked out, causing his jaw to clench before his grip became impossibly tighter around my neck. My heartbeat pounded in my ears and black was starting to overtake my vision, but right before I passed out, he let me go. My feet hit the ground and despite my body's need to collapse, I forced myself to stay upright.

"And here I thought I could make it to bed without you giving me any trouble," he commented as he shook his head though an amused smile decorated his face. "You are extremely brave, little wolf. You know of the evils that I possess, yet you still push me knowing that one of these times it won't end with you in one piece."

"Don't call me that," I gritted out, but he ignored me.

"Just know that one of these times you will push me too far and it will result in you being the one I Hunt and when I catch you, I will show you no more mercy as I did Andy or Cassandra or Andrew," he warned before he slid into the shower. "Now come on. The water's getting cold and I grew more tired by the second and when I get tired, I get angry."

Despite the growing want to just walk out of the bathroom and out of the house altogether, I refrained. I sighed as I began stripping until I was bare. I snuck a glance at the mirror as I made my way to the shower and was horrified, but not surprised, at the bruise that was starting to form around my neck.

With a set jaw, I climbed into the shower with Greyson and began doing as I was told, secretly planning my escape and the horrible consequences Greyson would face once I did.

***