The Hunting

The ride home was painfully long and Kia fought sleep every step of the way. She was exhausted to say the least, she hated what her life had become these past few months. First kidnapped and tortured by her own mate's family and then struggling with regaining her strength and fighting off the nightmares, and now another twenty four - or more who knows, deaths at her hands. All the blood she spilled, all the souls she watched leave this world. And for what? To get back to a mate that doesn't seem to want her anymore? To go back to a pack where she isn't needed as Beta anymore? To get back to a life she longed after, yet knew she could never have again?

No, those are all the selfless reasons she gives everyone else when they ask, thr answers she gives to make herself less of a monster. But in all truth, they're not the reasons at all. No, she killed because she was tired of being scared and out of control, she killed because she hated having someone decide her life for her, she killed because she was sick of being told what to do or be. She killed because for a brief moment she felt like she was back at Blood Moon in that dark room, naked and chained to the wall - helpless.

No, she killed because she wanted to be the one who gained everyone their freedoms, she wanted the glory, the fame, the praise. She wanted to be remembered as this fierce warrior, instead of the kidnapped and broken girl with all the scars she so desperately tried to hide. She wanted to be strong, and in that moment, where she took the life from someone's eyes, she felt damn strong.

"Do you think the Queen will do something?" Clayton asked his daughter snapping her out of her own dark thoughts.

"Yes, but I hardly think it will affect us in any way." Kia said, shrugging.

The Queen might do a lot of things, she might kill to keep her throne, deceive, manipulate, intimidate, but regardless of what she does she's still the minority. The humans hated seeing a woman in power, even if she wanted to retaliate against the werewolves, she'd never gain the support she needed to start a war. No other kingdom would stand with her simply because she feels threatened in her position. No, sadly, the men will laugh and advise her to take a husband so she could stop worrying her pretty litter head over things meant for men.

---

"You're back?" Tobias asked as he walked into Kia's room.

"Not for long, I'm leaving with my father and Alpha Henry." Kia said as she packed what few things she had with her. She mentally made a note to go and get her stuff in St

Aims as soon as she could.

"What, why?" Tobias asked, the hurt visible in his eyes.

"Tobias." Kia sighed as she turned around. "I don't know what it is, maybe it's your newfound power or your position as Alpha, or maybe you just realized what a burden I am. Whatever the reason, you're not the same person you were at Riverdale, you don't feel the same way about me. Maybe we should just stick to the plans of the council and find different mates." Kia said, forcing back her tears.

In all this time, she wanted nothing more than to be with Tobias. She missed him every step of the way, dreamed about him every night, cried even. But now, she couldn't picture why she had been so heartsick over him.

As she grabbed her stuff and headed outside Tobias grabbed her arm and pulled her in for a kiss. At first Kia tried to pull away, but after a while shr gave in to the intoxicating feeling of having your mate so close, the warmth of his skin, the soft electricity dancing along her skin wherever he touched her. When he pulled away, Kia turned and left him standing in the doorway, she didn't have the strength to say goodbye. She didn't want to say goodbye, but she also couldn't deal with this new version of him.

She sat in the back seat of her father's Jeep, Alpha Henry in the front seat, Clayton driving and a silent Kent next to her. He gave her quick glances every now and then but made no attempt to speak to her.

Once they were back at Riverdale her suddenly blurted, "I want you to take your position back."

Kia looked at him with soft eyes and Clayton laughed.

"Keep it, you earned it." Kia said as she placed her hand on his shoulder, Kent looked at her in shock before settling his eyes on Clayton as if seeking confirmation.

"You heard her." Clayton said, shaking his head with a smile.

Kent leaned down and wrapped his arms around his lifelong friend. "Thanks, Kia." he whispered before he let go. She gave him a soft smile before she shifted and ran into the forest, hoping to find some sort of escape in between the trees.

---

"So you're just going to let her go?" Lance asked as he walked into Tobias' office.

"It's what she wants." Tobias said, not looking up from his papers.

"You're an idiot." Lance said chuckling. "She wants you, the real you. Not the asshole that treats her like a child and devalues her."

Tobias growled and glared at his Beta. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, man up and get your head out of your ass. It's not a hat." Lance said, folding his arms over his chest. "If you don't do something, you'll lose that girl forever."

Tobias sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's frustrating when you're right." he said.

"Well then you must be frustrated a lot." Lance said with a hearty laugh, which Tobias joined in on.

"You're in charge until I get back." Tobias said before he ripped through his clothes and landed on all fours, his wolf standing tall.

Lance just gave him a nod as he ran out the door in the direction of his mate.

Kia was running through the forest, chasing a rabbit when she heard the low growls behind her. His scent hit her nose and her body came alive. Snorting his way she forgot about the rabbit and picked up her pace, leaving a trail of dust.

Tobias followed closely after, slowly moving in on her. In a brief lapse of judgment, Kia pulled up short on a turn and went stumbling down to the ground, seconds later Tobias was on top of her, playfully nipping at her legs.

She whined and he got off, standing next to her just staring into her multi-colored eyes.

Giving him a wolfy smile she rolled over onto her back, exposing her stomach and neck to him in an act of submission. Almost in sync with each other they both shifted, Tobias standing and Kia on her knees covered in dirt.

"Kia, I'm sorry I was a jerk. Timber has been having a hard time controlling his newfound power, for a moment there he forgot who you were." Tobias said, crouching down next to Kia. "I think he remembers now though." he said with a smile as his eyes turned black.

Kia reached out a hand and gently ran her fingers across his neck. Tobias closed his eyes and let out a soft growl as goosebumps broke out over his skin.

She understood what he was feeling, he never grew up as "an Alphas son", he never learned what it felt like to have so much power and he was afraid. She could feel Timbers nervousness, and she understood that too. Tobias had to witness not one, but two deaths that he perceives to be on his hands. His mother, and Evangeline. He is terrified of being the reason for anyone else to die, and having a whole pack to protect and care for has brought the worst out of him, he was an outsider his whole life and now he had to lead the pack, be one of the pack. He was at a loss and he was taking it out on the person he should have trusted the most to help him, but Kia understood that as well-because she had done the same to him when Layana died. Being a werewolf and understanding how unpredictable and uncontrollable their wolves could be, Kia understood Tobias' behavior.

They had spent so much time living the lives others intended for them, taking hit after hit because of others actions, they were forced apart and forced to become things they swore they'd never be. Kia became a killer, cold-hearted and uncaring, the one thing she knew she'd become without her sisters gentleness to guide her. And Tobias, he became his father, in regards to his mate at least, treating her worse than she deserved simply because he was an Alpha. But this all could be overcome, they both had major issues to work through, Kia had demons to fight and nightmares to get a rid of, Tobias had to learn to control his wolf and get accustomed to the power he now had, yes they were both messed up and far from perfect, but Kia remembered the moments they had that were perfect, the small things that made her fall in love with Tobias, the reasons why she changed her mind on having a mate. Yes, they both had a long way to go, but she had no doubt that they could make it, together.

Kia got up on her feet and pulled Tobias up with her, smiling up at him she gently pulled his face closer to hers and sunk her teeth deep into his neck, he jumped in surprise before pure bliss washed over him.

"You... Marked me?" Tobias asked, running his fingers over the wound once Kia pulled awaym

Kia smiled, "It's about time, don't you think?" she said laughing, "We need each other Tobias."

He smiled up at her before leaning down to give her a long and overdue kiss.