Chapter 5 The Hunt

• Declan's POV
• I left home early and went straight to Joe's Diner, without bothering to send Marley today. In addition, I had a meeting with Alpha Logan at 9:00 am He wants my soldiers off his area now that we've removed his rogues.
• I was so exhausted. My wolf kept me awake for the majority of the night. Tyler was becoming antsy and restless even now, and I was battling to keep him under control. He kept telling me something was wrong all night but didn't know what. I jumped in my car and drove swiftly, disregarding the speed limit, arriving at the small diner in no time. I got out of the car and went inside after parking it on the curb in front.
• Jenna, the owner, greeted me. She was a lovely lady. I sat at the counter, scanning the room to see if she was there. Jenna approached and placed a mug of coffee in front of me. I took a sip as I reached for it. She still hadn't arrived after approximately one hour.
• I checked the time and noticed that it was already 8 pm Jenna seems concerned as well. She kept staring at the clock and even put her head out the door, gazing towards the bus stop, but there was no Melissa or Abby.
• "I had a feeling something was awry. Tyler screamed violently in my head, "It's been bothering me all night."
• "Shut up, you can't know that," I snapped, pushing him to the back of my thoughts. I stood up and walked to the window to look out, but there was no sign of her, so I returned to the counter to speak with Jenna.
• "Does Melissa not have a job today?" I inquired, a little uncomfortably.
• "She was meant to start at 6 am today." "I have no idea what's going on," she said. I could see she was worried since she kept looking at the door and the time.
• "Does Melissa typically arrive late?" "Does she own a phone?" Jenna returned my gaze before refilling my mug.
• "No, she is never late or misses her shift unless..." she paused, then regained her composure. "No, she doesn't have a phone."
• "Except what?" I ask. I could tell she was about to say something when she abruptly stopped herself.
• "No, it's nothing you should be concerned about."
• I stopped Jenna as she began to walk away. I could see something was bothering her, but before I could say anything, she locked her gaze on me.
• "Look, I know she's your girlfriend. It's obvious to me, but I can't tell you anymore. "She has enough on her plate without you creating her problems; you need to leave her alone," she yelled before returning her gaze to the door.
• "What? "How did you find out?" My head shook. I'm attempting to process what just came out of this human woman's mouth.
• "My husband used to be a hunter." I know what's going on in this city; I may be old, but I'm not deaf."
• "Were you a hunter?" I was taken aback by her statement and inquired.
• “Yes. Joe, my spouse, used to be a hunter until he discovered his best friend was a vampire. That's when we realized Vampires and people like you aren't all that different from humans. Most people simply want to live in peace, therefore he quit, which is what got him killed. When the Hunters came for him, he died protecting his dearest friend. My husband got in the way of his protection, and they both died."
• She told me this perfectly unaffectedly as if she had come to grips with it and accepted it.
• I just stood there, stunned. Most Hunters wouldn't tell someone like me they were Hunters unless they were arrogant or suicidal, but Jenna spoke as if it were yesterday. I could tell she had no ill will against my type, only acceptance. I just sat there thinking about what Jenna had just told me as I watched her walk out the back door.
• I was deep in concentration when I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I looked up, it was Alpha Logan and another man.
• We swiftly shook hands before selecting a booth in the far corner after Alpha Logan introduced him as his Beta Griffith. Jenna came over and asked if we needed anything, so we all got coffee. I needed to get this meeting over with so I could find Melissa and Abby.
• I could tell the Alpha was fatigued since his breath smelled heavily of whiskey. Was he still inebriated? I was thinking to myself. His garments appeared to have been worn while he slept. He was dressed casually in a flannelette shirt and pants. His beta was dressed in a suit and appeared to be upset with the Alpha over something.
• When the Alpha asked him a question, he gave him short answers that he virtually spat at him. Because he wasn't paying attention to how his Beta was speaking to him, the Alpha was either inebriated or really hung over.
• Jenna brought our coffees over, and the Alpha sipped him before speaking.
• "All right, Alpha Declan, I just wanted to let you know that your warriors did an amazing job, and we haven't had an attack in three nights, so you are free to withdraw your soldiers. "I sincerely appreciate your assistance," he said.
• "If you no longer require them, I am delighted to have them return home." I'm sure my men miss their families. Even if they communicate every day, it's not the same for them because they are used to being with their friends and children on a daily basis. You'd understand; you've got kids, don't you, Logan?"
• His Beta stiffened and turned to face the Alpha. Alpha Logan tightened his hands on the table and then unclenched them, not bothering to respond. My wolf became agitated all of a sudden.
• I was about to link Marley to send some of our warriors out to look for Melissa and Abby when her scent hit my nose so quickly that I thought it was a trick of the light, until she bolted past the front of the diner quickly, apologizing to Jenna for being late before taking off to the back where I couldn't see her.
• Looking at Jenna, I saw the concern on her face before she followed Melissa somewhere in the rear. What in the world was going on? I returned my attention to Alpha Logan and his Beta after straightening out my suit. At the very least, she was safe.
• "I'm glad you agree. Declan, are you really so deafeningly deafeningly deafeningly de I could see what was going on in your head?
• You bloody arsehole, she's in pain. I could also smell it on her. "I knew something was wrong," Tyler grumbled. He shoved at me, attempting to take control. To track her down and make sure she was okay. But I would not give him the power he desired. I couldn't let him smash the cafe apart and scare everyone here, or I'd make Alpha Logan think I was defying him.
• "Are you all right, Alpha Declan?" Griffith inquired
• "I'm alright, sorry." Sorry about that, I just zoned out for a second." While we finished our coffees, we made a small chat. Griffith and I primarily talked, while Logan looked hungover and didn't know what day it was.
• Melissa emerged after around 20 minutes. I kept looking over at her and watching her. I caught a whiff of her smell as she approached closer. I immediately had goosebumps all over. Tyler was attempting to move forward despite her foul odor. I smelled blood on her. Melissa's aroma was quite faint, and I could detect something else.
• "WOLFSBANE," Tyler hissed. He was furious that someone had harmed our friend with wolfsbane. She froze for a split second just as she approached my table. The Alpha and Beta both looked up to see who I was looking at. Melissa dropped her head swiftly, but not quickly enough; I could see she had a black eye and bruising along her jaw.
• She quickly filled our drinks and then dashed behind the counter, which relieved me, but the look Alpha Logan gave her made me want to rip him apart. He gave her a disgusted expression. I didn't notice Beta's reaction to her because he was looking everywhere but at me. I thought I saw his eyes glaze over as if he was mentally linking someone.
• "Well, now that everything is in order, we might as well keep this meeting brief." I'll have my men leave your territory right immediately, and if I ever need anything, Alpha, I'll be sure to contact you to ask for it," I added.
• The Alpha nods before getting up and going away. "Sorry about him, he had a tough night last night and a few shaking drinks," his Beta Griffith said, shaking hand.
• "I suspected as much. He had the odor of a bar."
• Griffith chuckled as he walked away. I was about to take a seat at the counter when I noticed her out of the corner of my eye, standing close to the kitchen sink. I was watching her take some tablets when I felt Tyler shove me over . I was standing behind her before I knew it.
• She walked into me after turning around. "You can't possibly be back here," she remarked hesitantly.
• I gazed down at her before grabbing her and squeezing her against my chest. I took the page of painkillers from her back pocket and read it. "Codeine. "Why are you taking these?" I inquired of her. Werewolves heal quickly; unless badly injured, there is no need to use pain relievers. She stepped out of my grasp and pulled them from my fingers.
• "That is none of your concern. Please don't come back here now." I could tell she was trying to get away from me, so I turned around and walked back out to one of the booths. Someone had injured her.
• Her face was covered in evidence, and I could smell blood on her as if she was still bleeding, and she smelled strongly of wolfsbane. It must be on her clothes, or she must have spent the night near it because she should be dead based on how powerful it smells.