Page 29 of Hunter

“When we were in Hell. She tasted…powerful. Old. Her blood was different.”

“She’s a wolf.”

“She’s a wolf but I could have sworn there was something else. I’ve had many wolves over the centuries but her blood…she’s hiding something.”

“I know she’s hiding something. Whoever is chasing her clearly wants something. Selling someone to Hell isn’t an easy task. You risk getting your own ass fried. No.” Hunter plowed his fingers through his hair, exhaling loudly. “They’re in with demons. They’re not everyday rogues.”

“Her blood. Something about it. I know it was Hell. The sulfur. The rancid odors skew your taste. But she tasted…tainted.”

“Like from a demon?”

“I don’t know. It’s not like I go around biting demons. It’s just there was something unusual about her blood. Almost like a fae. But not really.” Viktor’s lips drew into a tense line as he looked toward the fire. “I don’t know what’s going on with her, but I know there is something off. I’m not letting you or her out of my sight.”

Hunter’s eyes widened. “She’s not a demon.”

“I didn’t say she was a demon. I just said her blood is tainted.”

“Willa is not a demon,” Hunter repeated, his voice louder.

Viktor shook his head and turned to meet the Alpha’s gaze. “You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed something. Something different about her. Anything.”

Hunter clenched his fists. He’d detected her unique energy the first time he touched her.

“You have noticed. I know you have,” Viktor insisted. “You’re an Alpha. If she’s your mate you’ll find out some day.”

“Mate? Hold up. Let me get this straight. First she’s a demon and now she’s my mate?” Hunter held his hands up. “This convo has officially gone off the rails. I think I’ve had enough to drink.”

“Don’t play me, Hunter. Your actions speak volumes. You brought a total stranger into your home. Your bed. You don’t just pat her on her head, give her a few bucks and send her on her merry way.”

“I would do that for anyone,” he lied.

“I suggest that you be truthful with yourself before you go demanding honesty from Willa. Because if she’s a demon, you’ll have to kill her.”

“She’s not a demon. And the only people I’m killing are the wolves who killed all those people tonight. This ends now.”

“Fine. Ignore me. But since I can see you aren’t going to watch your own back, I’m going to be doing it for you.”

“I have a beta for that. Remus will be back soon.”

“I don’t like him.”

“You don’t know him. And it doesn’t matter. Remus will do fine to help me with Willa.”

“No, he won’t, because I’m here.”

“Suit yourself.” Hunter looked to the stairway, listening for Willa. “She’s quiet. I’ve got to go talk to her.”

Hunter walked from behind the bar, turning his back to the vampire. As he placed his hand onto the stair rail, the Alpha heard his voice.

“One more thing.” Viktor chuckled.

“What?” Hunter’s faced tensed in aggravation.

“She’s not very tame,” Viktor called to him.

“Wolves aren’t tame. She’s an animal.”

“Ah, good then. It brings us back to my original statement about her being an animal in bed. Still funny.”