F O U R T Y - T H R E E

Kassian

After a few parting words to Nova, I promptly left the safe room and those two arguing idiots behind.

I just couldn't...I needed some space.

My Wolf needed some space...

I rubbed at my chest as unfamiliar emotions coursed through my chest, hurrying down the winding paths and twists of the underground safe rooms as I contemplated these warring emotions in my heart.

In all of my twenty years of life, I've never felt like this before.

Anger and Envy.

They were my best friends...my brothers...and the only people in the world, besides my parents, that I've considered family.

I've never been jealous of them before...not for anything and definitely not over anyone.

So the strong urge to head back into that room and strangle Atlas until he turned purple and lost consciousness was definitely a new and very interesting development.

'But Nova's not just anyone you idiot' My subconscious snarked at me.

Shit...I paused at the realization of what this meant.

Nova...

These new feelings stemmed all because of my stunning Mate.

I mean, it had to be considering that I've never been an envious man or shifter, my emotions never causing me any issues like they've had for others of my kind.

I contributed my demeanor to my Wolf's natural confidence in himself, dominant enough to not feel threatened by those with bigger barks than bites but still level headed enough to deal with highly stressful situations.

Or so I thought because after what I just witnessed, I was ten seconds away from losing my shit.

Something that has never, in the history of my life, ever happened before.

A growl tumbled from my chest as stalked towards the exit, immediately shifting as the warm late afternoon air kissed my fur.

And without a second thought, I ran.

And ran...

And ran.

~~~~~~~~~~~

It was around two in the morning when I finally stopped running, exhaustion seeping into my bones as I sat on the edge of my favorite cliff that overlooked the Academy's grounds.

The same cliff that I happened to bring Nova to during our study session.

Inadvertently, a smile graced my face as I thought about that day.

She was so intrigued by my words, and considering the subject I knew she had to be bored out of her mind but she never showed it, her eyes lighting up at even the smallest things.

She was adorably beautiful that day and I had to try my damndest to restrain myself from leaning forward and kissing the hell out of her.

I wonder what she would have looked like if I kissed her.

Would that pretty blush of her spread across her entire body? Would those blue eyes of hers darken with lust?

A snarl graced my face as I remembered the way she looked after Atlas' kiss.

Of course that slick bastard was the first one of us to break the Pack we made.

Always the troublemaker...never thinking about the consequences of his actions and what those actions could cause the rest of us.

While I was upset with him, and after long hours of contemplation, I couldn't help but be grateful at the same time.

Because while he did screw up massively, and would mostly likely be monitored closely by Nix in the upcoming days, in a way, it was kind of a relief.

Because now I don't have to feel guilty about my thoughts regarding Nova or worries about breaking the Pact.

I closed my eyes, swallowing thickly at the memory of how satisfied Nova looked sitting in bed, her eyes so dark they turned into a stunning lavender color.

A rumble went through my chest at the thought of having her look at me that way, of teasing her so deliciously that she solely focused those lusty dark eyes on me and no one else.

Shit...this was going to be a problem if my wolf doesn't want to share her with the others.

I was distracted from my sharing dilemma when a vaguely familiar scent filled the air, assaulting my senses with how both foreign and familiarly potent it was at the same time.

I tilted my head in question as my gazed snagged on a pair of robed figures heading towards the south borders.

I knew that scent...why did I know that scent?

Then it clicked.

Hell...I can't believe I forgot.

Which was pretty unbelievable considering that I must have smelt it about a thousand times in my Parents lab.

That pungent and unique smell of bleach and peppermint with a dash of artificial lemon, my parents prototype for a new product they were working on that masked the scents of Wolves.

I frowned because there was no way they managed to finish that product already. The last time I checked, they were still in the early stages of testing considering that the batches they previously attempted ended up giving their tests subjects anaphylactic reactions.

As the figures came closer, I slinked back into the cover of the shadows, cursing silently as I realized that the herbs I needed to remain temporarily undetected were too far away from me to reach.

The figures were close enough that if I strain my ears, and remained stock still, I could make out bits and pieces of their conversation.

"How...Longer?" An unfamiliar, garbled voice asked.

Hell...this (whatever it was) was serious if not only they were masking their scent but also if they were wearing voice modulators too.

"Almost there" The other robotic voice stated "The others..."

They were either out of my hearing earshot or one of them must have activated a silent stone.

A few heartbeats passed before I decided to emerge from my hiding spot. I let a few more moments past before I reached for some roots and herbs surrounding me, quickly grinding them together before rubbing the thick paste on my pulse points and heart.

Because while my parents were scientists that focused on the scientific and individual aspects of herbs and roots, Amethyst was the one that taught me that even the smallest and most antithetical ingredients, when combined with the right intentions, could create a reaction that defies expectations.

Which is why when I added larkluz root with vixade grass and a sprinkle of moss, I was able to mask my presence and stalk the robed pair.

While they wouldn't be able to hear me, and my wolf's scent was somewhat diminished to those closest to me, I could still be spotted by anyone if I wasn't careful.

Which was why I headed for higher ground, lifting myself onto the nearest branch and climbing as high as I could, traveling between the trees as I hunted the pair down.

They continued on down the path, the shadows and robes obscuring them to the point that they were one with the darkness.

Because I was at the last tree on this cluster of the forest, I had to drop from my perch and follow them on foot if I wanted to know what these figures were up to.

Thank god there was enough foliage for me to use to my advantage, nearly tall enough to hide my entire body in some areas.

The stopped walking and I was startled to find six other robed figures waiting for them at the south border, the border closest to the Fae Lands.

"It's time to finish this" Another robotic voice stated, moving forward until he it looked like he was gazing at the border door "We must end this tonight or else all is lost forever."

The man, I'm guessing that it was a man considering how tall and bulky he was, turned and the moonlight hit him with just enough light that I was able to take a good look at his face.

Or mask should a say...

All the blood drained from my face at the sight of those masks.

The Masks of the Marksmen...the Hunters of the Supernatural world.

The one group of people that all races of the Supernatural world was afraid because they were able to curse us to eternal damnation with a single drop of their blood.

According to history books, the Marksmen were created around the time the supernatural population started increasing in the world. No one knows if they were a gift from the Gods or  curse from the Humans in order to contain us but the fact of the matter is that they could kill the strongest of us.

Like they killed Wolfe Lupine all those years ago.

Like they would kill me if I didn't find away to get out of here or call for reinforcements.

Because these fucking people thought of everything tonight, from the robes to masks and even the scent blocker and whatever the hell else they were hiding on them.

"Are we sure we should be doing this?" A voice stepped forward hesitantly, a woman this time by the stature of her "You've seen what happened last time when we did this. That...creature...it nearly killed us."

"That's because I didn't have a good hold on it last time" The gruff robotic voice said, flexing his hand into a fist "I'm stronger this time."

"That's what you said last time" someone said dryly "And we can't afford to mess us this time. My sources tell me that the Heirs are investigating missing persons reports as we speak."

"That has nothing to do with us" A scoff sounded "We don't create those things."

"Donovan," A voice hissed "One of those creatures nearly killed my son."

My heart stopped at those words...

This isn't possible...