THE HUNT Bound to the sky

Werewolves…

Shapeshifters who turned from men into beasts at night. Creatures of darkness and violence. Most people believe they don’t exist anymore—but I know better.

For I have seen the evil they could do first hand. The terror they could cause. And the blood they could spill.

 I saw them wipe my entire family away in an instant. They took everything from me, leaving only a trail of death behind them as they ran. My entire world was gone overnight because of those monsters. All that was left for me after the horror was a small house on a dead end street filled with nothing but memories. No one else lived there now except myself.

 My name is Bella and I’m a Hunter. I spend my days roaming around the face of the earth, hunting down these evil creatures making sure they don’t hurt anyone else again like they did mine.

 It’s been pretty hard, since I’m just a human…. unlike the creatures I’m after, who have supernatural powers. They have the ability to shapeshift into wolves anytime they want. They are faster than any other creature on this planet. They can run at speeds that defy the laws of physics. They have strong jaws and teeth that could rip through your entire body if you made the mistake of coming too close. Super human strength allows them to carry heavy objects with ease. Their senses are much more acute than a normal person's. There isn't anything that a werewolf couldn't sense—they can hear, smell, or see things that no one else can.

 Let me not get started on their speed, agility, and overall physical prowess. It's almost impossible to catch them once they've transformed into a wolf. But that doesn’t stop me tracking them down though. No matter how hard they are to find— which is very hard, considering they look like normal humans most of the time. I always hunt them down and kill them.  

 Werewolves have a particular scent that distinguishes them from humans. It's something they're born with. A mark on their DNA. I know this because I've studied every one of them I caught alive. My ability to smell them out is what makes me so good at my job. And to kill them with nothing but a silver dagger is what makes me strong.  

 “Bella!!!”

My front door flew open and slammed against the wall. Willow, my best friend and fellow member of the hunter community walked inside. Her long blonde hair fell over her shoulders. She was wearing a pair of black pants and a white button-down shirt.

 “Where have you been?" she asked me as she stormed over to me. A cigarette dangled from the corner of her mouth as she spoke.

 I rolled my eyes at her dramatic entrance. "What do you want Willow? I don’t have time to answer your questions. I’m trying track down some escaped werewolves."

 “Well…” she said and grabbed a wooden chair by the corner. Sitting down on it, she crossed her legs and spat out a smoke ring.  

 “What is wrong with you today?" I asked as I looked at her.

She put the butt of her cigarette between her lips and blew out a stream of smoke, staring at me from under her eyelashes as she drew back the flame to light another.  

“I’ve got something that might interest you.”      “What?”

“A bounty.”

“Bounty?”

“Yes.” Willow replied, before pulling out a crumbled piece of paper from her pocket.

 I took the piece of paper from her hands and unfolded it. On the top was written the words: ‘Alpha Kaden. $1 million Reward For His Head.’ “What the fuck is this?”

“Exactly what you read,” Willow said as she leaned forward.