My Hunted Mate
Chapter Twenty Two

Corinna

Muttering “excuse me’ repeatedly, I continue to have to push my waythrough the crowds upon crowds of vampires surrounding me until Ireach the living room.

The stench of blood overtakes my senses as soon as I step into theroom, I take in everything around me and my eyes go wide. Vampiresare laughing and talking amongst themselves with wine glasses full tothe brim with blood, others are refilling their glasses from large punchbowls or the what is supposed to be a chocolate foundation but insteadof chocolate blood flows from it.

But the worst part wasn't any of that, it was the fact that some in thecorner of the room where the pool table sits, a group of fifteen or morevampires were feeding on and ripping apart humans.

At their feet lay a pile of bodies, freshly drained bodies with their nowsoulless eyes staring out at the crowds. There was some still alive, but ifthey weren't being fed on, they were shackled and standing near by tothe group with their heads down.

My eyes land on a young girl who couldn't have been any older thanseventeen, her light brown hair is matted with blood and dirt, herterrified hazel eyes stay glued to the floor with tears rapidly falling fromthem, her pale skin is also covered in blood, dirt, unhealed bite marksand some scars from old bite marks.

A loud growl escapes my chest, I march across the room to them, theynow watch me with unimpressed looks on their faces instead of feedingon the humans in their hold.

" Let them go. " I demand

The group of vampires in front of me instantly start to howl withlaughter, as if I'd just told them the funniest joke known to man. " Howabout you go to your kennel mutt. " One of the men tells me.

"If you don't let them go, I will rip you all apart. " I threaten, choosingto ignore the foolish insult.

An oddly familiar, pale woman with long straight silver hair and brown,nearly black eyes steps out from the group, narrowing her eyes on meas she sniffs the air.

"Why do I recognise that smell. That scent. " She ponders.

It takes a couple seconds but realisation flashes through her eyes, thenmisery, then anger and then rage and suddenly black completely coversher eyes, the veins pulse through her face and her fangs extend.

"You. You killed my brother. * She snaps.

Memories of the night I saved Gia flick through my mind, my eyeswiden

" Maria, are you sure? She smells a bit different to the scent. " The manfrom before pipes up.

" The mark on her neck is enough to explain that Jared. " The woman,Maria points to my neck.

Maria and Jared, move toward me but freeze when Phoenix stands infront of me. " Is there a problem? "

* That dog murdered my brother! * Maria seethes.

A furious growl rumbles past my lips, loud enough to gain the attentionof most people in the room. " Your brother drained the life out of

two innocent women and was moving onto a third before I stepped in. Isee that all of you are no better. "

Phoenix turns his head to look back at me, giving me a look that couldonly mean that I now need to shut my mouth and keep it shut, until hedefuses the situation.

" This woman behind me, is the beloved of my brother and the creatorof this clan, Malakai Orion. She is claimed, as you can see. Now youeither settle down and leave it alone as you are on another clan's landor you'll risk starting a war, that you know well we will win Maria. "Phoenix speaks, the entire time his tone is calm and collect, but deadly.Maria huffs, her face returning back to its original state. She turns awayfrom us, as Phoenix starts to guide me away from them. " Phoenix,those humans. " I mumble.

"1 know. " When I look up at him is jaw is clenched tightly.

" They've killed so many, please Phoenix, surely you can do something!"1 cry, attempting to stop in my tracks but his hand on my lower backpushes me forward with enough force that I've no choice but to keepwalking.

" The only person who can ban anyone from feeding to the point ofdeath on our land is Mal, so go beg your beloved because I haveabsolutely no say Cori. " He tells me, he looks pained.

I can tell it's taking a lot for him to walk away right now. * Phoenix, youcare about this. You don't want this to happen, I can see that you likethis as much as I do, so please. Help me. " I beg, forcing us to a stopand pulling out of his arm.

Phoenix glares down at me. " Corinna even if I wanted to, I can't okay?I'd be breaking laws and starting conflict.

I glare back at him. " Fine, then I'll do it. I have no laws to follow. "Growling at Phoenix when he grabs my arm to stop me, I rip away fromhim, storming toward Maria and her vampires. I don't acknowledge anyof them as I break the shackles on each of the humans standing off tothe side.

A hand roughly grabs my shoulder but I quickly whip around, using allmy strength to throw a punch into Jared's chest, sending him flyingback into a wall. * Any of you touch me again and you'll all burn."

The vampires move grabbing the now somewhat free humans, who cryhelplessly. I ready myself into fighting position. My eyes examine Mariawho now stands behind the brunette from earlier, gripping her neck tothe point the petite girl trashes around, struggling to breathe.

" Let her go. " I snarl.

" How about I rip out her throat instead? " Maria smirks at me.

Her eyes turn black, her fangs extend. I watch as the smirk neverremoves itself from her face even as she runs her tongue over a fang,someone grabs both of my arms, holding them tightly behind my back.My heart rate picks up as I struggle against whoever is holding me andas I watch Maria lowering her mouth to the girls neck.

A loud scream tears through the room as Maria sinks her teeth into thegirl's neck.