My Hunted Mate
Fifty Three

Corinna

The moment that the car pulls up in front of the familiar house, myheart aches and tears cloud in my eyes, as I unbuckle my seat belt, I domy best to pull myself together. Kai remains quiet as he shuts off theengine, we both sit, unmoving, in silence for a couple of minutes untilfinally I push open the handle on the door and exit the car.

Just as my shaky legs reach the front of the house, the door swingsopen revealing a tall, bulky pale man with long dirty blonde hair,matching the colour of his overgrown beard covering his jaw, the man'sglowing red eyes narrow as they fall on me.

"Who are you? " His voice is strong, gruff and extremely intimidating ashe speaks.

"1. My name is Corinna, I was a friend of Helena's. " I tell him, watchingas his eyes flick to my mate who remains a few steps away from us.And this is my mate, Malakai. "

* Corinna? The hybrid? " The man questions, his hard features softeningslightly when I nod my head. " Helena spoke of you, come in."

He steps out of the way, swinging the door open wider as he does so. Iturn to look at Kai, who immediately wanders up to me, when he's atmy side, I walk past the threshold of the house, replaceing my way to theliving room with ease.

My eyes instantly replace the small white haired child, holding onto theedge of the sofa, as she uses it for support as she walks along thelength of it, blabbing to herself as she picks up a small purple dragonplushie. Her ruby eyes snap up to meet mine, a small smile making it'sway onto her face.

As if she remembers me, she abandons her toy and waddles her wayover to me, holding her arms out. " Up! " she calls, her small bodylifting in an attempt to jump, only for her to land on the floor on herbottom.

Leaning down, I scoop her up into my arms, settling her on my righthip. Turning to replace Kai and the man already in the room, watching me."1 assume you're Helena's mate? " I ask the red eyed man.

" Yes, My name is Atticus. " He responds, pausing for a moment toglance down Dyna. " Do you know where she is? *

My eyebrows furrow together in confusion. " Who? " I ask.

" Helena. " He shakes his head, as if it's obvious.

I feel my face completely drop. " You don't know? *

" Where she is? No, of course not, otherwise I wouldn't be asking you. "He says, clearly becoming irritated

* Dada! " Dyna shouts from my arms, Atticus’ irritation fades as he looksdown at his daughter, who is holding her arms out toward him.

He immediately stalks across the room, taking her from me. In the largeman’s arms, she looks even smaller than she is. My eyes replace Kai, who isstanding in the door way watching the scene unfold in front of him, hesends me a short nod.

"Why don't I take your daughter outside while you talk? " He suggeststo Atticus, who glances between us suspiciously.

" No, you'll stay here with her. We'll go outside. " He states, noddingtoward me.

Kai nods, moving across the room to take a seat on the sofa. Atticusgently places Dyna onto her feet, taking a moment to watch herwander over to the sofa, grabbing her toy again and holding it out toKai and roaring.

Atticus leads the way as we both walk outside to the front of the house,he shuts the door softly behind me, then waits patiently for me to tellhim what I know about his mate.

The birds chirp loudly and the cold breeze rustles the trees around usas we walk further away from the house, I replace myself struggling to replacethe right words. " I um.. Well what do you know? "

" Not much. Helena understands that I need to shift regularly, we havea schedule so I take time away in my dragon form, I was coming backand when I got here, she was gone, Dyna was asleep in her crib. It's notlike her to leave Dyna alone, but i figured she knew I was coming andthat was why, but then days passed without hearing from her, so Istarted searching. " He explains, shoving his hands into the pockets ofhis denim jeans as we walk.

Swallowing hard, I begin to imagine Helena patiently waiting for hermate to return, only to be ripped away from him and her sleeping child,these thoughts cause me to stop in my tracks.

Atticus also comes to a stop, turning to look at me. I stare down at themoss and dirt beneath our feet, trying to ignore the anxiety that slowlyrises within me. Eventually I lift my head, my gaze focusing on myfriend's mate, who seems to be getting irritated by my silence.

Tears being pooling in my eyes once again, but this time I can't gathermyself, instead they rush down my face. * Uh well.Helena is.. She's. "

" No.. No she's not, she can't be. " Atticus shakes his head, taking in myexpression.

" She.. She was killed. * I mumble.

" No, she's not dead, she's not! She can't be! How can you be sure? *His words are denying what I'm telling him, but the look in his eyesreads that his awful suspicions are being confirmed right in thismoment.

"It happened in front of me. " I whisper, clenching my jaw as a flash ofHelena's face draining of life enters my mind, I try to shrug it off, but aflash of her body laying on the ground with lifeless eyes comes straightafter.

When I come back to reality, Atticus’ breathing is coming out in sharpfurious pants, his red eyes begin to glow with fire as he struggles tocome down from his overwhelming emotions.

"Who. " He growls, making me take a couple of steps backwards andaway from him.

" My old pack, they, they killed her to make a point. " I confess to him,this only seems to set him off further.

My feet automatically begin to stumble backwards as a series of deepgrowls erupt from Atticus’ chest, small embers of flame float into the airwith each pant of breath, until finally a huge burst of flames coverswhere Atticus once stood.

Dropping to my knees, my eyes shut tightly on instinct. I hold my armsup in front of my face, automatically chants fall from my lips, as Istraighten out my fists a flow of energy forms a bubble around me, justas the flames extend toward me.