My Hunted Mate
Fifty Four

Corinna

When I reopen my eyes, my breath catches in my throat as I take in thesight in front of me. Where Atticus once stood is now a 50 foot tall,amber dragon with piercing red slitted eyes, golden scales all along itsback and down the outside of its tail.

The dragon's charcoal black talons scrap at the ground, as a deepdeafening roar erupts from it, echoing through the woods. The creaturelets out another roar, but this time flames accompany the sound, Icontinue to hold up the energy surrounding my body, gasping in fearas the flames come in contact with it, I watch as they bounce off thebubble in terror.

When the flames finally come to a stop, the trees that were alreadyknocked to the ground and burned to a crisp from Atticus shifting, arenow just piles of ash on the blackened forest floor.

Atticus begins to spread his wings, the large gust of wind that followsas he gets ready to take flight, is so powerful it knocks me onto mybottom and causes me to lower my defence.

With squinted eyes, I watch as he pushes off the ground, flying straightover me and into the sky. It only takes moments for the large dragon todisappear into the clouds, leaving me to pick myself up and wanderback to the house alone.

When I return, Kai is standing at the front door with Dyna in his arms, aworried expression covers his face until his eyes meet mine. He instantlywalks over to me, wrapping his free arm around my middle.

" Are you okay? What happened? " He asks softly.

"1 told Atticus about Helena and he ended up shifting. * I inform him,glancing down at Dyna who is staring up at us silently as we talk.

" Yeah, I heard. We'll go inside and wait for him to return. " Hemumbles, leading me back into the house.

When were inside, I wander into the bedroom pushing open the closetto replace clothes belonging to Atticus. With a pair of blue denim jeansand a plain black t-shirt in hand, I make my way out to the front,folding them neatly at the door for when he comes back.

Hours pass, the sun sets in the sky and with still no sign of Atticus, Idecide to get Dyna changed and ready for bed. By now the small childhad repeatedly called for her father, bursting into tears each time hedoesn't appear.

It takes over an hour for her to finally settle and fall asleep in my armsrather than her crib, as gently as possible, I lift myself from my place onthe sofa and creep toward her bedroom, when I make it inside I lay herin her bed, moving her toy dragon next to her and pulling the blanketover her small body.

" Thank you. " A whisper coming from the doorway startles me, I turn toreplace Atticus dressed in the clothes we left out with his gaze focused onhis sleeping toddler.

Eventually his gaze moves to me, he silently gestures for me to followhim before he turns and leaves the room. When we're back in the livingroom, I take a seat next to Kai on the sofa, Atticus sits across from us onthe armchair.

" Where are they? The people who murdered her? * He questions, he isstill on edge but seemingly calmer than earlier, as calm as he can begiven the circumstances.

"I'm not sure, they could be back on pack territory but they've alsobeen seen wandering near the perimeter of our home, they could evenbe at another pack closer by. " I tell him, folding my hands together onmy lap.

"Who exactly are these people? What's their fascination with you? * Heasks, leaning further into his chair as his deep red eyes study mecarefully.

Kai leans over, placing a hand on my thigh in an attempt to comfortme. " My uncle is Alpha Cain, He has been hell bent on making mesuffer in any way he possibly can until he can kill me." I mumble."Why? " Atticus continues to question me, understandably so. His matedied because of my uncle's petty desire to kill me.

" He has a deep hatred of me because I am a hybrid, I'm unaware ofany other reasons, if he has any more. He continues to hunt me, evenafter years. " I sigh, shaking my head. I've never been able tounderstand the way my family have acted toward me, I don't think I'llever understand it.

"1 really don't see why he can't let you be, doesn't he have a pack torun? " Kai grunts.

" From what I know, he leaves his Beta and Gamma in charge most ofthe time, he may as well not be alpha at all. The pack is in ruins becausehe won't move on with his life. " I grumble, thinking back to some ofthe rumours I'd heard throughout my years of being hunted.

" The moment you are aware of their whereabouts, I want you to let meknow. " Atticus announces, a deep yearning for revenge flashes throughhis eyes.

"I promise you, you'll be the first to know. " I nod.

"1 will be searching for them regardless, but with Dyna it provesdifficult. As much as I wanted to search day and night until I foundHelena, I couldn't do that and also be a father to my child. * He says,clenching his jaw. " How do I help her through this, when she's tooyoung to understand why her mother isn't going to return to her? "

My head falls as his words. " I'm not sure how to go about the last bit,but I do know we can help you with Dyna while you're on yoursearches. " I tell him, running a hand through my hair.

" Myself and Corinna can help look after the little one while you'reaway. " Kai adds, squeezing my thigh.

" That would be helpful, but you have your own family to think about. *Atticus dismisses, nodding toward my bump that only continues togrow as they days pass.

" My sister is wonderful with children, I doubt she'd have any problemwith helping out when we cannot. You'd meet her first of course. We'lldo what we can for you. " My mate assured.