My Hunted Mate
Chapter Nine

Corinna

My eyes slowly open, it takes me a couple of seconds to realise I'm stillin the apple orchard and that the night is now pitch black. I slept allday. Flashes of the hours before bring tears to my eyes, I let out smallwhimpers thinking back to my mum's lifeless face. The grief I'm feelingoverwhelms me and I end up shifting back without meaning to, I curlmy naked form into a ball on the grass at the base of the apple tree I'munder, as I sob uncontrollably.

An unknown amount of time passes before I can slow my breathingenough to calm myself, the exhaustion causes me to feel heavy to thepoint I start to drift off to sleep again but as I do I hear three sets offootsteps approaching, instantly I'm on edge and alert. I push myself tosit up, scanning the area, allowing my senses to heighten.

I'm suddenly overwhelmed by the smell of blood, burning flesh anddeath. I spring to my feet to make a run for it but I don't manage totake even one step before I'm knocked to the ground, my eyes widen inshock as I take in the pale raven haired woman on top of me with blackholes where her eyes should be, deep veins under her eyes andextended fangs that are still dripping blood from her last kill.

My heart rate sky rockets as she grabs my throat, turning my head tothe side to give herself access to my neck. I'm completely frozen as sheruns her nose up along my neck, inhaling me. It quickly clicks for mewhat is happening and my own panic sends a blast of energy from mybody, sending the vampire flying off of me and onto the ground a fewfeet away from me.

Rushing to my feet, I stand preparing for her to attack again but myfocus is broken when a sweet scent wafts through the air, wrappingaround me, I inhale it deeply and replace muscles in my body I didn't evenknow were tense relaxing instantly, I close my eyes suddenly feeling likemy insides were melting and I'd found a new meaning for warmth.Shaking my head, I snap my eyes open just in time to see the vampirewas coming at me full speed. A quick wave of my hand sends her flyingbackward, barrelling into a tall pale brunette woman, no not woman,vampire who had just come out of the trees at the other end of thefield where the orchard was located.

It only took them seconds to get back to their feet and the womanfrom before to come sprinting towards me, I watched her run acrossthe field, waiting until she was closer, only before anything couldhappen she is tackled to the ground roughly by another figure, a manthis time, they roll around, fighting each other so fast that I can only seethe two blurs.

Before getting a chance to blink, the man is standing in front of meprotectively and I realised he was the cause of the addictive, sweetscent that had distracted me. When I look up to take him in, my eyesare met with his toned back that is covered by a white dress shirt and Ilet out a slight huff that I'm only able to see the back of his wavyshoulder length brown hair.

* What the hell Mal?! I found the dog or whatever that thing is first!The raven haired woman shouts in confusion, a low growl rumbles inmy chest at her choice of words.

"If you don't shut your mouth Josie, I'll shut it for you. * Mal warns hiscompanion, giving no signs of moving away from me.

" What's going on Mal? It's not like you to interfere with someonefeeding. " The brunette asks, her voice is soft.

" She... " He trails off and turns to face me. I replace myself gettingnervous, fumbling to cover myself in front of him, my tan cheeksburning red as my eyes attach themselves to the floor. His fingers aresuddenly cupping my chin gently, indicating he wants me to look athim, 1 replace myself melting into his touch and trailing my eyes up histoned pale body to scan his defined jawline, blood stained chin, softpink lips, high cheekbones, dark full eyebrows and finally his deepocean pool eyes, that looked as though I could go swimming in them,by now I have long forgotten about being shy and covering myself,instead as I look into his eyes I feel completely safe, comfortable andaccepted.

"I'm his mate... " I whisper, but from the shocked noises in thebackground I don't doubt I was heard.

He moves his hand so his palm was resting against my cheek. " Myname is Malakai Orion, and you are? "

* Corinna Scott. " I breathe, titling my head into his hand.

A loud squeal comes from behind Malakai. * My brother has finallyfound his beloved! " The brunette grins happily, showing off her bloodstained teeth. " Aren't you going to introduce us? *

I glance at him. " Brother? " I ask.

Malakai smiles, dropping his hand from my face and beginsunbuttoning his shirt. I watch him reveal his torso as he slowly slips thematerial from his skin, my lower stomach knots as my eyes wander allthe way down to the trail of hair disappears under his black skinnyjeans. I'm snapped out of my trance when he wraps his shirt around myshoulders, holding it out for me to slip my arms into, I do so quicklymuttering a soft thank you.

Malakai gently takes my arm as if he is escorting me somewhere, thenguides me over to where the two women stands. The raven haired girlnow has a deep scowl on her face and is openly glaring at me with herhate filled hazel eyes, the brunette beside her on the other hand is stillgrinning at me happily, her crystal blue eyes shining with happiness.

* Corinna, this is my sister Dahlia. Malakai introduces, I open mymouth to speak but end up whipping my head to the left when I hearshouting off in the distance. The two siblings curse her their breath,while the other vampire just rolls her eyes.

"1 told you there was more of them. " She sneers at Malakai, I take asmall step forward releasing a warning growl to which she scoffs.

" We have to leave, now. " Dahlia says, grabbing the raven hairedwoman's arm, dragging her through the orchard.

" Come. " Malakai demands softly, worry flashing through his eyeswhen the shouting starts getting closer.