Chapter 27 — When Hunters Bleed
The first scream came from outside.
Hazel was standing near her window when it happened.
Not human.
Not wolf.
Something sharp.
Something that tore through the night.
Annabelle stiffened instantly.
"They're here."
Hazel turned. "Who—"
The window exploded inward.
Glass shattered across the room as a figure lunged through the opening.
It wasn't fully human.
Tall. Lean. Eyes silver like sharpened steel.
Veins darkened beneath pale skin.
The creature landed smoothly, gaze locking onto Hazel's glowing wrist.
"There you are," it whispered.
Hazel stumbled back.
Another crash.
A second Hunter entered through the door — as if the lock never existed.
Annabelle stepped in front of Hazel immediately.
"You don't touch her."
The first Hunter smiled.
"Oh, we don't touch."
Its gaze darkened.
"We harvest."
Hazel's mark burned violently.
Pain shot up her arm.
The Hunter moved.
Fast.
Too fast for human sight.
But Hazel wasn't moving like a human anymore.
Instinct kicked in.
She ducked.
The Hunter's claws sliced through the wall behind her.
Claws.
Not metal.
Not wolf.
Something forged.
Ancient.
The second Hunter grabbed Annabelle and threw her across the room.
Hazel's heart slammed.
"Don't touch her!"
The air around Hazel vibrated.
The lights burst.
The floor cracked beneath her feet.
The first Hunter froze mid-lunge.
Its eyes widened.
"Well… that's new."
Hazel didn't understand what she was doing.
She only felt it.
Rising.
Something inside her stretching against invisible chains.
The Hunter lunged again—
And this time Hazel didn't move.
The creature's hand stopped inches from her throat.
Frozen.
Suspended in mid-air.
Not by strength.
By pressure.
Invisible.
Crushing.
The Hunter gasped.
Its silver eyes flickered with something rare.
Fear.
"You're not sealed properly," it choked.
Hazel's voice layered again — faint but present.
"Neither are you."
With a sharp twist of her wrist—
The Hunter slammed into the opposite wall.
Hard enough to crack bone.
The second Hunter hissed, baring elongated teeth.
"Kill her before she stabilizes!"
It charged.
Hazel's control slipped.
Pain exploded in her spine again.
The pressure vanished.
The second Hunter's claws came down—
And stopped.
Not because of Hazel.
Because a hand caught its throat mid-air.
The room temperature dropped instantly.
The Hunter slowly looked sideways.
Ryan stood there.
Eyes darker than night.
Venom humming beneath his skin.
Blade perfectly still.
"You chose the wrong territory," Ryan said quietly.
The Hunter snarled and slashed at him.
The claws shattered against Ryan's skin.
Not piercing.
Not even scratching.
Ryan's grip tightened.
Venom surged.
Break it.
Blade whispered coolly.
Slowly.
Ryan didn't hesitate.
He snapped the Hunter's neck in one precise motion.
The body hit the ground lifeless.
The first Hunter tried to crawl away.
Ryan stepped over the corpse.
"You don't leave messages in my city," he said calmly.
The Hunter's silver eyes flicked toward Hazel.
"She's awakening… he'll feel her…"
Ryan's gaze sharpened.
"Who?"
The Hunter laughed weakly.
"The Devourer."
Ryan didn't wait for more.
Venom took over for half a second.
Just enough.
The Hunter's chest imploded inward.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Hazel swayed slightly.
Ryan was at her side instantly.
His hand steadied her waist.
The contact sent a shock through both of them.
Her mark flared.
Venom growled softly.
She's ours.
Blade murmured.
Careful.
Hazel looked up at him, breathing uneven.
"You knew this would happen."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
His jaw tightened.
"Because you wouldn't have stayed where I could protect you."
She tried to pull away.
His grip tightened just slightly.
Not trapping.
Grounding.
"You are not safe here anymore," he said firmly.
Annabelle slowly stood behind them, shaken but alive.
Ryan didn't look away from Hazel.
"They will come again."
Hazel's voice steadied.
"Then let them."
Ryan's expression shifted.
Pride.
Dangerous pride.
"That won't be necessary."
The air shifted subtly around him.
Decision made.
He looked down at her glowing wrist.
Then back into her eyes.
"You're coming with me."
Hazel's pulse jumped.
"Where?"
Ryan's voice lowered.
"Home."
BOOM.