The Hunted Wolf

By Honey Groenendal

The Hunt is the half-werewolf, half-vampire immortal race that is in control of every werewolf on the Earth.
And they have a problem.
A werewolf was born without The Hunt's permission, and now they will have to kill her.
The little werewolf, Cassie, evades The Hunt more than once, and now they seek revenge.
If The Hunt don't kill Cassie, their domain will crumble and they will die. And The Hunt isn't known for being merciful.
Welcome to the fight for her life, because Cassie plans on living and saving the world from The Hunt's destruction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483681429

Honey Groenendal

Honey Groenendal's love of the literary arts was a trait she had even as a little girl. That love drove her to write her first book, The Hunted Wolf, and to continue writing throughout her life. She lives with her family in San Diego, California.

Book preview

1. Prologue

M y name is Cassandra Elizabeth Bloodstone. I’m a werewolf; I was born one, and I will always be one, and there’s nothing I would do to change that. My family, the Bloodstones, are also werewolves, but they just weren’t born as one like me. We have what’s called The Trait. It means that when you are ready or mature enough, you could be a werewolf and be in the tribe with everyone else.

There are two types of werewolves: There are the good kind that minds its own business, and do what they have to do in order to survive. That’s us. Then there’s the bad kind that calls themselves The Hunt. They make the rules, cannot become human because they are part-vampire, and are immortal. They regulate and rule all of the werewolf population. Everything that ever happens has to be approved by The Hunt.

My existence wasn’t approved by The Hunt, and trust me, they hate being ignored. And when they hate something, they destroy it.

I am Cassandra, or Cassie, and this is my story. This is not some self-discovery story, or about my wonderful acts of heroism, because I’m only human (okay, part human), and I make mistakes too.

I am the girl wolf. I am the one The Hunt wants. They have to destroy me, because if they don’t, everything will be chaos and all hell will break loose.

Well, say hello to hell, because I’m not letting them destroy me yet.

2. The Story Begins

I was born of the Fourth of July, in Montana. I remember because I could smell the food, the forest, and the life. I wasn’t exactly born… human. Let me explain. My parents were curious about… let’s just say, reproduction as wolves, so you get the point. Since our tribe shares a mind connection when we are in our wolf forms, EVERYONE saw what my parents did. The Alpha of that time strongly advised my mother to not change into human form during the pregnancy. So she listened, she kind of had to; no one could disobey the Alpha. On that Fourth of July, I was born a beautiful gray wolf with startling bright green eyes, despite my parent’s brown coat and dark eyes.

I was free at last! I was happy, even, just being almost-independent at last!

After my birth, I was moved to our family’s house in Cascade Range, Oregon. From there, I spent a couple of months in the forest surrounding the house with my mother, father, and my cousin Daniel. Matt, the new Alpha since his father had died months before of natural causes, would come and show memories to me. For instance, he would show me survival skills, how to act like a human, how to hunt, and the family history. I was proud to learn about my family’s origins and how we came to be, but Matt could have at least censored out some of the gory parts! He also taught me about The Hunt, and even though I was young, I had a burning hatred for them.

I was a couple months old when I first saw my mother in the form of a woman. And let me tell you, I was as scared as you could get! Of course, I saw my father, and everyone else, as a human, but I never thought my mother could be a human too.

One moment I was wandering around, listening to my mother telling me to be careful, and the next, my father was there holding some clothes in his hand. And then there was the woman… she smelled like my mother, even looked like her, but it wasn’t her. I ran away, thinking she was a look-alike trying to take me away. And I heard this woman and my father talking.

Charlie, She said, She’s scared of me, her own mother… the woman said.

I know, Tawny. Here are your clothes, dear, my father said, with love coating his words.

Thanks, now just watch her for a little while. She said jokingly, but also serious.

The woman walked away, and my father phased into a wolf that had a light brown coat and that was much bigger than me.

Curiosity won over me and I dared myself to ask the question.

"Can I do that too?" I thought.

"Of course, if you want," he said

So I willed myself to be a human… to be like my parents, and everyone else, at last. I opened my eyes and found myself to be a little human girl who had bright green eyes and silver hair. I also felt the excruciating feeling that came with being cold. My bare human skin did not offer a lot of protection from the winter winds.

DADDY! I yelled. And suddenly, the man I knew was my father engulfed me in his warm arms. The woman I now knew as my mother, came running out, fully dressed, with some clothes in her arms. Clothes small enough for me.

I reached out for the clothes, being cold even with my father’s efforts to warm me. Being born a wolf had some perks, and not being cold was definitely one of them. Matt and my parents taught me everything I need to know to be able to survive as a human. So even though I was like a couple years old in human form, I was able to effectively put on the clothes I was given. Ugh, pink, the worst color in the world. But I put it on nonetheless.

I felt my mother put my silver hair in a ponytail, just in time for the rest of my family to walk up and see me for the first time as a human little girl. And probably the last. For one moment, everyone was smiling, cooing and awing at my cuteness. But suddenly, everyone turned their heads away from me, sniffing the air. Their eyes widened.

CASSIE! RUN! GET AWAY FROM HERE! Everyone screeched, waving me to run away.

I couldn’t. My legs wouldn’t work. If I wasn’t a human, I could probably act on instinct, but not now. Instead my Auntie Jaime, with her long black hair and bright blue eyes, looked at me.

What? Why? I said. Adults could be so stupid sometimes, at least that’s what I believed. I felt Auntie Jaime’s eyes on me and looked at her.

The Hunt is coming. Auntie Jaime said, calmly.

What? I replied, not understanding. I thought they only came to kill abominations! Abominations are part-vampire and not approved by The Hunt.

They do! They believe you are part vampire! They are coming to kill you! Matt said.

But – but… I’m not part vampire! I yelled. Matt walked over to me and knelt down. He put his strong arms on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes. His face was glowing with youth, since he was only eighteen at the time.

"That doesn’t matter to them. We didn’t ask them to allow your birth, anyway! They will kill you, but only if you don’t get out of here! You need to leave!" He said, practically yelling at me.

Someone ran toward me, with an armful of clothes and two leather cords.

Tie these around your ankles with this, my cousin Daniel, who was three years older than me, said. Daniel had a slightly pudgy face, had a head of light-brown hair, and had the biggest hands in the world (at least to me). He handed me the clothes and the leather cords. That way you can run a lot better.

Thanks, Danny. I said, and did what I was told at top speed. What do I do now? Then I smelled it: The dead-awful smell of something rotting blended with the musty smell of wolves.

RUN! Everyone yelled. It would have been comical if my life were not in danger.

I let my mind run free and I felt heat engulf me from head to foot. I heard the fabric I was wearing rip, and I was satisfied; the pink atrocities were on the floor in shreds. I was a wolf; the little gray version of myself, and the smell was growing stronger. I took off as fast as my little legs could take me. My mom and dad were right behind me.

"Cassie, I heard my mother think as our mind-connection abilities flipped on when we changed into wolves. Where are you going?" She was far behind me. I saw a wide tree to hide behind and ran to it. I panted, not because I was tired but because of the waves of terror that was washing over me without giving me time to cope.

There were screams: horrible, terrible screams that I understood as The Hunt found its destination.

There were howls: Sad, depressing sounds and I knew that the sources were in a lot of pain.

There were people pleading: pleading for mercy, for their lives to be spared, to be taken as prisoners.

There was the sound of fighting: claws ripping fur, punches landing their blows. The frightening part was that I had no idea who was winning.

"They’re dying . . . all because of me . . ." I thought.

"Cassie! Where are you? We need to leave!" I heard my father yell.

"I’m right here, I said shakily as I stepped away from the tree. Let’s just go."

I flew past my parents and continued to run as fast as I could.

The sounds continued and were eating me alive. I tried as hard as I could to get away from them. No matter how far away I was, they never faded from my mind. Then they stopped, and I wondered who died because of my existence. Who lost their life to protect a little girl? Why did they do this for me? Even though the sounds ended, they still bounced around in my head, torturing me as a tear ran down my furry face.

"Thanks everyone, I thought to the fallen, And I’m sorry I’m the reason you aren’t here right now."

3. Fifteen Years Later

F ifteen long years passed. My once light-gray hair has turned into a color that was unnaturally jet black. My body stretched out and I was thin no matter how much I ate, but I was stronger than I looked. My eyes were still the same brilliant green they were when I left my childhood home in Cascade Range.

My mom told me to never talk to strangers. And, like a good little daughter, I listened. I was fifteen and I’ve seen lots of boys, most of them attractive really, but none ever really caught my attention. Never found the one I was living for, like us wolves were supposed to.

On the run, we’ve been all over the country, my parents and I. But for some reason, we’ve never been to California. And that was where we were heading. San Diego, California. Maybe that was where my soul-mate was hiding, but I shook the thought out of my head.

Moments after arriving I hear my mother say, "We should go to church! C’mon Cassie, put on your Sunday best!"

REALLY? Whatever, my parents were always weirdoes… Oops! My father heard my remark and bit me where it hurt.

"Listen to your mother! And we are not weirdoes!" He said in a menacing voice.

I phased into my human form. Yes, Daddy! I said in an innocent little girl’s voice that was so not me. I bent down to untie the leather cord that held the white-and-purple dress I had around my ankles. It looked so pretty… just not when I was wearing it.

This is perfect, I thought sarcastically. Going to church just to meet more boys… any other girl my age would be happy to be in my position, but not me. It’s aggravating to know that every boy you’ve seen in your life is not yours. But whatever, it doesn’t matter all that much.

I put on my dress and flats and trudged, unwillingly, to church. It wasn’t far, but it sure wasn’t what we suspected. Everyone was dressed regularly, as if nothing was happening. I was probably the only girl wearing a dress. I was so concerned about looking at the whole place that I bumped into someone.

Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry! I said. I looked at whom I bumped into. A boy… with medium-length blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes… My heart shattered. Everything I knew and loved blew up in my face. I felt like I was slowly floating off the face of the earth, until this boy grabbed me and pulled me back down. He is the reason I am here on this strange earth, running for my life from evil werewolf-vampires… this guy whose name I didn’t even know…

He chuckled a little and looked me in the eyes.

Ha ha, it’s okay. I’m Dylan, He said holding out his hand to me in a friendly manner. I stared at his hand, then back at his face, drinking in how he looks…

You know, you’re supposed to shake it. Dylan’s lips moved and it matched his voice, his melodious, beautiful voice. He looked at me with skeptical eyes so I took his hand in mine and shook it. Of course I knew how to shake hands, I’m not some uncultured, uncivilized brute! "Aren’t you going to tell me your name? I’m not a mind-reader you know?"

Oh. Um… yeah, my name is Cassie. I’m new here, as you can see… I said. Boy, I sound awkward! I thought and I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t.

Yeah, no kidding you’re new! Dylan said. I laughed shyly. He saw this and said, C’mon, I’ll give you a tour of this place.

Uh… sure! was my unsure reply.

He showed me the coolest places I have ever seen. Of course, I haven’t been on a tour of a church before, and it was only cool because Dylan was there. After the tour, we were on friendly terms. We would’ve switched phone numbers, you know, if I ever had a phone.

Thanks for giving me the tour. But my family and I travel around a lot, so… I don’t think I’m going to be back. I said sadly. He felt the same as I did.

Oh, well, nice meeting you then… Dylan replied.

I took a deep breath, trying not to cry. I knew it wasn’t the smartest move to start crying, but if I knew my parents, they value my life more than my happiness. Even if I did find the one. When I took a breath, I smelled something familiar… something old and haunting, like a bad nightmare… but it was real…

The Hunt.

Um… Dylan, I have to go but where do you live? I said somewhat rushed. They were close. I had to get out of here…

248 Wayward Avenue, but I don’t see why…

Doesn’t matter. Bye! I said.

Without thinking, I kissed him on the cheek, and ran as fast as I possibly could. That was so stupid! When I was far enough to not be seen, I phased, ripping my dress and flats.

"Good, I hated that thing anyway!" I remarked, thinking no one could hear me.

"Cassandra! What happened?"

"Dad! Hell, you scared me! What are you doing? I thought you were supposed to be at church!"

"I am. But what happened?"

Okay, now this guy is really starting to annoy me.

"I – I – I found him, Dad. Happy, now?"

"No. No, I’m not happy. Your mother isn’t going to be any happier than I am, either."

"THAT DOESN’T EVEN MAKE ANY SENSE!" I yelled.

Well, it makes some sense, at least. I don’t think any father would want to lose his daughter to a strange guy she just met, even if she met him at church.

"I know it doesn’t make sense NOW, but it’ll make sense later. You are not seeing him, not now, not ever."

"But – but DAD! He’s my other half! You can’t-!"

"Cassandra, listen to your father! It’s for your own good, so just forget him and let’s get moving. You ran away from The Hunt, didn’t you?" My mother said, butting in on this conversation.

"I did, but-"

"That’s all we need to know. No ifs, ands or buts. Your safety is our priority, not your happiness."

"If you were really my parents, you would care more for my happiness than my safety!"

Silence.

No one spoken, or even thought. My parents . . . do I even know them? They don’t love me. If they did, they would let me be with Dylan. There were too many secrets kept from me… too many lies told straight to my face… It felt like a whole day until they said anything. My whole body ached, and I knew I wasn’t sore from running. I also had a crazy headache that never stopped and only got worse by the minute.

"It’s getting late, let’s stop here for the night. My mother" said in her fake, unreasonably fake, voice.

"Whatever." I said defiantly. I slowed to a stop and collapsed on the leave-strewn forest floor, and kept my thoughts strictly to myself. We were near the border between California, Arizona and Nevada, but staying here was not my intention.

I waited what seemed like forever until my parents really and truly fell into a deep sleep that they wouldn’t wake up from for hours. I stood up and turned around, faced the direction of Dylan’s home. We wolves have a very good sense of direction, so I made my way to his house, stealthily, quietly, and swiftly. I made it there in no time at all. Thankfully, his room was downstairs, so I looked through the window. I saw a clock on his dresser that read 11:42 PM. Good, he won’t be waking up soon.

For once in my life, I was wrong.

4. Dylan

C assie sat there, watching by Dylan’s window, for at least three hours. Dylan was half asleep, though he didn’t really know why. He had a strange feeling that he was being watched. He was facing the door, so he opened his eyes slightly. The light that came from under the door was startling, but his mom wasn’t there. Sometimes she was so upset that he was growing up, that she watched him sleep. If she wasn’t watching him, then who was? He brushed off the feeling, closed his eyes again, and rolled over to face the window.

Nothing there, he told himself, now go to sleep.

The feeling grew so strong, Dylan felt uncomfortable. He opened his eyes abruptly, taking a glance outside the window. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw a gray dog, no, much bigger than a dog… more like a very gigantic wolf with beautiful green eyes. But two things struck him as very, very odd.

One: There weren’t any wolves in this area. There weren’t even any stray dogs! Every dog that you found here was either behind a fence, in the pound, or on a leash.

Two: He saw those green eyes before. Not a long time ago either. Just on Sunday…

Church, he realized. Cassie… her sudden departure wasn’t expected, but the thing that made it really surprising was the swift and really unexpected kiss she planted on his cheek before she ran away. There were so many things she was clueless about. Dylan had shown her the band room on her tour of the place. She was utterly amused by all the instruments.

And this is a guitar, Dylan said.

That’s so cool! How do you play it? she asked, eyes wide in excitement. Dylan was talented and was knowledgeable in how to play various instruments. He smiled, knowing she was going to ask, and strummed an easy melody of a song he just recently wrote.

That’s how it looks like! She exclaimed.

What do you mean? Dylan said as he stopped playing to look at her.

"My parents and I are on the road a lot, and I hear that kind of