HUNTED-Chapter 350: Taste of Vengeance (5)

[ Reader discretion is advised. Following chapters contain gory scenes. ]

The vans came to a screeching halt, making their bodies sway to the side slightly before straightening themselves. Aldric and Harry sat in silence for another ten minutes, letting the terrorising situation settle in the humans more. The not knowing played mind games with them.

Was it sick? Yes.

Did they deserve it? Also, yes.

They could smell their fear increasing the longer they waited, even from where they sat in a separate. Seeing their friend lying in front of them dead would have also messed with their heads throughout the drive, and dread would now be reaching a breaking point as they waited. Aldric removed his tank top and trainers then made his way out of the van, pushing open the back doors with a loud thud.

Chase and the other two hunters were already waiting outside with torches. "The group chat has been updated throughout the day, and the campsite has been set up. We’ll wait here until you’re finished," Chase said, his expression professional again.

It was a strange sensation to be in league with the hunters to set up the cover story for the humans’ deaths. It was highly alarming at how swift and easy it was for the hunters to set such a thing up. But Aldric was also impressed and grateful to Chase. He hoped things would work out for the best, and situations like this weren’t going to be a regular occurrence for missing supernatural creatures.

Aldric nodded to Chase and then looked at the rogue. "Harry, can you drag them outside, please?"

"With pleasure," Harry smirked as he pulled off his own top, revealing the scars on his body.

"Don’t be nice about it either," Aldric added as he felt his wolf beginning to pace at the edges of his mind, wanting to get out.

"Dude, this ain’t my first rodeo," Harry replied as he seemed to half skip towards the other van before his amusement fled his eyes, and all that reflected back was a coldness that made even Aldric feel a chill trickle down his spine. He ripped open the doors and smiled broadly at the humans.

"It’s time for us demons to have some fun," Harry growled before grabbing each of them and throwing them out into the wet, muddy puddles one by one.

They were on a bendy muddy countryside road in the middle of nowhere. Fields surrounded them with small woods, and at the far end was a private lake for fishing. The lycans could see everything with their perfect sight, the fields were still shaded in the dark blue of night, and the trees still cast shadows, but they could still see perfectly fine.

One of the men tried to stand and escape, but Harry stopped him and placed his foot atop his head, growling down at him. "I wouldn’t do that if I were you.. You’ll make our beasts more excited for the chase." Harry then walked around them, glaring at each one, making them shrivel up more in fear. "Before you get any more ideas in those puny heads of yours.. Don’t. There is no escape.

This is the end of the line for you."

Aldric stepped up then, his chest growling, lips twisting into a snarl when his gaze fell on each of them, making the terror-filled faces blanch and a few shuffled backwards. Harry stepped back, acting as his second and watched with a cruel smile, amusement alight in his hazel eyes at the men on the ground.

"Get up. I want to show you something before we begin.." Aldric said chillingly calmly. Callan was itching to get out, but he shushed him. It would all be over soon.

None of them moved. They were frozen to the spot until Harry stepped forwards and grabbed one of them by the hair, dragging them up. A few locks were ripped from the roots, but the lycan didn’t care as he shoved him forwards. The others followed swiftly and started to walk behind Aldric, who shared a look with Chase before walking through the long grass down a path.

Aldric didn’t talk, nor did he look over his shoulder. He could smell their fear and the urine and hear their bodies tremble. The lycan felt nothing from it, no remorse. All he kept thinking about was his mate, who was killed in the most excruciating way. Being burned alive.

Even while vengeance and fury burned inside of him, Aldric was not troubled by the idea that one of them might run or try something. It was only human nature to defend themselves, but Harry was also at the other end of the line. They had no choice but to follow.

Slowly, a fire in the distance grew bigger, the shadows flickering against the grass and the flickering of light along the lake. Aldric stopped and let Mark’s group stare at the small campsite. It was set up, tents, bbq, even their clothes and backpacks, fishing gear that they all used. Chase and his hunters got it all and set the scene.

"In case you are wondering.. You will not be making the headlines of dying by one of the supernatural creatures.." Aldric began as he paced slowly in front of them, his gaze sliding over to the gagged individuals who watched him warily. "This area is known for the dense population of bears.. Many people do not come here because of it. Even though this lake.."

Aldric gestured behind him, his appearance calm even as his pheromones sent out to them caused their bodies to shiver and squirm at the murderous intensity. Harry shifted on his feet a little, his eyes flickering blue for a moment as though his wolf sensed it and was alert to any threat.

"Is one of the best for fishing.. A hobby.. I hear you all enjoy." Aldric then revealed Mark’s phone and showed the group chat of fake messages between them all discussing a campout and fishing trip for the weekend. He made sure they could each read their messages.

Aldric threw the phone to the ground and paused for a moment, staring each man down, his wolf coming to the forefront of his mind as thoughts of his mate stabbed at his chest again and sent shards of ice across his chest.

These men killed his wife. His pup’s mum. Now they would pay the ultimate price. Death was too easy, but he wasn’t sadistic enough to torture anyone, no matter how disgusting they were. Harry could, Aldric knew he could, but he wasn’t about to lower his standards.

"I should kill you right here and now, but my wolf has other ideas." He nodded at Harry, and the rogue started cutting through the flexi cuffs around their wrists with his claws and let them ungag themselves. "You will have a five-minute head start."

"Please! I didn’t mean to-"

"Kill my wife?" Aldric growled, his face in front of one of the men, his claws stabbed through the man’s throat. He stared wide-eyed at him, blood gushing down his neck as gurgling noise left him. Aldric watched as the life drained from him and the light behind his eyes dulled into they were blank, and his limp body was held up by his claws.

All that remained now were Mark and, from what he remembered of their details, a man named Dominic. They started hyperventilating, crying and backing away. Yes, their worst fears were coming true, and this horror-filled night would end in bloodshed. Theirs.

Harry cursed under his breath. "Go, and don’t bother screaming. It will only attract more predators to finish you off," Harry growled and pushed Mark back.

Any predators living nearby most likely wouldn’t come to this area. The wildlife had gone quiet at their approach, aware of two apex predators too deadly to confront nearby.

"Al.." Mark’s mouth clamped shut when Aldric looked at him with glowing blue eyes.

He was going to savour the moment with Mark.

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Mark stumbled backwards some more before turning away and darting off towards the woods, in the opposite direction to his friend. Smart. But he would still catch them.

Aldric glanced at the man he still held up and released his claws from him. He felt nothing by his death, just like the one in the van.