My Hunted Mate novel Chapter 9

Corinna

My eyes slowly open, it takes me a couple of seconds to realise I'm still in the apple orchard and that the night is now pitch black. I slept all day. Flashes of the hours before bring tears to my eyes, I let out small whimpers thinking back to my mum's lifeless face. The grief I'm feeling overwhelms me and I end up shifting back without meaning to, I curl my naked form into a ball on the grass at the base of the apple tree I'm under, as I sob uncontrollably.

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

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

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

Rushing to my feet, I stand preparing for her to attack again but my focus is broken when a sweet scent wafts through the air, wrapping around me, I inhale it deeply and find muscles in my body I didn't even know were tense relaxing instantly, I close my eyes suddenly feeling like my 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 vampire was coming at me full speed. A quick wave of my hand sends her flying backward, barrelling into a tall pale brunette woman, no not woman, vampire who had just come out of the trees at the other end of the field where the orchard was located.

It only took them seconds to get back to their feet and the woman from before to come sprinting towards me, I watched her run across the field, waiting until she was closer, only before anything could happen she is tackled to the ground roughly by another figure, a man this time, they roll around, fighting each other so fast that I can only see the two blurs.

Before getting a chance to blink, the man is standing in front of me protectively and I realised he was the cause of the addictive, sweet scent that had distracted me. When I look up to take him in, my eyes are met with his toned back that is covered by a white dress shirt and I let out a slight huff that I'm only able to see the back of his wavy shoulder 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 in my chest at her choice of words.

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

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

" She... " He trails off and turns to face me. I find myself getting nervous, fumbling to cover myself in front of him, my tan cheeks burning red as my eyes attach themselves to the floor. His fingers are suddenly cupping my chin gently, indicating he wants me to look at him, I find myself melting into his touch and trailing my eyes up his toned pale body to scan his defined jawline, blood stained chin, soft pink lips, high cheekbones, dark full eyebrows and finally his deep ocean 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 and accepted.