Lana searched frantically for Kasia. Kasia had vanished, and no one from Ethan's pack was around. No one was answering their phones, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
"Hey, beautiful, wanna join us for a drink?" A tall man with sharp features appeared out of nowhere, his eyes glinting with mischief. Lana's instincts told her- fae or vampire- she couldn't be sure. She didn't have time to entertain her curiosity.
"Sorry, not interested," she replied curtly, moving past him. If only she had taken the pack oath, she would have been able to reach Kasia through their supernatural connection. But at the time, it seemed like too much of a commitment.
"Ah, come on! It's just a bit of fun," another voice chimed in, this one belonging to a woman whose beauty seemed almost unnatural. Lana shook her head, quickening her pace.
"Sorry, I'm busy," she muttered, keeping her gaze fixed on the empty streets ahead. Her hands trembled as she dialed Janet's number, praying silently that she would pick up. The call went straight to voicemail. 'Damn it,' Lana thought.
As she rounded another corner, Lana couldn't shake off the feeling that someone- or something- was watching her. Her skin prickled with unease, and she fought the urge to break into a sprint. Lana tried to shake off the feeling. Of course, people were watching her. She was at a festival. 'Calm down. It's all in your head,' Lana thought to herself.
Just then, she overheard a conversation between two women that caught her attention. Their hushed whispers carried an urgency that sent a shiver down Lana's spine.
"Those rogues are causing problems again. I don't know why the mayor doesn't just ban them. They are always trying to bend the rules and stir up trouble," one of the women said. "They've really upset the vampires this time. The vampire prince seemed really angry. A shame. I really wanted to speak with him."
The other woman sighed heavily, worry lines etching into her forehead. "I just hope there won't be any fighting. The city will go into lockdown and have no fun for the foreseeable future."
Lana's heart raced as she processed their words. This was information she needed to share with Janet. She sped up, pulling out her phone once more and attempting to call Janet again. Just as she was about to hit the dial button, a voice from behind her made her freeze in her tracks.
"Hello, Lana."
That voice. That was a voice that Lana had hoped she would never hear again. Lana turned around slowly. Maybe she was mistaken. She tried to maintain a blank expression as she turned around to face her former mentor, Nadia, standing before her. The hunter's dark eyes bore into Lana's. At that very moment, Lana wanted to throw up.
"Hu..huh? I think you have the wrong person," Lana stammered, trying to feign surprise and ignorance. Her mind raced as she wondered why the hunters were here. It had to be due to what happened at the base. Did they fail to clear all the camera footage?
Nadia's lips curled into a sneer. "Don't even bother trying to lie. I know it is you by that scar on your chin. I didn't think you would stoop so low to mingle with monsters."
Lana couldn't help but frown and say, "If they are monsters, what are you then?"
Nadia scoffed and responded, "I am trying to set the proper order back."
Lana countered, "No, you're just a murdering psychopath. Don't even bother trying to give me a speech about how I should know better than to trust monsters. That sh*t doesn't work on me anymore. You lied. You lied about everything."
Nadia glared and said, "How shameful. It only took a few years for them to completely brainwash you. I should've listened. You were never cut out to be a hunter."
Nadia's words stung, but Lana refused to show that Nadia still had that effect on her. "This is a neutral zone, Nadia. It would be best that you leave right now before people catch on."
"You know the rules, Lana. Desertion is punishable by death. You will return to HQ by your own free will, or we will drag you back by force," Nadia explained.
Lana's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at Nadia. She knew that the older woman wouldn't hesitate to carry out her threat. With a surge of adrenaline, Lana made her decision. "You'll have to catch me first," she spat.
She turned on her heel and sprinted away from Nadia, weaving through the thick crowds of people. Panic bubbled within her as she realized how vulnerable she was in this situation. The realization that Nadia had been tracking her all along only heightened her fear. Despite the danger, she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at defying her former mentor.
As she darted down an alleyway and into an abandoned gym, Lana frantically searched for a place to hide. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she climbed up to the third floor. She could hear Nadia and the other hunters entering the building shortly after her arrival. Fear gripped Lana's heart as she pressed herself against a wall, praying that they wouldn't find her.
"There's no point in hiding, Lana," Nadia called out, her voice echoing through the empty space. "You're only making this worse for yourself."
Lana glanced around desperately, searching for another way out. She considered jumping from the window, but knew it would likely result in a sprained ankle or broken legs. Before she could make up her mind, two hunters appeared before her, their expressions cold and merciless.
"Found you," one sneered.
The two hunters lunged at her, and though Lana fought back with all her strength, she was no match for the four hunters who eventually joined the fray. They dragged her by her hair down the steps, each blow and harsh word fueling her anger as she flailed to free herself.
"Such a shame," Nadia tsked as Lana struggled to break free from her captors' grip. "You had so much promise, and you threw it away to become a furry."
Lana gritted her teeth, refusing to give Nadia the satisfaction of seeing her pain. "I would rather be a furry than a murderer," she spat.
"You know, the order was to bring you back, dead or alive. I don't think you deserve a trial. What do you think, boys?" Nadia declared. The hunters cheered, expressing their desire to beat Lana to death.
"Now, now, settle down. We have to do this right. Let's make this personal," Nadia said, a wicked smile playing on her lips. "Someone close to you should be the one to do it."
Nadia pulled out her phone and made a call. "Bring them in," she instructed coldly. Within minutes, Milo and Austin appeared at the gym entrance.