Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 72 – The Hunter

www.com “You can be the hunter, or you can be the hunted.”

be the hunted.“– Lisa Gardner

Kiya

“We shouldn’t have done that.”

“No shit, Sherlock.”

My lips were still swollen from our kiss, the dull throbs pulsating as vivid reminders. The excited chatter of the amusement park muffled in my ears as my heart beats against my ribcage like a drum. Neron and I crossed a line that should’ve never been crossed. A line I promised myself I would never cross.

We kissed, and we kept kissing until the ride operator opened the side door for us and awkwardly cleared his

throat.

Blaring heat made its home under my skin as I thought about it. His hands roaming my body felt like heaven, his heat held mine in a tight embrace, and his lips. Goddess, his lips were witchcraft incarnate! They ignited a fire I didn’t know I had. Coupled with his skillful tongue, I was a goner. An absolute goner.

It felt so good. So right. So…loved.

But even what felt good could be wrong.

The kiss shouldn’t have happened. At all. All my internal promises and determination went down the drain, and I only had myself to blame. I wavered. I let the bond take over me. I let this all happen.

I’m weak. I’ve always been weak. How could I fool myself all these years thinking I was strong? One stupid kiss and I threw away all I worked hard to achieve. I was an idiot, a fucking fool. Everything just became more complicated.

Neron and I walked towards his car with me following a few steps behind. I didn’t want him to see my face. I was ashamed of myself. Hot tears slowly blurred my vision. I hugged my teddy bear against my chest, the only source for my comfort I had now. The softness of the pelt relayed a message that I could cry into it when I was in private. That it was here to soak up my sadness and self–guilt. That was all I could do now–relish in my stupidity.

We entered his car in silence, neither of us daring to address the elephant in the room. Shame rolled off Neron in waves as he struggled to focus on starting the car. He dropped his keys several times before he was able to turn on the ignition, gradually driving away from the park into the silent night.

Needing a distraction, I reached for the radio. He did too. Our hands jerked away like we’ve touched an open flame when our fingers touched. Goddamnit! Huffing, I turn the volume knob as Los Delphines thumped through the car. It reminded me to look up where Violetta and her band were playing next.

Silence persisted. Anxiety persisted. But it didn’t change the fact that we kissed and potentially strengthened the bond when there was no need to. How were we going to manage this? The lines were too blurred, and I felt the deep desire to kiss him again. The desire for his lips to set ablaze my core. To surrender into our animalistic lust and just…

“FUCK!” My fists slammed on the dashboard, shaking under the force of my hands. “Why the hell did you have

to kiss me, Neron?”

“I didn’t mean to, Kiya.” He admitted with his tired eyes glued to the road. “I… I got caught up in the moment. Onyx fighting with me didn’t help and…” He sighs. “It shouldn’t have happened.”

“What are we going to do?” I mutter. “We can’t pretend like the kiss hasn’t happened.”

“We have to,” Neron replied, his voice void of amusement. “Especially around Dad. Once he catches a whiff that something’s happened between us, he’ll use it to further his agenda.”

“Right. Because he still wants me to be Luna.”

“But it felt good.”

I arch an eyebrow, catching sight of Neron’s reddening cheeks. “The kiss?” He nodded, timid. I groan miserably because I agreed. The damn thing felt so good and that’s what was wrong with it. How long until I completely surrender to the bond? Could I hold out for much longer? Judging from Neron’s side view, there was turmoil in him.

territory, I’d be more than happy to

grateful for it. Since we live some distance away from human towns, we must remain as disguised as possible. However, something felt off. The music was blaring inside of the car, but outside was so still. I’d typically spot a few animals or insects mingling in the dark woods, uncaring to

there was not an animal or bug in sight. This was too strange, added with an unidentifiable stench that assaulted my nostrils. Chills equal to the Arctic slid down my spine, forcing an involuntary shiver. The longer the feeling marinated,

steering wheel, “We’re going to take a

“Good idea.”

fuck

heavy thump on the hood of the car caught our attention, but the night and the thick trees lining the road

through the windshield, grabbed me by my shirt collar, and threw me from the

“Kiya!”

my ears

my skin. Loud, heavyweight boots echoed in my e as the pursuer made his way to me. I found myself lifted in the air once more by a

kiss me. Neron?”

didn’t mean to, Kiya.” He admitted with his tired eyes glued to the road. “I… I got caught up in the moment. Onyx

to do?” I mutter. “We

Dad. Once he catches a whiff that something’s happened

wants me to

felt good.”

Neron’s reddening cheeks. “The kiss?” He nodded, timid. I groan miserably because I agreed. The damn thing felt so good and that’s what was wrong with it. How long until 1 completely surrender to the bond? Could I hold out for much longer? Judging from Neron’s side view,

he ask me to reject him? If this was when I first arrived on Zircon territory, I’d be more than happy to do just that and call it a day. Now? I was not sure. My indecisiveness to

we must remain as disguised as possible. However, something felt off. The music was blaring inside of the car, but outside

not an animal or bug in sight. This was too strange, added with an unidentifiable stench that assaulted my nostrils. Chills equal to the Arctic slid down my spine, forcing an involuntary shiver. The longer the feeling marinated, the more I felt on edge.

around the steering wheel, “We’re going to take

“Good idea.”

as fuck

but the night and the thick trees lining the road was a skillful camouflage. We couldn’t see the head of whoever or whatever we might have hit because the

I found out what the thing was. An impossibly powerful person busted their fist through the windshield, grabbed me by my shirt collar, and

“Kiya!”

side, gasping as more shards sliced my skin. Loud, heavyweight boots echoed in my ears. as the pursuer made his way to me. I found myself lifted in the air once more by a metallic gloved hand. That was

this man–or beast–could put the world’s famous bodybuilders to shame. With skin as white as snow, its deep red eyes pierced my soul. Its oily black hair did nothing to curtail the menace that laid behind the crimson orbs. This beast must be five times my weight and twice my height. It picked me up like I weighed

I tried to wiggle out of its iron grip. It said nothing. It just stared at me with emotionless red eyes. I wiggled my pocketknife from my back pocket and jammed it into his wrist, forcing the first human emotion I could see in

resounded in the air and the black–cloaked beast was barreled into the floor by Onyx. Eyes full of anger and claws ready to shred

versus beast. Who would

fight looked like something out of a movie. Onyx, big, black, and beautiful was trying his hardest to tear down the malignant, brutish man–like monster who delivered violent punches

blood from black.

I had never heard her so panicked before. She was always calm and collected while I lost my shit. “That thing is too much for

hell did that thing

you going to

healed. Tweezers were going to be my best friend tonight. Tossing my clothes aside, I shifted into my beautiful Artemis

two predators tearing down our prey. The beast fought back hard without fail. Onyx

be brushing my teeth for the rest of the night. Onyx trotted over and nudged my side with his snout, his way of asking if I was okay. We may share a mate bond, but there was not an established mind–link, so we couldn’t communicate naturally. Sometimes, if a

responding with a low growl. Onyx’s frayed fur relaxed, his horse–like stature standing. tall as his watchful eyes glared at the beast, slowly getting his bearings. It looks like it

light.

struck fear into my wolf

mysterious book I found in the library. White wolves have been hunted for their power for centuries because we’re connected to our Moon Goddess. This beast was a

me. Wanting to hurt me.

again, his teeth unsheathed, and drool dripped from his gums like rain.

breath. The blood never bothered him. He quenched his thirst for blood like an apex predator and left the gargantuan hunter bleeding on the black soil. Mother