The Predator

Chapter 30

Cassian's POV

I woke up with her sticking to me like a leech. It's been four days since it started. Lily gave her another medicine that worked for her pain but she was moody and clingy. No medicine could cure that.

I stared at the ceiling for a few long moments. Sleeping together with her wasn't so bad before but now I'm struggling to even get a wink of it. She's all over me. Maybe it's because she finds my scent comforting but I'm not sure if that's the only reason.

I stared down at the girl who slept without a care in the world. She had her head on my chest and a leg splayed over my torso. Staying close to the omega like this warranted a horny wolf twenty-four-seven. I kept my hands to myself while she kept hers all over me. The front of my pants needed more space due to my cock was standing tall, demanding attention.

Even if I told myself that she is young, my wolf only saw her as a woman and his mate. And my body can only handle a lot of dirty thoughts.

A groan slipped past my lips. "Fuck! Go down….go down, dammit…!"

I tried to push her off me but she only tightened her grip while mumbling something under her breath. I can't do this. How do I get this kid off my chest? I don't want to hurt her by roughly tossing her away.

"Hey kid, wake up," I tapped her cheek. "Hey?"

Her eyes fluttered when she heard my voice. It took her some time to open her eyes and look at me. She tried to blink the sleep away and stayed like that for a moment before her eyes grew wide. "I'm sorry!" My ears almost burst from the sound as she shouted her apology and scrambled away.

This kid…

I sat up and raked a hand through my hair. "Keep your voice down," I blew out a sigh.

"S-Sorry," She mumbled. To say she was flustered would be an understatement. Her cheeks and ears were fiery red like she was slowly turning into a ripe tomato.

Ivy stared at me with her wide eyes and for some reason, I couldn't look away from her. She ran her tongue over her dry lips to moisten them, an action that immediately commanded my attention. My eyes followed it like I'd been hypnotized.

I saw her eyes trail over me before they paused. Her pupils enlarged and her teeth sank into her pink moist lips. I knew that she saw it. The bulge in my pants wasn't easy to hide due to its size.

"Eyes up here," I told her, causing her to blush even more. I didn't even know it was possible to turn redder than she already was.

God, I'm embarrassed.

"I-I didn't—"

"It's okay," I shook my head. "It's morning wood and it's not because of you. So don't worry," I don't even know why I'm explaining this to this kid.

"N-No, I was just s-surprised because—" She paused and gulped as she looked away. "Uh...I-I'm sorry for staring at that!" She covered her face as she apologized.

I fought off a simper while staring at her. I've been finding her antics really amusing lately. It's hard to believe this is the same girl who straddled me half-naked. Was that a different person?

"You were surprised because of what?" I raised a brow. Watching her fiddle and stutter is entertaining. I'm enjoying this a little more than I should.

"W-What? It's just…it looked…" Her eyes skittered around the room as she tried to form a sentence.

"It looked what?" I asked boldly. Why do I feel like bullying her? I know I shouldn't do this but it's just too fun to watch her like this.

"I can't say it!" She shook her head, covering her face in embarrassment.

"I thought you were a bold girl from the way you behaved a few days ago. Was that a facade?" A low chuckle slipped past my lips.

"Big, okay? It looks big. But I know that you are aware of that already." She glared at me and then looked away the moment my eyes met hers. This kid can't even handle making eye contact with me.

I forced down the grin that formed on my face. "Yes, I am." I got out of bed and started stretching. As usual, I felt her eyes boring into my back. She doesn't know how to hide her attraction and how it affects her.

I don't blame her. She's still in her late teen years, getting ready to step into adulthood. Her hormones must be through the roof.

Every time I walk around half-naked, her scent becomes a tinge sweeter and I know why. I try not to think about it because every time I do, my wolf makes me want to do unspeakable things to her. I try to stay out of that types of thoughts by not giving it enough soil to grow its roots.

She likes my body. I've seen the look on her face like she's begging for me to take her.

I glanced back at her, causing her to immediately avert her eyes. Never get tired of staring, huh?

"I'll tell them to deliver your meals here. I'm going out for training. If you need anything, you can call my mother. She'll come, okay?"

"I'm fine now. I can go out–"

"No." I cut her off. "Lily told me you need to rest today. So do as I say and stay indoors, understood?"

She puffed out her cheeks and looked away in annoyance while mumbling an 'okay' under her breath.

"Can I call Ruth here?"

"I don't like other people coming into my space—"

"Please, I'll be bored out of my mind. Just this one time?" She begged.

I sighed and placed a hand on my forehead. She's making me do things I don't like to do. "Just once." I breathed out, causing her to smile. "But the bed is off limits."

"Okay!"

_____

"I heard that you took charge as a personal nurse for your little omega."

I rolled my eyes at Ryder's mocking words. "I had to. She looked like was going to die."

"What a caring mate!" Ryder placed a hand on his chest with a puppy expression. I gave him a disgusted look in return.

"Shut up," I sped up my strides to get away from him.

Ryder jogged to catch up with me. "What? Why are you annoyed? It's a compliment." He chuckled. "But you really surprised me, Cass. Didn't expect you to be soft for the girl."

"Ryder, if you don't stop it, I'll really whoop your ass in the training ground," I threatened him.

Ryder fake gasped and then made a motion as if he was zipping his lips shut. I rolled my eyes before running towards the training ground.

"Are we going to the woods?" He asked, catching up with me again.

"Yes, We'll do that after a few hours on the ground. Since it's been raining for a few days, it'd be a good chance to teach young ones how to track and hunt using sound. They only use their sense of smell right now. That gotta change,"

"Yeah, about that," Ryder replied as he slowed down. "Since it's been raining almost all the time, it's harder to track the rogues now. We can't track their smell and the rain erases their trails. Two more cattle have gone missing,"

I stopped. "Are you sure it's the rogues? It's not other animals trying to steal food, right?"

"No, it's rogues. There's no doubt."

"Then we're patrolling tonight and I'm coming with you. Looks like they're mocking us. So we'll have to show why we're not the ones to be messed with," I grinned.

Ryder blinked. "Not to sound like a scared child, but you look very creepy when you smile like that," He frowned.

"That's the point," I shrugged him off.

"Don't show that face to children, Cass," He shook his head before walking away.

"I will. They should fear me,"

"You're psychotic!"

____

"Lie low," I commanded my warriors. We were in our human forms. Since the cattle went missing with no sound or trace of struggle, it's obvious that some rogues had guns with them. Guns with silencers made it easy for them to do stuff like this.

We were waiting and kept watch for almost an hour but there was no sign of the rogues. Then again, it's only eight o'clock. The reason we decided to patrol early is that it's raining cats and dogs. They're using the rain to their advantage so they should be out now.

"This is the area they frequently stole cattle from, right? " I asked Ryder, moving along the tree lines stealthily. We've got a nice view of the cattle farm from here. Nobody can touch them without us catching them.

"There's another little farm a bit far from here. I've planted a few guys there, but this is where they frequently visit."

I hummed and continued to look around.

"Alpha, wouldn't it be easier for us to shift and look? We can hear better in our wolf form," A young guy who recently joined the warrior team asked. His name is Tyler, and he has a nice physique and strength for a warrior but he was still learning the ways to hunt.

"No, the last time we fought with them in our wolf form, it led to us getting injured more than we should have been. They use weapons so that's what we should do too. We need to learn the tactics of our enemies and plan our attacks according to that. If we are unable to adapt and change, we die. That's why we train in all forms and use all weapons. We have to be ready to face whatever our enemies throw at us, understood?"

"Yes, Alpha," Tyler replied enthusiastically.

I could feel his excitement. Young ones are always excited on their first hunt.

"Cass," Ryder suddenly called me, looking a bit confused and shocked.

"What?"

"Jax just called me now,"

"Dad? Why is he—"

"He said three kids have gone missing,"

"What?"