CHAPTER TWO

TEN YEARS LATER.....

Gabriel private jet touched down and he got off walking towards the airport, he made it through checks and customs and saw his parents, and grandparents, he runs for them, he hadn't seen them even longer than his parents as his parents did fly off every two years to see him. the family was happy to be reunited again, maverick had changed a lot since then but he remained their son. since this was a family get together, many were surprised to see maverick back after ten years away.

even his friends dropped by to see him and greet him, "what is with the police presence?" he asked one while out shopping for supplies with his grandparents,

"oh, some poor fellows, came to the region for a hiking trip. they were shot and decapited." Gabriel was surprised, "even more, they make the numbers eight this month alone," grandma replied. maverick just let it go as it wasn't his problem to deal with.

they were at the cashier and he paid with a card, this prompted someone behind them to say, "as if this is the city, use cash show off," Gabriel paused and faced him, the guy swallowed a gulp seeing his eyes shimmer, "sir, your card," Gabriel faced the cashier smiling and took his card being lovely again and helped his grandparents carry their stuff.

as the week went by, his father was told of a spreading rumour, "what is where?" his father asked the old friend he had over beers one day at the patio.

"λύκος, translates to the wolf in greek." he nodded and his friend went on, "I was told of rumours of one might be here and was seen by a couple of hunters," he paused here.

"How is this news?" Gabriel father, daniel, asked his long time friend, "it is just a wolf," he concluded.

"Not just any wolf they say, they are calling it a λυκάνθρωπος a werewolf," daniel groaned in disbelief, "yeah, I could only laugh,"

"We are not greeks even, what is with those names," daniel commented at that playfully but Gabriel heard him and smiled at that.

Gabriel made a call to maverick, "you were right, this place does have hunters. hunters use greek names for us, this is no different," he listened, "yeah, whole rumour mail thing, it was them telling me they know I am a werewolf and I am next. no, I will be fine," maverick replied ending the call.

same day afternoon as the family hanged out together, kids playing, a new guest came by looking to buy a horse. Gabriel never looked at them despite knowing they are hunters, Gabriel did agree to help his father to handle the stallions, even then, he only spoke to his father, all one hour long. they tried to prolong the buy but daniel said, "buy time is closed, it is six, try again tomorrow,"

"we are just being thorough here," one replied.

"and I own the horses, time for their rest, time for my dinner and time for you to leave," daniel made it clear. they left and even gabriel would careless about them. they came again and again saying they are choosing but after the first day, gabriel never went down to the stables with them alone. one day they asked why his son doesn't help him anymore, his response, "he has a mother and grandparents, they need him more than I do at the moment, have you decided yet, because I have a line of buyers and one is closing in on his choice, actually three are," he asked them but had no answer, "listen, the ranch has a webpage, pay the page a visit, make a decision then come back. i wont walk for three hours with you two talking smack to each other and horses," then daniel closed the door to their faces.

maverick called gabriel, [those hunters are said to be the best. you happen to be their biggest challenge yet, it seems,]

"oh, how exciting. what else are they good at?" gabriel asked him over his phone as he watched the two leave the ranch.

[apparently, they are set target is you now, I was told, they cant get you alone. they may try other methods,] maverick warned him.

"I guessed, had a bullet fly into my room the other day," gabriel replied holding the said bullet, "they are running out of options. they will expose themselves sooner or later to the wolves of this region," gabriel guessed.

[be careful, they may spark a small confrontation there to get you in the chaos,] maverick replied to that.

"sure thing," gabriel ended the call and stored the bullet stepping out for the day happily relaxed. few days later, gabriel got an email describing the small confrontation. he asked to meet with the resident alpha of the region at a cafe most never went as he was less known there. he walked in and saw the alpha and his first hand waiting for him.

"my king, good to see you well," he said in a low tone as he sat down.

"you too, hunters, casualties?" he asked them.

"the hunters were double dozen. thanks to you unlocking magic earlier last year, we were able to put them down easily enough. the two hunters we were asked by sir maverick to handle, were the problem," first hand replied first.

"problem how?" gabriel asked.

"they could also use magic and I fought them off because of my unique skill I gained, dark magic counter. if I didn't have a skill, doubt I would be here." alpha replied and this surprised gabriel, "I don't think they were only ones. if they got magic, only came to learn of it recently. they were poor at executions. chanting and all," alpha replied.

"you don't require to chant with magic, why were they chanting?" gabriel said too confused as they were.

"my betas actually made fun of their chanting, when I stated magic doesn't need chanting, they looked stunned, as if I had just said something new," alpha paused and his first hand picked dup, "also their hunting skills, were beginner at best. something is going on and if humans are gaining magic, we need to learn how,"

"I agree, look into the hunters. leave the magic issue to me," he said and he paid for their coffee drinks. all left and went separate ways.

on another part of the county, "girl, I am telling you, your ex is crazy," this was dhara to her friend davina who was preparing to head to work as she did too, they were room mates.

"you don't have to tell me, this is three years later, and i don't give a single fuck," davina replied and paused when her phone beeped, she looked at the text then the pop up disappeared, she clicked the messaging box, another came in, at first she was amazed then entertained, longer she took to reply, the angrier the message got, "dhara, here is the sister from that ex," dhara flew in and to her phone,

"oh, this bitch," she sat down and got to replying entertained all through at her claims and blames. they got to work late but it was worth it, their boss wasn't amused, "you know what, you are my best agents. your next case, what about somewhere no one can find you?" their smiled turned to frowns, "we have a serial killer in that town, they are taking out hikers, death count went up to eight this month, get out there and do profiling. find the town elders, heard they are welcoming," he then smiled and walked off happily leaving them with the file.

both drove the two hours there and arrived there, they arrived in time to see gabriel get off his bike and walk into their small police station, "woah, who said men from country arent worth it?" dhara commented.

gabriel removed his helmet and saw their car just sitting there unparked, he smiled and got closer, "need help ladies?" he asked them on davina side,

"why?" davina asked coming to.

"you arent parked yet," he replied and both remembered they were doing so before they got distracted.

"no need, thanks," gabriel shrugged and walked inside leaving them to park. they got inside to meet various people all speaking about a recent hiker who went missing and only his bag was found.

"the agents, come in," davina pointed around, "another reported missing, we asked for help searching the trails. weapons are allowed but only hunting rifles. then gabriel stepped out of a room ready to leave after seeing someone there, he waved them goodbye and was at the door when he was stopped, "gabriel, do you mind sometime," he faced back inside, "these agents would mind showing them the trail where everyone is apparently disappears," he agreed and they walked back out with him.

an hour later, they came to the path, gabriel heard a twig snap, "on your left," he told them, they turned to find a bear casually walking off,

"how long till i can do that?" dhara asked him.

"i was born and raised in these mountains, give it twenty to thirty years," he replied and they were just amazed, he then sniffed the air, davina did smell something too, "smell that?" she asked dhara.

"nope, what?" she replied reaching for her gun.

"geranium, it is intense too," davina replied. gabriel moved to a small path and it got stronger, then footsteps, they pulled out their guns as gabriel jogged into the small open area, to find a mini army base. he ducked as shots were exchanged, all three then found an opening and got the hell out of there, "call your guys, now,"