Un.Wavering (Claimed Series Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

possible.”
    If Hayden didn’t know any better, she would say Nicolas was frightened. But why shouldn’t he be? She was. The last time Hayden was on the other end of a Hunter’s rifle, they’d been scarily good at aiming and quickness. And that was when Hayden had a wide-open forest to her advantage.
    This time, their enemies surrounded them on their terrain.
    A resonating bang sounded as the cabin doors slammed open. Distant swearing sounded from the men, most likely a reaction to seeing the carnage, but they abruptly turned silent. After all, Hunters did not give away their position, even if their prey could smell them coming.
    Nicolas forced Hayden down a tight hallway towards one of the bedrooms. She knew the Hunters wouldn’t lower their guards until they searched and cleared the entire cabin. Their best chance was through a window and making a run for it.
    Only, as soon as they entered a bedroom, a Hunter was already climbing inside.
    The lethal human barely had time to raise his rifle. Nicolas lunged across the room with a single bound and grabbed the barrel of the rifle. Using brute strength alone, he bent the long barrel as if it were plastic before ripping it cleanly from the Hunter’s hands.
    The Alpha male then used the end of the rifle and jammed it into the Hunter’s skull, right between his eyes.
    Hayden grimaced, but abruptly stiffened. The hairs on the back of her neck stood. She whirled around, her eyes desperately seeking the malevolent source. Standing outside the bedroom and across the hall, another Hunter stood, his rifle ready and aiming true.
    She quickly closed the door to the bedroom and lunged away, shouting something incoherent to Nicolas in warning. The rifle fired and the bullet tore through the door as if it were mere paper.
    Hayden never had the chance to land before a sharp pain erupted in her shoulder.
    Nicolas grabbed her before she hit the ground and forced her to exit through the window. As soon as their feet hit the ground, he tossed her forward, growling something about moving and quickly .
    Hayden stumbled, her shoulder searing, but she obliged. She sprinted as fast as she could, aware of the Hunters in close proximity. Gunfire rained after them and tree bark exploded from stray bullets. All too close for comfort. 
    She didn’t even know if Nicolas was following, leading, or matching her speed. She just ran, having the blind instinct of surviving and leaving the cabin behind. If she didn’t get out alive, who would be there for Cole?
    “Hayden.”
    The sound of her racing heart made her nearly deaf, but she couldn’t ignore the heavy hand on her shoulder, the same shoulder that burned and ached horribly. A strangled growl escaped past her lips and she reared away from the touch.
    When her vision cleared, she observed Nicolas standing opposite of her, his hand still outstretched. His eyes were cold, unconcerned, if not possessing a sliver of frustration.
    Fortunately, the sound of gunfire seemed distant and unthreatening.
    “What did I tell you about dodging?” He waved his palm, revealing the crimson stain of fresh blood on his skin. “ Foolish girl.”
    Her teeth were on edge as he peeled back the lapel of her coat, bringing with it skin tissue and other things that might have been bullet or bone fragments. The smell of silver and gunpowder was almost overwhelming.
    She watched his face darken and his frustration heighten. Whatever he saw, he didn’t think it was favorable. It didn’t feel favorable. Something akin to desperation flashed in his normally impassive eyes, but it was gone a second later.
    Hayden laughed breathlessly, trying to push away the anxiety. “It’s a good thing I possess Celeste’s altered venom. I’m sure I’ll heal up quickly.” It was the first time she admitted it aloud, much less make light of it.
    Nicolas wasn’t amused.
    “You were a test subject, nothing more.” He put her coat back in place. “You possess some heightened