THIS IS A SPECIAL WATTPAD READ DEMO. THIS BOOK COMES TO PUBLICATION ON OCTOBER 3rd 2014.

note from bella :

alot of people might remember Heart Of Hunters, well it's coming to publication on October 3rd and I thought it would be awesome to share a bit of the new Hunters with everyone who used to enjoy it here on Wattpad. Cheers, Bella xx

www.bellajonson.com

CHAPTER ONE

HELLO

“Get out of my way.”

Kara shoved past a cumbersome body that resembled more of a troll than a civilized mortal.

Advancing through the warm, pungent bar, she stopped at the back, where waiting tested her. Her green eyes focused through the smoke of cigarettes and fog machines, to the strippers at the front. Their meaningless existence stirred her with envy.

She sunk her frail shoulders to the wall, dark waves falling across her pale face. The fluttering of her eyes, left her vision impaired and her ears clouded from the deep music embracing her core. Desperation plagued her, waiting any longer would kill her.

“Hunter.”

She snapped her eyes open and looked to the demon. Tall and lengthy with more human features than the strippers and bar maids, aside his glowing eyes of orange pewter.

“How many do you have?” She snapped at him, pushing off from the wall, “You didn't say in your text.”

“Three.”

“Only three?” She twitched.

“Money.” The demon arched his brow.

Kara revealed the twenty dollars in coins she'd found around her room and shoved it to his hand. Anticipation became her as she eagerly awaited the hand off, “Come on.”

He held out the sandwich bag and she snatched it away.

“You need to get me more. I can't keep doing this.” She held the urge to pop the pills in front of him.

“I've got a run coming in tomorrow. Come then.”

“Fine, see you later.” She pushed past him.

“Hey, hunter?”

She paused, “What now?”

“I heard there's some new demon in town, maybe you should watch your back.”

Her eyes flashed over him and she smiled, it took more than that to get her attention, “What else is new, Kyle?”

“Just saying.” He sunk back into the shadows, leaving her.

Quick out of the bar, she ducked in and between demon, till she got outside, walking towards the rusted truck that belonged to her absentee mother.

The vacancy of the street calmed her.

Just the way two in the morning should be, empty.

Her feet left the sidewalk and she skipped across the road towards her rusted truck, opening the door and getting in with a hop. Once settled inside, she pulled out the sandwich bag from her pocket. She knew better, she knew to wait but, fishing out one, she slipped it against her tongue, relishing in the high that would soon follow.

Her foot readied at the pedal, as she started the vehicle and sped off towards the one and only place she'd ever called home; a dilapidated brick fronted home in the suburbs of Virginia.

Pulling the truck to an abrupt stop in the drive, the sedation had begun. Deeper and deeper into their hold she fell. From the vehicle, she got to the broken front door. Stumbling inside, the sound of late night cartoons filled the deary home.

“Josh, why are you still up?”

The television snapped off and her younger, shaggy haired brother turned up in the entry way as she peeled her worn tennis shoes off.

“Where have you been?” He asked, looking over his sister.

She chucked her shoes aside, “Out. Demons. Normal stuff. Why?”

“Kara,” Josh started, his eyes in distress.

“You need to get to bed.” She snapped, “It's like two in the morning. You have school. You know better.”

He sighed, “I was worried about you.”

She winced, her eyes beginning to glaze as she moved towards the stairs, “Josh, I'm fine. Let's go.”

“But Kara-”

“Go to bed!” She snapped at him, losing her cool, “Come on. I'm tired.”

“Yeah, sure you are!” He pushed around her and ran up the stairs.

She tripped into the wall from the shove, moments later, his door slammed and shook the house.

The noise hurt her head and she pressed her palm to her temple, the need to pass out coming on strong. Staggering the stairs, she hoped to make it to her bed. Which she did – but not even the task of stripping her clothing happened. In the false sense of comfort and safety in her childhood room, her eyes shut.

#

Dispassion, part of why she did what she did. Why she lived the way she did. Why it made a year ago easier to forget. Her life had deadpanned in many ways since.

Demons, drugs and desolation were her permanence.

“Kara!” Her brother yelled in the hallway and it broke her from the coma.

She wiped the sleep from her eyes as she tried to wake, “Mm... damn...”

“Kara!”

Squinted her eyes through the bright sun, she answered, “I'm up!”

“Kay!”

Turning on her side, she snuggled back into the bed and stared across the littered room.

Listening to her brother continue to get ready for school, she decided to get up. Failing most of her classes, she saw little reason to continue her education but she would go today, wanting to see her friends.

She searched her dresser and with two options for clothing left in her hands, made a mental note to do laundry.

Ripped jeans and ripped shirt. Awesome.

As she arranged to slip the jeans on, a rip along the ass caught her eye, she stuck her finger through gaping hole.

“What the-” She chucked them to the floor and dug for another pair of pants, hoping to find something else.

The phone rang, interrupting her search. She paused and waited for her brother to leave his daily bowl of cereal to answer the call.

It rang again.

“Josh!” She yelled, “Get the phone! Come on! I'm not dressed!”

He didn't answer as the call continued to come in.

She fumed and found a towel to wrap around herself before she left her room, making her way towards the stairs at a jog.

Missing the call, the answering machine hit but no message was left. She paused her step, about to turn back to her clothes dilemma, when it began to ring again.

“Josh!” Kara screamed, adjusting the towel around her chest, “Argh!” She ran down the stairs, her feet smacking the wood floors. Skipping off the last step, she flew around the banister, catching her towel from falling and tucking it back in place again.

She dove at the ringing phone sitting on the coffee table and slipped, twisting her ankle and landing on her back.

Sitting up, groaning, “Josh! Where are you!” With the answered phone in hand, she lifted it to her ear, “Hello?”

As she waited for an answer, footsteps from the back of the house approached.

“Sorry, I'm late for school! I had to find my ball.” Her twelve year old brother stepped from the hall, soccer ball in hand, smiling. “Looks like you got a handle on it anyway, super-sister.”

Kara turned her attention back to the empty phone line, “Hello?” She got off the floor and lifted her hurt foot from the dirty carpets.

“Kara.” A soft accented voice came through.

She looked away from her brother and paused, Why does that sound like him! Sitting herself to the crooked coffee table, anxiety crept her.

“Yeah?”

“Kara, it's James.”

She froze.

“Kara?”

“Why are you calling!” She shot, standing up and turning away from her interested brother.

“Uh.”

Kara creased her brow.

Her brother tempted to be nosey, “Kara, w-who is it? Is it Bruce?”

“Go to school. You're late.” She growled.

Josh stepped back, the same sadness from the night before creasing his face, “Yeah.”

Kara clenched her jaw, the longer the silence on the phone held out, the more she became run by instinct to lash out in violence.

“What do you want, James?”

Her brother lunged at her, “It's James!” He gripped her shoulders from behind and she swung around, catching him by his collar in a fluid movement.

“Leave me alone!” She shouted at him.

He backed away with his hands up, “Kara.”

“Go to school, Josh!” Wishing she could pop a pill to ease her panic.

He shuffled towards his backpack on the floor, “Fine.”

She watched him leave, the front door meeting the frame with a slam.

“Are you okay?”

“It's just Josh.” She answered without thinking.

“Right.”

His accent brought her back in the moment, “Is there a point to this wonderful phone call?”

“Well, yes.”

Her nostrils flared, “Are you going to say more than that to me? Why did you call? I will hang up on you!” She threatened, Fuck this, I'm not doing it again!

She snapped the phone off and it flashed call ended in her hands. Not knowing why she'd done it, she pushed the talk button over and over to the sound of dial tone.

Annoyed, she headed for the stairs, the phone air borne for the couch. Up in her room, she shook from a bout of emotions; anger, confusion, disappointment and even a bit of hope.

Why did he phone me! Why did I hang up! Dammit, Kara!

She sunk into her warm blankets with tears about to cascade her cheeks. In need of her late night purchase, she dropped her hand off the side of the bed in a blind search for the baggy of two pills.

A light knock at her door filled the silent air.

“Josh! I told you, go to school! I'm so annoyed right now and I'm just-”

“He went to school.”

The same voice that had been on the phone, was now before her. Her eyes bulged and she bolted out of the bed, falling face first to the ground.

“Ow, fuck!”

The door opened and she sat up quick, pulling the towel and blankets up her bare chest. She stared at the leather shoes in front of her, taking in the lean, imperious figure of the handsome and noble boy she had once known as James Dray.

“Kara?”

She blinked, I'm dreaming. His clean, deep scent invigorated her senses against the musk and dampness of the house.

He walked forward and crouched in front of her.

Her eyes met his umber stare, and she enjoyed his clean shaven face and short, dark hair. His appearance still familiar but refined and distinguished.

“Kara?”

Her lips parted but nothing came.

This isn't a dream. In my dreams he just...

He raised an eyebrow, “Kara?”

She shook her thoughts, “What are you doing here?”
“Good question, I suppose.” He studied the surrounding mess.

You left me.

“Are you alright?”

She shook her head in a quick motion, hugging the towel around her and pushing her knees together.

He tilted his head, “You hung up the phone.”

She whined, “I was confused.”

“Why's that?”

She swallowed, not answering.

“Are you naked?”

She tightened her grip on the coverings, “What? No... y-yeah, I was changing. Sorta.”

“Right.” He nodded, looking to be holding back his normally magnetizing smirk.

She adjusted herself, her ankle throbbing, “Ow.”

He reached for her and she shoved herself against her bed, away from him.

“Don't touch me!”

Hurt splayed across his brow, “Kara.”

“Why are you here?” Her voice stronger.

He still examined and it bothered her.

What the hell is he looking at! She got up, limping, “Get out of my room.”

He stood, focused on her injured ankle, “What happened?”

“I tripped.”

“Can I look at it for you?”

“No!” She burst.

He stared at her, “Kara.”

“You have a lot of nerve to come here, after a year! After the way you left me!”

He cringed, causing his well set jaw to wince, “Kara.”

“What!” She shot, “Why do you keep saying my name like that!”

“I didn't come here to fight with you.”

She walked to her dresser, “Leave. Please.”

“I'll be downstairs.” His voice cool – not stupid enough to leave, but smart enough to give her space. He left, shutting her door.

Oh my god! She began to cry, This can't be happening!

She dressed but that became a task with her shaking hands and emotional unhinging. Attempting to detangle her hair, she took a deep breath and left her room, padding her way down the narrow stair case.

His strong scent caused her to hesitate and wether it was the house that stunk or the fact that he possessed an aroma that good, she would never know.

She walked into the living room and studied his broad shoulders as he stood facing away from her, analyzing the unframed photos on the mantel. It wasn't a nice home but it was something to Josh and her.

He turned as she stepped onto the carpets.

Her ankle shot with pain again, Ow.

“Is your foot alright?”

“It's sore.”

“I can wrap it for you.”

Miffed, she stared at him, He comes here, after this long and wants to wrap my fricken ankle!

He came towards her, “Sit down.”

She swallowed, for lack of better words, he was gorgeous. So much so, she found herself thinking of him in ways she really should not.

Shirtless, pant-less, underwear-less...

Her ankle gave out and she fell forward, tripping into his arms.

He caught her, “Jesus.”

His touch electrified her with a cool sensation that wrapped her body, causing her vision to blur.

Pull away. God, pull away! But by that point, his comfort was rather comfortable. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the tingling shooting through her.

Shifting, he cleared his throat, “Kara?”

Finding herself wrapped in his deep scent again, she winced, Ugh... you are way too obsessed, Kara!

A smile played his lips, “Alright?”

“No touching.”

“You fell into me.” He tried to reason.

“I...” She shook her head to stop herself from arguing – their arguments never ended well, “You still haven't told me why you're here.”

He took a breath, “Yeah.”

She stared at him, “James?”

I wish this was a dream, then the torture would end.

“I wanted to talk to you on the phone. Tell you I was here.”

“Why are you here?”

He paused, “I'm sorry, Kara.”

“What?” She went to walk around him, I can't do this.

He caught her wrist and turned her into him, “No, wait.”

“You didn't want me! Remember?” Her anger overtook and she threw her palms to his chest.

He tripped back into the coffee table, hit his head to the wall and all two hundred pounds of his six foot four frame, ended with him on his back.

She gasped and didn't fight the urge to plummet herself to his side. The coffee table had been in her way and since collided with the near wall, breaking into a few pieces.

James looked to her, groaning, “Fun.”

“I'm sorry.” She apologized, “Are you hurt?”

He sat up, a palm to the back of his head, “Unexpected but I'll live.”

She brought her hands to his chest, her fingers digging into his black cotton shirt, “Just be thankful you're not my boyfriend, think of the abuse.” She snorted out a laugh, That's not that funny. His eyes shot to her.

Yeah, that's really not funny!

“Who is?” He grunted.

See! Not funny with him.

Kara swallowed and stumbled up to her feet, holding her weight off her foot, “N-no one.” She stammered, helping him to his feet, “No one.”

Derrick doesn’t count.

His eyebrow arched, “No boyfriend?”

She stared at him, “No.”

“Right.” His voice gruff, satisfied, full of his clean English accent.

She watched as he ran his hand over the back of his head, “Do you want ice for it?”

“Mm.” He thought but she had already begun to drag him down the hall towards the kitchen.

Kara dropped his arm and walked to the freezer, where she pulled out an ice tray, “I try not to beat people up but... em... when I get too-”

“Too what?” He came to her side and closed the personal bubble gap between them.

Startled, she stumbled to say something of sense, “Never mind.” She put ice cubes into a plastic sandwich bag.

“Here.” She turned and reached to the back of his head, “Do you think you have a concussion?”

He took the bag from her and their arms became entwined, “I'm okay. What about your ankle?”

“I'll be fine. I need to go to school.” She pulled her arm from him. Touching him was dangerous – as history had proved.

“You're limping.” He noted.

Kara sighed, “I'm tough. Sort of, comes with the job description.”

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the kitchen table, “I look at sprained ankles all day.”

He's still a soccer coach. She reminded herself of his natural ability to kick a ball much further than one ever should. She sat at his wanting request.

He pulled up a chair for himself and lifted her left leg into his lap.

She watched him roll her jeans to her knee, his firm hands host of lean, gentle fingers.

His index finger picked at a hole, “Maybe you should get new jeans?”
She shrugged, “New jeans require money.”

“Yes, I suppose they do.” He looked to her, “Where's your mother?” His palm to the bottom of her foot, applied pressure.

He's always so warm. She swooned, “Oh, in Vegas with Bruce.”

“She's still with him?”

Kara nodded, not wanting to talk about Bruce or her mother.

He moved the ankle back and forth, “You should wrap it. It's swollen.” His index finger traced her tender foot.

She pulled from him, wracked with tingling.

God.

“I'll drive you.”

“Where?” She breathed.

“School.”

He's so random.

Her eyes fixed on him, “No.”

“Would you like my car then?”

What? She swallowed, “I have my truck.”

“That rusted-out thing is likely to self-destruct at any second.”

She watched him smile as she stood, “Doesn’t it suit me then?”

He followed her movement, steadying her, “How do you mean?”

“Broken down nothing.” She specified.

He fell silent.

“Err-” Kara swallowed. Good job, now he's back to not talking.

He stepped close to her and his hand came to her chin, “Are you alright?”

She stared at him, wanting to break down to her usual crying and pain but she couldn't bear to let him to witness that.

“I'm fine, James.”

He looked her over, moving towards her another couple inches, “No offence, Kara but you're not a talented liar.”

She moved closer to him – giving herself the excuse of her ankle to do so.

He can save you, Kara. He's good at saving you. Her voice echoed in her head as she remembered James Dray and his many virtuous deeds from the past four years of their friendship and almost relationship.

He swallowed, his dark eyes igniting.

She remembered that look and her nerves spiked the closer he came.

His fingers tightened on her chin and he dropped his nose against hers.

The slamming of the front door bulldozed the moment.

“Kara! You're so late for school. Mr. Polanski is gonna get you kicked out!”

Kara stumbled back but he caught her before she fell.

“Careful.” He snapped, he wasn't the smooth boy he'd been moments before.

A blonde burst into the kitchen and stopped mid step as her eyes fell on them.

Kara wriggled in nervousness, Oh fuck.

“What the – What the hell are you doing here?” The girl pointed at James.

James rolled his eyes, “Pleasant as usual, Blondie.”

“Hey, Jess.” Kara greeted in a low voice as her friend reached for her. Not expecting the tug on her arm, she fell to the ground, “Jessica. Ow.”

“Perhaps you should leave.” James got protective fast, that she was used to it.

“I want to know why you're here!” Jessica demanded.

Kara watched on as they began to snarl at each other, “Hello?”

James came down beside her right away, picking her off the ground and into his arms.

Her body tensed, Oh my god!

She let out a yelp as he adjusted her weight in his arms, “What are you doing!”

He walked out of the kitchen, leaving Jessica behind, “Bloody hell, you weigh nothing.”
“I'm a hundred and thirty pounds.” She growled.

He grunted.

Jessica caught up, “What? Now, we're gonna fight over her?

He ignored and continued in conversation with Kara, “You're too light.”

“James, enough, put me down.” Kara whispered.

He waited till at the couch and put her down, his mouth brushing against her cheek, “First aid kit?” He'd never had a conscious awareness of personal space and Kara was now being reminded of it. She instructed him to what he wanted.

Jessica waited on the side as he left, “What the hell is going on! This is not cool, Kara! When did he get here!”

“It's fine, Jessica.”

“Tall, dark, broody. Not okay!” Her best friend pointed out, “Let me remind you of what he did! What he does! Have you lost it!”

Kara leaned back in the couch, “It's fine.”

“Kara.” Jessica shook her head and sat next to her, “He told you, you were different from him... that's not even a legitimate reason to leave someone! He's a player, that's the difference. It's been a year!”

Kara sighed, “He did love me once.”

“James doesn’t love anyone!” Jessica exclaimed, “He's an asshole.”

Kara knew it wasn't true. At one point, he had loved her, she remembered it.

He walked back into the living room, a tensor bandage in one hand as he crouched down in front of her sore ankle.

He stripped his jacket, picking up her leg. His hands once again, wrapping and caressing her swollen foot.

Jessica watched with burning passion, “Do you have to caress her leg like that?”

James glanced at her, “Bloody hell, calm down, woman or better yet, leave.” He began to wrap Kara's foot.

Jessica rolled her eyes again, “Whatever.”

Kara felt her ankle tingle from the needed support, “Oh, that feels better.”

Jessica scoffed.

He finished the wrap and nodded, “It should.”

Her blonde friend jumped to her feet, “Are we going to school or what?”

Kara sighed, “I really don't want to.”

“You do know how close you are to being expelled, right?”

“Jessica!” Kara snapped, a redness catching her cheeks.

“What?” James looked between them.

He's a righteous do-gooder. He's going to freak when he finds out what I'm doing.

James' brow furrowed and she had to break the eye contact before she dropped to her knees and begged him to save her from herself.

“God, stop making up lies, Jessica.” Flashing a disapproving glare at her friend.

James stood, sliding his cotton jacket back over his shoulders. The action exposed a bit of his abdomen to gawk at. Kara fantasized of him on top of her, pressed against her as his hand slipped...

“School?” Jessica piped.

“Uh, I guess so.” Kara's step faltered as James grabbed her hand, “What?” She breathed.

“Better?” He wanted her reassurance, or perhaps one last look at her.

“Yeah.” She put weight to her ankle, “I'll go get my bag.” Walking from the room and leaving Jessica and James to fend for themselves. Quick to find whatever she could for school, she returned to the living room, where they waited for her.

“You can stay here if you want.” She offered him, unsure if it could be considered an offer, “It's not that bad.”

He grunted, “I'll pick you up after school.”

“I'm taking my truck.” She told him.

“I'll see you after school then. Here.” He corrected. How he could come back into her life in under an hour and have her enamoured, was insanity. But, she could not question him because she felt herself needing and wanting him.

“Asshole.” Jessica coughed and walked towards Kara, grabbing and dragging her away from James Dray.

“Bye.” He said in a cool, firm voice as they left the house, their eyes ripping away from one another.

Bye.