HUNTER

 

Work at the construction site wasn’t any different from the other days. The amount of demolition I had to do with the others was endless. We were fortunate enough to be in the shade but swinging a sledgehammer for hours on end meant we were all sweating regardless of how cool the weather was.

I kept my head down and got through the first part of the day without much trouble. The foreman yelled at us like he usually did when it was time to take a break. All of my coworkers gathered around and kept each other company. I took my lone spot up on the roof, sitting near the edge as I looked out into the rest of the city.

A canteen of water and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich satisfied my hunger and thirst. I let out a sigh and lost myself in the view of Dirge before me.

“Hey.”

I recognized the voice but didn’t bother paying too much attention to it. The young Beta wolf took a seat near me as I continued to eat my lunch in peace.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m doing just fine, Brady. How about yourself?”

“Not too bad. Hey, I got something for you.”

I turned and raised an eyebrow at him. I couldn’t think of what he could possibly have for me. But as he reached into his paper bag, I was relieved to see that it was just a sandwich.

“I told you I would get you back,” he said as he held it out to me.

I sniffed it and took it from him.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Ham. It’s fresh from the markets. I’m sure you’ll love it. It’s almost as good as those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches you always eat…”

I gave him a glare and he changed his tune.

“…Or maybe not,” he said. “But they’re still really good. My husband is great at making them.”

“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it later.”

I chuckled at the Beta then stuffed the sandwich into my lunch bag. I figured Brady was done but he didn’t move from his spot, eating his lunch while we both enjoyed the view.

“How was it?” he asked.

“How was what?” I said.

“Pandora. You went to the fights on Fifth Street.”

I turned to him and saw the smile on his face. He was young, so it was hard to tell if he were serious or not.

“And why would you assume that?” I asked.

“Because you’re an Alpha. I see the kind of work you do. You work harder than all of us Betas here put together. Fighting seems like easy work for you.”

“Just because I’m an Alpha doesn’t mean I enjoy fighting.”

“I didn’t say you enjoyed it. I just meant that you were capable of it. Seeing as how you don’t look too injured, I’d say you held your ground pretty well. Am I right?”

There was no point in lying to Brady. He knew about the fights in Pandora. Hell, he was the one who told me. I didn’t see the harm in telling him I went to the slums to earn a few extra silvers.

“I did all right,” I said as I took a bite of my sandwich. “It was just one fight.”

“All right! I knew you could do it. I bet you tore that bastard a new asshole.”

“I didn’t tear anybody anything,” I said, laughing softly at Brady’s enthusiasm. “I just won a fight. That’s it.”

“Well, either way, you should be proud of yourself. Fighting isn’t something you normally see in Dirge. I guess it’s common in the slums but I’m guessing they don’t pay much for it.”

My mind started to wander as I thought about Pandora. The slums were out there in the distance in front of me. I could see the part of the city that nobody wanted to go to. And when I looked out there, all I could think about was York.

What is he up to? Where is he now?

“You thinking about going back there?” Brady asked.

“Back where?”

“Where do you think? The slums. I’m sure you can get another fight. I hear that they’re always looking for regulars to fight.”

“You seem awfully eager for me to go there. You’re not getting paid, are you?”

“I wish! No, I’m just thinking about what’s logical. Fighting is tough. I haven’t been in one since I was just a young wolf. But I figure if you fight enough, you’ll eventually earn enough money to stop having to work in a job like this. Breaking your back fighting. Breaking your back in construction. What’s the difference?”

I remembered how much money I’d made and laughed. Even if I hadn’t paid York and Rip a single silver, I’d still have to fight for ages to retire comfortably.

“I think it’ll be awhile before I stop swinging my sledgehammer,” I said. “Making a living as a fighter doesn’t seem too promising. Just because I beat one wolf doesn’t mean I could beat the others.”

“I see your point… But if you ask me, you might as well try to beat as many as you can. Test your limits. Make some money and then call it quits.”

“That’s the problem,” I sighed. “You keep pushing yourself and before you know it, some Alpha is on top of you and it’s the last thing you ever see. Fighting is dangerous. There’s no telling what the citizens of Pandora are capable of.”

“I see your point…”

I finished the rest of my sandwich in silence while Brady sat right next to me. I didn’t mind his company but I was curious as to why he wasn’t spending time with the other Betas.

A few moments went by while I relaxed and enjoyed the remainder of my lunch break. Brady was a slow eater, continuing to pick at his ham sandwich like he didn’t want to finish it.

I was looking out into the city when Brady suddenly raised his voice.

“Who’s that guy?”

I saw the confusion on Brady’s face as he looked over my shoulder. I turned around and blinked my eyes in disbelief as I saw the man approaching me.

Is that…

It was him.

Saxon. The man who ran the fights down in Pandora. There was no mistaking it. The way he walked. The way he smiled. That look in his eyes like he was hiding something. I could see it even from a distance.

His clothes were just as disheveled as I remembered, his brown hair still sloppy. He walked up to me with his arms out.

“Hunter,” he said with a yellow, toothy grin. “How are you doing?”

“What the hell are you doing here?” I said

“I just thought I’d pay you a visit.”

“Do you know this guy?” Brady said.

I turned to the young Beta and sighed.

“Just give me a second with him,” I said to Brady.

Brady didn’t mind. He put his hands up and walked back toward the other Betas. Saxon took Brady’s place next to me, still smiling.

“You feelin’ all right?” he asked.

“How the hell did you find me?” I said.

“It wasn’t easy. But everybody is on file. If you want information, you can get it. And I know the right people.”

“That still doesn’t answer my question.”

“Look, there aren’t too many Alphas in this city named Hunter. I spoke to a few people. They found your file. It’s in the city database. Not a big secret. Said you were working construction for the big companies. Now here I am.”

“All right… I guess that makes sense. That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here.”

“I just wanted to talk to you about fighting. You’re a great fighter, you know?”

I looked away from Saxon and stared out into the city. I thought that if I closed my eyes, he would go away. Just one night in Pandora was enough to get a stranger to come looking for me.

“I’m not a fighter,” I said. “I just wanted to make a few extra silvers.”

“I get it. That’s why everybody fights. There’s no shame in that. Silver is nice. But you know what’s even better?”

“I don’t care—”

“Gold. Gold is a lot better.”

“I’m not interested.”

“You’re not interested. But did you hear—”

“I heard you. Did you hear me?”

I knew Saxon’s type. He was a hustler. The kind of man who would do anything to avoid having to get a regular job. The kind of man who would put others at risk to line his pockets.

He was up to something. It was obvious he wanted me to fight so he could make more money. But there was also the possibility that there was more to it than that.

Saxon kept smiling at me, trying to convince me to go along with whatever he was planning.

“Don’t you see?” he said. “Everybody bet against you. Nobody thought you would be able to take that other Alpha down. I’ll take you around Pandora. We’ll book a few more fights. People will bet against you and you’ll make some gold.”

“And you’ll make some gold, too. More than me.”

“Hey, that’s all part of the business.”

“Not interested.”

“Not interested? Everybody is interested. You can’t tell me you don’t need some extra money in your pocket.”

“I don’t.”

“Now you don’t. But I know working construction can’t be too comfortable for you. Believe me, I’ve done it.”

“Why am I not surprised you quit?”

Saxon didn’t mind my remark. He just laughed it off and persisted. I had to give him credit for not giving up so easily.

“How about just one more fight?” he asked.

“I don’t think so—”

“Look, look, look. I’ll… I’ll book you one more fight. You lose, that’ll be the end of it. You won’t have to put yourself on the line and I’ll stop bothering you. Then we’ll both know for sure you’re not leaving any money on the table.”

Saxon finally said something that got me interested.

“You’ll stop bothering me?” I said.

“I promise,” he said. “The next fight you lose, I’ll find someone else to put my money on. But if you win… You’ll get your fair share.”

I stared out into the distance as I considered Saxon’s offer. It was clear he was up to something but I didn’t know what it was. Still, having some extra money in my pocket would be nice. I made it through one fight and I was confident I could get through another.

“Think about it,” he continued to try and convince me. “Gold. Who knows? You might even make enough money to retire. Find yourself an Omega and settle down. Start a family…”

Listening to Saxon, I started thinking about York.

Wherever York was, I knew he wasn’t comfortable. There was no comfortable spot in Pandora. He was in a predicament that only money could solve.

I wanted to laugh because the Omega was still on my mind. But I couldn’t. He was in my thoughts. And looking out into the slums in the distance, I knew I didn’t have much of a choice.

“All right,” I said. “I’ll take one fight.”

“Yes!”

Saxon clapped his hands together in celebration then pumped his fist. His enthusiasm was enough to put a smile on my face.

“No promises,” I said. “No guarantees. One fight. Even if I win, if the money isn’t good enough, I’m out.”

“Hey, that’s all I wanted.”

“Who the hell are you?”

A voice interrupted my conversation with Saxon. We both looked up and the construction foreman stood there with his hands on his hips.

“What the fuck are you doing on my site?” he said. “Do you work here?”

“No, I do not,” Saxon replied as he got back up to his feet.

“Then get a hard hat and get to work or get the fuck out of here!”

“Okay, okay… Sheesh…”

Saxon innocently put his hands into the air.

“Fifth Street,” Saxon yelled out as he walked away. “Don’t forget.”

“I won’t,” I sighed under my breath.

Saxon was gone. My boss let me enjoy the last few minutes of my lunch break in peace.

Heading out to Pandora was always a risk. Even if it were only one night. But tonight, it was a risk I was willing to take. Maybe this was the opportunity I’d been waiting for all along.