Bryce Evans [Evans - The Hunter’s Mage

The Hunters Mage

The Death Hunters

Book #1

by: Bryce Evans

Copyright November 2018 Bryce Evans

Art and Logo Copyright Bryce Evans

All rights reserved.

Edited by: Tina Winograd

Artwork by: Andy Atkins

Formatted by: Stacey Price

Published by: Bryce Evans

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Sharing or downloading to other individuals or devices is illegal.

This work is fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is purely coincidental.

All Rights Are Reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

To my family. I love you all very much.

To the Bryce Evans Fan Club. Thank you for sticking it out with me.

To my PA and friend, Janka Dustan, who keeps me grounded and on task. To KD Jones, my sprinting partner and friend.

Please be kind and leave a review on the site you purchased the book from.

Alpha Death Hunter Lennox Bartley has kept the shifter world safe from rogues and exposure for years, making an enemy or ten along the way. Though something had always been missing in his life. Then he met Jade Cross.

Jade is the most beautiful woman he's ever seen, despite her disfigurement. She is a successful and creative entrepreneur but also the most submissive wolf he's ever known.

As the alpha, Lennox needs a strong, confident female or the Death Hunters will eat her for lunch. Plus, when his enemies learn he has a mate, her life will be in constant danger.

Jade has the choice to follow her heart or her head. One will keep her in her sheltered, safe world while the other will lead to the love of her life and almost certain death if she doesn't find the inner strength to help herself.

She couldnt move as the claws raked down her side. Pieces of her new sweater flew into the air as the October wind battered her exposed flesh. She wanted to scream, but nothing came out. Puffs of air and blood blew across her face as the bear slapped its paw against her head, dragging skin off her face. She tried to play dead rolling over to protect her face from further attack, but she fell down the rocks. She prayed the bear was done, but it continued to attack.

Breathing became difficult when she was stomped farther down in between the opening of the rocks. Jade was trapped. Why did the bear attack? She did nothing to provoke it. Then claws raked down her back tearing past flesh and muscle until the pain became too much. Her scream died in her throat.

But she wanted to live. She was only ten years old and nobody knew she was even gone.

Finally, the pressure lifted, and she inhaled air into her constricted lungs. Bane her voice was so low, she knew her brother wouldnt hear her. She dug her nails into the rock and dirt, dragging herself toward the water, but she had no strength left.

Bane had told her not to wander off, but it was her birthday and she thought she could take care of herself. She wanted to show her big brother that she could do anything he could and that was to catch more fish than he did.

Her fishing pole lay on the ground, broken in two pieces. She tried to fend the bear off using the rod as a weapon, but it was no use. It had charged her from the woods and there wasnt time to run or scream for help before its front paws planted on her chest knocking her off the hill and into the rocks below. All she saw was white fur until the bear leaned down and came face to face with her. She didnt have a chance. At first, she thought it was another animal, but it was a white bear. Shed never heard of a white bear, but what did she know. This one was now trying to eat her.

If only she could shift, but her wolf never showed. Never made a sound. Didnt matter now, she wouldnt live much longer.

Coughing, blood flew out of her mouth and nose falling to the rocks. The taste of metal flooded her tongue as she tried to scream, but nothing came out. She couldnt breathe as she gasped for air. She wanted her mom. She wanted to go home, but her life was ending soon. They were twenty miles from New Hope and any hospital.

And this trip was her wish. Her birthday present from her big brother to go camping in the woods. She loved this area. They were going to roast marshmallows and then go fishing. If only she had waited. Bane wanted to take a quick nap. He had worked all week and been up for hours. She would never get to do any of that ever again.

As she stared at the river, blood gathered in a puddle beside her. She waited for death to come for her, to release her from this agonizing pain. She was so tired, slowly her eyes closed, and then she heard the puffing of air again.

Jade, Jade, wake up. Its okay. Her arms were pulled against something. Then her brain registered it was a nightmare. A terrible time in her life played over and over every night for the past couple months.

Bane gathered her in his arms, rocking her until the night terror faded from her eyes. Her body was drenched in sweat when she noticed her reflection in the mirror. The long scar lay swollen, jagged across her face. The bears claw savagely ripped down from the bottom of her eye to her jawline. The doctor stitched it the best he could, but it was no use. There was too much damage to heal properly making it stand out angry looking. She knew she should have gotten over this by now, but all she felt was disgust when she stared at it. Turning away, she couldnt look at herself anymore. She would never forget what happened to her fifteen years ago. The scars would always remind her.

The same dream? her brother asked.

She tried to answer but she couldnt speak. Instead, she squeezed him letting him know she was okay. If you could say that she was. The nightmares were getting worse and coming more frequently, but if she told Bane that, he would only worry more. Her big brother had put his life on hold taking care of her.

Maybe its time we talked to someone. It might help

She shook her head and pulled away. No, she coughed out. Im fine. Its just a bad dream.

Every night, Jade? Something is triggering these nightmares. I think it could be the stress from the business. Maybe you need to slow down and take some time off.

Her brother had lost his cotton-picking mind. Take time off? Her business was growing from a small online company to five locations in another year.

Getting up, she dropped her feet to the floor and went to the bathroom and shut the door behind her. She was tired, and she wouldnt hold her tongue anymore. He wanted her to talk to a shrink, who would undoubtedly think she was crazy. You dont think I can run my business? she shouted through the door.

Of course, I do, but its grown so fast, and its just you. Take some time off and

Jade jerked the door open and stared at her brother. Tears slipped from her eyes when she realized that her big brother didnt think she could handle the stress. Pointing her finger at him, she cried out, Youyou dont have any faith in me, do you?

Frowning, her brother came toward her and said, Yes, I do, little sister.

Stop treating me like a child. Dont you see Ive grown up? I can handle this. Its just a few nightmares. Believe in me, Bane. When she saw her brothers face, she knew this conversation was a lost cause. Just leave, Bane. Im late for work and have to get ready. Jade turned and slammed the door in his face.