Once Upon A Hunt

by Stalkress

One night, when Nick went for a run to clear his head of the depressed state he was in. He heard a scream that would change his life forever...if he let it.

1. In The Clearing

Title: Once Upon a Hunt

Author: Stalkress

Rating: T for now, it may change

Summary: Nick has wanted to settle down and start a family ever since his friend Clayton had found a mate. One night, when Nick went for a run to clear his head of the depressed state he was in. He heard a scream that would change his life forever... if he let it. NickOC pairing

Theme: Romance/Drama/Comedy/Supernatural

Category: Kelley Armstrong

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Kelley Armstrong's characters, plot, or story line. Though this somewhat follows what happened in her books the events that occur are purely out of my imagination. I do, however, own all of the characters I created myself i.e. characters that do not appear in her series.

A/N Note: This is my first fanfic and one that I've been meaning to write but hadn't found the time to. The reason I wrote this fanfic was because I've always had a soft spot for Nick and want him to be happy and finally break free of his father's expectations for his life. This chapter is sort of like a prologue since I don't know if I'll be posting the second chapter and writing more after that. As always it depends on the readers and reviewers :p

Chapter 1: In the Clearing

Nick POV

A deer's scream ripped through the silent forest. It stopped me dead in my tracks. As the scream died away my joy did as well. Curiosity took over me. As far as I knew I was the only predator for miles around and that scream had sounded quite close.

I set off at an easy lope. Whatever had hurt- killed- that deer would probably be eating it when I arrived. Which is exactly what I want, I thought. I wanted to see who it was but not be seen myself.

I caught the scent of the deer's blood coming from the west so I turned toward it. The trees thinned quickly so I slowed down to a silent crawl and approached what I assumed was the clearing holding the predator feasting on its prey.

As I reached the last bush I paused to make sure I was downwind, and then very, veryquietly approached the clearing through the protection of the bush. As I pushed my muzzle out, the deer was indeed dead but it was the predator that surprised me. I silently recoiled from the bush, deeper into the woods. As I backpedalled, my hind paw snapped a twig. Instantly, I forgot all caution and stealth and ran full tilt from the clearing, deeper into the forest. What I saw in the clearing would haunt me for the rest of my life.

OC POV

A twig snapped behind me. I whirled around. The woods were silent but the ground was shaking with the thunder of retreating paws. I turned back to the deer. It was my favourite species of prey, which was why it was already picked clean. I really need to eat slower, I thought. The night isn't even half over and I'm bored. I might as well see whom it was that intruded on my meal, finished or not.