HUNTER

Edward

"Cease!"

I heard my opponent call time on our combat, one arm held out in a gesture of surrender as he bent over to recover from my last blow.

"Next." I called, waiting for the next person to step out of the semi circle of Warriors gathered around us in the practise room, but no one moved.

"Enough, Edward." The Warriors' Chief Trainer said quietly. "I think you're done for today."

"I know when I'm done." I said coldly, I was nowhere near done releasing the fury in me. "Next." I looked around at the group, from one face to another and then I heard a voice behind me.

"On your guard."

I turned around slowly.

"Let's go, Clan's Son." Jacob said, a mocking smile on his handsome face, as he did the Warrior half bow. I returned the salute and didn't wait to launch myself at him. We fought hard and fast and mean, Jacob had never held back just because I was Clan Leader's Son and he did not do so now. I got the fight I'd been looking for all year, I thought with grim satisfaction as I tasted blood and felt the pain singing through my body.

I don't know how long we'd been going at it but at some point, I was flat on my back, covered in sweat and grime and blood, panting and exhausted. I turned my head slowly to see him lying a few feet away where he'd landed from my last move, looking similarly destroyed.

"Cease?" I said, wincing as I pushed myself up onto my elbows. He nodded slowly as he did the same. There was cheering and clapping from the Warriors who'd been watching. We were a bloodthirsty lot. This sort of thing only enhanced their loyalty to me, I knew. The Clan liked its leaders strong.

I limped slowly outside, aware that the Chief Trainer was watching me go, a hooded look in his eyes. I splashed cold water on my face and torso, taking the towel that Jacob held out to me as he did the same.

"Thanks." I said, glancing over at him.

"Anytime," He said, that ironic smile on his lips, "Clan's Son." I grunted at him. He always made it sound like an insult, but I knew him better than that.

"Any reason why you needed me to beat your ass?" He asked casually as we made our way slowly back to Clanholding. "Not that I'm not happy to oblige."

I shrugged.

"You're not still annoyed with me about Bella, are you?" He asked, watching me. I jerked my head in the negative. Frankly, I hadn't thought about that for a while. Although I'd thought of her. There had been two ways I knew would help take the edge off. One way would have been to sink my body into hers and watch those vivid eyes go dark with pleasure as we set the bed on fire, as she had once said. But since that wasn't an option and since that would have probably just made me feel worse in the long run anyway, this way would have to do.

Once I found my mate, I was going to bind them to me so they could never run again.

"Edward." Jacob said quietly and when I glanced at him, I noticed his eyes were fixed on my hands, now clenched into fists, white at the knuckles.

"There's always a reason for people's choices." He said gently.

"I know." My voice sounded clipped to my ears.

"Give your mate the benefit of doubt."

"I'm trying." I exhaled. But whatever I did, I always came back to the hurt of knowing my mate didn't want me. And a part of me just kept aching with that knowledge.

"Edward, what the fuck." Emmett met us at the stairs, looking me up and down and then transferring his gaze to Jacob.

"Don't look at me, he asked for it." Jacob said, "Quite literally." He nodded at me and waved vaguely at the others as he headed off around the side of the house, presumably to clean up.

"And you two stood around watching while Clan Intelligence's best male went to work on our future Clan Leader?" Emmett demanded of Jasper and Rosalie who had been following us at a discreet distance.

"You want me to disobey the future Clan Leader?" Rosalie remarked drily.

"He did actually ask for it, Emmett." Jasper laughed.

"Emmett, stop acting like my grandmother." I said tiredly. "It's getting old." He huffed at me like the old lady he so essentially is, following with the others as I stepped around him and entered the house. I was heading for the staircase and my chambers when I heard my father's voice.

"Edward."

I stopped and turned. He was coming out of the Council chamber, followed by Healer Kate and a few others.

His eyes took in my state, travelling down to my feet and then back up to meet my eyes. We looked at each other for a long moment. I didn't have to say anything. My father had always been able to read me.

"I have some news that might interest you." He said finally.

"Oh?" I said, not moving from where I stood.

"Kate." He glanced at the Healer standing next him.

"Forks has just sent word. They've found something interesting." Healer Kate said looking at me.

"A garden." My father said softly, "Filled with aronel bushes."

That caught my attention as he knew it would.

"When do we leave?" I asked evenly. He gave me a faint smile.

"How fast can you pack?"

OOOOOOOOOO

We were making our way through Volterra within the hour.

I was chaffing at our pace, impatient to speed up, but we had to be clear of the town before we could safely go to full strength. Father had placed Forks on lockdown, though. No one was getting out or away until we got there.

This game had gone on for too long. I'd been in the dark for too long, dealing with someone who had played from the shadows without me even knowing I was being played. One part of me was exhilarated at the chase, at the fact that my mate was obviously my match to be able to challenge me like this. But that part was overruled by the part that burned with black fury at being so summarily dismissed, rudely relegated to the side, not given a chance to fight fair, rejected by this unknown.

Wait, I thought. Soon, my mate. Soon.

As we reached the outer Gates, I saw Jacob, waiting. He inclined his head at my father and then slipped in with us, coming to walk beside me.

"I take it you have business in Forks." I commented, raising an eyebrow.

"Watch yourself, Clan's Son. You're so sharp you might cut yourself." He murmured. I snorted and then winced as pain shot through me, where he had landed a brutal blow hours earlier. I chanced a glance at him. The bastard looked like nothing had happened.

"Fuck you." I said unpleasantly.

"You'll have to get in line." He said as he turned his head to wink at Jasper behind us.

"I should shove you in the dungeons." I threw back at him.

"Except I know how to break out of them." He said gravely.

"Chain you in the dungeons."

"I always knew you were kinky." He smiled mockingly at me.

"I don't know why I bother."

"You need me to kick your ass in combat and make you feel better." He said pleasantly. I snorted, not for a moment was I about to admit that was true. My mood was better today than it had been in a long time.

Our group approached the open meadow where we would shift to full strength and speed. As we got into position, I spotted Healer Charis at the rear of the group, with Healer Tia and Rosalie. She caught me looking and nodded at me. I inclined my head in greeting and then turned as Jacob said something to me. When I glanced back at her, she was frowning, her eyes intent on Jacob.

"Have you two met?" I said to him, nodding in her direction. Jacob followed my nod and then looked back at me.

"Not that I remember. Who is she?"

"Healer Charis of Clan Petral."

"Ah, the wise one who figured it out." Jacob said, looking back at where she continued to stare at him. He turned back to the front.

"She's staring at you."

"I get that a lot." He said solemnly and without waiting for a response, he had set off at full speed.

I watched the others do the same, one by one and took a moment to ready myself.

I knew my mate was there. I was impatient to get on with it. To find this elusive person who dared to hide from me.

I shifted to full strength and followed.

Thank you my dear readers for reading this story and for your reviews! They're my fuel. My heart just swells with joy each time I open my mail to see a plethora of "Review Alerts". Hope you all enjoy Edward's POV. Next is Carmen's POV, hopefully I can edit it in time to update today.