It’s Funny How Love Starts (IFHLS Book 1)

Alexia’s POV

“Zane!” I screamed but my shouts were droned by the panicked screams of others who were running around. It all reminded me of the fire and how disorganized it was with people, mostly the girls, screaming and trying to escape.

“Alexia, get out of here. It’s the werewolf hunters,” Amos said quickly, pushing me with the crowd.

“Zane,” I kept crying out. He was my only focus. I didn’t care if I got shot. I just needed to get to Zane and everything would eventually become better. It had to.

More shots were fired and even my own instincts made me duck in fear like everyone else. When I looked around, I saw many people changed into their wolf form, mostly guys, poised to attack any second they saw another threat.

I began to crawl my way through the crowd when another shower of bullets was fired. I lost Amos in the crowd of people but willed myself to go towards Zane’s body.

All the women screamed but the males were ready to attack. The problem was that they couldn’t tell where the attack came from. It seemed like it came from every side of the room.

“We will not hurt you but we will if you don’t help us. We ask for your cooperation and the surrendering of Lucas Slade,” a loud voice boomed that seemed like it came from nowhere in particular. What did they want with Lucas? I didn’t give a damn. I just needed to go to Zane.

Alexia, where are you? a voice shot in my head. Lucas.

Help, Zane’s hurt. He got shot. I thought back urgently as I made my way to Zane. I tried to make a fast observation to check for the entry of the wound of the silver bullet. It was hard to check through all the tears that seemed to stroll down my cheeks. Through my misty eyes I could tell he wasn’t moving or conscious and he looked extremely pale. If not treated properly, he would die in a matter of seconds.

I’ll be right there. Amos will find you. Lucas replied abruptly. Suddenly, dozens of shadows appeared from a small platform that stuck out at the top of the spacious ceiling. It wasn’t meant for anyone to stand on but there they were: the werewolf hunters.

They looked more frightening than Travis had been and even he was pretty intimidating. They each wore dark, sleek clothing that blended well with the shadows. Who knew how long they were waiting for us, let alone how they even entered the estate?

“Where is Lucas Slade?” a tall man boomed. He was at least a head taller than everyone else in the shadow and he had the presence of authority. He must’ve been the leader of the werewolf hunters.

“I am he,” Lucas answered, equaling the tall man’s presence. He was twenty yards away from me but I heard him loud and clear and felt the tension in the room. Everything was quiet, everyone looking up at the ceiling in horror and some in anger. More people changed their forms, fueled by their anger.

“Lucas Slade, you’ll be a nice collection to the werewolf heads I have in my home,” the leader said before launching his army down.

The werewolves were ready for it. They pounced at the exact same time. It would have been a graceful sight if it wasn’t so bloody.

All the women yelled, escaping the ballroom from all sides of the doors. I saw some of the werewolf hunters blocking the exit and executing the women who tried to escape. One by one, they were shot with silver bullets, their bodies flinching from the impact before they crumpled to the floor.

“Alexia, quickly,” Amos’ voice snapped me back to where I was. My tears were now dried, making my skin feel like it was being stretched. I looked down at Zane’s body before me and I saw where the bullet hit him.

It hit him straight in the chest.

The bloody wound seeped through his suit, the white dress shirt underneath soaked with blood.

“I need to get you out of here safely. He’s dead, Alexia.” Amos said the inevitable. There was no way he was dead. Amos tore me from Zane’s lifeless body.

“I won’t leave until you take his body out of here,” I said, fighting his tight grasp.

“Fine. Go, I’ll be right behind you,” Amos said, gathering Zane in his arms.

I ran towards a door that wasn’t blocked by a werewolf hunter but a hand grabbed me, jerking my body back. Then I was pulled to the ground, losing my balance but the grasp loosened enough for me to regain my balance.

I turned around to see a werewolf hunter unconscious on the ground with a nasty slash on his back. I saw how Amos’ shoe was bloody. He had a hidden knife on the tip of his shoe that was now covered in thick blood. He tapped his shoe on the ground and the knife was again safely hidden, as if nothing happened.

“Go, Alexia!” he shouted and I obeyed. The front door had already been opened by the few escaped victims and I sped out of the mansion. No werewolf hunters were lurking outside since their only purpose was to kill Lucas who would never back out in a battle.

Amos laid Zane’s body down on the same ground we stood talking on the day we met Travis snooping around. I collapsed next to him and began to cry.

“Alexia, I need to take you out of the estate,” Amos said soothingly but with urgency.

I couldn’t leave Zane. Never. I would die here if I had to. I began to feel faint and everything seemed to swoon in front of me.

“Alexia…are you OK?” Amos said, touching my shoulder.

“LET GO.” I jerked my shoulder, away from his touch and Amos let go willingly, looking at me with horrid face.

“What the hell?” he whispered. “Your eyes.”

I turned my attention back to Zane when that feeling of swooning overcame me again but I tried to pull myself together. My shaking hands grazed over Zane’s pale body, lingering over his chest. I couldn’t feel a heartbeat and tears started to well up again, missing the rhythmic beat of his heart. My hands began to move by themselves, placing it on Zane’s chest in the way you would perform CPR.

Suddenly, through my tear-filled eyes, I saw something glow softly from where my hand touched his chest and the golden light seemed to work its way all over his body. I brushed my tears with my other hand hastily as I tried to make out the source of the luminous light.

My clear eyes saw everything and I gasped.

The liquid golden light was pouring out from my hand into his body. My own body felt light and a wave of unease and darkness swept over me, chilling me but it was quickly replaced by the warm feeling of the light.

The gold light swam throughout Zane’s body until it began to dim and then, there was no more. The whole experience was crazy and frightening, leaving me half dazed and dizzy.

I looked at Amos in confusion hoping he’d explain what the hell just happened but he looked back at me like a reflection.

I heard stirring noise and a groan but it didn’t come from Amos or me. Amos’ eyes widened in shock and amazement. “Holy shit,” he whispered. I turned around to see what he was cursing about and saw Zane propping himself up to a seated position.

“Ugh, what happened?”