Awakening A New Generation of Hunters

Zuria's P.O.V

She was dragged awake by her aching scalp once again, her lover yanking her hair before slapping her across the face. The tears from the night before haunted her as she fell into his cold embrace. His anger radiated off him, but she would rather endure his wrath than face the alternative. He shoved her away, slamming her onto the hardest bed. 

"Bitch. Do you understand what you've done? How much you've cost me?" 

He spread her legs wide, and she knew what was coming. She bit her lower lip as a hot gel was rubbed onto her most intimate area. 'Please, no. Don't resort to this madness. You promised to love me, and this… this is the furthest thing from love.' She heard the creak of a door opening, a new scent entering the room. Fear surged within her, and the fire inside her began to burn. 

"Fin, no. Please, no. Don't do this. Please." 

When her desperate pleas were met only with the sound of a door closing, she realized her nightmare was far from over. She didn't need to look to feel the sick, sinister lust in the newcomer's gaze. The fire within her rose higher and higher, but when she tried to satisfy the empty burn with her fingers, nothing came of it. Instead, her actions became a spectacle for the perverse monster watching her. Frustrated by her failure to quell the fire, she cried out, desperate to escape. 

"Do you need some help, cute thing?" 

'Thing!?' That was all she had been reduced to—a thing. If Fin truly loved her, why would he let this happen? She had given up everything for him—a vampire who now treated her this way, all in the name of love. 

A finger foreign to her own slid into her, and she moaned involuntarily. Disgusted, she scooted away so quickly that she fell off the bed. 

"Aww, I want to take all of your innocence," the man taunted. "I want to break you so badly that you'll only depend on me." 

Her body betrayed her, reacting to the unwanted touch. She felt like a prostitute—a pawn—used to satisfy the enemies she had spent years training to kill. If he wanted to break her, fine. 

She stopped breathing and focused her abilities, manipulating the Fae's blood. She watched the creature gasp for air, his smug expression dissolving into panic. By the time he was dead, however, she had no strength left to enjoy the sight. 

'Fin doesn't love me. He never has, and he never will. Am I so unlovable? Without Fin, who will want me? How much longer does he expect me to endure this?'

The door swung open, and Fin stormed in. He grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head against the wall. The concussion left her dazed, but his roaming hands reignited a painful, fiery need within her. Wrapping his hands around her neck, he began to squeeze.

"The next one is a powerful business partner," he hissed.

"If you love me, don't disappoint me. You do love me, right?" 

Tears streamed down her face as she nodded, desperate to prove her devotion. She wanted him to see her worth. He kissed her, and for a fleeting moment, she felt hope. She clung to him, wanting to believe his love could extinguish the fire inside her. 

"Baby, if you do this for me, I'll love you even more," he promised. 

Her lips curved into a weak smile. Maybe, just maybe, if she gave him what he wanted, he would finally love her the way she dreamed. Fin led her into another room, dark and foreboding, where three bloodthirsty men awaited. Her heart raced as she took a step back. 

"Remember, you love me, don't you? If you do this, I'll propose to you. I'll love you forever." 

"You'll love me?" she asked, her voice trembling. 

"Yes, baby. Why would you doubt my love?" 

She shook her head, trying to silence her doubts. Fin had promised marriage before—on the day he asked her to sever ties with her loving family. She had sacrificed so much for him, believing it would prove her love. She didn't doubt that he loved her; she doubted his ability to keep his promises. 

"Good," he said, brushing a kiss against her forehead. "Don't ruin this for me." 

She nodded, tears stinging her eyes. She had been placed on hormonal IUDs because Fin only wanted their child—and perhaps the children of the men he prostituted her to. The door shut, and she shrieked, fear consuming her. 

"It's cute that you think that man loves you," one of the men sneered. 

"Yo, Kai, I don't know if she's naive or just stupid," another added. 

"If he loved you, he wouldn't let us taint your body, much less touch what he supposedly cherishes." 

Tears spilled as she felt hands roam her body. She already felt dirty, though nothing had happened yet. Her clothes were slowly torn away, leaving her exposed before the three men. 

"Rumor has it no other man has touched this perfect body," one of them taunted.

"No wonder Fin uses you to destroy his enemies. You're the perfect bait." 

"You're lying," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction. 

"She's too far gone," someone laughed. "Let's just enjoy the bitch with a leash." 

One of the men positioned himself above her. Her mind screamed denial, but her body betrayed her again, reacting against her will. The rough invasion made her cry out, her nails clawing at the man's back. She tried to escape, but they held her down. One man shoved himself into her mouth, forcing her to suppress her gag reflex. On the other end, she felt the rush of unwanted sensations building, pushing her to the brink of madness. 

'Please, Fin. Love me. Save me.'

Her tears fell freely, her body violated and her soul broken. She no longer knew if she could endure this—or if she even wanted to.