The Last Witch of Black Hollow

Chapter Three

The sharp cry of pain cut through the crisp morning air, echoing off the training yard walls. The sparring had been brutal, as it always was, but this time, someone had taken a hit too hard.

Hunter stepped forward, towering over the fallen trainee who clutched his arm, his face twisted in agony. Blood dripped from a gash on his forearm, staining the dirt beneath him.

"Get him to the infirmary," Hunter ordered, his voice cold, impassive.

Kai crouched beside the injured wolf, examining the wound with a critical eye. "It's deep, but not fatal. We'll need proper supplies to clean it out and stitch it up."

Hunter exhaled sharply. They were running low on medical supplies, a fact he had been ignoring for too long. With tensions high and enemies lurking, he had been reluctant to send any of his people into town. But now, there was no choice.

"We'll go," Hunter said finally. "Only a few of us. We don't draw attention, we get what we need, and we get out."

Kai nodded. "I'll get the others."

The town was a short ride away, but every step towards it felt like a risk. Hunter had chosen three others to accompany him—Kai, Jace, and Liam. All strong, capable, and, most importantly, loyal. They moved through the town like shadows, sticking to side streets and keeping their heads down.

The marketplace was bustling, the scent of fresh bread, spices, and roasting meat filling the air. It was the kind of place Aurora would have loved.

Hunter pushed the thought away. There was no use in wishing for ghosts.

Kai led the way, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd. "We'll split up. Get what we need, meet back here in fifteen."

Hunter gave a curt nod and moved towards the quieter part of the street. His gaze landed on a small, tucked-away cottage shop, its sign slightly weathered but inviting. The aroma of baked goods and herbs wafted out, wrapping around him like a warm embrace.

"This place should have supplies," Jace murmured behind him.

Without a word, Hunter pushed the door open. A small bell chimed overhead, signaling their arrival. The shop was cozy, shelves lined with glass jars filled with dried herbs, bundles of fresh produce, and trays of pastries that made Kai's stomach growl audibly.

Hunter leaned against the wooden counter, surveying the room. It was empty. No shopkeeper in sight.

His fingers tapped against the counter once before he reached for the small brass bell beside him and rang it once. The sound echoed through the shop.

A voice called from the back, muffled but distinctly feminine. "I'll be right there!"

Something in his chest tightened.

Seconds later, a figure emerged from behind a cloth-covered doorway, wiping flour-dusted hands on her apron. She was a vision of warmth, her red hair tied back in a loose braid, strands escaping to frame her face. Her cheeks were dusted with flour, as were the bridge of her nose and the sleeves of her dress.

She lifted her gaze—and froze.

Green eyes met dark purple, and the world stood still.

Aurora's breath caught in her throat.

It's him.

It can't be.

But it was. Even if his features were sharper, his body broader, his presence more commanding, she would know those eyes anywhere.

Hunter.

The name curled around her mind like a whisper from the past, a ghost she had long since buried.

Hunter stared at her, his expression unreadable. There was a flicker of something in his gaze—recognition, confusion, something primal and unsettling. He felt it too, that pull, that sense of familiarity he couldn't quite place.

The moment stretched, heavy and unspoken, until Kai shattered it with his usual lack of subtlety.

"Damn, these smell amazing!" Kai declared, his arms already full of pastries. "How much for all of these?"

Aurora blinked, breaking free from the trance. She straightened, smoothing her apron with practiced ease, slipping into the role of shopkeeper. "I'll tally it up for you."

She moved behind the counter, fingers steady despite the way her heart thundered in her chest. She picked up a notepad, quickly adding up the total.

"That'll be ten silver pieces."

Kai didn't hesitate, fishing the money out of his pouch. "Worth every coin."

Hunter, however, hadn't moved. His gaze remained fixed on her, watching, studying. His lips twitched, just slightly, as if amused by something only he understood.

Aurora refused to let it unnerve her.

She counted out the change with practiced ease and held it out to him. "Here's your—"

Her breath hitched as his fingers brushed against hers. Just for a second. Just long enough to send a spark of something dangerously close to familiarity shooting up her spine.

His smirk deepened.

He knows. Or at least, he suspects.

Aurora forced a polite smile, retreating her hand quickly. "Thank you for your purchase. Have a good day."

Hunter took the coins without looking at them. He didn't move, didn't turn away. It was as if something in him refused to leave.

"We should go," Kai said, nudging Hunter with his elbow. "We got what we came for."

Hunter's jaw tensed, but he gave a short nod. Without another word, he turned, leading his men out of the shop.

Aurora exhaled only once the door shut behind them. She gripped the edge of the counter, steadying herself.

She had spent years building this quiet life, staying hidden, burying the past. And yet, with one look, one touch, it felt as though the walls she had so carefully constructed were beginning to crack.

Outside, Hunter walked in silence, his grip tightening on the bag of supplies. That feeling in his chest didn't go away. That gnawing sense of knowing, of losing something he couldn't name.

He glanced over his shoulder, back at the little cottage shop.