HUNTED

Aila walked onto the sun terrace with Damon, hand in hand. His warmth was more comforting than the sun beaming down on her, soothing her from the uncomfortable thoughts of her vampiric being. As they approached the grand marble table with an array of fruits, pastries and pancakes, Aila picked up on the usual banter that instantly made her smile.

"Blink five times if you need me to rescue you from Finn.." Ajax leaned in close to a woman with brown hair and blue eyes; he stared at her intensely while she leaned away from him with widened eyes.

"She needs rescuing from you," Finn growled as he yanked the shapeshifter out of the girl's personal space before sitting down next to her. Ajax smirked and walked towards the empty chair on her right and flopping down as he threw a grape into his mouth.

"After seeing the way she drives, I don't think she needs rescuing from anyone. Heck, I reckon she could take us all on.." Ajax winked at the girl, who blushed in response.

"Erm, well, I definitely couldn't beat Chase.." She glanced in Chase' direction, who sat on one of the sun loungers, away from them, his back to the group.

"You never know.. I haven't trained in a while," Chase spoke over his shoulder with a wicked grin. Finn looked between the pair and frowned. But their heads whipped back when they saw Aila and Damon arrive at the table. Finn, Ajax, Chase and Kane instantly jumped up and rushed to Aila's side.

"How are you feeling?" Finn asked; his eyes assessed her like he was looking for any injuries.

"Luna, it's good to see you up and about," Kane bowed his head.

"Chica, you're sending me to an early grave. Swear down I'm getting grey hairs now because of you," Ajax played with his hair and winked at her causing Aila to giggle and shake her head.

Chase stepped forwards, then gaining her attention as he stared at the hunter's mark on Aila's chest and silently pulled her into a hug, ignoring Damon's growl. Aila sighed and patted Chase on the back before stepping away; he held her by the shoulders, staring at her with worry-filled eyes. She had the sudden urge to worry over him too. He looked like he had not slept in a week, with a shadow of golden stubble along his jaw. It was only then she remembered Chase also lost his father; it had to be rough on him.

Aila could only imagine what he was going through. Silas was horrible, and she knew he abused Chase even before he turned his back on him. But there must have been times when the pair were just like any other father and son, and that was what tormented him.

Chase released her shoulders after Ajax nudged him in the back, pulling him out of his reverie. Aila also snapped out of her thoughts when Damon put his arm over her shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. The hunter then cracked a smile, "It's good to see you back."

Aila smiled in gratitude, glancing at each of the guys, forcing her thoughts to the back of her mind. "Thanks, guys. I'm already feeling better!"

Ajax glanced at Damon and smirked, "Did the big bad Alpha not do his job properly-" He yelped and jumped out of the way from Damon's fist.

"Seriously… this kid," Malia muttered in disapproval. But Aila could hear the smile in her wolf's voice.

Aila rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile at the normalcy of it all. It was strange; in the course of a week, she had attacked the hunters base, been kidnapped again, spent a few days recovering, and this morning discussed with Gabriel about giving her his blood. Now she was chilling with her friends once more, her mouth nearly salivating at the food on the table.

Oh. Aila almost forgot about the other girl who was with them. She stood at a distance behind them, but once Aila's eyes landed on her, Finn gestured her forwards, his hand landing on her back as she approached. Aila briefly looked at how close they appeared, but of course, did not comment.

"Aila, this is Sariah. She helped us in our escape.." Finn beamed at her. 

Aila only stared at Finn for a second, observing his features and the look in his eyes as he stared at Sariah. Aila looked back at her, who glanced at her mark and frowned. Aila clenched her teeth together but held her head up high; she put the cami on for a reason, and it was to show that no matter what they did, she could still stand tall against the hunters. Against Clint.

"I am so sorry, Aila. I truly am. I should have helped sooner and maybe-"

Aila held her hand up to stop her. "It doesn't matter now. Thank you for helping us; it must have been difficult to make that decision," She interrupted Sariah. Aila didn't need to ask to know that Sariah was a hunter, but it surprised her that this was now the second time a hunter had aided her. It made her wonder if not all of them were like Silas, Connor and Clint in the organisation.

"You never said such a thing to me.." Chase grumbled under his breath.

Aila chuckled before interlacing her fingers with Damon, choosing to ignore the ex-hunter. Chase knew she appreciated him and everything he had done for her.  Aila sighed and squeezed Damon's fingers slightly. At the moment she felt very clingy towards him, she couldn't help it. His touch, his presence soothed her, and maybe her mate was benefitting from it, considering how possessive he got over. Damon growled in response to her thoughts, leaning down, so his lips touched the side of her neck and inhaled her scent.

"I can't say I don't hate it," He purred into her ear before nibbling on her earlobe. Aila turned her head, staring into his eyes, finding herself getting lost in them again.

"Please try and refrain from such things.. I don't want my breakfast to come back up.." Ajax interrupted their intimate moment. Damon glared at the shapeshifter, the muscle in his jaw ticking.

"Come on, I'm hungry. We can chat with food," Aila exclaimed excitedly, leaning away from Damon and pulling him along behind her towards the chairs.

Although she returned a few days beforehand, it was spent with her forcing her food down. Her appetite had been next to nothing, but Damon's concern vibrated through the bond, and she felt guilty for worrying him more. But now, the look of it all made her stomach rumble in complaint and Malia almost wanting to burst through so she could eat immediately.