HUNTED

The next time Aila fluttered her eyes open, the light was creeping through the windows, and the birds were already up chittering away their melodious songs. It was peaceful even while her body slowly began to turn cold and feel numb. She sighed and realised Damon wasn't in bed with her. She bolted upright, panic engulfing her. 

Where was Damon? Was everything okay? Did the hunters return?

Her heart pounded against her ribcage rapidly, the noise of it becoming louder as she pulled her knees in towards her chest, wrapping her arms around them, her eyes wide as she rocked slightly.

"Aila"

Tears filled her eyes as the possibilities rammed her mind into overdrive. Did they have Damon now? 

"Aila"

Something must have happened; he would never leave her, not right now in the state she was in. But then, if he was taken, why was she still here? No, maybe something has happened, and Damon had to leave; he was always so considerate of her and must have left her to sleep. Yes, that was probably it. Aila nodded her head, trying to convince herself as well as trying to calm herself from this frenzied state.

"Aila!"

She blinked profusely at the voice ringing through her mind. Malia?

"Calm down, just breathe," Malia's voice took on a calm tone, and Aila instantly followed her wolf's orders. After a minute of taking deep breaths in and releasing slowly, her heart rate was back to normal, and she felt a lot calmer and less panicked. 

"Now, instead of rushing off thinking, that shits hit the fan. Remember to think before letting your emotions go haywire. You were kidnapped, captive for over a week and managed to escape using a cool head. I know we have lost Hollie and other lives in this pack, but you can't just lose it like that, okay?" Malia said softly.

Aila nodded her head. Her wolf was right, she was the Luna of the pack, and if Damon was ever taken, then everything fell on her to keep the pack running smoothly until they got him back. 

"Another thing," Malia interrupted Aila's thought process, "to stop yourself from getting so worried.. you know what would help, right?"

Aila frowned then realised where her wolf was going with her line of thought, so she answered with a pout. She was right, and the need was always there; it seemed to burn brighter now after yesterday's events. She said aloud, "Being marked?"

"Yes!!!! Once you are marked, you would feel where he is and if he is safe," Malia finished, "also if you hadn't had a meltdown and listened harder, you would know our mate is in the bathroom."

And just on cue, Damon opened the door from the en suite with a towel wrapped around his waist. Aila's eyes immediately looked at the dips in his hips and the outlines of his muscles. 

"Is everything okay?" He asked, and when Aila met his eyes, she immediately climbed out of bed, jumped towards him and clung to his chest. He embraced her and kissed her shoulder, sending tiny sparks of heat down her body. She could still feel his skin damp and the steam rising off him and out of the bathroom. His scent and toothpaste were comforting, and she inhaled him to calm herself down further. 

"I'm fine now, thank you," She whispered into his taut pecs. His chuckle rumbled through his chest, making Aila smile. "But, now I smell how nice and clean you are. I really want to have a shower!" 

She pulled away and grabbed her toothbrush as she turned the faucet on again. The steam from before was still clouding the room, making her skin feel all icky. She brushed her teeth quickly, wanting nothing more than to feel clean again.

"I will join," Damon closed the door behind him.

Aila's eyes slanted slightly, smiling with her eyes as she brushed her teeth, staring at her half naked mate through the mirror. Once she finished, she smiled, "You just had a shower.."

"I won't clean myself.." He replied as he pulled away the towel, and Aila's eyes immediately dropped to his groin before she looked back up with a blush forming on her cheeks.

"Why are you blushing!? You've seen it AND touched it before," Malia giggled. Aila rolled her eyes at her, she didn't know why she was feeling shy, but she was.

"We both know where that ended last time," Aila replied with a smirk as she began peeling away her clothes.

"This is different. I will take care of you.." Damon whispered pensively. He took her clothes from her before grabbing each side of her cheeks and bringing their faces together. He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent deeply before pausing and opening his eyes once more, as his gaze darkened and glowed, "Why do I smell strawberries?" He bit out.

Aila tensed, "Oh, this is why I need to shower as well."

Damon narrowed his eyes, "I will help you get rid of that awful smell." He released her and followed closely behind her to the shower. "Was Gabriel there yesterday?" 

Damon's question felt distant as soon as Aila felt the water on her skin. She closed her eyes for a moment to savour it. This was what she needed as well, to let the warm water coat her body and alleviate some of the chill she still felt. It was still there, but Damon's presence had been a nice distraction.

Aila turned around and took a step back so she could look Damon in the eyes, which was hard to do under a shower with water pummelling down onto her features. 

"Gabriel helped the pack out a lot.. He saved me when.." Aila trailed off when she saw Damon's jaw tense and his eyes glow.

But instead of anger, Damon spoke softly, "When what happened?" He pushed strands of her hair out of the way and stroked her face with his thumbs, watching her intently.

Aila swallowed lightly and closed her eyes, "The hunters used Chase as a hostage-"

"Chase?" 

Aila snapped her eyes open after hearing Darius' deep majestic, and angry voice.

"Who is Chase?" He continued with a slight edge to his voice while his hands went to her hips and dug in slightly. His touch instantly sent a shockwave of desire through her, even when his mood was plummeting and his fingers a means of restraint. 

Aila tilted her head and smiled sadly, "Chase is a hunter-" Damon's hands dug into her skin deeper, so she quickly finished explaining, "he helped me escape, and yesterday he told me it was a trap."

Damon relaxed his hands. "Then I should thank him, along with Gabriel." His nose crinkled at the vampire's name. "What happened?"

"Chase was used as a hostage," Aila's face soured, "His own father used him as a hostage.."

Damon's brows drew together, and he spun Aila around slowly before moving her hair away and massaging her shoulders, "Then you should have known he wouldn't-"

"He would." Aila snapped but relaxed, closing her eyes at the feeling of Damon's hands rubbing away the tension in her shoulders, "Silas is an evil, twisted man. He shot him in the foot to prove he would kill his son. I.. went to him, but Gabriel intercepted me and took me away to the forest." 

Damon kissed her shoulder, inciting a shuddering sigh from Aila. "Then I must definitely thank Gabriel. IF he ever shows up again AND doesn't try to take a claim at what is mine," His voice deepened, vibrating through her body as his lips were still against her skin. 

She bit her lip and turned to face him, "You know I am yours."

Damon didn't reply as he grabbed the shampoo and began washing her hair. Even without him trying to tease her or make any moves, Aila still felt her core start to melt from his touch and close proximity. Yet, his silence made her frown with concern. 

He finished washing her hair, and as soon as his hands were lathered with soap, he kneaded her breasts. Aila gasped as her concern washed away as waves of pleasure erupted through her body. Their eyes locked, and she wanted nothing more than to climb on top of him and claim him as hers officially. 

She watched as his eyes became hooded with want, and after feeling a prod to her belly, Aila glanced down and immediately bit her lips. He wanted her as well. But Damon trailed his hands down her body softly, letting her skin raise up into goosebumps as he continued to clean her, missing the area that needed his touch. 

"I want to look after you, Angel. But it's hard to control myself and control Darius when you look, feel and sound sexy. I don't want to push you." Damon growled as he kneeled in front of her and massaged her bum.

"You are looking after me. And I don't want you to control yourself anymore." She looked down at him, feeling her heart burst after his eyes flickered to hers with such yearning behind them. 

He stilled his hands. "You understand what I mean, Aila? I don't want you to think I am taking advantage of you."

His words made her want him even more. With a chuckle, she moved a bit of his raven hair away from his forehead. "Damon. My Alpha," His eyes darkened further at his title and stood up, so he towered over her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him so she could feel his need for her. Her hands trailed up his chest and to the sides of his sharp jawline. 

"I want you to mark me, and then I want you to take advantage of me."

He lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around him along with her arms. He closed the distance between their lips, crashing into her with such passion as he leaned her against the glass wall and pulled his lips back breathlessly. She watched as his canines extended and felt herself breathe heavier at the sight. 

"We will be bound forever," He growled. His eyes were intense as they flickered between hers, waiting for Aila's denial or submission.