HUNTED

Aila walked next to Gamma Chiara, forgetting that Ajax and Finn had been standing on the sidelines throughout their fight. She was unsure how she forgot, Ajax had been cheering her on through her sparring session, and Finn ended up joining in with some other pack members. Aila had glanced at Finn a couple of times and found that he was a decent fighter; she presumed he was taught how to fight in his old pack. The pair followed behind the girls and were animated about both Aila's fight and Finn's fighting techniques.

As they made it to the broken patio doors, with one side still needing to be replaced, Nairi skipped up to them. She, too, was wearing workout clothes, though she stuck to leggings and a sports bra, similar to Aila now. Although Aila was still feeling a little self-conscious about walking around without her top, she also enjoyed the cold breeze against her skin that cooled her down beautifully. 

"Hey! Good work out there today! But we need to train you in heels as well," Nairi said excitedly. 

Aila looked at her flabbergasted, "Heels?"

"Of course! You aren't always going to be in gym gear when you need to fight, you know. We could be shopping or clubbing. You need to be able to fight in all sorts of footwear and clothes," Nairi exclaimed as they walked through to the kitchen. Aila couldn't help but smile at Nairi; she was like a little ball of sunshine that immediately made you like her. 

Gamma Chiara shook her head at her comment, "Seriously? We don't need to train in heels," She retorted.

"Also, who wears heels to go shopping? Wouldn't that hurt?" Aila added. Nairi stopped and looked at her wide-eyed.

"Please do not tell me, our soon to be Luna doesn't always wear trainers? Please, please, please tell me you have some sort of fashion sense?!" By this point, Nairi had grabbed Aila's hands in her own as she looked at her pleadingly. 

Aila bit her lip to stop herself from laughing, "I'm sorry, but clothes to me are just a means to an end. Most of the time, I was working, and I would be in my workout gear anytime outside of work. Occasionally I'd throw on some jeans and a top."

Nairi's mouth gaped open into a visible 'o', this time, Aila couldn't help but laugh at her.

"That's it! We are going to brunch! And then, we are going SHOPPING!" Nairi almost screeched at the word; her voice was so high pitched as her arms were out theatrically. Aila winced at her voice and then turned to look at Ajax, who wandered off to grab some food. The pair seemed to be quite similar in being melodramatic.

"We have food here. There's no need for us to go out," Gamma Chiara interrupted with a bored tone to her voice.

"Nonsense! I bet you want to get out of this house for a while, right!?" Nairi asked Aila; her face was so excited, she found it hard to refuse her. 

"I mean, we can eat here and then go?" Aila negotiated.

"Nope! We don't have time to spare. We will go once we've showered and can eat when we are there," Nairi was not taking no as the answer.

"I hate to be a giver of bad news. But I don't exactly have my purse or any money for that matter-"

"All on me, baby!" Nairi showed her black card and winked at her, "Well, actually, it's on Alpha Damon. This is yours. I swiped it from him and told him we are going out!" 

Aila's brows rose, "I can't spend his money!" She crossed her arms and glanced around, realising most of the pack were in the kitchen or just outside eating food. Aila knew they could hear their conversation; she didn't want them thinking she was a 'gold digger'. 

"Of course, you can! He's your mate. He provides for you. If you need new clothes or whatever, he will get it for you," Nairi said in her sing-song voice and placed the card in Aila's hand. Gamma Chiara suddenly tensed, and Aila could see her mood drop to the point that the air seemed frosty around her. 

"I'll meet you outside in thirty," Gamma Chiara muttered before walking off stiffly. Aila's brows drew together; she wondered what that was about.

"Don't worry about her. She gets like that sometimes." Nairi smiled gently at her, "Meet you outside in thirty! Oh my gosh, THIRTY MINUTES!? Make it an hour, no an hour twenty minutes! I won't be ready in thirty minutes! She's crazy!" 

Aila's eyebrows were raised again as she watched Nairi sprinting off and shouting out to Gamma Chiara about the meeting time. Aila shook her head and didn't realise how much she was smiling from the pair.

"Can we come? We really need some new clothes!" Ajax suddenly appeared by her side. His face was just as excited as Nairi's. Aila couldn't help but look with a grimace at the coveralls he was still wearing.

"Ask the girls. I'm not sure if it's meant to be a girly trip or something," Aila replied hesitantly. She loved the guys, but she needed some time with a few girls to remind herself not to be such a tomboy.

"On it!" Ajax hurried off after the girls with Finn trailing behind him. He smiled back at Aila before rolling his eyes. 

Aila turned around; although she was going to brunch with the girls, she still wanted to grab a little something. Her stomach was growling so loudly, she missed dinner the night before, and now she was regretting that decision as her metabolism was so high, and she worked out so much this morning. Aila walked over to the island and grabbed a pancake and some strawberries to throw on top. 

Looking around, she tried to look for a space to sit, but once again, she came to the realisation that the Silver Crescent Pack was massive and there was nowhere to sit. Shrugging, she decided to eat it in her room before a shower. However, it took Aila nearly ten minutes to get out of the kitchen as some of the pack members crowded around her. They congratulated her, welcomed her to the pack, or simply introduced themselves. 

A few even seemed in awe at her, calling her by 'Princess', 'your majesty' or 'The white wolf'. The men looked at her lustfully and some of the women who, she guessed wasn't after the Alpha, looked at her in admiration. As she walked off, Aila again repeated herself, "Seriously, guys. Gamma Chiara kicked my ass. I don't know why you are congratulating me," 

"Because you actually landed a few punches on her! That was badass! No one gets a hit on her, and you did it on your first day!" One of the guys replied excitedly; she remembered his name being Tommy.

"Yeah, you are so quick! It was eery! If I didn't know you were a werewolf, I'd think you were a vamp!" Another guy shouted from the back of the group, who had them turn around and clip him over the head. 

It seemed their hate for vampires was still strong..

Either way, Aila's cheeks heated at the compliments, and she rose her plate higher to show she was going to eat her now cold pancakes. She wandered up the stairs and felt a lot better after meeting a few other werewolves who welcomed her into the pack. That wasn't to say there weren't a few who looked at her distrustfully or giving her the 'evil eye'. Although, she couldn't help but feel a little bit like a celebrity from the way they were gushing around her. 

Aila was quick to finish her food in her room, showered and got ready in the thirty minutes as Gamma Chiara suggested. Although, she relaxed after hearing from Nairi via mind-link that it would be another thirty minutes until she was ready. Aila spent that time changing out of the leggings she once again went with and roamed through the clothes left in her wardrobe.

By the time she met Gamma Chiara and the guys outside by the SUVs, she was wearing black skinny jeans, a top along with a leather jacket and some black knee-high boots.

"Well, that's a lot more fashionable than trainers and leggings," Malia snickered.

"Not sure if I will regret the boots, though. Nairi seems like she' shops until she drops'," Aila replied.

Ajax interrupted Malia's reply by cat whistling Aila as she approached them, earning a smack from Finn and Gamma Chiara. Making Aila burst out into laughter.

"Seriously, you have a death wish," Finn muttered as he glanced around. Aila assumed he was looking for the Alpha.