HUNTED

Aila returned to the mansion after going for a run in her wolf form. It seemed now she was a werewolf; she could exercise a lot more without getting too tired. Of course, Chiara's sessions helped improve her stamina. But she was constantly feeling frustrated from the bond, Malia's restlessness was also becoming hazardous, and they began going for runs in the late afternoons. 

After showering and changing into some leggings and Damon's hoodie, which now became her favourite hoodie, she found herself in Nairi's room. She lay down on the couch while Nairi lay on her stomach on the bed with her laptop in front of her. Nairi, as per usual, looked amazing in some white trousers and black off the shoulder top that clung to her body, accentuating her curves. 

Her attention was on the laptop, her hands typing back to emails and some new orders that came through that morning. Nairi had an online business selling jewellery, and it did very well. Although she concentrated on her work, it didn't stop her from interacting with Aila.

"I don't know what to do. I feel like our fights will get worse," Aila continued telling Nairi her trepidation about the mate bond and Damon. 

It was true; she never thought in a million years she would ever get so angry as to throw dishes at someone! Either she was becoming an enraged werewolf-

"Hey!" Malia whined.

Or she was so exhausted and agitated from the mate bond that it was making her a little loopy. She couldn't complain though, the punishments after were incredible, switching between him teasing her to devouring her. Damon knew how to put her back in line, but it was only under the sheets because their routine of her disobeying orders or acting out would start all over again the following day. 

It's pretty hard when two mates are from royal Alpha bloodlines. 

"Maybe you should just mate.. I mean, it's not just the two of you that are affected by this. The pack is restless as well. They need their Alpha in sync with his mate, AND you are their Luna.. and their Queen," Nairi spoke her mind to Aila. She glanced up from her screen to look at Aila, who played with the long sleeves of her hoodie in thought.

"Just sleep together. No mark?" Aila questioned; her eyes were narrowed at Nairi as she watched a knowing smile form on her friend's face. 

"Marking makes it official.. and any she-wolves would back down from Damon. Although, I don't think anyone other than Lydia is circling him now.. Mating would make the bond stronger, though," Nairi muttered the last sentence.

Lydia's name made Aila's teeth grind, and her wolf snarl in her mind. But her attention then went to the rest of what Nairi said. The bond would become stronger.

"The bond becoming stronger means that I will be more agitated.." Aila frowned at where Nairi's logic was going.

"True.. I didn't say my suggestion was going to be good! I just thought you both need to release a little bit of your .. frustrations." She wiggled her eyebrows with a smirk on her lips, "You're both going at each other anyway. He's also been grilling the warriors in their training sessions, those poor guys. I think it's best if you just.." She made an okay sign with one hand and moved her finger in and out of it, indicating intercourse. 

Aila rolled her eyes; her suggestion was not helpful. Sighing, she dropped her head back down on the couch and stared up at the ceiling with her dilemma. She did feel bad, though, for the pack; she knew Damon was frustrated. Aila watched in shock the previous day at him barking orders at his men after five hours of training and then sparring at an incredible speed, leaving the other man to hobble off. 

The only reassurance she felt from watching his men walk off with groans was the smiles on their faces after. She couldn't understand it, but their faces were beaming, and they began playfighting as they made their way to get food. Only to stop again when Damon barked out that 'if they can still fight, it meant he didn't push them hard enough'.

Shaking her head, she tried not to laugh. Their pack was waiting for her and Damon to mate. Maybe she should return the favour to him; that way, he wouldn't be as frustrated and taking it out on his men. 

"I wouldn't mind getting up close with his 'python'," Malia snickered.

"Malia!" Aila burst out laughing, "You're worse than me!"

"I'm only saying what you are thinking!"

Her phone buzzed in her hands, and she glanced down and read the new notification.

[ Incoming message from Hollie ]

Aila sighed again, not wanting to open the message. Hollie was her best friend from school; she was now dating the hottie from her first date the night she was kidnapped. Aila loved her friend, but now anytime there was news from her, she was reminded of her old life.  Maybe she should meet up with her, but then once again, she would have to hide half of herself to someone she had known her whole life.

"Aila. Come." Damon's deep voice filled her mind, distracting her from her reverie. 

Jumping up from her position on the sofa, she said goodbye to Nairi, who winked at her as she closed the door, making Aila roll her eyes at her suggestiveness. Aila began making her way to their room when Damon told her to go to his study. 

Aila opened the door without knocking to find Kane and Chiara sitting in the seats across from Damon. She glanced at the pair, who turned with their stern faces softening after realising the intruder was their future Luna. Damon had a glass of whiskey in his hand and was sitting in his brown leather chair, facing the floor to ceiling window that viewed part of the gardens. 

His office very much suited to him, dark colours with a mahogany desk, brown leather seats and an even bigger leather chair he sat on. Most likely to accommodate his significant form. He also had a bookcase to the side, which baffled Aila due to the fact the library was next door. Internally shaking her head, she focused on the man before her.

"Is everything okay?" Aila asked; she looked at the back of his head as she closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Kane rose to let her have his seat, but she waved him back down with a smile on her face. 

Damon took a sip from his glass before spinning around in his chair; his eyes were as hard as steel, and his jaw taut as his gaze landed on her.

"Tomorrow, you will be my sparring partner."

Aila's mouth flopped open in disbelief, rendered speechless by his comment.

Malia also sputtered in her mind. 

Sparring partner!?

Her mind wandered off to what she saw the previous day and shuddered. 

She was done for!