HUNTED

Aila left the shop and texted Damon they were going to the shopping centre now, which was 20 minutes away. When Aila looked up, she saw a very grumpy Darren, leaning against the SUV with his arms crossed, looking a little red from the sun. She walked forwards, and he opened the door to the backseat. Aila climbed in without questioning him; she did, after all, say that he could drive them to the shopping centre. 

Aila's phone buzzed, and she looked down at it; two messages came through:

[ 12:00pm Message from Damon ]

[ 12:00pm Message from Hollie ]

She opened Damon's text: 

[ 12:00pm Be careful. Any sense of danger then GET OUT. So help me goddess. If something happens to you, you will be punished for a week. Got it? ]

Aila raised her brow and replied instantly:

[ 12:01pm Aye aye, captain! Don't worry. I will keep you updated x ]

His reply was instant:

[ 12:01pm Alpha ;-) ]

Aila smiled from the winky face; at least he knew how to lighten the mood, even if she knew he was worried about her, just as she was concerned about him. She scrolled to the next message from Hollie.

[ 12:00pm See you soon! xx ]

Aila replied, not that she needed to, but after Hollie's bizarre and, quite frankly over the top messages, she decided it was better to text back.

[ 12:03pm Can't wait! xx ]

She sighed and leaned her head into the cream leathery seat while the car was in motion. Ajax arched a brow and mind-linked her, "You ready, sweet pea?"

Aila nodded her head, "I just hope Hollie isn't in some serious trouble."

"If she is, then we are there to get her. Chiara is meeting us there now?" Ajax asked. Aila pulled Finn into the mind-link, who was sitting in the passenger seat, his elbow on the window sill, and his head leaning on his hand as he stared at the scenery zooming past.

"She can't. She will be protecting the packhouse. But we are getting ten warriors to surround the building. So, even you guys will have protection," Aila replied.

The pair of them nodded their heads, and Darren said aloud, "Is there something going on I don't know about?"

Aila pursed her lips before replying, "Nope. But when we get to the shopping centre, stay on guard with these two. This is just a precaution, and my human friend doesn't know anything about werewolves."

Darren nodded his head, "Okay. Well, you have me and these two bozos. So, you are well protected."

Aila glanced at the rearview mirror and saw his bruised face looking at her. She looked away and glanced out the window. He seemed.. quite professional.

"Remember the shit he said to you, Aila. He's a Delta. This is his job. If he doesn't do it properly, then he will be punished," Malia piped up angrily. Her wolf wasn't indulging in any fantasies about the man maybe not being as bad as they thought.

"He's a dick," Malia replied to her thoughts. Her tone indicated the end of the discussion or ideas about the man. Her wolf was right; she had to focus on what was about to happen. 

Aila opened her little backpack and checked the contents; her hand rummaged around the kitchen knife and gun and grabbed her black hat. 

Ajax eyes widened, "Jeese Aila, you plan on robbing a store?"

She swiftly zipped her bag up and smiled sheepishly, "Alpha Damon would be pissed if I didn't take extra precautions."

Darren drove through the last parts of the countryside and sped past the sign for Silver Thorn. The car slowed down as they approached the shopping centre; Darren made sure to park at the far end of the car park. Aila pulled her hair into the black hat and checked her appearance in the rearview mirror, making sure her white hair was hidden while Finn and Darren got out of the car and scanned the area outside the vehicle. 

Aila glanced at Ajax after feeling his hand above hers; he gave it a quick squeeze, "Remember, you have a pack of wolves out there and, of course, the best shapeshifter looking out for you." He winked at her, and she squeezed his hand back.

They climbed out of the car, and Aila placed her small backpack on her back. 

"It's showtime!" Ajax exclaimed, making Aila smile and settling her nerves. 

She hoped it wasn't 'show time' and just her friend being dramatic. She continued to walk away from the car without turning to wave them off or say goodbye. They could always mind-link.

Aila approached the shopping centre and glanced at people rushing past her with their bags in tow. Girls giggled and chatted animatedly on one side of the building compared to an old couple holding hands and walking ahead of her towards the doors. 

Aila walked through the double doors, gliding in and out of happy shoppers while her eyes scanned her surroundings as she did so. There was a possibility that something was very wrong. Still, even if it was, she couldn't let her friend be in any trouble, whether that was because of a current relationship Hollie was in or if it had anything to do with Aila being a werewolf. 

She headed towards the meeting point and as Hollie came into view, sitting down on a fountain's ledge. Aila knew immediately it was her friend. Her long brunette hair went down in waves, showcasing the blonde ombre style well. She turned her head towards Aila, her hazel eyes popping against the smoky eyeshadow she wore and smiled with a wave of her hand. 

Aila relaxed a fraction at her friend's bubbly smile; it really was great to see her. She sped up her steps, but her attention then went down to her phone. It was ringing with an unknown caller ID. She picked it up, halting on the spot. 

"Hello?"

"Aila, it's a trap. You need to get Hollie and run," A guys voice came through the other end of the phone call. A voice she recognised instantly.

"Chase?" She whispered and looked around again.

"Get out of there, Aila! You don't know what else they have-" 

The phone line went dead, "Chase? Chase!?" She nearly shouted down the phone.

Panic struck her. What happened to Chase? She shook her head; there was no time for her to waste worrying about him. She could do that later. Right now, she needed to get to Hollie and find a way out of the area. She hastily walked towards Hollie, who didn't show any signs that something was wrong. 

Aila hugged her, "Hey," and before Hollie could respond, Aila grabbed her by the hand and pulled her along towards the lingerie shop, "I forgot, I really need to buy a new dress, let's go to All Devils. We can grab a coffee after, yeah?"

Hollie nodded her head but frowned when she saw they were going into the lingerie shop instead of All Devils, which was a two-minute walk away. But she did not resist and followed Aila. They hastily made it through the store; ignoring the store worker who greeted them, Aila grabbed a corset randomly, without missing a beat and went towards the changing rooms. She knew from the last time she was in there, there was a fire exit door at the end of the changing facilities. 

Aila continued to pull Hollie lightly by the hand, but she stopped after feeling Hollie pull back. Aila turned around and saw Hollie raise her finger to her lips before pulling her black top up, revealing a wire and microphone stuck to her stomach. 

What the f-

"Ajax, Finn. The hunters are nearby. Finn alert the pack members," Aila barked through the Prisoner's Club mind-link. 

"Aila, where are you?" Ajax replied. 

Aila didn't reply as she kept guard while Hollie began ripping off the wire, she tapped Aila on the shoulder when she was done, and the pair sprinted off towards the fire exit. They closed the door behind them and looked up; the 'heavens had opened', and the rain poured down on them, splattering against the pavement. 

"We will round the corner. Meet you at the car," Aila mind-linked Finn and Ajax.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Aila quickly scanned Hollie as they rushed to the side. 

"I'm fine. Those guys are fricken insane, Aila! Talking about werewolves and needing you! I was kidnapped, Aila!" She screeched. Aila could hear her becoming emotional.

Shit.

She turned around and grabbed her by the shoulders, looking at her intently, "I know, I know. Right now, Hollie. I need you to keep a cool head. Otherwise, both of us are returning to those assholes. Got it? You with me?" Aila shook her slightly, and Hollie nodded, her lips parted in shock.

"Okay."

Aila turned around and pulled Hollie by the hand again; they jogged forwards, rounded a corner, and instantly bumped into a man. Aila parted her lips, ready to apologise until she glanced at the well-built man before her, reaching for his gun. 

Aila let go of Hollie and immediately kicked the gun out of his hand before punching the man in the throat. Hollie picked up the gun and pointed it at him, but Aila smacked the man's head into the wall, knocking him unconscious. She bent down and moved the man's coat sleeve up, revealing what she expected—the Hunter's tattoo.