HUNTED

Chase and Aila whipped their head\'s to the side and saw Gabriel leaning against the window on the other side of the bar, his arms crossed, his gaze fixated on Aila. Chase\' brows drew together. "So, it\'s true.. You\'re like some royal werewolf?"

Aila could see the light flickering behind his eyes and the smile he tried hiding. Her lips curled up in amusement. She knew how funny it sounded to a human; heck, she WAS human, up until about six weeks ago.

"Yep, I\'m pretty important, Chase.. hold on, what\'s your last name?" She stopped joking and looked at him curiously.

"Hunt," Gabriel interrupted.

Aila couldn\'t help but giggle wildly; she placed her hands on her cheeks and shook her head from side to side slowly. "Your name … is Chase fricken Hunt.."

Amusement flashed behind his eyes, and he looked away. "Yes."

"The absolute irony.. Did your dad not think to call you something else at least?" She bit her lip when she saw a flash of anger behind his eyes from the mention of his dad.

"I guess he thought I would be holding up the family tradition.." He muttered back.

Ajax pulled out of Finn\'s hold and clambered up to one of the stools by Aila\'s side. "Actually, his name is pretty feared to the creatures that know of the hunters.." All jest was gone from Ajax\' features, and Aila could suddenly feel a thick tension coating the air. Chase lowered his head in shame as Aila glanced between the others.

Finn and Gabriel held the same steely expression as they stared at the hunter, while Ajax\' jaw ticked, but he plastered a smile on his face and slapped Chase behind the back and gripped his shoulder gently. "Don\'t worry though, you\'re with us now. You can always change your name or change the rumours behind your name.."

Chase tensed. "My name isn\'t a priority right now.. And I can\'t stay.."

Gabriel was in front of him in seconds, leaning his hands on the bar from the other side of the counter.

"I did not save your life for you to be useless and leave.." His voice was menacingly low, and Aila could see the red flecks sparkle a little brighter.

"Stop it, Gabriel. You saved his life because I asked you to.." She trailed off after his stone-cold gaze flickered to her. Her mouth dried, but she continued, "If Chase wants to leave, he can.. I am not holding him here.."

In a flash, Gabriel now stood in front of her. But this time, she was caged into the back of the bar, his hands by either side of her as he leaned towards her. His face hardened. "You better start making better decisions, Aila. As future queen, people will depend on you," His voice was low, authoritative as his sharp gaze pierced into hers.

"Gabriel.." Finn growled lowly and took a step forwards. But Aila held her hand up to stop him while she stared back at the vampire.

His use of her personal space, the way he spoke, and how he looked at her were just how Gabriel wanted to portray his power over her. Did he forget she was an Alpha? A Cross werewolf.. His lips quirked up slightly, she knew he was listening to her thoughts, but she did not care.

She straightened herself up and raised her chin, pushing aside the way her body reacted to their close proximity and glared at him, "I will take your counsel into consideration, Gabriel. Thank you. But as I said, if Chase wishes to leave, he can." She turned her head to look at Chase, letting her hair flick the vampire in his face. "Before you do, could you help us?"

Chase looked between the two warily. Gabriel finally gave her space and stepped back with a chuckle under his breath.

"Of course, Aila. I owe you my life.."

"Technically, boy. You owe ME your life," Gabriel stared at him and smirked before walking away.

Aila sighed and raked her hand through her hair. What an ass. The vampire looked at her knowingly and grabbed his bottle of whiskey with a sigh. "This is very rare.." He muttered and poured himself a drink.

Aila glanced at Chase and tilted her chin to the side for him to follow her. The pair left the group of creatures by the bar, and she found herself walking down a hallway underneath the glass stairs. After seeing many doors, she opened one carefully, peeping her head into the dark bedroom.

It was smaller than Gabriel\'s room upstairs, but it was still significant, with the floor-to-ceiling window across from the bed flickering shreds of light from the city casting shadows in the room. What was this place? She presumed it was Gabriel\'s penthouse, but the waitress and food that was delivered were like room service in a hotel.

The pair walked in, and she went to the floor-to-ceiling window and stared outside. Her eyes unknowingly searching for the hunters.

"It\'s a bit more private here without any.. interruptions." Aila said quietly.

"There\'s not much to it, Aila. I stayed longer than I wanted because of the shit show left behind from your escape. I have.." He sighed, "I still HAD friends in the hunters and tried to convince them to come with me.."

Aila turned to look at him, surprised. She didn\'t know why she didn\'t think he would have friends in that awful organisation. But then, he grew up there.

"They.. Silas had been watching me since you escaped.. And the last straw of my defiance to him was when we kidnapped Hollie.. and.. I phoned you.." Chase replied quietly.

Aila\'s face hardened. "When WE kidnapped Hollie.."

Chase didn\'t meet her eyes, and she could see the guilt written over his features.

"Chase.. did you help kidnap her?!" Her voice came out with a growl, and she hardly recognised it. Even without his answer, she had her answer, and she felt.. betrayed. In her eyes, he helped in killing her. She knew it was wrong to think that way, but then again, she thought of herself as well. She, too, was the reason for Hollie\'s death.

She sunk onto a stylish seat in the corner of the room, looking out of the window as guilt, hate and sadness filled the air in a thick blanket.