HUNTED-Chapter 318: Return to Silverthorne

The drive home had been quiet besides Ajax’s occasional outburst that Aila missed dearly, no matter how crazy and spontaneous. Finn was in the driver’s seat, quiet and thoughtful, possibly thinking about his mate who had to remain with Chase and the hunters. In the middle of the six-seater car, Aila sat with Damon sprawled out, his head resting on her lap.

In the back, Davian was still restrained, with Zeph remaining by his side until he was given the clear that Cassius had been dealt with.

She had not uttered a word, only smiling at Ajax and Finn bickering, mind-linking Harry and Aldric who ran outside in their lycan forms, as she watched her mate sleep, her hand stroking his dark locks away from his brow. It was surreal that she was with her mate, in the car with others of her pack, returning to Silverthorne.

It had only been six weeks away from Damon, away from her pack, but it felt so much longer.

She’d learnt so much and met new and interesting people in that time. Some people were more disgusting and deserved to die. It really was a small reflection of her time at Cassius’ castle, and although it seemed peaceful right now, there was still much to do. The vampire was leaving this world in a mess, revealing the supernatural creatures to the public.

The news had footage of them battling it out now, so there was no point in trying to hide and deny it.

Aila could only hope this might be for the better. She watched her mate’s face as he turned in his sleep, snuggling his head into her stomach, his arms wrapping around her, clinging to her. The hybrid checked their bond and could tell Damon was deep in sleep, but his bones were on the mend. Could he tell she was there with him?

After more time passed, Aila woke up to the sound of excited pack members that did not go to Cassius’ castle and spoke through the pack’s mind-link.

"Luna Aila is back!"

"The white wolf has returned!"

"Aila Cross!"

"Alpha Damon and Luna Aila!"

She looked outside the tinted windows, watching as trees passed by and the car drove down the long driveway, its headlights lighting up the mansion. At their approach the outside lights turned on, brightening the white building, the gardens and some parts of the forest.

Guards patrolled in the woods, and some were outside the mansion, only stopping when they saw the car pull up beside the steps leading to the entrance.

Aila alerted the pack about the newcomers. It wasn’t only Aldric and Harry who returned with them, but another ten or so lycans ran behind them. She had never felt safer with her mate in her arms, her friends who were lethal, the pack members in other cars and her lycans following.

Some pack members, who had been waiting for their loved ones, or waiting for the return of their Alpha King and Queen, gathered around the cars, meeting them and in turn watching the first car and the lycans in intrigue. Finn and Ajax helped carry Damon out of the vehicle and towards their home, the crowd let them through as Gamma Chiara approached them.

She frowned at Damon and nodded at the guys to take him inside.

Aila stepped out of the car, her eyes still on Damon as he was taken away from her. The bond was like an electrical current, and it flickered, zapping her body to be by Damon’s side. They had been apart for too long, and although it was only for a short while, she didn’t want to leave him alone.

All eyes had turned to Aila, who stood there bloodied but confident. She nodded at them, a smile spreading on her lips until Chiara crashed into her. "Ooft!" The Gamma crushed Aila to her body in a hug.

"Aila!" Chiara pulled back, her eyes scanning her body with a frown forming between her perfectly shaped brows. "Are you hurt? I can smell your blood-"

"I’m fine." She was. If only a little tender from the gunshot wounds earlier. In fact, it made her a little thirsty, and not in the sense she needed hydrating with water. But that was a concern for another day. She could go a little longer. "Thanks for holding down the fort."

"Anytime. Guys, if you’re only here to see Luna Aila, go back home," Chiara announced, glaring at those around them. A few flinched and backed away, making Aila bite her lip from smiling too much.

"Goddess, I missed you," Aila muttered and leaned her head into Chiara’s shoulder after the Gamma slung her arm over her shoulders and started walking her towards the mansion.

"Hey, I missed you too!" Ajax appeared out of nowhere, squeezing through the two women, his hands going to their waists.

Chiara huffed, rolling her eyes that twinkled back at him, her cheeks slightly pink. Aila patted Ajax’s back and slipped out of the three-way hug, and walked. There were no complaints from the couple as Ajax kissed across Chiara’s scars before landing a long kiss on her lips.

The Gamma moaned in protest at first, eyes flicking to those around them but then she melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck. Ajax grinned against her lips and pulled her closer to him.

Aila shook her head and turned back to the lycans hovering nearby. "Find housing for our guests," she mind-linked Finn and Darren.

Aila descended a few steps stopping as Aldric and Harry approached her. Aldric remained in his lycan form, like usual and bared his neck to her before turning away, following Finn and Darren. Harry had shifted into his human form and stood there, naked, unabashed, not even covering his junk. A few remaining she-wolves who had been returning to their houses had stopped to gawk at him.

Scars and all, he was good-looking, the feral glint in his eyes probably making the girl’s panties melt. Maybe a mate would tame him. "Harry, did you want to stay here? Or.. will you return to your roguish ways," Aila asked aloud. After meeting Esme and Harry, her opinion on rogues had altered slightly.

Obviously, they weren’t all alike, but maybe the pack’s mindset about rogues could be a little less lethal towards them. They attacked the pack and others from time to time, but that was as a collective. The rogues, like her friends, were just trying to get by.

Harry grinned, his eyes trained on some of the she-wolves giving him heated stares. Aila cleared her throat and arched her eyebrow, already knowing what he would say. "Don’t cause any trouble." She turned from him and gestured for him to follow.

The lycan trailed behind her and whistled. "Can tell you’re royalty."

"You can choose any of the guest rooms on the far left," Aila replied, going up the stairs in the direction of her mate.

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

The sound of Harry’s feet slapping against the floor followed her to the top, reminding her of his nakedness. She’d grown used to everyone comfortably naked and shifting now, but Harry was just as comfortable as Ajax. If Damon was awake, he’d surely lose his cool.

"Oh, I see how it is. Nobody puts Harry in the corner," he jested from behind her.

Aila rolled her eyes and turned on him. "By all means, you can choose one of the rooms closer to mine, but you won’t get any sleep for at least a month. Good luck." She waved him off with a smirk as she continued to her room.

"You cheeky minx!" Harry called after her but went in the direction of the guest rooms she pointed out.

"I’ll send some clothes to you," Aila mind-linked him. "Oh, and be careful. Chiara and Ajax are probably going at it."

Aila swore she heard him groan in frustration, making her smile. That smile dropped when she saw the state of what her and Damon’s bedroom looked like.