HUNTED

Aila nodded her head, "I trust you."

With those words, they set off. Dam Dam rushed her past her parent's bodies; he made sure to block most of the view from the bloodied scene, telling her to look at the door, guiding her around their bodyguards also. Once they were out of the room, the pair sprinted down the hallway, Dam Dam leading the way. Though Aila felt like she could run faster, she had to stick to his pace and follow him. 

The pair made it without any issues or confrontations with the evil men storming the estate. Though they could hear fighting and guns firing, it appeared nobody was paying attention to two small children running around. Or if the pack members did get sight of them, they waved them to keep going.

Although they had not sprinted far in the mansion, Aila's legs gave away, and she collapsed on the ground. Dam Dam instantly helped her up and held her by the shoulders again; the pair stared at each other.

"You're doing great. We're nearly there, okay? Can you hold on until we make it to the library? Or do you want me to carry you?" Dam Dam asked seriously.

As much as Aila loved getting piggyback rides from him, today, she was not feeling up to it. She needed to be brave and strong, and so Aila shook her head, "No.. I'm.. I'm fine," She stuttered, her voice wavering still with fear. Dam Dam frowned but nodded his head before grabbing her hand again and leading the way.

After more gunshots erupted nearby, causing Aila to stumble and fall, cowering, Dam Dam and Malia coaxed her back into action. He suddenly came to a halt at a corner and yanked her hand back behind him when she continued to go further. Once behind him, he turned and raised a finger to his lips. Aila nodded her head and kept herself against the wall while Dam Dam leaned his head out. 

BANG

BANG

Aila jumped at how loud and close the shots were. Her forehead creased, and fear kept radiating through her body; she was shaking again. But one look at Dam Dam's calm demeanour pacified her. He would protect her; they would protect each other. They made a pinky promise after all, and no one breaks a pinky promise.

Aila looked down after something shiny caught her attention; It was a silver bullet shell rolling past them.

"Boss thinks they had a kid."

"Do we know what he or she looks like?" 

"No." 

"Then how the hell are we going to find the mutt?"

"It has white hair, like the wolf queen."

The goons grumbled some more before Aila heard their footsteps running off. A tug at her hand indicated it was safe to leave their hiding spot. They began to run again. 

"Don't look down, A. Keep looking at the ceiling!" Dam Dam warned. She pursed her lips and, for once, followed his orders.

The only issue was, Aila couldn't see where she was going. Only relying on Dam Dam, following behind him by his hand. As they passed by some objects on the floor, Aila didn't see the liquid coating the surface and her pink shoe slipped.

Aila's hands flailed out to stop the brunt of the fall. Her knees smacked harshly onto the wet ground, and her hands landed in something warm and sticky. Her doe-like eyes widened even more when she caught sight of the blood her hands and knees were in. She looked to her sides and saw two bodies; the one on her right was one of her bodyguards. He lay there, with holes in his chest, blood seeping out, his glassy eyes looking up.

Aila gasped, inhaling deeply and felt herself about to scream until a hand covered her mouth. Her tearful face looked up into a pair of fierce stormy eyes. Dam Dam.

"That's right, A. Just watch me. You're okay.." He helped her up and, this time put her on his back. Her arms clung around his neck and hid her face in the back of his hoody, clenching her eyes shut. She felt the vibrations and jarring of her body from where he ran through the halls.

"Dam Dam will save us. We will be out soon.." Malia consoled her, and it seemed like she was reassuring herself. Aila could hear the thickness in her wolf's voice. She, too, had been crying. 

"We a-are safe. But mum.."

"I know," Malia interrupted with a hiccup. 

"And daaaad…" Aila clenched her eyes shut even more and let the silent tears flow down her face. Soaking the top part of Dam Dam's hoody.

After a while, her tense body relaxed after feeling Dam Dam abruptly stop. Aila looked up at and found herself inside the library in front of a bookcase. She climbed down and watched as Dam Dam searched the books until he grabbed a thick, blue leather book and pulled it out at an angle, causing an immediate loud mechanic 'click' sound from behind it. The bookcase opened a fraction, and Aila stared at it wide-eyed.

There was a secret passageway!? This was why they were at the library!

"A, can you reach around it for me.. be careful, though.." Dam Dam asked her. Aila instantly followed his request, not thinking much of it, but she pulled her hand back with a gasp.

Something pricked her finger. "Ow!" Aila held onto her finger and stared down at it before placing it in her mouth.

Suddenly, a small rumbling sound came from the bookshelf, and the pair stepped back as the furniture opened by itself, showing a darkened, grey stone hallway behind it. Aila's eyes widened, and she forgot about the throbbing pain in her finger. But Dam Dam didn't seem fazed and instantly grabbed her wrist and pulled her forwards.

"This is creepy!" Aila moaned, inching closer to Dam Dam. Fear began to surface her features as the prince half dragged her through the hallway. They stopped and stared as the wall closed behind them, and the path suddenly lit up by the torches on the walls Aila did not see before.

"Let's keep going. We aren't out of this yet! I've got you.. Nothing will happen here.. okay?" He gripped her shoulders again, and she nodded her head, accepting the hand he reached out to her.