HUNTED

Ajax was the last to arrive as the group hovered over a map on the coffee table before the sofas. Damon was on the phone, his back to everyone as he looked out of the window, his head turned back to watch the shapeshifter flop down on the sofa with ease and with an easy-going smile on his face. The Alpha sighed, "Okay. Stay sharp. Keep your phone on you for further instructions."

Damon hung up and put the phone in his pocket as he redirected his attention to Beta Kane, who pointed at the location on the map.

"Isn't the pack in charge of Qina, the Blue Hounds?" The Beta asked as he tapped on the town and flicked his gaze back to the Alpha. 

"It is. I just spoke with their Alpha. They have not seen Aila or Cassius-"

"Can you really trust what a hunter says?" Kane asked and flinched when Damon growled at being interrupted and at his Beta's comment.

"Chase has already proven he is trustworthy," Damon replied quietly and in a clipped tone, powerful enough for no one, not even Ajax, to argue with. 

Kane crossed his arms but lowered his gaze from the Alpha. "But I don't trust the others. What if Chase's cover has been blown? If they are like Silas or Clint, they will take advantage of this situation."

That was another point that made Damon furious since the night of Aila's coronation, Clint was also missing. His body never turned up either, making him believe the fucker was still alive. Even though he wanted to rip him to pieces, Damon's priority was finding Aila; Chase would have also mentioned if Clint returned because that would blow his cover. 

Damon raked his hand through his hair in frustration. "We have more than enough werewolves to fight a few hunters. It is also the Blue Hounds' territory, so they will also help. But I don't think it is a trap. It also isn't very reliable, but this is the first lead we have had since Aila went missing."

The room grew silent at the Alpha's words sunk in. "What's the plan then?" Ajax was the first to speak, breaking the tension brewing in the room. 

"I want to go with two groups. The first will be a small group to search Qina, if they are still there or Cassius has spies left there to report to him, a small group is less conspicuous. We can blend in better. The second group will be on standby, ready to fight if need be, and of course the Blue Hounds pack will also cooperate. They will be our last point of call, though," Damon instructed as he mirrored Kane, with his arms crossed against his chest, looking all the more imposing with his shirt tightening on his bulging biceps. 

"Why is the Blue Hounds the last point of call?" Ajax asked as he tilted his head to the side, his elbow resting on the armrest, his thumb and finger holding his sharp jaw up. 

Finn stepped forward now as Damon chugged down his water bottle, taking his time before responding to the shapeshifter. "The Blue Hounds are a small pack, and because of this, they tend to be on the milder side of werewolves.." Finn paused after seeing Ajax raise a brow. "They don't like fighting, their warriors-"

"Pfft, you can't even call them warriors," Kane sneered. "What?!" His head swivelled to the side after Nairi had smacked him hard on the shoulder. 

"They prefer peace over fighting," Nairi finished. "But this tactic somehow works; no other packs want to take their territory because it would be an insult to win it over."

"Like I have said before.. Werewolves are such violent creatures," Ajax murmured before his eyes widened, acting almost like he didn't realise the room was full of werewolves. He flapped his hand with a broad grin on his face. "Oh, don't mind me!"

Damon rolled his eyes, and the others merely looked at the shapeshifter, not bothering to answer him. Everybody knew now how much of a jester he was, and the more noise they made, the more noise he did. Although Damon found him highly annoying, he had to admit even now, while everybody was tense and nervous over the situation, he was somewhat glad that Ajax was there to relieve it. 

"What will the groups be?" Finn asked, blatantly ignoring Ajax as he looked at Damon in determination. 

"We need some trackers to sniff the place out as well; they will pick up on any scents. Aila's will be easier to find than Cassius; we will need to tell them that he smells of strawberries," Damon responded, then looked away, his gaze going vacant as he sent a mind-link to Jake and Zeke, his best trackers and warriors. 

"Kane, I need you to lead the second group. Take at least fifteen warriors, including Nairi. You will need to split off and take a different route to us again. The idea is to avoid attention, so make sure the SUVs aren't driving in a line. I'll leave the rest to you. We'll leave in ten minutes, that should be enough time. Make sure everyone's armed as well; I'm not taking any chances," Damon ordered, and his Beta bared his neck before marching out of the room with Nairi in toll. 

Damon turned his attention to Finn and Ajax. "You guys are with me. Ajax, when we're there, I want you airborne. Finn, we'll have a few trackers, but that's it."

"You need more guards than that," Finn responded, holding his arms behind his back and meeting the Alpha's gaze.

The muscle in Damon's jaw ticked from his Delta's suggestion. "Are you saying I am incapable of taking care of myself? The Alpha King?" He drawled out his question.

Finn lowered his gaze. "I did not mean any offence. I am stating as the Delta that you need more than just me to protect you-"

"I can protect myself," Damon snapped, stepping towards him and stopping just before him. His temper started to flare up from something so simple, but he couldn't help it. His mate that kept him in check was not there. He bit down the rest of what he wanted to say, letting only a low growl vibrate in his chest, revealing his annoyance before he turned away. "We are searching the area covertly."

"Please, Alpha. Just one more," Finn pleaded and gulped when Damon spun on the spot and glared at him, his silver eyes glowing murderously. 

But Damon's eyes flickered back to normal when he saw his Delta standing his ground for the first time in a month. The corner of his lips tugged upwards briefly before he composed himself again. "Fine," He snapped. "Bring Darren. You're in charge of him. Don't disappoint."

He turned around, dismissing the Delta as he headed towards the stairs to change his clothes. 

"Darren!? You can't be serious.. After everything, he's done-"

"Aila wanted to give him a chance. This is it. If he fucks up, then we'll boot him to the curb," Damon called from halfway up the stairs, not glancing in the Delta's direction as he scrambled up the stairs after him.

"Finn, chill. Have you seen Darren lately?" Damon heard Ajax consoling him. 

"That could be an act," Finn growled. "The fucker is sleazy as shit."

"Then it's a good thing we are putting him to the test," Damon added to their little discussion before disappearing down the hall. 

After putting a shirt and jacket on, Damon returned to the front of the mansion, the cars already lined up waiting for him. Gamma Chiara stood to the side and bared her neck to him, and Beta Kane stood beside Damon's car with Finn. 

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"Let's go."