HUNTED

Not long after they started to eat, Gabriel arrived and sat down with a folder he dropped onto the table. The group looked at it in curiosity, but it seemed none of them wanted to disturb their happy mood. One glance at Gabriel\'s face confirmed the severity of what was in the folder. But like the others, Aila wished to enjoy her food and the company of the others. Not only would she have to listen to this news, but after, she would need to read Davian Cross\' diary, though it was more from intrigue.

Aila knew already that she would not be taking Gabriel\'s blood, but from a few lines she read, she knew the diary would be fascinating. How couldn\'t it be? Davian was the first natural hybrid in history. He was also her ancestor and Amelia\'s son. 

Aila placed her knife and fork down after finishing the last of her pancakes and stared across the table at Gabriel. He waited patiently and possibly knew she was rearranging her thoughts about the diary and everything that happened prior to sitting at the table. 

"What\'s up?" Her voice interrupted the banter going on between the guys, and they all silenced, glancing between the pair. Damon was the only one who remained quiet while the others had been messing about. 

Gabriel passed the folder over to Aila and waited patiently as she looked over the confidential papers of government officials. Her brows drew together as her blood suddenly went cold. She looked back at the vampire, asking him silently if her thoughts were making up impossible theories, but the look on his face confirmed her suspicions. Aila sighed and flicked through the other papers, staring at each headshot image of a man or woman in a suit in control of the country. 

Damon tapped his fingers on the table as he looked over her shoulder, reading everything she was. He knew what she was thinking and the silent confirmation between her and Gabriel. She could tell through the bond, he was not that surprised by the documentation. The hunter\'s had compounds all over the country with academies and countless weapons. 

"Aila.. What is that?" Finn leaned towards her staring at the documents in her hands. She passed it over and glanced at Gabriel.

"Care to explain?" She was still processing what her mind already added up. However, she knew Gabriel had time to process and probably research into this more, especially with his contacts.

"The leaders of the Hunter\'s Association, the ones who had been putting money into the organisation, are government officials found in that folder. This is what Chase and Kane found at the compound.." Gabriel explained. 

The others stilled at this revelation. It meant that humans high up in the government were the ones keeping the Hunter\'s Association afloat. They were probably put down as confidential or a necessary secret task force, though they would never reveal what they were for.

Chase instantly stood up and snatched the folder out of Finn\'s hands.

"There was a lot more than this.." Chase trailed off as his brows knitted together.

"I re-organised it. The stack of papers you stole had a lot of unnecessary details. I haven\'t thrown them out, but this is easier for everyone to go through.." Gabriel locked eyes with Chase, and Aila could tell there could be a silent conversation going on between them.

Chase nodded his head and passed the papers to Sariah. "I\'ve met most of them. They know I am Silas\' son, and I doubt they know the ins and outs of how the Hunter\'s Association work. Unless someone has already replaced Silas.. Which is doubtful at this stage.. They won\'t know until their next meeting with Silas that something is wrong.." Chase trailed off again as though he was deep in thought. Aila could see his mind working in overload.

"We need to think about what our next actions would be.." Damon murmured as he clasped his hands together on the table. Aila tapped the table with her finger, her mind going in different directions on what they could do.

They were government officials. If they wanted the downfall of the hunters, then assassinating them would be the best way to go, but it wouldn\'t necessarily do much about the organisation itself. It was still vast and widespread across the globe. Could they really take them down? 

"They know I am next in line to take over the hunters.." Chase continued before turning his back on them and putting his hands in his pockets. Aila\'s eyes widened as she realised what he could be suggesting. She stood up and walked towards him, her hands fisted by her sides.

"Chase.." She reached her hand out, but he turned around, so he faced the group; his face was set in determination.

"I will go back to the hunters and serve as the next boss."

"They know you betrayed them.." Kane was the first to speak after a tense silence at Chase\' statement. He did not suggest that Chase would betray them; it seemed the Beta now trusted him after seeing Chase\' actions so far for the Silver Crescent pack. Nobody there thought of the possibility of Chase betraying them, they all knew his intentions, but it was dangerous if it was ever found out that he was actually working in aid of the creatures.

"Actually, Silas kept it under wraps about Chase\' betrayal. Only a few actually knew of it." Sariah spoke up.

"Of course. It could never get out that the great Silas Hunt\'s son betrayed them," Chase spat sarcastically. Aila could see the resentment flaring behind his eyes. "I will go back."

Sariah stood up then, "I will help you."

"Won\'t they recognise you in helping Aila\'s escape?" Ajax asked. He swung his legs around in his seat, so the chair sat in between his legs. He leaned his arms against the back of the chair and tilted his head to the side as he stared at Sariah.

"I can easily make up an excuse.. the mutt overthrew me, and I had no choice.. That sort of thing," Sariah replied with a perfect typical hunters response.

"Oh, you\'re good.." Ajax smirked.

"Aren\'t you rushing into this quickly? We need to think about this-"

"It\'s the perfect plan. What else could we do? I\'m in a powerful position now, Aila. I can control the hunters and help the creatures." Chase looked down at her in determination. She could see his mind was made up, and there was nothing she could do to stop him from doing something so risky. She swallowed past the lump in her throat and looked at Sariah, who also seemed to be fired up.

"What about you? I\'m sorry, but I\'ve only just met you. Chase, I completely trust-"

"Sariah is my mate," Finn stood and pulled Sariah by the waist closer to him. Aila stilled and glanced between the pair, ignoring Ajax\'s chuckle.

Aila stepped forwards, blinking past the shock of what Finn said. "Mate or not.."

"Aila.. If they are mated, then she won\'t betray him," Malia interrupted her. Aila bit her tongue and stared at her Delta, then at Sariah. She did help them escape, and somehow Finn and the hunter were mates. It wasn\'t like she was against it..

Sariah slipped out of Finn\'s hold and stepped forwards, clasping Aila\'s hands in her own, startling the Luna from her reverie. "Even if I were not Finn\'s.." She gulped, revealing her nervousness at the idea of being mates with a werewolf. "Mate.. I would still do this." She pulled back her sleeve, showing off her wrist where Aila expected to see the hunter\'s tattoo.

"I have not killed a creature, though I am trained to. It was my choice not to. Who am I to judge of another being\'s worth? I may have been brought up in their world, but I have never felt a part of it. I know that I am not the only one.." Sariah added, squeezing Aila\'s hands gently. Aila stared into the depths of Sairah\'s eyes, and she could see the truth and strength behind her words.

Aila relaxed and smiled. "I see you are just as honourable as Finn.. I am sorry if my words hurt you. I am just worried over my friend.." She turned her head to look at Chase, who grinned. She glanced between the pair again and frowned, "But will you be okay being apart?"

Sariah tilted her head to the side in confusion while Finn looked away, his face already looking pained by the distance. Aila sighed; it looked like he wasn\'t going to say anything to her. She also wondered how much the hunters were actually taught about werewolves and their mates. From the puzzled look on Sariah\'s face, it seemed not a lot. Or maybe it was different for a human and werewolf?

Either way, it was not her place to get in between mates. Sariah was determined to help Chase, and Finn seemed to want to please his mate. "Okay. But you need to stay in contact with us. Maybe once a week, you update us? I dunno, we can sort out the details later.." Aila said as she removed her hands from Sariah\'s and patted her on the back as she walked away.

When Aila meant later, she meant it, but their discussions started straight away. It seemed everyone was excited by the prospect of having spies inside of the Hunters Association. It opened many possibilities, but Aila still felt uncomfortable with sending Chase and Sariah into a lion\'s den. Could they really do so much to help them?