HUNTED

[ Music recommendation: Without You by Ursine Vulpine, Annaca ]

The sound of a gasp interrupted them, and Aila pulled her head back, her eyes wide in shock as she watched Kane collapse and Nairi sit up. Her hair flung back as she looked at her mate by her side and immediately started sobbing as she pulled Kane into her lap.

Aila sucked her breath in at the sight before her. Nairi hunched over, cradling Kane\'s head; her sobs were long and loud, seemingly silencing the streets. Or if there was still noise, it was muted to Aila\'s ears. 

Nairi stroked his face repeatedly, pulling away the strands of his messy golden hair. Her tears fell on his face until she choked on the crushing weight from the loss of her mate. His body was limp, his eyes closed as though he was resting, the blood he spat out earlier trickled down and dried on his chin.

A lump formed in the back of Aila\'s throat, her eyes burning with tears at the Beta who gave his life for his mate. She looked at Damon, and although he was in wolf form, she could see the despair in his eyes. Nairi lost her soul mate and Damon his best friend. Aila had no words she could say to comfort them.

"Just show that you are there for them. That is all you can do," Malia consoled her, yet her own voice was trembling with grief. Aila and Malia were one; whatever one felt, the other also felt, sometimes, even more so.

Aila slid her fingers into the top of Damon\'s fur and hid her face into his neck once again. She couldn\'t imagine ever losing Damon, no.. the very thought made the air swoosh right out of her lungs.

"Damon, don\'t ever do that for me. If it ever came down to it.." She whispered through a mind-link.

His low growl was his only response; she pulled back and flickered her eyes between his own, "No, I could not bear it. Look how crushed Nairi is. I can\'t even imagine losing you.. I .. I couldn\'t.." She sniffled and closed her eyes. 

The fur between her fingers turned into smooth ripped muscles, and she felt his arms wrap around her waist and pull her into his chiselled chest. Aila leaned into him, her eyes clenched shut, a tear falling down her cheek as he began stroking the back of her head.

"Do you not think.. I will feel the same way, angel?" He mind-linked; his voice came through as soft as a flower\'s petals on the skin. He sighed atop her shoulder, and she realised he must have been staring at Kane and Nairi. "Today-"

"What… are you … crying about?" Said a croaky voice sounding parched of water. Aila whipped her head around and watched Nairi gasp, hiccup and then sob, even more, her hands by the side of Kane\'s face. "You.. silly mare. I\'m fine.." He coughed lightly as he raised his hand and palmed her cheek. 

"Me!? You buffoon! You.. I thought you died!?" Nairi wailed and kissed him on each cheek.

Both Aila and Damon sagged, releasing a breath along with the pent up and raw emotions that seemed to envelop them. She glanced up at the sky and couldn\'t help but smile at the change in weather; it was as though the moon goddess had indeed blessed the couple with life. The clouds blossomed pink as they swept away, partially covering the setting sun in the now early evening sky. 

"You had us going there," Damon joked, but his voice was raspy, still filled with the despair of his friend almost dying.

"Aha," *cough*, "I can\'t leave the missus to you guys." *cough* *cough*, "She\'ll drive you nuts!" Kane croaked again with a bloody smile. 

Nairi chuckled and kissed his forehead, stroking the top of his hair. 

"Rest now, Beta. You\'ll burn out otherwise and go into a coma," Tommy fretted and glanced at Aila and Damon.

"Tommy, I want you and a few others to take Kane back to the packhouse. Take the hunter\'s car," Damon ordered in his deep rumbling voice. 

Tommy stood up and faced him, concern etched on his features, "I thought the packhouse had rogues and those things attacking.."

"I have heard from them. The rogues have fled, and there aren\'t many of the modified werewolves left," Aila interrupted. 

Three wolves appeared by Tommy\'s side at her words, one of them holding a bag and passed it down to Damon. Aila stepped out of the way and patted at her damp face as she watched the wolves shift and change into shorts before helping Tommy lift Kane up, using a hoody from one of the bags to cover his groin area. Nairi quickly threw on some shorts and a men\'s t-shirt before hastily following behind them. 

As Nairi climbed into the truck, Aila jogged up to her and pulled her into a quick hug. "I\'m so happy to see you alive. Take some rest; you both need it," Aila whispered into Nairi\'s overgrown curls. The pair pulled a part and smiled at one another before Aila stepped back and watched the door close and the car speed off out of town. She was lost in thought as the car shrunk into the distance while the last of the hunters fought on the side. 

Nairi and Kane nearly died because of her. 

Gabriel\'s words came back to her, weighing her down as she stood stiff in the middle of the road, her hair blowing gently against the breeze. She turned her head to the side and saw the countless bodies scattered across the streets. They were all dead because of her.

"You should go too. I will mind-link Finn. The battle is over, and I want you safely behind the walls of the packhouse. It may be over, but the hunters could still be watching." Damon approached her from behind, interrupting her spiralling thoughts. She faced him and saw his eyes flickering to the sounds of wolves and hunters fighting with the occasional gunfire. 

"Damon," She reached for his hand and stared into his eyes, "I\'m not going anywhere without you, remember?"

He sighed in exasperation and shook his head, a smile lighting up his devilishly handsome features, making her heart flutter and stomach twist just by looking at him. He raked his free hand through his hair. "Fine. But by my side is where you will stay," He growled as he tilted her chin up and softly kissed her on the lips, deepening it further before he pulled away, his eyes glowing with need and wanting more. But the sound of close gunfire caught their attention.