HUNTED

Damon was still on the ground with his Beta and Delta lying on his back and legs as he watched his mate walk back towards the castle, not once turning around to look in his direction. The mate bond gnawed at him to go to Aila; his mark burned with the need to grab her and run, but his mind was louder than his heart now. He didn't know the castle's layout or who else could be inside, and as much as he hated to say it, Cassius wouldn't hurt Aila.

Damon sighed defeatedly, then frowned from the aches and pains in his back. "Guys, can you get off me now?" He asked in the mind-link. 

The two giant wolves hopped off of the Alpha, lying flat on the ground. Damon stretched and stood up, his eyes still fixated on the castle where his mate went back into. "Gabriel, could you read her mind?" He asked him quietly, aware that the music and now the noises of horrific screams would hide their voices.

"What the fuck, Cass!"

"Why are you doing this?!"

"No! No! N- Agh!"

Everyone froze at the cries of the vampires and the slight smell of burning flesh and blood in the air. Cassius must have thrown them out into the sun, but it also sounded like he was slaughtering them himself. Damon hoped Aila was okay. His leg shook anxiously, and the muscle in his jaw ticked, feeling useless once more. He forced himself to turn away from the castle and his mate, to which the bond between them continued to tug at him like an annoying pest, reminding him that she was only there.

Damon clenched his teeth together and brushed down the dust from his jeans and top, ignoring what was happening at the other side of the castle. He looked at Gabriel, waiting for his response to his earlier question, but he was not paying him any attention. The vampire was actually holding Esme by the shoulders, his eyes blazing at her. It looked like they were having a heated telepathic argument.

Damon crossed his arms, his chest tightening at the sight of them; argument or not, they were lucky to have each other. He looked away in annoyance, he was surrounded by fricken couples, and he couldn't even go to his mate. 

What the hell were they even arguing about? 

Esme slid her hands over Gabriel's and gave them a squeeze, her eyes softening before pulling them away from her shoulders. She turned and looked up at Damon, pulling her black mask over her nose and flipping her hood over her head. "I'm going to check out the castle grounds. I will see what I can find out. Don't worry, Alpha, I'm very good at staying out of sight," She announced confidently, causing Kane to scoff at her comment and Finn to shift uncomfortably from one foot and to the other.

Damon tilted his head to the side, a humorous smirk on his lips. "And why would I let you go down there and blow our cover?"

"I won't blow our cover, Alpha," Esme growled. Damon stepped towards her, towering over her with his mountain-like frame in comparison to her teeny petite body. His own chest rumbled from her growl, once again inciting the rogue to bare her neck in respect to him. 

"She is certainly becoming daring," Darius growled disapprovingly in his mind.

"I don't want her to go, but.." Gabriel trailed off and looked down at her. "She has certain.. skills that won't let her get caught. If I were you, I would take her up on her offer; it will take much out of her."

Damon didn't know what that meant, but if Gabriel was willing to let Esme go, then that meant he was confident in her capabilities. If the ancient Vampire King felt that way, then he would put his trust in them. With a sigh, he nodded his head and held his hand up, halting his Beta from disagreeing. "Finn, tell Ajax to keep a lookout for Esme as well," Damon commanded, then returned his attention to the she-wolf. "IF you do well, I will accept you into the pack."

Esme scoffed, "That's a given." And with those words, she turned abruptly to face the castle and jumped forwards, sliding down the hill on her backside before completely vanishing into the shadows of the outer wall.

Damon blinked at her disappearing act and looked back at Gabriel. "Did you make her a hybrid?" He whispered and looked back at the gardens in alarm, searching for the slightest blur of her body dashing to hiding spots. But there was none; she had vanished entirely. 

However, if anyone should have gone down there, it should have been Gabriel with his super speed. He also knew the layout-

"I haven't been to this castle in over 500 years. Which is the perfect spot for Cassius to stay, really. He might have changed the layout in that time," Gabriel interrupted his thoughts with his explanation. 

Damon nodded in understanding and continued to search for the little she-wolf. He really didn't know where she vanished to; he almost gave up until Esme suddenly popped out of some flowers. She put her thumb up before sprinting forwards and rushing up the steps leading to some white French doors Aila and Davian went through earlier.

The little she-wolf peered inside, her body flat against the wall. Damon watched in a trance as he saw her shadow flickering below her, growing outwards, he glanced at the sun and the groups' shadows, but they stayed the same. Was his mind playing tricks on him? He glanced back at Esme and blinked in surprise when she suddenly disappeared again. It was almost like the shadows had swallowed her up, but those, too, had vanished.

"Is she a witch?" Finn asked hesitantly, causing Gabriel to chuckle and look at him mysteriously.

"Esme is.. something else entirely," Gabriel jested, but his eyes were still alert, searching the premises before he looked back at the Alpha. "In answer to your question earlier.. I could read Aila's mind.. She is in a fragile position right now. Her state of mind is in the midst of transforming; it is almost being built up again by Cassius. He was giving his blood to her not only to keep her hunger at bay but so he can gain more control over her-"

"What do you mean by MORE control?" Damon interrupted with a growl. His hands clenched together into fists and his eyes glowed menacingly. 

"Like how Cassius is Davian's master.. he is also Aila's. As his childe.. Not child in the sense of being related; it is just a term we use.. But as his childe, Aila will struggle to defy her master. The sire bond formed between master and childe.. it creates emotional attachments, and.. She could easily be moulded-"

Damon grabbed Gabriel by his collar as he searched his eyes, his own burned into them. "What do you mean by moulded!?" He exclaimed loudly. His hands were trembling again, and he was finding it incredibly hard not to punch Gabriel's pretty looking face. He looked exactly like Cassius, but hitting him wouldn't relieve him of his anger.

"Save it for that bastard," Darius spat as he paced against the fringes of his mind. 

"All I mean to say is certain characteristics might rub off on her.. When I read her mind.. it was still like a newborn's, lusting for blood and revenge. Her wolf.. is also struggling," Gabriel replied flatly. He didn't seem to mind Damon was creasing his shirt again.

Damon released him with a huff and slid his hands over his face and into his hair as he stared at the castle longingly. He yearned to be with his mate.. What was Aila going through right now? He wanted to comfort her, embrace her in his arms and tell her everything would be fine.