HUNTED

The pain shot through Aila's back, feeling as though she was being stabbed with loads of pins along with burning her skin from the silver. Clint's hand was around her throat, but she could easily get out of his grip. Aila knew there was a possibility that her plan would go wrong.

She just wanted her pack safe and worry about herself after. But she also hoped to get to their cars first, but it was fine. She just didn't expect to be stabbed.

Aila hissed from the pain radiating from her lower back and heard her wolf begin to whine in her mind. She needed that thing out of her. Otherwise, her strength would go, and she'd be in big trouble.

The main thing was that they didn't inject her with wolfsbane, which was becoming very likely as she watched Silas turn and smile at her before ordering one of his men to get a syringe from the car. The hunter jogged ahead of them, and Aila felt her heart spike again; the cars weren't that far then. She instantly elbowed Clint in the stomach and hissed again as she felt him pull the knife to the side with him and his hand on her throat tighten.

Aila turned her head to the side and looked at Clint. "Per-leeease," She mocked breathlessly, "Connor was much better at beating the shit out of me." Without wasting any more time, she headbutted Clint before extending her nails and stabbing him in the face.

"Ah!" He let go of her, and Aila pulled the knife out before dashing to the side out of reach from the hunters. Her adrenaline was pumping through her veins as she began picking up speed; otherwise, she was sure her wound would be affecting her more. It was silver after all, and the last time it was wrapped around her ankles and wrists, it made her tired and the area itch. Before she sprinted even quicker and shifted, Aila stopped before running around one of the boulders where the path went. Turning on her heel, she checked to see if they were chasing her and smiled when she saw Silas also running.

But her smile dropped, and her brows drew together when she saw his face split into a broad smile. And to the side of him was an outraged Clint, whose eyes seemed to burn two holes into hers while his right cheek bled from where she used her claws.

"Ooft!"

Aila was tackled to the ground by the very hunter who left to get the syringe. He stood up and pushed his foot into her wound, causing her to grit her teeth and hold back a scream from the pain. But instead of giving in to her pain and wanting to curl up, she clamped her legs onto his. And started a wrestling move Chiara taught her to get her opponent to the ground.  But the hunter anticipated it and jumped out of it before her hold was too strong.

This gave her enough time to twist and widen her eyes at the syringe in his hands. Her attention then snapped to his protective vest, and it showed four vials of the liquid. Her quick assessment led her to believe that he had it all along, and it was a trick, as though Silas anticipated her move. But before he could grab hold of her, a black bird, no, a falcon attacked him and transformed into a panther.

Aila jumped up and spun around. The hunters pointed their guns at the panther, so she blocked their view of Ajax, who was ripping the hunter to shreds.

"What's the plan?" Ajax mind-linked her.

"Find Gabriel, go with him!" She ordered through the mind-link.

"What about you?" The panther roared but stayed behind her; he knew she was protecting him.

"Ajax, they can use you to get to me. GO!"

Ajax grumbled through their link but ran in the direction she wanted to go to as well. Aila started jogging the same route as him and watched as Ajax shifted into his human form after scaring Gabriel. As she listened to Ajax interact with Gabriel, a different plan started to form in her mind while she was being shot at.

Initially, she wanted to jump in the car with them and drive away from the pack, letting the hunters follow them. But they could easily shoot at the tires, and all of them would be caught. There were still so many hunters left, it would be impossible to keep escaping them.

Not only was it her they would be taking back, but the others too. She forgot Ajax was still in the sky, and even if she did order him to do something, he wasn't a werewolf. Her power didn't work on him.

Aila didn't like using her Alpha's voice, but she would protect those that she loved. Aila blinked as she ducked swiftly, turning her head back to look at the hunters chasing her; Clint shot another one of his own, most likely the one who nearly shot her in the back of her head.

But Aila faced the front again, ignoring them; she wasn't even sprinting full speed so they could see her still. That was it; her new plan was in motion. She seemed to skip plans B and C, which somehow merged into plan D? Or was it now plan E? Aila had no idea. All she knew was that she was set on what to do now.

Gabriel turned his head in her direction, and she saw his face harden.

'Go now! Before they see you!'

Gabriel slammed the door behind Ajax but walked towards her, his fists by his side.

"I'll meet up with you after," She mind-linked Ajax and knew Gabriel heard her. 

He stopped, and they stared at each other for a few seconds. Aila was urging him to go while she was still jogging towards him. Her eyes glowed, and he swore under his breath.

Gabriel abruptly turned, and in a blink of an eye, he was in the car and speeding through the mountains. The wheels squealed in the distance, and as the car left her sight, she sprinted around the remaining cars. Hiding behind the van so the hunters could catch up.