HUNTED

[ Harry ]

On the rooftop, he helped Aila stick Clint to the wall of the fire exit using a hammer and nails. The hunter, Clint, didn’t even flinch as the nail bit into the palm of his hands, shoulders, and feet. It enraged Aila more. She didn’t let it show; her face was as smooth as a marble stone statue, her face expressionless except for the burning hatred in her eyes.

But the Queen revealed the venom in her veins by her actions. Now, he was all for revenge and thought he had a pretty good stomach for such things, considering the torture he’d been through, the brawls he’d been in and witnessed. But Aila’s fury was like no other he’d ever seen.

Or maybe it was different because she was a hybrid. Davian mentioned her blood lust possibly harmed those around her, those she wouldn’t want to hurt. But so far, it was aimed at the hunter.

Harry was more than happy to watch the hunters get what they deserved, but he did wonder to what extent this fucker had hurt Aila. He didn’t need to know all the details that this was the man who killed her parents, the original Alpha King and Queen of the Silver Crescent pack, who ruled over the packs of the northern territories.

"Hmmm, whatever will you do next?" Cassius asked in a singsong voice. He leaned against the balcony, watching in glee as Aila cut through the hunter’s shirt.

"What do you think? I’m going to have a little fun with Clint’s FAVOURITE toy," Aila replied just as gleefully. Harry gulped as he watched the hybrid acting more and more like Cassius. It was disturbing.

"It’s the bond," Davian muttered under his breath after catching Harry’s concerned gaze. "When I first lost control.. I.. slaughtered hundreds and drained their bodies. But Cassius.. he wasn’t anywhere near me.

With him at close range to her.. in this state.. he should be helping, but instead he-"

"Do not blame this on me, boy." Cassius glowered at them as he undid a few more buttons of his bloodied shirt. The weather was cold, even to a lycan like himself. He thought vampires ran colder, what with how ruthless they were. In particular, how ruthless Cassius was. "Aila has a right to enact her revenge."

Harry glanced back at Aila and grimaced as she cut slowly into Clint’s body. "How does it feel, Clint? How does it feel to be utterly useless and watch your fate slowly consume you? As I.. kill you." She whispered harshly next to his ear.

Clint smirked, ignoring how Aila twisted the blade and sunk it in deeper against the inside of his arm. "How does it feel turning into the monster who killed your parents?" He chuckled darkly at her next stab into his shoulder. "You know, I can give you pointers.."

Harry watched on in silence, disturbed and shocked at what he was witnessing. This Clint fella is a fucking psychopath. Did he not feel pain? He searched his features for a slither of emotion but found none.

"I don’t need pointers," Aila snapped. "I just want to bleed you out for a bit.. I am hanging you out to dry after all.."

Cassius chuckled from behind them all. "Don’t bleed him too much; he will die from blood loss," he pointed out.

Aila pulled the knife back. "Oh, we don’t want that, do we, Cass?" She asked over her shoulder with a grin. "Then how about we do this.." Aila bit into her palm, causing her blood to spill, and forced it onto the hunter’s lips. Clint struggled, trying to turn his head one way and another, resisting, but it was futile.

Blood now covered his lips. He tried to spit it out, but Aila smacked his face before he could. Smacked him hard. Knocking him out. She heaved a long sigh out and stepped back. "Harry, Davian, wait in the car," she muttered without looking in their direction.

"I’m staying," Harry instantly responded, tilting his chin higher.

"Then get hurt," Aila replied, turning from them and going to stand by Cassius’ side. It was then he noted she was starting to shake. A snarl ripped from his lips when Cassius was the one to comfort her. He put his disgusting hands on her shoulders and spoke to her about letting this ’state in’, let it wash over her. To let it happen. Otherwise, there would be consequences.

Consequences? Harry looked at Davian, confusion marring his features. But Davian shook his head in denial. Did that mean there weren’t consequences for not letting this.. blood lust consume her? Or were the consequences from Cassius?

"Let’s go. We can’t do anything here," Davian whispered, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him back to the fire exit.

Harry growled, ripping his arm out of the hybrid’s reach as they descended the stairs from the fire exit door. "Aren’t you meant to protect her?" He stepped in front of Davian. "Even if it’s from herself?"

Davian glared at him. "This is not something we can intervene in!" He snapped back, getting in Harry’s face. "And I physically fucking can’t!" He breathed heavily, his hands clenched together before he punched the wall, releasing his temper and the growling vibrations rolling through him.

Harry took a step back. "What do you mean you can’t?" He asked quietly, feeling his voice sounded far too weak and pathetic. But he couldn’t help it.

Somehow, in the time he had been here, he’d grown.. fond of Aila. Not in a sense that he fancied her. Yeah, she was hot as fuck, as he’d expect of Alpha Damon’s mate. But this was different; he couldn’t understand how he went from a rogue hating the world and especially hating the royals to turning into an obedient pup for Aila.

Now he felt completely useless leaving her with Cassius, who did nothing but whisper terrible things into her ears. Encouraging her. Especially when she seemed out of her mind, lost in whatever vampire bullshit this was.

"He ordered me away," Davian replied, the fury still thickening his voice. He started to move away, leaving Harry to make his own choice on whether to stay or not. But he had enough sense to know Cassius would probably beat him black and blue, and right now, Aila wouldn’t care.

Or maybe she would?

"Don’t," his wolf growled. Or should he call him lycan or creature now? His wolf had transformed into this advanced creature, after all. He was just happy he wasn’t gone.

"Let’s wait and see," Harry murmured back to the lycan in his mind, not following Davian, who now seemed to walk almost robotically. Instead, the lycan leaned against the wall, listening and waiting.

What he didn’t anticipate, though, while he waited, was the appearance of a petite she-wolf and the Alpha fucking King himself.