HUNTED-Chapter 369: The Foundations

Chase was the first to arrive at the Silver Crescent pack’s territory. He and some of his men were a few hours before the meeting. The hunter had been in deep conversations with Aila and Damon regarding the ex-hunters now known as ’The Order’.

Aila sent some pack members into the basement to help Allen into the back of the hunter’s van. They’d had enough with him, and although they wanted to find the others, the Luna believed he should be put in Chase and the hunter’s hands now. Chase already stated Allen would be put through a ’fair trial’ once they tortured him into telling them the possible whereabouts of his comrades.

Sariah also visited, and although she remained professional, standing by Chase’s side, the moment she saw Finn, who was overly eager to see her, a tender smile crept up her face, eyes twinkling as she looked upon the Delta. Aila and Chase agreed to the pair having the day off.

There were enough warriors to protect Alpha King and Queen in their territory even if there were outsiders coming to the meeting.

All they were waiting for were the shapeshifter’s ’elders’, Einar, who Aila found out was the witch’s leader, which was hard information to come by, if not for Gabriel’s connection to him, and President Shane O’Leary of the humans among some others who were attending the meeting via video call. Not everyone from around the world could or would attend the meeting that was werewolf soil.

Unlike the day before, where her attire caused Damon and Darius to delight in her roughly with the dress still on, Aila dressed for a meeting where she would be taken seriously. Of course, she didn’t mind one bit, but this was now business, and everyone could always feel the sparks between them. That was not what they needed on a day like today.

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The Luna was aware of her young age, and how the press and hunters had portrayed her until yesterday, so she dressed in a white blazer, red cami top and trousers, followed by some white pointed heels. White was becoming her signature colour, and although Cassius had started this trend, she was now owning it.

The Cross family was known for their white hair and crystal blue eyes. Wearing white made those features stand out more. Damon, on the other hand, remained in a black suit, the top two buttons of his white shirt unbuttoned, revealing the pure muscle of his chest beneath, not that any would question his figure under his attire.

The Alpha looked devilishly handsome, his eyes drawing any in that was nearby.

Alpha Damon and Luna Aila waited on the usual steps before the pack house. Damon’s office was still being refurbished, so they agreed to set up the library for those visiting. A large black oval table and fancy comfortable chairs had been set up in the middle of the library, pushing back the sofas and leaving the fire to set ablaze in the hearth.

The arrival of the other leaders was nerve-wracking. For Aila, that was anyway. First to arrive was the president, in his limousine and security detail. He was one of many government officials who were aware of their existence and invested in the Hunters Association and their initial ideology.

Aila felt a prick of wariness and annoyance at the man whose white, ageing hair was smartly flicked to the side and, like all politicians, seemed to have a condescending smile.

President Shane was friendly enough, though, asking how the pack faired after the previous night’s attack. Due to who he was, reporters also followed the President, but they were blocked off by the pack’s gates and guards. This made them hungry for a big story and nosy at who else the Alpha King and Queen were welcoming into their packhouse.

Unknown to Alpha Damon and Luna Aila, they were starting to become well known.

The news spread like wildfire with their faces. Aila’s image from before, when she left a note for the hunters had terrorized a few at her bloodthirsty nature, had now been salvaged. The ex-hunters, now known to everyone as ’The Order’, favoured both the Alpha and Luna in a good light.

"My Gamma, Chiara, will show you to the library where everyone will meet. If there is anything you need, please do ask. There are already drinks and snacks in there and the screens for those who could not make it in person today," Aila said to the president with a smile.

"Gamma?" President Shane asked, his dark brown eyes moving from Aila to Chiara, who popped up to take his coat. The president had at least eight bodyguards but was asked that only two follow him through to the meeting room. They were not on neutral ground yet, but showing up without feeling threatened or trying to intimidate others was a good start.

President Shane agreed, and his guards remained outside the pack house, speaking to one another in their earpieces and warily eying the pack’s warriors who were on duty. The president would not be alone in the library. Beta Kane, who would be sitting in on the meeting, was waiting for him, and so was Gabriel and his second, Mr Goldilocks, Luther.

Next to arrive was Einar, looking smart in a sleek navy suit that shimmered slightly, with a black unbuttoned shirt, his hands wearing black leather gloves, and eyes as bedazzling as Aila had noticed the first time. His long, raven black hair remained down, looking perfect without a strand out of place.

Once he stepped arrived out of thin air, bowing slightly to the pair, the reporters’ cameras were firing off, trying to get a glimpse at the handsome unknown man.

"Hmm.. I could ruin their film?" Einar suggested, his fingers closing together by his face as though he was going to click them.

"Unless you care about showing up in newspapers or the news.. I do not care. This was meant to be a private meeting, but maybe showing the public we are meeting and serious about discussing what to do next might also be good," Aila said, pondering the best cause of action.

Einar tilted his head to the side, his finger going to his bottom lip. "Hmm.. I have never been one to show my face. I know.. But then, the supernatural world has always been in hiding. I’ve denied many of my looks..

If those flies have managed to capture my beauty well, many might put down their pitchforks because of me alone." He winked and shook Damon’s hand.

"Alpha Damon, what a pleasure to finally meet you at last. I look forward to seeing your and Aila’s leadership of the werewolves." With that, the warlock continued walking, not waiting for Aila to get someone to show him where to go.

Einar walked confidently, with purpose, as though he’d been there before and knew exactly where to go.

"Chiara, make sure Einar, the good-looking warlock, shows up in the library," Aila mind-linked the Gamma.

"On it!" Came her quick response.

"Good-looking, eh?" Damon raised an eyebrow at her jokingly, though his eyes shone dangerously and possessively. Darius was just beneath the surface. Her thighs clenched shut, and a shiver rippled through her as thoughts of the night before burned through her.

"In his own way," Aila explained with a nonchalant shake before sliding her hand across his strong, stubbled jaw. "Not as good-looking as my mate, though."

They kissed sweetly before breaking away at the sound of the gates opening and another car arriving. When it stopped outside the entrance, Ajax was the first to step out. The shapeshifter was dressed in smart attire as well. He grinned at them before bending down and helping someone out of the car.

While he was helping an elderly man with a cane out of the car, a woman of similar age to Ajax and Damon stepped out of the passenger door and directly walked to the Alpha King and Queen. "Hi, I’m Larissa. An elder of the shapeshifters." She held her manicured hand out for Damon to take.

"Welcome, Larissa." Damon’s eyes narrowed, but he did not comment on what was on his mind.

Aila was there for that. The Luna held her hand out for the shapeshifter. "Larissa? I didn’t expect someone so young to be an elder."

The shapeshifter’s smile was one similar to a fox, and it was then Aila noticed the greenish-yellow colour of Larissa’s eyes and sharp features with bright orange hair. She wondered if her outward appearance was similar to what she would shift into. Was Larissa a fox, and not only in body but mind too?

A flash of her eyes told Aila she was a little on the cunning side and to not take her small frame lightly. That made her smile more. She was surrounded by smart and strong women.

"I didn’t expect someone so young to be an Alpha Queen," Larissa replied wittily with an arched eyebrow.

"Touche." Aila’s attention moved from the woman to the man walking beside Ajax. He was not overly old but seemed to struggle to get out of the car. "Welcome, Mr.."

"Malcolm. You may call me Malcolm, Alpha Aila." Aila blinked back at the elderly man’s comment. The shapeshifter wasn’t wrong, Aila was an Alpha from the Alpha bloodline, but she was used to being called Luna.

"It is a pleasure to meet you both, Larissa and Malcolm," Aila said, gesturing behind her to the double doors.

"We have never met with shapeshifters before." Damon began as they walked behind their guests. "It is a special day indeed."

"Hey!" Ajax pouted at the Alpha-Luna pair behind him. "What about me!?"

"Everybody knows you don’t really count as an elder," Larissa mocked with a playful twist of her lips.

"Now, now, children." Malcolm also chimed in playfully between the shapeshifters. They had always seemed a little secretive, with so little information on them, and Ajax never revealed anything about his group, so it was quite a delight to see them so relaxed, considering they had never come out in public like this before.

"Wait.. Ajax, you’re an elder?" Aila finally caught onto what the shapeshifters had just said. She was not joking when she thought Larissa seemed young. Because of the leader’s name, ’elder’, she expected only those of Malcolm’s age or just the one leader.

"That’s right. I thought I’d keep an eye on our werewolf cousins." He winked at her as he led the group to the library.

Aila had been proven wrong. Both Larissa and Ajax were also young, making this meeting all the more interesting, from young minds to those as old as Gabriel. Although she knew it wasn’t the supernatural creatures, she had to worry about during this.