{ Life is not about who you once were. It's about who you are now and who you have the potential to be. ~ Unknown }

**

Aila leaned back, placing her hands on the back of the couch as she stared wide-eyed at the shiny floor. She guessed Gabriel's name was Cassius, and he confirmed it to her, but now she was left with numerous questions, which he needed to explain to her. Was she being nosey? Yes. But when you find a crypt in a secret flashy underground bunker under your home, questions needed to be answered.

She knew Cassius was at least friends with Amelia when she was alive, and having him buried ALIVE near her, makes her wonder just who exactly he was to her. For a brief moment, she thought Cassius might have been her ancestor, he had the same colour hair like her and blue eyes, but he would never show signs of being interested in her romantically if they were related.

"I'm happy to hear you are aware that the vampire wants you.." Malia snapped. She was not happy with all the touching from Cassius. "Did you really not expect much of a reaction from him for.. satisfying your needs with Damon on the phone?"

Aila smirked, "You know how I lose my mind with him.. But no, I could have done it in another room, but.."

"But…." Malia trailed off.

"I did get his room out of it," She smirked again. Malia suddenly caught on to what Aila did, and she was shocked.

"That's so… Naughty!" Malia gasped then started barking out in laughter, "You.. ohhhh. How did you get away with not revealing your intentions? He can read minds!"

"Hmm, I just kept my mind blank and only focusing on the 'embarrassment' of the guys knowing I'd had a little fun in his room.." Aila glanced up after replying to her wolf. Chase, Ajax and Finn were now standing in front of her, arms crossed, looking at her sternly. Aila felt Malia slowly hide further in her mind as though it was really her in the spotlight of her three friends.

Aila sheepishly grinned at them, "Yes?"

Finn narrowed his eyes, "I hope you know what you are doing there, Luna.."

Aila blinked back at him innocently, and Ajax was the first to relax his arms and stand next to her, leaning his hands against the couch and nudging her lightly. "We are just a bit concerned... Gabriel isn't someone to take lightly.." He said earnestly. "You already have bruises on your wrists, doll.." He stroked one of her wrists tenderly and stared at her intently.

Aila stared back into Ajax' emerald, green cat eyes and sighed, scratching the back of her neck. "Come on now, guys. I have taken on hunters, and from what my wolf just showed me, me and Gabriel match in.." She grimaced, remembering how easily he held her against the window; his strength overpowered her by three folds. "Well, we fought each other.."

"Just be careful. If you're hurt, or Gabriel makes an actual move on you.. You know Damon will rip him in two," Finn spoke sternly to her with his arms still crossed. Aila couldn't help the small smile sliding on her lips; Finn was acting like a concerned big brother. They all were. It was sweet.

Finn relaxed his arms and reached into his jeans, and placed the burner phone in her hand, keeping his hand atop hers. "Damon said he will call in the morning."

Aila frowned, "Why not now? What did you two talk about?" Her eyes flickered between his.

"I just caught him up to speed on a few things," He shrugged, brushing off the matter, but Aila was good at reading Finn now, and she could tell there was something on his mind, and he was keeping it from her.

Even if he was keeping it from her, surely Gabriel would know. She did not understand how Gabriel's mind-reading ability worked, if he could control it or not, or if he just heard everyone's thoughts at the same time. Either way, she had a gut feeling not to press further about it.

"Okay.." She muttered back.

"Come on, I'm beat.. Aila, I'd say we could share a room, but I don't want to disturb you and your hand," Ajax winked and left Aila speechless with her mouth wide open. Finn roared with laughter and smacked Ajax on the back while walking towards their rooms.

But Ajax didn't stop there, and he called out from the other side of the room, "Unless you want me to lend a hand!?"

Aila didn't bother replying and hid her face behind her hands. She did, however, hear a thump and some barging. Without looking, she already knew Finn had tackled the shapeshifter for his crudeness. Aila shook her head; hopefully, Chiara will put him in line if the two can sort out whatever issues they are facing.

"Well, at least you got that room.." Malia snickered. Aila ignored her wolf too and glanced at Chase, who shuffled to her side where she still stood against the sofa.

"Are you really okay?" He looked down at her in concern.

Aila smiled, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Chase chuckled and shook his head. "You have been through quite a lot.. And Gabriel almost attacking you.. Kind of the cherry on top, really?" He searched her face, "But you handled it.. You've changed.. somehow."

Aila raised her brows, "In a good way?"

"I'm not sure.." He trailed off while searching her eyes, "You're stronger, more sure of yourself, which has become you. You seemed to.." He blushed before muttering, "shine more.." He cleared his throat, "But, you're more serious.. more.. troubled?"

She tilted her head to the side and glanced up thoughtfully. "Maybe.. I think once we get rid of the hunters, I might rest better.."

"That might take longer than you think, Aila. It's not a small organisation. It's been around for centuries.." Chase replied with a scowl.

Aila chuckled gently, raised her fingers to his knitted brows and stroked the area, ultimately taking him by surprise. "And you said I'm too serious now.." She joked before lowering her hand.

"Well, if your dad beat the living shit out of you, you might look at everything a little.. differently," He muttered back. She could see he was trying to make a joke out of it, but it made her chest tighten just thinking about it.

How could someone beat up their kid, torture them.. Even if he 'betrayed' him, there was no excuse. Silas was a cruel, disgusting man who needed putting down. Aila never thought she would wish death on anyone, but he was a mad man intent on killing off hundreds, no thousands of creatures.

"Chase.." She wanted to comfort him, but at the same time, she had a burning question to ask. After seeing him on the video call, his indifference to it all, and words spoken between them in her time at the compound, it made her wonder.. "was that the only time he.." She gulped, fearful of asking him and upsetting him, "Was that the only time he-"

"He beat me up?" He finished for her. She nodded her head and pursed her lips. A flash of emotion passed over his features, but she couldn't quite understand what it was.

"I can see why you'd think that. But he never beat me up outside of training.." He frowned, "Only a few times he hit me to make a point in front of others.."

"So, he did.. There's no excuses for it, Chase," Aila reached out and squeezed his arm in the hopes of providing some small comfort.

Chase became quiet, and she could see him deep in thought. "You should get some rest. Finn told me you're still injured.."

Aila searched his face, but he was impassive to his true feelings. It wasn't just her whose life had changed so abruptly, but his too. Instead of continuing with her probing questions, she took the hint.

"Ah, yes. Your friend Clint done that to me.." She pushed off from the sofa and had started walking towards the stairs, unaware of how his face paled.

"He's no friend of mine." Aila heard Chase say from behind her as he stormed off towards his room, pausing when he passed her by the stairs. "Aila.."

She looked down at him from the second step.

"I hope you never have to face Clint. He's one nasty fucker.."

Aila's brows rose, but she tried to lighten the mood, "No kidding, he stabbed me in the back and shot my mate," She waved it off, but Chase's face did not change. She sighed, "Don't worry, I've got a lot of people on my side. I doubt he would get to me."

She turned away from him and walked up the stairs. Once she closed the door behind her, her smile dropped. Chase looked doubtful of her commentary. As though Clint could get to her no matter who was by her side.