Chiara rushed towards the back entrance of ONYX, the children in tow following behind Luther, who limped from a chunk of flesh missing from his leg. She presumed it might take a while for the muscle to rebuild itself, even for a vampire. But that wasn't what the Gamma was worried about; she was bringing these poor children into a populated vampire area, their group was full of injuries, and their Luna was missing.

Behind her, Gabriel carried Damon over his shoulder like he weighed like a feather. Vinnie carried Ajax while Kane helped Chase walk, though he was still a little out of it from Luther's blood. They barely made it out from the hunter's grasp, but somehow they lost them after two hours of rushing in and out of traffic, going along motorways, then coming off into the countryside before returning to Chester.

​​

In that time, Gabriel gave a drop of his blood to Damon, miraculously healing his wounds within seconds and pushing out the bullets. However, Alpha Damon was still unconscious. The vampire king said his mind was not ready to face reality. His body, even though it was unconscious, knew his mate was dying, and he was nowhere near her.

Ajax refused Gabriel's blood on the basis that he would heal soon, and the shapeshifter did not want to be high or having perverted dreams of Gabriel. At the time, Gabriel only chuckled at the shapeshifter's outlandish claims. Though it also made Chiara look at him warily. Was that what happened if they took their blood?

The party trudged up to the penthouse; the wounded were plopped down on the couches in the lounge area near the bar and golden elevator. Chiara took the children to her room, who obeyed her quietly, though she could still see their trembling figures. They were still fearful, unaware that they were no longer in danger, but the Gamma did not expect anything less.

Chiara lay down the child on her bed; she fell asleep in the car once everything settled down. The Gamma looked at the faces of the children standing warily, shifting from one foot to the other as they took in the sight of her grand room. At least two good things came out of tonight, these children were rescued, and they had the papers with information about the hunters and high officials.

**

In the bar area of the penthouse, Gabriel sat down on the sofa elegantly crossing his ankle of his opposite knee. He stared at the Alpha King, panting in pain from the wolfsbane that couldn't clear from his system and the thoughts of his mate. This was how a true mate was meant to act, nothing like how Amelia was. He respected the love between Aila and Damon, how genuine it was. In fact, he was a little envious of it.

He chuckled as he knocked back the glass of whiskey in his hand.

Envious? Him? He did not need anyone. He glanced at Luther, who limped towards the bar and pulled out a blood bag.

"Luther, come here," He gestured with his hand to come towards him. The golden-haired vampire limped towards him, the blood bag in his hand, and flopped down in the cushioned seat next to him.

Gabriel bit into his wrist and poured some of his blood into the glass tumbler.

"No, sire. I cannot possibly take such a gift from you-"

"Shut up and drink. Before I rescind the invitation," Gabriel interrupted, passing the glass with at least 50ml of blood in it.

Luther took the glass and bowed his head, "Thank you, you are too generous."

Luther knocked back the blood, and within seconds his muscle knitted together in his leg like it was brand new. Gabriel nodded his head and stood up with a sigh, raking his hand through his dishevelled locks. With all of what happened, his thoughts were drawn to two people. Aila and Finn.

Aila was alive, that much he knew from checking Damon's darkened mind. Finn- he was unsure of, but if the hunters took both, then it was safe to assume the Delta would be used as a means for Aila to cooperate with them. Even if they did not have Finn, the girl was too kind to let anyone die for her 'selfish' reasons.

Gabriel scoffed as he reached his bedroom door. She needed to take care of herself more than care about other people. But then that was what made her a good Luna and soon to be Alpha Queen.

**

[ Unknown Location ]

Aila's head throbbed in pain, her eyes felt heavy, and her body ached all over. The sharp pain was still flaring in her chest. She tried to move her head and open her eyes, but everything felt heavy and caused pain to shoot across her body. She groaned and forced her eyes open.

Her vision was blurry, the outer edges dark and with black spots enticing her back to sleep. She could not see much of what was in front of her. She tried to reach out to her wolf for help but could hear nothing. Her lids shut, the heaviness too much for her to bear. Was she going to die?

"Shhh…"

Aila tensed, though her eyes still wouldn't open. That voice.. It made her skin crawl.

She felt a hand caress her cheek, and she knew it wasn't her mate's. Warm breath brushed across the back of her neck as the same man's chilling voice whispered against her hair. "Such beautiful skin." Aila shivered. Who the hell was touching her.

"Do not worry, we will have a bit of fun. But first, you should sleep," His sickening whisper brushed against her ear. His lips against her made her flinch and try to move away, but his hand gripped in her hair, stilling her before he stroked her head like she was something precious.

"Hmm, even now in this state, you try to put up a fight.. I knew you would be fun.."

A small sharp pain stung the inside of her elbow; a coldness shot up her arm before a burning sensation rippled across her body. The pain was so blinding that she instantly blacked out.