HUNTED-Chapter 413: Parenting

In Damon’s office, Aila managed to calm her husband down. She was secretly thrilled to see her daughter acting out a little. Keira was far too worried about what others thought about her.

Over the years, Aila tried to get her to relax. She worried about the ’Cross’ name and being a ’Cross’, but what did that even mean?!

Aila was proud of all her children, and even if they didn’t get superb grades or were spectacular at fighting, she would still be proud. Keira didn’t understand this, though, and she compared herself to Amerie.

Aila just wanted Keira to be happy. Although she wasn’t pleased about Keira lying about her whereabouts, she was really curious about whoever left a love bite on her neck. They must be something for her daughter to allow him to leave a mark.

This was Keira who put the Cross name above everything.

’Curious?’ Malia huffed. ’More like enraged! The love bite is near the mate mark! Did this person try to make a claim at our Keira?!’

Aila paused in her tracks, massaging Damon’s shoulders as he sat stiffly in the desk chair video, calling someone she didn’t think he’d willingly call anytime soon.

’I didn’t think of it like that…’ Aila began. ’Do you think they’re her mate then?’

Malia huffed. ’He better. Otherwise, it could have been calculated.’ It was clear Malia’s protectiveness was kicking in.

’Calculated?’ Aila frowned. She didn’t like the sound of that. Yes, she would speak with Keira and see what she could find out about this mystery person who left a love bite on her.

"I can’t believe my little girl is growing up," Damon murmured in a daze. Aila squeezed his muscular shoulders and rested her chin on one.

"We should be happy she is getting out of her shell more," Aila whispered, sticking to her soothing tone.

This wasn’t the first time she had to intervene. Honestly, she thought Damon might deal with it better this time. Amerie’s first ’boyfriend’ was when she was ten! She was worse than Keira at her age as well.

Granted, Amerie’s social media revolved around her going out and sharing her life with the world. Still, Damon and their sons dealt with every single boy who was a ’friend’ entering the pack and ensuring they didn’t stay long.

Aila sighed internally. Now, it was Keira’s turn.

"First Amerie, now Keira. What... am I to deal with Chloe next?!"

Technically yes... And Amerie hasn’t been with anyone for a long time, most likely thanks to her brothers and that a lot of their werewolf friends were settling down with their mates. Aila didn’t voice any of that, though.

"Damon and Aila Cross, what a surprise." Aila’s attention flicked to the screen.

There, in a black Armani suit, with white hair neatly tousled and blue eyes sparkling with red specks, was Gabriel, and on his lap, twirling a blade like a fidget spinner, was Esme Snow.

"Did we er… interrupt something?" Aila asked, her voice full of jest as she looked between the couple and the blade.

Esme snorted. "We wouldn’t answer if we were.. preoccupied."

"Is this really the time to be joking around?" Damon snapped, glaring at the screen.

"You better control your man, Aila," Gabriel said quietly, his voice thick with ice. "Nobody talks to my girl like that."

Damon ignored the King’s comment. "Did you not see the headlines this morning?"

Gabriel released a breath, Esme’s comforting caress relaxing his stiff form from Damon’s attitude towards them. "You need to relax, Damon," he smirked. "You might start getting wrinkles. Will Aila want you then?"

Aila wrapped her arms around Damon’s neck from behind and smiled lovingly at her mate. "Wrinkles, warts, I’d still take him."

"Let’s hope the latter never happens," Gabriel remarked dryly. "I don’t want to replace my phone again because your face cracked the screen. Although… It might make you drop on the Top 10 Hottest Men list. Quite certain your sons have pushed a few off the list already. You don’t want to be next…."

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"I don’t give a damn about that!"

Gabriel chuckled at the Alpha King’s outburst.

"Maybe it will get my sons some attention…" Damon grumbled, ignoring the King’s jabs. "Most preferably a mate."

Aila rolled her eyes. Their sons got enough attention as it was. "You know it’s in the Goddess’ plan," she said soothingly.

"Some are speculating none of our children will find their mates."

"Is this all you wanted?" Gabriel interrupted. "If so, stop wasting my precious time."

Damon sighed and looked at the vampire. "Look, they were under your care last night. We both know Keira gets influenced by Rhea-"

A blade pointed at the camera. "Don’t go doing the blame game here, Alpha. Keira was just as ready to go out last night as Rhea." Esme glared at him unflinchingly. She really was something for pointing a dagger and holding Damon’s eye contact.

"So you saw them before they went out?" Damon demanded.

"Damon," Aila said in a hushed tone.

"And?" Esme tilted her head. "They said they were going to …."

"And you believed them?" Damon asked incredulously, throwing his hands up.

"I trust my daughter…"

"Clearly, you shouldn’t."

"Alright, time out!" Aila placed her hands together, making the letter ’T’ appear in front of the camera and Damon. "Before my mate is assassinated! We’re not here playing the blame game."

"I am," Damon grumbled.

Esme pointed at the camera dramatically.

"I know the girls are under a lot of stress." Gabriel arched his eyebrow at Aila’s comment, clearly believing Rhea was fine. She probably was. "But they need to be grounded. The Order is making a move. They’re continuing with old practices. We don’t know their locations like last time."

"You believe the girls will be targeted?" Gabriel questioned, leaning back in his chair.

"Amerie and Keira have before," Damon pointed out, reminding them of the heart-clenching time their daughters were missing for a few days. Keira had little to no memory of it, while Amerie, who was always as bright as the sun, still suffered from nightmares during the night.

"They will be fine. The girls are well trained, and so are our guards," Gabriel stated, though Aila could tell from the one glance he sent to Esme that he was also concerned. The vampire had been in the Hunter’s compound the longest, after all.