If the men wanted to dash into the woods to hunt without her, that was fine; she had her own mission to focus on.
Julius could run his little mission and keep all the guys busy.
That left Ayla with the perfect chance to slip away unnoticed.
Ayla was on the hunt, tucked away in a sheltered spot, perched up high, just outside the hotel where the men had been staying.
Something in her gut told her this was exactly where she needed to be.
She hovered by the door, tracking her prey, feeling completely in her element as she waited for her target to finally appear.
The young woman watched as Shaw stepped out of the doors.
A short while later, she noticed him slip back inside, looking nervous.
Her curiosity was more than just piqued.
This wasn't the same man she'd seen on the camera before.
The once poised, arrogant, and cocky figure had vanished.
The man seemed timid, anxious, and on edge, almost scared, if she had to name the way he was acting.
The young man reappeared quickly, looking even worse than before.
Something was definitely off.
Ayla waited for the perfect moment to approach him, trailing quietly behind.
From a safe distance, she moved smoothly through the shadows, her gaze fixed steadily on the young man.
He had only walked a short way before things shifted, and she noticed he was meeting a man she didn't know.
Remembering how the others would sniff the air to sense someone's presence, she gave it a try.
Her eyes widened as a powerful scent filled her nostrils.
They each had their own distinct qualities, yet together they created a blend of salt and sweetness.
She was immediately reminded of the ocean and fir trees, with a subtle twist of almond mingling in.
Was he facing an enemy?
Could that explain his nervousness?
Their scents were clearly different.
What kind of trouble had Shaw gotten himself into?
Ayla's curiosity piqued as she listened intently from the nearby shadows, perched high above the scene.
"It's not worth it anymore. The longer I stay, the more tangled I get in this pack. I told you years ago I wanted to join yours. Deep Fang isn't for me, and neither is Sharp Fang," Shaw said.
A man Ayla didn't recognize began to speak.
"I know this has been tough for you, believe me. We needed information, and you delivered. If you truly can't stay any longer, you're welcome to come with me. But know this: the first time you cross us will be the last. We might be best friends, but my pack doesn't tolerate deceit. That's never okay."
She could appreciate his up-front approach and how he handled his friend.
Honestly, she would have probably not been able to do the same, seeing as where he was from and who he was partners with.
Ayla listened as Shaw spoke.
"Thanks, Orion. I don't think I could have handled going back to Ralph's room, let alone facing the pack. He is worse than you think."
So, this was the elusive Orion everyone had been talking about.
He'd been missing for days, yet she instantly recognized the familiar tone of his voice.
Her hunt had paid off.
The prey stood before her, and she was poised to strike.
Tired of running, she decided it was time to stand her ground without causing any casualties.
She eased herself down from her perch and casually stepped around the corner, her voice calm and steady.
Her movement caught Shaw's eye from the corner of his vision.
"So, the mysterious Orion and Shaw," she remarked casually as she turned the corner.
The two men exchanged uncertain glances, neither sure what was going on.
Shaw assumed it was just another woman making a move on him.
In an instant, his cocky, arrogant facade returned.
"Who might you be?"
Ayla thought it would be fun, knowing exactly who they were while they had no clue, she was the prize they were hunting.
Even before she realized she was a wolf, she had always enjoyed toying with her prey.
"Oh, don't tell me you two are scared, tucked away in this quiet corner just to chat with one lonely woman. Don't mind me, I'm just a little thing who stumbled upon something that caught my interest."
Orion wasn't entirely convinced they were safe when he chose to respond.
His nostrils flared ever so slightly as he tried to catch a hint of wolf, but nothing came, and his eyes narrowed just a bit.
He didn't know what game she was playing, but for now, he'd go along with it.
After all, he wasn't afraid of a little girl; she wasn't the big bad wolf.
"Of course not," he replied, matching her coyness, "What is it that we can help you with?"
Ayla smiled.
"You know, same old, same old. Just curious what might bring two men like you to this town."
Shaw was beginning to feel suspicious.
"How do you know we're not from around here?"
She let out a small chuckle.
"Oh, I just do. So, what brings you two to Scarlet Crest?"
What did she mean by "two men" in her question?
What was she really after?
"That's private. What did you say your name was?"
She laughed smugly, raising an eyebrow.
"I didn't, but aren't you the clever one?"
Shaw's expression darkened.
"Are you calling me stupid?"
Ayla locked eyes with him, her gaze daring him to respond.
"Do you feel foolish? I never said you were. That was all in your head. You'd make a fine General, or was it Lieutenant? Hard to keep track sometimes."
She knew exactly what she was doing, and it was working.
Both men's ears drooped as their expressions sank.
Their noses tilted upward, as if straining to catch her scent even more.
Orion was the first to speak after failing to detect it again.
"If you don't mind me asking, who are you?"
Ayla smirked.
"Actually, I do mind. I'd rather not tell you who I am... that's private," she flashed Shaw a smug grin before continuing, "Partly because you haven't said who you are either. Not that I haven't already figured it out."
He didn't like that answer, realizing she was baiting them.
"Clearly, you're after something, but good luck getting it."
She looked at him as if he had insulted her.
"No, I really don't need anything from you. I know your names. I know which pack this Shaw person beside you is with, and what he's been up to. Naughty, naughty. Other than that, I don't know who you are, but I don't really need to, do I?"
Orion raised his eyebrows.
"Well, you clearly know more than we do. Are you even like us? And how can you be sure the information you have is correct?"
Ayla chuckled softly.
"Sorry, I wasn't laughing at you. I like you, you've got a way of keeping your cool. You must be pretty high up in the ranks. Alpha's son, maybe? I'm curious which pack you're from. Hmmm… you don't seem aggressive, though. Should I tell you anything?" she said, stepping back a few paces.
Shaw was getting angry, and Ayla could sense it.
"Let's just be done with her. All she wants to do is play games."
That caught Ayla's attention.
"Well, I do love a good game. I know a long round of cat and mouse seems to be the pack's favorite, maybe you call it chase or capture the wolf, whatever the name, but I'm tired of it. Seems you are too. Maybe it's because the Wolf Moon is tonight. Who knows."
Shaw's jaw nearly dropped.
"No way. If you were really her, you wouldn't be standing here in the open, talking so bluntly. She's way smarter than that. So, why did she send you?"
Ayla looked offended.
"Excuse me, I never mentioned who I was, yet you act as if you know me so well. Have you ever met me or anyone who knows me? I'm sorry, or perhaps you meant "her," the wolf you can't put a face to."
Orion hit his friend and told him to shut up.
"Why are you coming to me? Why now?"
Ayla chuckled at his sudden change of pace.
"As I said, I think I might like you. You seem pretty calm. I'm over the whole chase game. Oh, and Shaw, good luck tracking down General Mason. He made his last attempt to catch me, but I'm sure he's got a fresh new face to parade around," she added with a wink.
Shaw suddenly felt a knot in his stomach, but it hit him exactly who he was dealing with and just how formidable she could be.
"Is he dead?"
Ayla tilted her head slightly.
"Well, if he isn't, he probably wishes he were, doesn't he? He never should have come after me, but we live and learn. Well, most of us do."
She knew that by acting that way, she never directly admitted to doing anything to him, yet she left them with the suspicion that she was fully aware of everything.
Orion realized it was probably wise to stay on her good side at that moment.
"Thanks for handling that problem for us. He was becoming quite a thorn in our side. Now, how can we help you, Ms. Ayla?"
He was trying to make it clear to her that he knew who she was and show her respect at the same time.
"So, you've heard of me. Good, I figured you had. You seem quick to turn on Mason, though. I can't say I blame you, but it does make me question how much I can trust your word. Now that you've seen me in person, I'm curious, does my appearance make the stories more intriguing, or do I look just as people have described?"
Orion hesitated, unsure how to respond, but finally said, "No one knows what you look like, since no one's seen you before, at least, not that's been reported."
"Good. I hope it turned out to be a delightful surprise."
The men exchanged uncertain glances.
Shaw scratched his head.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"I told you, I'm done playing this game and running around. I want to know if I can trust you, but I'm not sure how to figure that out. That's why I ask simple questions I already know the answers to. I have no real plans to meet any Alpha, honestly, because they all seem like a handful. So, what's your Alpha like? If Shaw wants to join you and your pack, he must not be too bad."
Orion paused for a moment.
"You don't know anything about me, or whether I might lie. So how can you trust what I say?"
Ayla laughed.
"I won't, not when you tell me. At the very least, it'll give me a baseline about you. It'll tell me more about you than your pack or your Alpha."
He found her answer intriguing.
Ayla's approach to meeting them and gathering information was certainly unconventional.
After only a brief pause, he offered his reply.
"Well, they're private people, just like me. Neither my Alpha nor my Luna is interested in getting involved in other pack matters. There is one thing that has caught their attention over the past few years, though, and that's you. I have to admit, I agree after meeting you."
His answer wasn't what she expected, and her expression and response made that clear to him.
"Well, that's not what I've experienced so far. If it does turn out to be true, maybe we can arrange a visit and make it happen. I just have one question before I consider it for the future: have they ever said they thought I was their daughter, or planned to match me with you?"
Orion chuckled to himself this time.
"Never. They've never claimed you were their daughter. I am their eldest son, sure, but I'm not their only child..."
He paused, clutching a painful thought deep inside, as if carrying a heavy burden of his own.
After a brief silence, he went on.
"That's not what matters. The answer is no; they never planned to match you to me."
Ayla could tell something was troubling him, and she felt compelled to comfort him.
The trouble was, she wasn't sure she could trust him not to kidnap her, even with the Wolf Moon now coming that evening.
With that in mind, she realized there was only one thing to do.
"Looks like I need to do some thinking."
As she turned to leave, Shaw called out, "How will we find you to meet again?"
She offered a sly smile.
"Meet with me? Don't worry. When the time's right, I'll find you."
As her final word slipped from her lips, she turned the corner and vanished.
Just as suddenly as she had appeared at the hidden sanctuary, she was gone.
The two men rushed to the entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of where she might have gone, but it was useless.
Ayla moved like a ghost.
Shaw turned to Orion, astonished.
"What even was that? She's crazy! How did she even pull that off? She's faster than I ever imagined, and I can't catch even a hint of her scent."
Orion smirked.
"That's what fascinates me. She's different. It was all to through off our thoughts. She's not crazy, she's smart. Why do you think all the Alphas want her? My parents knew it was pointless to try claiming her when everyone else was so boldly making their move. It would have only driven her away and sparked a war. Maybe they were smart to hold back. If you want a girl like that, she has to come to you willingly. Besides, she was never meant for me. As incredible as it would have been, if my brother hadn't been taken so young, I'm sure she would have been perfect for him."
Shaw put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"I know you're still mourning your brother. I'm sorry, man."
As the two men scanned the alley for her, talking without restraint, she perched a little higher, taking in every word.
She sensed there was more to the story, and now her hunt was finally a success.
Ayla waited until they were out of sight, having stalked her prey before finishing her victorious hunt and heading back to check on Dominic.
She just hoped she wouldn't be in too much trouble with the boys later.
Deep down, she knew what she'd done wasn't okay.
Speaking of the boys, their hunt wasn't going quite as planned, not like Aylas anyway.