Hunted

Chapter Twenty Six

The flight back home had been absolutely exhausting. I had slept the entire flight and was still tired the drive back to the camp. If I had known that we would be going back home to absolute madness I would have stayed back in Greece. Because my chain of bad luck started when I walked into the mansion and found Gabriel.

"Gabe?" I asked dropping my bags.

Without question and ran towards him and jumped into his waiting arms. He chuckled slowly spinning me around. The loud growl from behind us had him letting go in an instant. I rolled my eyes and Xander's stoic figure but stepped away from my best friend nonetheless. Walking towards my mate and holding his hand in mine. He visibly relaxed but kept his eyes on Gabe.

"Alexander Black." Gabe said puffing up his chest and trying to look intimidating.

"Am I supposed to know who you are?" Xander asked raising a brow.

"Gabriel Davis. Mel's best friend."

"Sorry bud that position is already filled." Kenji said walking into the house. "Who's the kid?"

"Judging by the amount of weapons he's got on him I'd say Hunter. Don't know why he's here though."

"Hunter?" I asked surprised.

"I was hoping we could talk in private Mel." Gabe sighed looking at me.

"No." Xander and Kenji answered for me.

"Yes." I said glaring at them.

"I don't trust him." Xander growled glaring at him.

"Well I do so trust me. Besides I can take care of myself."

Xander sighed and reluctantly let go of my hand. I quickly kissed him on the cheek and led Gabe outside so we could talk. We walked in silence for a bit before we stopped by the forest edge and faced each other.

"I see you got yourself a boyfriend. An alpha no less."

"Boyfriend's a bit of a light term. He's my mate." I smiled softly. Gabe took in a deep breath and let out a humourless chuckle.

"Well I can't compete with that now can I?" He joked. At least I took it as a joke.

"So since when were you a hunter?" I asked diverting the topic away from Xander.

"Since High School. Sophomore year your dad started training me. Introduced me to the word of monsters. Said if I was going to be your best friend and always be with you I needed to know how to protect you."

"How is he? Have you spoken to him? What are you doing here?"

"I was supposed to be the one to bring you to California under the guise of spending your birthday weekend at the cabin. But I guess something happened to make your dad move you quickly. I had come to your house that night and found most of it destroyed. Neither you nor your dad was there.

After about a week of going out of my mind looking for you he showed up at my house and told me what happened. He made everyone think you were taken and pretended to be going out of his mind looking for you. He was leading the rest of his family on a wild goose chase for who they believed was the person they were looking for and I had to keep going to school coz you were safe.

A week ago he showed up to my place again and said someone had figured out who you were and rated him out to his family. He gave me this place's number and said to come find you. He's at Wilson manor probably being tortured for information on where you are. I came here as fast as I could and was let into the barrier. I was waiting for you to come back."

"We have to go get him out of there." I whispered starting to panic. I needed to get my dad.

"i know. I'll come with you we can leave whenever you're ready."

"I need to talk to Xander first tell him what's going on." I sighed.

"Oh right."

"Thank you for coming Gabe. I'm happy to see you." I said hugging him. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." He said squeezing me.

"Come on lets go back inside." I sighed letting go of him.

"No." Xander said as soon as we were together in his room and I had told him.

"What do you mean no?"

"This could be a trap Mel. Hell it is a trap. I don't trust this Gabe kid something isn't adding up." He said.

"Could you stop being jealous for one second."

"This has nothing to do with jealousy. If your father knew his cover was blown before they were able to capture him he would have left the place. He'd know they'd use him as bait and he'd know you'd come for him so he wouldn't put himself in that position."

"So what you're saying Gabe was lying and my dad is fine." I huffed.

"No I'm saying they do have your dad but your friend is lying about something. I know the Wilsons they are the best god damn hunters in the world. Manhattan is practically supernatural free because you'd have to be good at hiding or stupid to go there. They wouldn't let it slip to Richard that they were on to him giving him an opportunity to escape."He said seriously. I hated that he was making sense. I hated the seed of doubt that was getting planted in my mind. I didn't want to not trust Gabe.

"Then he lied about dad coming to him and warning him. But who else would give him information on where this place is. Who else knows I'm here?" I asked. I watched him and noticed a flash of realisation before he shook his head and turned away from me.

"I don't know. They're using him to get you out of the barrier and seeing your father will make you emotional and therefore vulnerable." He was saying it more to himself than to me.

"I'm still going to get him."

"Let Kenji and I go. We'll handle getting your dad back."

"No Xander I need to go get him. I can handle it."

"Your family isn't the only one looking for you Mel. Please let me do this. Let me bring him back to you. I promise I will." He whispered holding my face in his eyes.

"Fine. I'll stay. Just please be safe."

"I promise." He smiled kissing my forehead and wrapping hid arms around me.

.............................

"Kenji and I will be going with George to rescue Richard." Xander explained to everyone that night at dinner. "Mel's going to be staying here."

"It's Gabriel." Gabe growled. "Why isn't Mel coming he's her dad?"

"Because Grayson it's obviously a trap for her. She'll stay here were she's safe and we'll get daddy dearest." Kenji said with his mouth full.

"Did you make that decision for her or did she do it herself?" Gabe asked glaring at Xander who calmly smiled back.

"Mel doesn't need me to make any decisions for her. We talked and evaluated the situation and we both decided her staying was the better choice." Xander shrugged.

"Kenji and Xander can handle this. You three go get dad and bring him back here. Now quit fighting and eat your dinner." I said glaring at the three idiots.

"Yes ma'am" Xander smiled going back to eating.

"So how did the mission go?" Logan asked shifting the topic.

"It went well. Kenji owes me everything he owns." I smiled.

"I didn't say everything I own. Besides if you too weren't being a bunch of prudes I would have won that bet." He huffed. Xander and I laughed and slowly conversation continued. Carlton was too focused on his plate to contribute and Gabe looked upset.