"Over here!" She yelled. Seconds later a familiar face appeared over her.
"Found!" He bellowed. "Are you hurt?"
"Fucker punched me. I'm really starting to hate his invisible ass." She struggled to sit up. He offered her a hand and helped her lean against the tree. Aiden burst through the tree line and didn't stop until he was at her side.
"Has she been stabbed?" His hands pulled at her clothing trying to inspect every inch of her.
"No sir, she said that she was punched."
"Thank you Sascha. Take Gamma and find this fucker." Aiden ordered.
"He's bleeding. I bit him." Meryn told the tall Nordic looking warrior with the white blond hair. His icy blue eyes held admiration. He nodded.
"Good work, that will make it easier." He turned to the two men that had arrived after Aiden.
"Christoff you're up. He's bleeding, you're on point for tracking." The dark haired man nodded. He walked over to Meryn and sniffed her jacket that now sported blood splatter.
"Oron you're with him. Report in every ten minutes." Sascha commanded.
"Yes, sir!" Both men took off.
"Aiden let's get her back to Alpha." Sascha suggested. Aiden lifted her gently.
They ran back and Meryn wanted to groan. Each jostle hurt her head. They ran past the obstacle course to where the other men had assembled by the house for orders.
"Ben I'm assigning you to Alpha for today. Help them keep Meryn safe. Quinn you're with me. We're going to ransack the archives. We're looking for an invisibility spell." Sascha and Quinn turned and started towards where the cars were parked.
"Sir, I'd like to assist Quinn and Sascha. I grew up helping my brother in the archives in Storm Keep. I know some of those volumes by heart." Keelan stepped forward. Aiden nodded.
"Go, do whatever it takes." Keelan nodded and ran to catch up with Quinn and Sascha.
"Aiden, we'll set up patrol around Alpha. Take Meryn upstairs and make sure she's okay." Ben gently pushed his older brother towards the door.
"Thank you Ben. Gavriel you're in charge." Aiden said.
"When you get hit do you go blind for a second?" Meryn looked out at the men and closed one eye then the other.
Colton smiled. "Sometimes. You took a punch huh? I knew you were a tough little shortie."
"I bit him too, serves him right for groping me." Meryn shuddered. Aiden's grip tightened.
"We'll be upstairs." He turned and walked into the house.
"I remember these stairs." Meryn laid her head on his chest.
"I must say this trip up is better than the last one."
"You had just bitten me too, if I remember, right over my kidney."
"You had me over your shoulder, that shit hurts. I felt like I was gonna puke."
"Duly noted." Aiden turned down a long hallway.
"It didn't seem so big last time." Meryn watched as Aiden turned down yet another long hallway.
"You were in a hurry last time. You had just brained me with my toilet. This is the Unit Commander wing." He stopped at a door and turned the handle.
"And this is my room." He stepped inside and turned on the light, she blinked. This felt like home. Everywhere she turned Aiden's personality was reflected in the small mementos that decorated the room. When she saw the large fish tank she began to squirm.
"Put me down, I wanna see Jaws." Aiden put her down gently and took her hand. He led her over to an aquarium that took up most of one wall.
"I had to reinforce the floor, but he's worth it." Aiden gently tapped the glass. Out of nowhere a bright orange fish darted forward.
"Meryn, Jaws. Jaws, my mate Meryn."
"He's adorable. He needs a girlfriend." Meryn watched the fish swim for a few more moments and tore her eyes away.
"The first thing I did when I assumed the position of Unit Commander was gut this suite and redecorate. Most of the barracks are decorated in shades of green and wood grain. I hate it. So I changed it to blue." Aiden motioned to the walls. Each wall was painted in a different shade of blue to accent the calming waters of the aquarium. The decorative accents and furniture were black with splashes of silver.
"I love it. Your room at your parent's house is so bland." She ran and jumped on the impossibly high four poster bed.
"Meryn, I don't live there, remember?" Aiden reminded her gently.
"Oh, yeah." Wincing, she rubbed the side of her face. Aiden climbed on the bed and pulled her close.
"Did he touch you?" His voice sounded strained.
She nodded. "It's okay. I'm with you now, that's all that matters."
"Let me see your eyes." Aiden turned her to face him. With his large hand, he blocked the light, then let it shine back on her face.