Upped the ante!

Daniel Grey's POV.

The next day, I woke up in a pool of sweat, realizing I had forgotten to turn on the air conditioning last night, and it was no longer early morning. The sun was already scorching hot, peeking through my window, which caused my room to heat up.

I grabbed my phone and glanced at it frantically.

Yup, it's already eleven thirty am, and I am late to visit Aubrianne. I must've been more tired than I thought, but then again, that's no excuse.

I am sure dear old dad is up and has already had a couple of meetings for the day. I sighed, got up, and headed to the bathroom. I desperately needed a shower. My appearance was as if I had gone out for a run.

I brushed my teeth, then took my sweet time having a shower as I scrubbed and rinsed. Then I dried and changed into slim-fitting black jeans, a white T-shirt, and a denim jacket.

I had to make a stop to see my sister back at dad's. I wanted to invite her to meet Aurbianne. I ran my fingers through my hair, sprayed on some cologne, put on my watch, and I went out the door after grabbing my wallet and keys.

I honestly did not want to mention anything about Aubrianne in front of Jenna. Only because I thought that if she got the slightest whiff that I may have intentions to mate with someone who was not my fated mate, she may just up her antics.

But then again, she upped the ante last night, and I did not talk about Aubrianne. Goddess, I don't want to imagine what it would have been like had she known.

Then, I may have had to physically throw her out.

Arriving at my dad's minutes later, I strolled right in, calling out to my sister, "Daniela," I hollered, "where you at?"

"In the kitchen," she called, sounding like she had just woken up after a night of clubbing.

Stepping over the threshold into the kitchen, I headed straight to her. Yip looks like she just woke up, and she was out.

She was preparing her morning coffee.

Greeting and hugging her, I asked, "Did you go out last night?"

Smiling sheepishly, eyes full of mischief, she says, "Yea, you bet I did."

"With who might I ask?" I enquired because Jenna had left her some time to come by me. Was it someone else? Nah, I just wanted to mind her business.

"With Jenna, of course," she sipped her coffee. Lifting an eyebrow, I asked, "really?"

Of course, now, my inquisitiveness is at an all-time high. I was wondering if my sister is hiding a new beau?

Though I did not sense a lie.

Lifting an eyebrow at me, she said, "Yes, Jenna... she had left for the night, but then she came back suddenly in the mood to drink and party." Daniela explained, rolling her eyes.

Then she adds, "And you know I am always up for a good time IF I am not studying."

Ahh, this sounds like it could be authentic. I assumed my little sis was trying to pull one over on me.

"What's it to you anyway?" She enquires, lifting an eyebrow.

"Thought my baby sis met a beau," I answered teasingly.

"That's all." I finished, my hands in surrender.

Rolling her eyes, she says, "Shut up, Daniel. It was not with a beau ok, though I met a few last night." She winks.

"Ew," I made a sound of disgust jokingly.

Annoyed, she sternly said, "Get your head out of the gutter." Then she shook her head.

"Ok, Ok, geez, I get it." I was losing focus now. Time to get back on track as to why I came here.

I then told her my plans for the day, which were basically brunch and a tour.

She turned her nose up at the tour and said, "borriinnggg, I will have brunch, then I am off to the mall. When you are all ready to go shopping, I am in." She took a sip of her coffee and hopped onto a stool.

I smiled, I already knew she would have opted out of the tour, but at least she would get to meet Aubrianne at brunch.

"Ok, great, so get dressed and meet us at Gloria's. I am heading over to Aubrianne's."

Reaching out, I ruffle her hair as I head out...

"Woaw, woaw, woaw, not so fast, Mr.!" Daniela quickly rests down her second cup of coffee, slightly spilling in her haste, "Ouch," she mutters.

She hops off the stool and grabs my hand before I can completely turn away and escape.

Eyes sparkling with mischief, curiosity, and too much interest in my life, she asks as she sits back on a stool, leans her elbow on the counter, and rests her palm upright under her chin, propping her head. "What was that about last night?"

"What?" I feigned ignorance, eyes narrowed in question, eyebrows creasing, and my face held a blank expression giving nothing else away.

She rolls her eyes, "I know you, Daniel. You know exactly what I am talking about, don't play coy with me." Her hand, now on her waist, and her expression told me she was not buying what I was selling.

But I held on to my pretense, "no, actually, I don't know. Please enlighten me." Still hoping it was not what I thought it was about.

Sliding off her stool, she wags a finger at me, then pokes me, "Fine! The unsolicited advice, where did it come from?" My eyebrows still creased as she continued, "last night when you told me to wait on my mate."

Her eyes never left me, watching my every move and expression, waiting for the moment I give something up.

"Oh, that." I feigned realization.

"Yes, THAT." She sassed.

"Look, yesterday was just a tough day, and I thought I would meet my mate. As it turns out, I was wrong, and honestly, I don't want to talk about it. OK, so stop pressing me for info."

Still not telling her that I am actually thinking of not waiting for my mate.

"Oh, so sorry, Daniel," she reached out and squeezed my shoulders, "you will meet her one day."

"I hope so…."

"Wanna tell me what happened exactly," Daniela looked concerned about me now. She had that caring little sister expression going on.

I sighed, "No, I said I didn't want to talk about it, so drop it, ok?" I then grabbed her and pulled her in for a hug. I know she just cares about me.

"Wait, is this about Aubrianne?" She eagerly asks against my chest.

"Hey, go get dressed, and I will see you at Gloria's, ok?" I said, ignoring her.

"Yes, it has to be her," she pulls away, looking up at me.

"Goodbye, sis, go get ready," I said as I turned and walked away, going over to Aubrianne's.

**********************************************************

48 hours earlier...

Somewhere, in one of the United Nations of TL.

Unknown POV.

"Boss, we could not get to her… at least without drawing attention to ourselves," I heard Roger say on the other side of the line.

"What about the cemetery? You said you followed her there?" I asked. Surely she was alone, for her visiting the cemetery the evening before she left. It must have been someone important to her.

"Yes, boss, but… we still couldn't get to her because apart from that mutt and that witch who was with her, there was a hunter on their trail too. Imagine that he was also watching her from afar, following them everywhere they went," Roger said.

Interesting, I thought, straightening up in my chair, as Roger went on, "luckily, we spotted him before he saw us trailing her boss. Trust me, it was too risky. We lost him eventually as well. He was good boss, but we were able to identify him. His name is Ron Mill..."

"Are you absolutely certain he was following her? After all, a mutt and a witch were there also. It could've been either of them," I cut him off.

"Seemed like it was her, at least to us, because he was watching her at the cemetery when she was alone,..but boss, we also learned that he hadn't been active in years in that capacity either. What should we do, boss?.... Roger says and asks all in one swoop.

After a long pause as I took in all the information and wondered IF it was about her, what would a hunter want with her? What does he know about her?

"Track down this, Ron, whatever..."

"Miller boss."

"Miller and keep him in your sights, figure out who he is really watching, and if it's her, well, that will be in our favor… he might just lead us to her".

I just have a feeling...