HUNTED-Chapter 331: Unity

After ’resting’ with Damon in bed, Aila had another shower; with the help of her mate washing and massaging her, she was dressed once again in something more appropriate for the Alpha King and Queen of the South. It wasn’t a ceremony or anything, and she does remember their time together growing up when Aila would be muddy from playing with Damon in the woods.

But they were adults now, and she’d made a mess of things from her coronation. She felt a little nervous after all the packs came to her rescue the week before. They may believe her to be inadequate for the Alpha Queen of the North.

Aila knew from Lillian’s personality that she would never fault her. Damon’s mother was so kind and caring it was strange sometimes to see her with someone like Alpha Magnus, who was well-feared and respected. She remembered how strict he was on Damon growing up because of their positions, and so she felt a great deal of pressure seeing them again.

"Relax, you look strong and beautiful." Damon kissed the side of her cheek, smiling at her reflection in the mirror where she had been staring at herself in trepidation.

Aila’s hair was pulled back in a half-up hairstyle, the sides slightly braided and the rest falling past her shoulders. She didn’t go too formal but neither too casual either with her attire. Instead of her usual black, this time she wore white. Even though it had been slightly forced on her by Cassius, she had somehow been compelled to like it.

It went with her hair. In white, high-waisted flared trousers with golden buttons at her waist, and a black, skin-tight rollneck with some light pink lipstick on and mascara, she looked more put together. She was about to put some heels on, but Damon stopped her, and she sat on the bed.

He kneeled before her and kissed her ankle, his hands massaging her feet slightly. "I’m not wearing shoes."

"You’re also not dressed," Aila pointed out, looking hungrily at her Alpha in only his boxers, revealing those taut muscles she loved so much.

"Come on, they aren’t going to berate you. We’re in our home as well." Damon kissed her ankle again and trailed a few more kisses on the top of her foot before releasing her and going to throw on some clothes.

Looking more presentable, both barefoot, which apparently was going to be their thing now, they made their way down the stairs. Damon was in jeans and a shirt, a few buttons were undone, and his dishevelled hair was still slightly damp. It made her want to jump him again, but her sore thighs needed a little rest. For a few hours, anyway.

Finn and Ajax were the first to greet them. The shapeshifter skipped up to them and bowed extravagantly. "Damon.. Luna Aila," he commented with a smirk, grinning more broadly when Damon growled at Ajax’s choice to disregard the Alpha King’s title.

But it seemed a lot had happened in her time away that Damon did not try and hit him or do something violently similar to the shapeshifter. Finn, on the other hand, remained the same and grabbed Ajax by the ear and dragged him away.

"Ow, ow, ow! Finn stoop, I don’t like this sort of rough play!" Ajax whined, making Aila cover her giggle with a cough.

"Show some respect. Alpha King Magnus and Alpha Queen Lillian are coming through the gates now." Finn clipped him behind the head and pushed him to the side, giving him a warning look.

"Enough," Damon commanded. "Ajax, I will make sure our Gamma is on night shifts if you are too disrespectful at dinner."

Aila didn’t think they’d have the pack leaders with them to dinner, but she didn’t mind. Having others like Ajax, who wasn’t really a pack leader, but was Gamma Chiara’s partner, would lighten the mood if ever it became a little stifling. "Where are the others?" Aila asked, looking for the Gamma, Beta and their significant others, plus their other guests and her parents.

"Outside, Luna," Finn replied, and she nodded, realising they were waiting for them to accept Damon’s parents.

"Let’s go," Damon announced, sliding his fingers between hers as they walked across the foyer. The doors opened from outside, and two servants opened them.

The floor had a silver carpet elongated down the stairs and to where a black SUV arrived. The surrounding lights of the estate shone across the mansion and lighting paths to the woods and down the various roads to the other houses for pack members. There were the usual warriors lined up in a row and pack leaders closest to Aila and Damon as they walked down a few steps.

Her parents also stood to the side, watching Magnus and Lillian’s arrival. It was quite formal, really, but they hadn’t spent much time together since she was young and the coronation. Hopefully, the next time they visit, it will be a little more relaxed.

Sure, they’d still have their guards lined up, and Damon and Aila would greet them, but maybe they could all breathe a little easier. Magnus was the first to step out of the car. He rounded it and opened the door for his Queen, Lillian. Hand in hand, they walked up the aisle until they were before Aila and Damon.

Magnus and Damon shook hands stiffly, sharing a look before the Southern Alpha King beamed at Aila, his hard exterior seeming to melt as he pulled her into a friendly hug. "Aila! It’s fantastic to see you are well."

Aila patted his broad back, a little taken back by the hug, but she felt a little more comfortable by it.

"I was not expecting such a reception, son," Lillian smiled gently, hugging him, before taking Aila’s hands. "Aila, I am so glad you are safe. It must have been traumatising for you. I understand your need to hunt down those who wronged you as well."

Lillian was speaking about the little note Aila left behind for the hunters, the one she was rather embarrassed about now. "Things seem to be changing in regards to that."

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

"Shall we go inside?" Damon suggested this before they discussed it further.

"Mum, dad," Aila held her hand out towards them, and they stepped forwards, baring their necks to Magnus and Lillian before the Alpha King and Queen greeted them just as comfortably with Aila and Damon. Hugging and catching up about topics they’d been texting each other about.

Aila watched them, walking behind them as Damon led them to the dining room. It was all very normal. The nerves she felt before shrivelled up, and her shoulders relaxed. She still would have dressed up a bit for them, though. The pair still arrived looking fancy and elegant.

Alpha Magnus was suited without a tie, his streaky black hair styled back, and his mate, Lillian, wore a cable knit dress and heels, revealing her long legs. They all entered the dining room, and Aila couldn’t help but smile at the new and old faces at their table.

The usual were Beta Kane, Nairi, Gamma Chiara and Ajax, Delta Finn, without Darren this time, he still needed to earn his place, Mandy and Andy, with Alpha Magnus at the other head of the table opposite Damon, and Luna Lillian sitting to his right. Esme and Harry also joined them, surprising Magnus and Lillian, but they did not complain.

The meal was dished out, and the comfortable conversation kept the room cheerful. Even Gamma Chiara and Esme conversed, both discussing tactics of fighting. Chiara seemed intrigued by Esme’s style. Ajax annoyed Kane in his typical manner while her parents and Damon’s parents chatted away.

Once their plates were taken away, champagne flutes were handed out, making Aila tilt her head at the drink. Were they celebrating something?

"There was something we wanted to discuss, and although we would have preferred speaking privately, we had already spoken to Damon about it. We are also among friends and with those you seem to trust the most," Magnus spoke as he stood at the other end of the table.

He looked at Lillian, who smiled and nodded her head. Aila’s curiosity had her leaning forwards, her finger almost tapping on the stem of the champagne glass.

"We initially wanted to surprise you at your coronation. But among close friends, I think this may even be better before announcing it to others.." Magnus continued.

Aila looked at Damon, and he took her hand, squeezing gently. She could feel the nervous trepidation and excitement about what was to come. Still, Aila was not expecting the next words to leave his father’s lips.

"Lillian and I decided to step down as Alpha King and Queen of the South." There was a sharp intake of breath from those seeming to watch on the sidelines. Their widened eyes flicked between Magnus to Damon and Aila.

"It was always going to pass down to Damon, but circumstances changed our plans. Still, the Moon Goddess blessed us with this reunion." Magnus raised his flute in the direction of Damon and Aila. "The North and South should be ruled by only one King and Queen, and it seems now more than ever, Damon and Aila deserve to rule and move our packs into the future."

Aila’s mouth dropped open, and she looked at Damon. "You knew about this?" She mind-linked him in disbelief.

"A lot happened. I kind of forgot about it." Damon shrugged it off.

"Something as big as this!?"

"I hope this does not displease you, Aila?" Lillian spoke from Magnus’ side; her hand was in his now. She seemed to sense Aila’s uneasiness or that she was mind-linking with Damon.

Aila cleared her throat. "No, of course not! I am just surprised! Are you sure?" She asked, her voice uncertain.

Why did everyone believe she was taking everyone towards a better future? That was a lot of pressure. First Aldric and now Damon’s parents.

"Of course we are. It is a big responsibility; we would not throw away people’s safety and happiness just because we wish to retire. We know you are both ready. Will you accept?" Magnus asked, but Aila already knew it was not a question. He was passing it down to them, expecting them to accept.

How could she ever say no anyway? Their pack and the title of Alpha King were always meant to be passed down to Damon for the southern territories. It made sense to join the north and south.

Aila looked at Damon and then answered clearly, "of course we do."

"Then, to the next generation.. Alpha King Damon and Alpha Queen Aila, uniting the north and south." Everyone raised their glasses, toasting Damon and Aila.