HUNTED-Chapter 386: Its Showtime! (1)

Floodlights beamed on the gates of the Silver Crescent pack house, and cameras clicked and flashed as reporters who were not invited to the biggest wedding of the year gate crashed and tried to get access inside. Slipping inside was out of the question, though. The pack’s security was strong with supernatural eyesight and hearing, making it almost impossible to get past.

A helicopter flew over the grounds of Alpha King and Queen’s grounds, a light shining on them, with reporters inside. They were only granted access to video the ceremony from above and the pack house. Everything else was off-limits.

The pack’s security would be at risk otherwise, especially with most of the world watching this grand event. The weeks following up to Aila and Damon’s second wedding had been running through the media, with those questioning how the wedding would look, what the bride and groom would wear, and who was in attendance. It had been blown up into this huge event.

Newspapers and magazines covered parts of it, and this was before the day. Aila was nervous this time, not because of the ceremony but because there were going to be cameras and lights on them throughout it like some reality tv show. Some reporters and WatchTubers were already waiting in the aisles.

Those who filmed through their phones for WatchTube were only allowed to record once the cameras were set up for live tv hit recording. The coverage of the wedding so far was only recorded from the helicopter above ground.

Aila and Damon didn’t really care about this one so much. It was all a play at politics and showing the world that they were normal, living, breathing beings. After the ’Orders’ little stunt of trying to assassinate Aila, and recording it, backfired, more and more people were becoming intrigued by werewolves and those like Gabriel and Einar who attended the W.S.H.O meeting.

Though Aila believed that had something more to do with their looks, people were becoming fans. Aila had already noted the set-up of fake accounts on WatchTube. She actually had her own account now with the blue tick icon, confirming she was the ’real’ Alpha Queen Aila Cross. It was quite tiring, really, though she didn’t post much on there.

Now, in a different dress to her actual wedding day/ evening, Aila waited at the doorway to the packhouse.

The director, that’s right, the director had already gone through the rehearsal with her and Damon at least fifty times within the last week, changing the positioning of lights, and cameras, making sure the fairy lights and beautiful gleam of the lake in the background would pop out properly for the audience.

Those in attendance must find it strange. The Alphas attending did anyway. Others, like the President and other political figures, were familiar with the cameras and set-up.

Aila heard the director’s call and the sound of a trumpet, indicating the broadcasting was now live. On the tv screens, tablets, screens and phones worldwide revealed the same recording. The camera slowly zoomed out from the double doors of the packhouse, revealing two near rows of large ferocious-looking wolves.

Werewolves.

The Alpha Queen’s guards. The camera stopped slightly afar from a wolf standing alone in front of the others, facing the camera. The leader of the Alpha Queen’s guards.

In a quiet, professional voice, a presenter spoke to the audience.

"These are some of the Alpha Queen’s warriors, and there at the front is the ’Delta’ of the pack. We cannot confirm if this position within the werewolf kind is the same in every pack or just the Silver Crescent, but for Queen Aila, he or she holding the position is the Queen’s personal guard, in charge of those protecting her."

The camera zoomed out slightly, revealing more of the pack house and how the lights lit up its grandeur, the trumpet men on either side of the double doors, standing in navy uniforms, remaining professional but somewhat nervous with the twelve overgrown wolves standing in neat lines.

"The Queen’s personal guard is Delta Finn, who was videoed in the recent attack against the King and Queen."

The doors swung open, revealing the first of Aila’s bridesmaids, a woman in a dark green dress, her wavy hair pinned up in a messy bun. The camera zoomed out again before the wolves started to march together in time to each other’s paws, heads facing forward. Those viewing the scene on their screens were then shown other werewolves in their wolf forms guarding Aila from afar.

Unlike those leading the small party, these werewolves did move their heads and bodies, scanning the area for any threats. The camera zoomed in again, the screen showing a close-up of each werewolf as the camera moved in between the row and passed the bridesmaids to stop before the bride.

The Alpha Queen was radiant. Her bright white hair, many had marvelled about in the media, was left in an elegant half-up hairstyle, the rest flowing down her back. Her white gown was slim, figure-hugging even to the knees, the lace stopping below her collarbone revealing her mate and Queen marks.

At the shoulders were crystal beads like a cape looped together, with a chiffon-like material draping behind her back and falling in line with the long train behind her.

"Alright, its showtime," Aila murmured to herself. Malia quietly lent her some strength.

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Aila straightened her shoulders, feeling the light glow against her skin as she stared directly at the camera, a small smile on her lips. Practised and contained. The first few times from rehearsal had her lips twitching from the amount she had to smile. It seems all that practice strengthened her facial muscles because now she smiled without feeling like a crazy person twitching.

That still didn’t make any of this any less weird. Aila felt like an actress playing dress up, even though she was comfortable with those around her. The nerves she felt on the first day of rehearsal had diminished quickly, and she was confident with how everything else was being played out.

Unlike her first wedding, Mandy and Andy did not accompany her to the aisle. They didn’t want to be filmed so closely, which was close and personal; it was understandable, and they had already walked her down the real ceremony. Aila was the ’main character’ of the show, the highlight and making her an easy target to those despising werewolves or who did not wish for her to be in charge.

It was too early yet to know her political enemies, though.

Stepping outside elegantly like she’d practised many times before, she followed her bridesmaids, noting how Esme cringed slightly at the camera revealing her features. Aila knew the she-wolf preferred her privacy, which included people unaware of her name and features in some circumstances, but she needed to get used to it.

Esme was by Gabriel’s side, and he drew a lot of attention to himself from looks alone. Gabriel was eye candy to many fan girls, and the paps couldn’t take enough photos of him. Being a king and part of the W.S.H.O. brought even more attention to himself. It wouldn’t take long for hearts to break across the globe after finding out Gabriel was not single.

This time instead of the grass, Aila walked across thin, saucer-like log stepping stones. This way, her heels would not get ruined by the grass and mud, and the bottom of her dress would not get muddy, especially with the long train.

"Oh, how marvellous. I hope there will be no issues with the train of Queen Aila’s dress on those logs," the commentator continued in her low, professional voice that seemed quite soothing for the audience and incited them to continue watching.

Though many were struck by the entire process, the nighttime wedding made the woods look eery yet fantastical with all the glowing lights leading the way to the aisle. It was a perfect time as well for most audiences, and it was only going to be for a two-hour period.

First to show the ceremony and then part of the dinner. The second part was to show who was in attendance at the wedding.