Chapter 75: Return of the Hunters

Aurora

After the incident in Wolfgang’s office, we spent the rest of the evening organizing the gathering for Sierra to finally find her mate.

When everything was almost ready, Mrs. Kala dismissed me.

Aspen and Emma dragged me into the house and up to the fourth floor to Wolfgang’s bedroom where there were rows and rows of beautiful gowns and dresses and a handful of hairstylists.

“Welcome, Luna Aurora,” a beautiful lady in a heavy Italian accent greeted me. “My name is Renata Materazzo. We are here to assist you in getting ready for the gathering.”

She seemed to be in her late thirties. The women who stood behind her all bowed in respect.

“Um, what’s this all about?” I asked, shocked at everything. I recognized the lady who spoke as the owner of one of the most prestigious boutiques in town.

“The alpha called and requested we assist you, the female beta, and female gamma in getting ready for tonight’s soiree,” she said with a sweet smile.

“Assist? Wolfgang did this?” I couldn’t believe this. I had never in my life even gone to a salon to get my hair trimmed. Montana had been doing that since I was a kid. This was all new for me.

“Alpha Wolfgang wanted you to be pampered tonight. He said only the best for his mate,” Emma said as she guided me over to a chair that sat before a Hollywood-style dresser.

“Goddess, I wish Max takes a hint from him.”

“You guys knew about this?” I asked them dumbfounded.

“Course we did. Alpha had been nagging us via mind-link for the last three hours to make sure you were done in time and not lose the appointment,” Aspen chirped as she checked her brows.

“Where would you like us to begin, Luna?” Renata asked as she stood behind me, loosening the hair tie I had holding my ponytail.

“I don’t know. I haven’t even thought about getting all made up,” I sheepishly said, ashamed of never going to a salon or doing more girly things.

Sure, Emma has tried to get me into it, but I found no point in doing it when I knew it wouldn’t make much of a difference. I was always the wallflower of the pack.

“Well, for starters, we will do an elegant up-do, that way, you can show off that beautiful mark on your neck. As for make-up, I’m thinking of something soft, delicate… you are already very stunning Luna.”

The other women nodded in agreement, and I couldn’t help the blush that crept on my cheeks.

The only people who ever said I was beautiful were Emma and Montana, and yet, I never believed them.

But, hearing it come from someone who is used to seeing beautiful women come and go from her place, kind of made me feel good.

***

The night had finally fallen and the yard was lit up with beautiful fairy lights adorning numerous tables.

Soft music was playing in the background as the guests filled in and mingled around. At the center of it all, we had placed a semi-stage where alphas, betas, gammas and the elders would sit.

We were waiting at the foot of the stage, everyone with their mates with the exception of Sierra and me.

~‘Where is our mate?’~ Rhea asked as she paced impatiently. I was getting worried as well.

Why wasn’t he here? As the alpha, he should’ve been the first to arrive.

~‘I know, try mind-linking him,’~ she suggested.

Right, now that we’ve fully mated, I should be able to reach him.

~‘Wolfie? Where are you?’~ I asked through the link, seeking him out.

~‘Will be down in a sec babe. Got caught up with something,’~ he responded, and by the tone of his voice, it seemed like it was something serious.

~‘Everything okay?’~ I asked.

~‘It’s alright. I will be down soon,’~ he answered and cut the mind-link off.

~‘That seemed odd. Didn’t he seem off to you?’~ Rhea questioned.

He did really seem off. Who was he meeting with and what could be so important?

“Where’s Alpha Wolfgang?” Sierra asked. “Shouldn’t he be here already?”

“The alpha was held back because of the last-minute meeting but will be here shortly,” Remus said.

~‘You may start. I’ll be down shortly,’~ Wolfgang’s voice boomed in my head and I realized it was a command addressed to all of us.

I noticed Max and Remus’s eyes glaze over for a moment, which meant they were in a private conversation with him. When they were done, they both looked at me for a brief moment.

Remus cleared his throat. “Let us begin.”

As per usual, they all filed in starting with the elders.

Remus and Aspen entered closely after, then the gamma couple from the Night Walker pack followed them.

Then Max and Emma, as well as the beta couple from the visiting pack, Sierra, were the next to march in, leaving me alone, waiting for my name to be announced along with Wolfgang’s.

Nerves were raking me. I didn’t want to do this alone. I hated the idea of walking in and being the center of attention.

~‘I can’t do this Rhea. I should just go back inside,’~ I said to my wolf and made a U-turn and was about to make a run for it when I ran into a wall, only that this wall rumbled as it chuckled.

“And where do you think you’re running off to, Cinderella? The clock hasn’t struck twelve yet,” Wolfgang said as he gave me a quick embrace, tingles from the mate bond eliciting my body as he held me.

“Wolfgang,” I smiled, relieved. “I thought you weren’t gonna show.”

“Sorry babe. Was caught up with something. You look stunning,” he answered as he tucked a stray hair behind my ear and then bent to peck my lips.

I was almost distracted by this when I saw Eleanor standing at the back door, her arms crossed over her chest while she looked over us disapprovingly.

Why was she so agitated and angered about everything lately? I thought she wanted me to accept Wolfgang as my mate. Wait, were they together?

“Now entering, Alpha Wolfgang Fortier Gagliardi and our future Luna, Aurora Craton.” Our names were announced, and Wolfgang tugged me on the arm to follow him onto the stage.

I was so distracted with Eleanor that I had forgotten that I was about to face the entire pack as their future Luna for the first time.

Nerves took over me immediately as everyone cheered and clapped once my name was announced, and my legs felt like they’d give out any moment.

~‘Don’t go tripping now Rory,’~ Rhea giggled, making me cut my eyes off her.

~‘Easy for you to say, you’re not the one wearing heels and have to give the opening speech,’~ I deadpanned her, to which she just answered with a snort.

Yes. That’s correct.

As the Luna of the pack, I was expected to give the opening speech for tonight’s gathering, welcoming our guests.

It was a good thing Wolfgang held my hands, 'cause I was sure my legs were going to give out on me any moment now.

We stood in the center of the stage. Wolfgang looked so casual while I was sure that I looked like a fish out of the water, awkwardly shifting from one foot to another.

He gave me a light squeeze of the hand as he bent over and whispered in my ears.

“Relax Rory. You’ll do great,” he said before raising his hand to silence everyone. “Just take a deep breath and remember to use your command voice.”

I did as he said and took a huge gulp of breath.

~‘You got this Rors,’~ Rhea said before letting out her wolf aura.

“Good evening everyone. Welcome to tonight’s gathering. May tonight be blessed by the moon goddess grace and may Alpha Sierra find her mate within our pack.”

As soon as I finished giving my opening speech, an ominous gust of wind blew through the yard, and the once shining moon was blacked out by dark clouds which crackled with lightning and thunder.

Everyone screamed as they scampered to take shelter from the flying objects.

“Everyone, run inside the pack house. Now!” Wolfgang shouted as Remus and Max guided and helped the elderly and the pups inside.

I was about to aid them as well when Rhea stood tall on her legs, ears perked up and nose high sniffing the air.

~‘Aurora! Danger!’~ she shouted as the familiar scent hit my nose.

Suddenly, screams of horror and loud growls were heard from outside the packs' yards.

I turned to look at Wolfgang, and he was already looking at me, confirming my doubts. Humans were within our territory once more.

~‘They’ve come back!’~ Rhea shouted.

Without wasting time, I took off my heels and ran towards the sound of pack members screaming.

“Aurora don’t!” I heard Eleanor shout, but I didn’t stop. I had to protect my people.

I felt footsteps all around me and realized that Wolfgang, Max, Remus, and even Sierra were right behind me, followed by warriors from both packs.

We came to a skidding stop in the town square where we found Wendell and his brother, already waiting for us with an army of human hunters along with an alarming amount of witches.

Around laid pack members, warriors, women, elderly, and pups, dead before their feet.

I was trembling with outrage. I warned that bastard to never come back, but still, he did, and now I will show him no mercy.

END OF BOOK 2

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Editor's Note: We hope you loved Book 2 of Hated by My Mate!