Chapter 9
Wedding
***
Content Warning: This chapter might contain violence, abuse, crime, or triggering factors that may be harmful, disturbing, or traumatizing to some. Reader’s discretion is advised. Thank you.
***
In the forest, the eerie silence was being broken by a loud and fierce growl from a hurt animal. The owls’ hooting suddenly stopped afraid that they might disturb the creepiness growing around the place.
“You are not going to get away with this! You skank! I swear they will know who you are eventually!” A man furiously screamed as blood flowed into the corner of his lips.
Behind his eerie black mask, a man wearing all-black jeans and shirt with a hooded long cape smirked.
“Just try. I have already eradicated half of all the packs in here. No one will come my way, especially since I already handled the group.” He plainly stated using his low and cold voice.
He saw how the dying man in front of him suddenly looked so worried and scared.
The man in his mask let out a loud bark of laughter.
He was suddenly amused by how the dying man tried so hard to pretend that he was strong enough to stand in front of him.
‘What a fool…” He mentally thought.
“Don’t make me laugh, you idiot. I already saw the second heir of the Moon Howlers Pack the pack that you’ve been hoping would rescue you. They are just a bunch of rascals.” He playfully continued.
“I will surely see to it that I give him a warm welcome once he comes back. Besides, he still owes me.” He told him ominously before nodding his men signaling them to finally take the poor man’s last breath.
“But for now, I welcome you to hell, my old friend.” He uttered under his breath as he continued walking towards his devilish carriage.
Meanwhile, a loud chatter and joyous songs filled the air in the vast grounds of the Moon Howlers Pack.
Hunter coldly looked around as he arrived just on time.
“Hunter? Oh, thank God, you’re here! I’ve been looking all over the place for you! I thought you would just ditch this very important event!” Hera Black, his mother, worriedly said before giving him a tight hug.
He swallowed hard as he felt a familiar warmth tugging at his heart. His mother could only give him that kind of feeling which he had been longing for the moment he decided to step out of the pack’s territory.
“Stop creating a scene, Hera. The wedding is about to start.” Hudson Black, his father, coldly stated as he darted his deep ocean blue eyes resembling his into him.
Like the other days he had with him, he had this unreadable expression plastered in his face again. His mother grimaced as she gave his father a warning look which the latter just shrugged off.
“Good thing that you’re here. I’ll have a word with you later. Come to the house.” Hudson seriously ordered, while her mother just scoffed inaudibly at his side.
Hunter simply nodded his head.
He knew that kind of tone, that he was a mess and would still be one, and it was the least of the things that he needed right now. He knew that he would be scolding him again.
What else would it be, anyway?
There’s nothing new with this.
If he could bring back the time, he would be visiting the pack before the wedding so he could split the earful of litanies that his father would be throwing at him.
But who was he kidding?
He honestly didn’t want that to happen. He had chosen this day. And he couldn’t surely arrive before or after this day. So, the agony, embarrassment, belittlement, as well as the melancholic emotion that was slowly succumbing him right now would be over at once.
Hunter saw Hector walking towards him, but he chose to walk away from the crowd. He went towards his rightful place away from his brother.
Hector stopped in his tracks and let out a deep sigh before walking towards where their parents were.
Then, a mellow and familiar slow love song filled the air. His heart skipped a beat before it turned wilder like it wanted to explode inside his chest. Everyone clapped their hands, but his eyes were glued only to the woman that they all are staring at.
She was undeniably the most beautiful woman in the place as she walked towards the aisle with her simple princess cut white dress that only reached just below her knees. She was all smiles as her rosy cheeks turned a bit brighter this time radiating the happiness she was feeling. Her straight black hair was braided with a veil clipped into it. She was a totally gorgeous bride.
Hunter swallowed hard as he felt his heart clench in pain as the woman held someone’s hands.
For fate had already dictated its own way of running their lives, and his was just a part of that woman’s life.
Even though, she had occupied almost half of his heart in return, he knew that he couldn’t force his love for her.
He wanted to turn his gaze away, but he couldn’t. He must be a masochist adding salt to a fresh wound for doing such things to himself.
As he watched the woman he ever loved dearly, Myrtle Blinch, marry his brother today.
Who was he to interfere with her happiness anyway?
He was her best friend, and he was his brother.
How could he possibly stop the happiness of the two people he cared about?
He might have a huge gap with Hector, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t care about him.
Hunter knew that it wasn’t his fault that everyone was labeling him as his shadow. It was his own choice to stay away even that meant alienating himself from his brother.
And he needed time for himself. Deep inside, he wanted to prove something. And he also wanted to stay away to stop himself from being a selfish man, sometimes thinking that he could take away the woman he loved dearly.
Being there right now was just a condition that Myrtle asked her to proving that he had finally given his blessing to marrying his brother.
Everyone cheered as the joyous claps filled the air except for him.
Meanwhile, Leila bit her lower lip as she excitedly went towards Butler Henry who was worriedly staring at the huge window.
He had been like that since she arrived, and she didn’t know why.
Now, she had finally had the courage to talk to him.
“Uhm, Butler Henry, may I ask where Hun- I mean Master Hunter is? Did he eat the tart that I baked for him yesterday?” She eagerly inquired.
Butler Henry, on the other hand, may have been distracted and lost in his own thoughts, as he did not respond to her questions.
Her forehead creased.
This is the very first time that she has seen him this way.
“Uhm, hello?” She repeatedly called his attention in her sing-song voice causing the butler looked at her coldly.
Shivers ran down her spine.
‘Okay, that is so scary, Leila…’ She pondered mentally.
“Just cook something that you want Miss Leila. Master Hunter go home for the wedding.” He seriously stated before walking away from her leaving her mouth dropped open.
Leila blinked her eyes a few times absorbing the words that the butler told her.
“What wedding?” She muttered innocently before his eyes widened with her own realization.
“What the- Hunter’s wedding?”
Then, she felt like her heart sank because of the news.