Three months had passed from the day of Aila and Damon’s second wedding, and they were still in a blissful state. Though there were still ups and downs due to the new laws, and humans still recovering over the fact that supernatural creatures or ’supes’ they were beginning to call them were real.
The ’Wedding of the Century’ had blown up so much, and occasionally they would still bring it up in the news.
After speaking to Timmy at her wedding, TimmyTalks progressed to having his own talk show/news that was ant for the younger ’hip’ generations. The sound of his voice was talking in the background on the tv screen as Aila ate so pancakes after a morning workout. She was still in her sports bra and leggings when a letter magically landed in front of her plate.
Magically because it just ’poofed’ into thin air. Aila’s phone then rang, and the caller ID made her nod in understanding.
"Good morning dear, I hope it’s not too early-"
"You knew I’d already be up," Aila smirked as she reached for the letter. Besides the morning training and her schedule, Mandy knew how little she needed to sleep now. "What’s this?"
Aila was already opening it with one clawed finger. Her eyebrows rose at the university badge. After everything, she’d forgotten all about this.
"It ca for you yesterday. I thought you might want to attend.. Whether it is for publicity or not.. you should still attend your graduation."
**
"This wasn’t a good idea," Aila muttered in a mind-link, feeling the nerves in her stomach. Since her wedding, she’d rarely been out of the estate, or if she did, there were many guards, including Finn. Altogether with the Delta, there were eight of them.
That was without her little entourage of those who wanted to co and support her. Normally the university would not allow more than two seats reserved for each student, but because of who she was and the rising fa that ca with it, Aila was allowed to have as many seats as she liked. She did state, though, they could sit at the back because of their sight and hearing.
"Of course it is," Damon replied. "You can’t NOT go to your graduation."
He slung his arm over her shoulders, giving her a comforting squeeze. They were currently in their SUV, the sa SUV that the others followed and led her in. Full of her entourage and security. Aila gulped as she looked outside.
"It’s like the red carpet or sothing," she whispered, wanting to stay in hiding in the back of the car. Graduation was already exciting and nerve-wracking without paparazzi and what looked to be fans.
Damon’s eyes followed Ailas over her shoulder. Many were there with their phones and caras, notepads, and so had signs holding up the usual:
’We love you, Aila Cross!’
And other signs with similar slogans but towards the ’handso six’. That’s right, the ’supes’ attending W.S.H.O. etings and the wedding have fans and fan clubs, or so she’d seen on so social dia apps.
The handso six were Gabriel, Ajax, Einar, Chase, Finn and her Damon. They were nuts about them. Aila had seen so of the ssages Finn had received. It was mad!
But hey, who wouldn’t love them? Their personalities and their looks had them going wild.
"Aila!"
"Queen Aila!"
"Damon, Aila!"
Paparazzi and fans alike were calling their nas.
Aila glanced at Damon. "Let’s get this over with."
Damon shook his head and grasped her hand when she readied herself to get out. "Aila.. it’s your graduation day. Enjoy it, you won’t get another.. Well.. Unless you plan on doing a master’s or sothing."
Aila nodded, smiling gently when he kissed the side of her head before she inhaled deeply and let out a slow breath. "Finn, I’m ready," Aila mind-linked her Delta.
The door was pulled open for her, and she accepted Finn’s extended hand. The mont her heels were out, and she was stepping down from the SUV, the caras were flashing. Aila never expected to be this celebrity when Cassius blew the hidden secret of their existence.
She really believed it would turn into a witch hunt. But it was still too soon to confirm if the hunt was still off. Nobody had found the leaders of the ’Order’, which was now sothing else to worry about on top of being in charge of more than a handful of packs.
"Co on, angel." Damon leaned into her ear, his hand on her lower back. "You’re not working today."
The action had the paparazzi and fans going wild with more cara flashes. Aila smiled for the cara once, then moved away with her hubby and mate. "That’s what you think," she murmured back, indicating through the bond smiling for the paps and attending her graduation ceremony was more like another chore.
Damon shook his head and continued to lead her the way. Unlike normal students who were following signs and chatting away with each other, and taking photos with their families and friends, the university assigned them a personalised guide.
Finn had also arranged an area at the park she used to chill in around the corner from the university to be set aside for them to take photos away from everything.
But first, she followed Rhonda, who remained professional throughout the exchange. By the end of it, Damon, Aila and her parents had the university’s professional photographer take so photos in front of a screen and a fake scroll. Aila wore her graduation cap and cape, whilst underneath, she wore a silvery-blue midi dress that went well with the navy graduation attire.
More photos were taken outside, where the sun shone down on them beautifully. This ti with their own phones, the family and her friends all took turns to have photos and had a group shot. Only one person had to sneak into the photo shoot and stand to the side with a black parasol- Gabriel.
They all mocked him for it. The parasol made him look overbearing and dramatic, but Aila was pleased Gabriel turned up for the photos outside. The vampire was one of only a few who could walk outside during the dayti. But he smartly took precautions in case any of the paparazzi found him and for the photos.
If any guests of unwanted visitors found these photos, they would assu he was blocking himself from the sun, whereas if he remained in the daylight, it would reveal more about his strengths. Either way, the mini photoshoot was full of laughter and bright smiles. Aila found the entire thing surreal.
She looked up at the buildings, the cathedral connected to the university buildings, walked past the library and gazed upon study areas. This was a part of her life before she beca a werewolf, an Alpha Queen and then fully a hybrid. She’d studied so hard to beco a vet, imagining one day opening her own clinic.
Aila smiled and caught Damon’s gaze on her. She looked at him, and her eyebrows pinched together when he didn’t look away. "What?" She bit her lip gently, trying not to giggle from her puzzlent at her mate watching her.
The bond was full of pride and sothing else. The more Aila tried to grasp what it was, the more it slipped away.
"I rember the first ti I saw you walking along these gardens," Damon said slowly, his gaze moving from her face to the bright grass, benches and fountains, and he returned to look at her.
"Huh?" Aila stopped. They were taking a stroll back to the venue where the ceremony would take place. So far, the paparazzi had been kept away from them by Finn’s warriors. So they’d been enjoying these quiet monts alone before Aila would be separated and part of the crowd of students.
Aila was secretly looking forward to that part. If they didn’t look at her strangely, that was.
Aila faced her mate, more than confused now. "I.. have a confession to make," Damon announced to her, clearing his throat.
A confession? What sort of a confession? Her expression must have given away her questions because he didn’t wait long to explain. "I was following you for a ti.. Protecting you really.. Hmm, until the hunters found you."
Aila’s mouth fell open at his confession. "That’s called stalking, Dam Dam. You were.. stalking ?" It shouldn’t have shocked her so much, but for so reason, it did. "How much did you see!?"
She rembered her ex-boyfriend before Damon and worried for a mont there. Damon nodded with a slight grimace. "I saw your asshole of an ex."
"And you.. knew about the mate bond?" Aila asked, eyebrows still raised.
Damon nodded, his eyes darkening for a mont. Aila’s shoulders sagged as she looked at him with pity. "I’m sorry.. If I knew anything about this world.. about things.. I would never have been dating jerks.
I would have been waiting for you."
Aila reached up and caressed his jaw. He leaned into her palm before kissing her skin softly. "I know. We’re together now. That’s all that matters. I thought it was also about ti I told you," he shrugged with a small smile playing on his lips, his gaze moving to their surroundings again like he was also nostalgic.
Nostalgic of his stalking days. If Aila didn’t understand his reasoning or was mixed up in this world, she would think he was a lunatic! With a joking tsk, she bumped her hip into his side. "You thought it was about ti because I am now your wife, and you can get away with being a little.. strange."
Damon grinned, his hand going to hers, finger playing with her wedding band and engagent ring. "That I did, wife. You can’t ever run away from
now."
Aila giggled at that and the way he purposely put on a villainous voice.
"Co on, we don’t want to miss the ceremony." Damon slid his fingers through hers and started leading the way; his strides were long and powerful. If anyone didn’t know who he was, they only needed to look at him once and understand he was soone very powerful.
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