King David's point of view
My expression was resolute as I watched Alpha Ryder's face marked with Layla's fingerprints. I stood gallantly in front of them, ready to face their wrath. Ryder was still in his human form, but his men had already shifted.
All his wolves led by Jax charged forward every second; each step they take gets them closer to us; we are ready but outnumbered. I looked back to see Layla when suddenly they all raced at us simultaneously.
"Bang!"
Inspector Asher's gun roared in the air, and they all stopped. Asher had loaded his gun with bullets made by holy water and silver, and if it happens to hit any of them, they might end up dead or remain cripples forever.
Meanwhile, Alpha Ryder linked his mind with theirs, and he was able to control all of them. Then they gradually changed back to human form as they walked back to their spot in displeasure, but all their eyes were still fixed on us like a hunter gazing at his prey.
"What an insolence of the highest order. You dare raise that dirty hand and slap me; you disrespect in front of my packs. I have never been this humiliated before in my entire life as an Alpha. Look here. I beat my chest that none of my mates—oh, my moon goddess—had been able to grow wings that could be so huge enough to give them confidence to raise their hands and not talk of slapping me. Just know this; you both will pay for this; I promise you will pay with your lives." He mumbled in anger.
The atmosphere became disturbed by his sudden anger, but either Layla or I was worried; the confidence was plastered on our faces as he spoke.
"I'm so happy you said that, Alpha Ryder.Now I see the kind of true leader you are; you converted all your mates to your servants instead of your lover. I pity those that got marked by y you. Anyways I'm not bothered or surprised. I don't expect anything less from a close friend of Alpha Karl to have a good home."Layla muttered, her voice barely above whisper.
"Queen Sheila, Watch your mouth." Alpha Ryder said harshly.
"Yes, show me your friend, and I will tell you who you are; you are a friend to Alpha Karl, a man who couldn't find his lost mate just to get married to her own blood sister." I cut into the middle of the argument to back Layla's points.
Alpha Ryder's dark expression turned green as his ears consumed everything Layla said.
"What did you just utter out from that mouth of yours? I demand your explanation. Who the heck are you hiding behind that mask? I'll unmask you today. Get over here, Queen Sheila, and stop hiding your face." Alpha Ryder approached Layla to unmask her, but I quickly jumped in front of him to obstruct him from discovering her identity.
"Ryder, we are almost late for the competition, and you are here trying to molest my queen. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? I command you to get back from here right now and move your toys away from our way. Mind you, Ryder. If you so much desire to be the king of Moonshine, I'm certain you know the right thing to do: follow the process of settling any dispute in Moonshine; for now I need you to get out of here with your bunch of fools." I grumbled aloud to protect Layla from getting exposed.
I know he felt so bad from the way his two eyes changed glow into blue and how his muscle reflected underneath his transparent white shirt.
However, Ryder commanded his men to drive off the road and head straight to Craftanwood, but I know that's not the end of it; he's going to retaliate.
We stayed back for 30 minutes for their car to go ahead of us before we decided to go.
After a 20-minute drive to Craftanwood, our eyes could see the outskirts of Craftanwood physically right in front of us, heavily guarded by 4 hefty men that stood at alert with different rifles hung around their bodies.
Two of the guards were on the ground while the other two were watching everywhere at the top of the big gate.
Inspector Asher looked around the perimeter around all of them with his binoculars to ensure they couldn't see us from where they stood and to know whether there were more of them.
Meanwhile, Layla had already removed the royal attire she was wearing, and inspector Asher made sure Antonio had been informed to get ready to step out of the car simultaneously with Queen Layla.
After a few seconds, the window opened when there was an entry at the gate, and all the guards attention was caught by the participants and visitors entering.
"Steady, steady, steady. Go, go; both of you go now." Inspector Asher instructed Layla and Antonio; both of them raced very fast away from the car and held straight to the main gate.
Layla had already painted her long, dark hair white and covered it with a hand-made hair wig. Antonio is a free, wolfless man that doesn't need too much disguise except that Layla handed the box with the royal attire to him. He must find Sheila before the contest starts.
"Good afternoon. I'm Nora Fisherman. I'm here for the competition, and here with me is my brother, Antonio Fisherman." Layla introduced themselves with her voice above silence."
Then she left her spot, heading towards the gate after signaling Antonio to follow her, but as they were about to get inside, the hefty guard stopped them.
"Hey! Hey! Lady Come back here right now." His deep voice echoed in their ears.
"What's wrong? Derek," the second guard asked and approached him from the left corner, where he stood.
At that moment, Layla pulled herself together, and to my surprise, Antonio was also following in her footsteps.
Meanwhile, Derek had already taken out the register of the participants given to him by the organizers; he cross-checked every single person that had been marked in and those that were yet to come, but his eyes skipped Nora Fisherman.
"I haven't seen her name on the list yet, Juan." He mumbled to the ears of his partner while holding the long list tightly to his face.
"Are you certain this plan will work? because I can see the guards are not letting them inside Craftanwood." As all these were going on, my eyes narrowed, concern etched on my face.
"Yes, your majesty, I'm certain, and I have confidence in Queen Layla; she's been through a lot of adversities to let this small task damage it for her. They will go through." Inspector Asher's calming words made my mind a little at peace.
"Don't you think we should go help them?" I still panicked while I fixed my gaze on Layla, and Antonio had been questioned in front.
"Let's stay here for now; we can't cause any suspicious acts for now, so we need not be involved in their task; we have ours to face when we enter." Asher's words sound harsh, but deep down in my heart, I know it's true.
"That's it. That's her name; it's a typographical error. You can go inside now. Sorry, Miss Nora." Juan apologized and allowed them inside Craftanwood.
My heart beats calmed. Immediately I saw them walk away from the guard towards the gate. Before she entered, she placed her left hand on the iron-made gate and drawn a figure-seven shape and mirrored it to the opening of the gate, telling us to start the car and move in with them.
"Gavin, start up the car and move in right now." Inspector Asher's voice echoed in the car.
Both cars followed behind Layla and Antonio; however, we were unable to go further to the royal house after we'd entered the city of Craftanwood; we had to park very far from the event in order to wait for Sheila, guided by her lover to me, before we graced the occasion with our presence.
"For now we wait for your majesty." Inspector Asher advised.
Antonio and Layla had departed after they entered the city.
After a few seconds, Layla approached the other participants under a shelter prepared for all of them.
"Watch it, lady! Fix your eyes on the road and join your maid colleagues under that shelter over there and stop staring at the city like a thief that wants to steal Alpha Malakai's crown." A guard collided with Layla,, who was lost in thoughts and focus when shesaw Craftanwood again.
"Father, I'm back home again." Layla whispered to herself, facing the sky awaiting her father's reply.