Chapter 24
+15 Bonu
Alpha Marcus’s announcement at dinner a week later caught me completely off guard.
“We’re hosting a celebration for Aurora’s birthday,” he declared, smiling warmly at me. “The entire pack will attend.”
My birthday had never been a major event. I looked to Raymond, who seemed as surprised as I was.
“That’s very kind,” I began, “but really, there’s no need-”
“Nonsense,” Luna Elena cut in. “A small gathering is the least we can do.”
She turned to Raymond with a meaningful look. “Of course, you and Aurora should have some private time as well. I’m sure
Raymond has planned something special for just the two of you, haven’t you, son?”
Raymond hesitated, then to my surprise, simply nodded. “Of course,” he said, not meeting my eyes.
A tiny flicker of hope kindled in my chest. Perhaps he still cared, at least enough to acknowledge my birthday.
The evening of my birthday arrived with a perfect autumn sunset. Raymond had arranged dinner at Lakeview, the most exclusive
restaurant in the city. I’d spent hours getting ready, secretly hoping we might recapture a fragment of what we’d once been.
Instead, he checked his phone every few minutes, barely responding to my attempts at conversation.
“Is everything okay?” I finally asked.
“Fine,” he said. “Just some pack business.”
Just as the waiter brought dessert, Raymond’s phone buzzed again. His expression softened, and a smile touched his lips..
“Aurora,” he said, setting down his napkin, “I need to step outside for a moment. Pack business.”
Through the restaurant’s window, I watched him pace on the sidewalk, phone pressed to his ear, more animated than he’d been all evening.
After ten minutes, a familiar blonde appeared, hurrying toward him. Raymond’s entire demeanor transformed as he spotted Giana, his face lighting up.
He swept her into his arms before pulling something from his pocket–a small, wrapped box tied with a ribbon.
My stomach clenched as Glana tore open the package, her excited squeal visible even through the glass as she held up a sparkling
necklace.
Raymond returned to our table minutes later, slightly breathless. “I’m sorry about that.”
Chapter 24
“Pack business?” I asked, my voice deadly calm.
He nodded, not meeting my eyes. “Something came up that couldn’t wait.”
We finished dessert in silence. As the waiter cleared our plates, Raymond glanced at his phone again.
15 Bonus
“Aurora, there’s been a situation with… one of the new pack members,” he said carefully. “I need to go deal with it. We need to keep up appearances a bit longer, and then I’ll come back to take you home.”
“The new pack member being Giana?” I asked, beyond caring if he knew I’d seen them.
Raymond had the decency to look startled but quickly recovered. “It’s not what you think.”
“It never is,” I replied tiredly. “Go, Raymond. Don’t worry about coming back for me.”
He hesitated for only a moment, then nodded. Without hesitation, he abandoned me, only pausing briefly at my chair. “We have to keep up appearances,” he whispered. “I’ll try to come back later.”
“Happy birthday,” he added as an afterthought, already backing toward the door.
I waited an hour. Two hours. Three. My calls went straight to voicemail, texts unanswered.
a
With a sigh, 1 signaled for the check, only to discover Raymond had at least had the courtesy to pay before he left.
As I gathered my purse to leave, my phone chimed with a notification. A social media post from Giana, posted minutes ago.
The picture showed Raymond and Giana at another restaurant across town, an intimate table for two lit by candles, champagne glasses raised in a toast. Raymond was smiling–a real smile, the kind he hadn’t given me in months.
“Resto
The caption read: “Best surprise dinner ever!
#blessed #mycleversurprise”
I stared at my phone until the screen went dark, the bitter truth settling over me. There had never been any pack emergency. The surprise birthday celebration hadn’t been for me at all.
It had been for her.
