“Get out,” Caspien cut him off.
“Breakfast in bed and this is how we’re treated,” Holden muttered before they closed the door behind him.
“We will just be back down in the servant’s quarters.” Cali threw over her shoulder.
“The party will start soon,” Caspien wrapped an arm around me, “How about you get ready and I’ll go get Emmett dressed?” I nodded, the shower seemed so far away.
“Drink,” He tilted the mug up, and I did.
I downed it as soon as it cooled and rolled out of bed.
“I promise we can sleep in as long as you want tomorrow,” He chuckled. I waved him off, trying to get my feet to move.
After a cold shower, the coffee did something. But what really woke me up was the thought of Emmett’s excitement for his birthday and the fact that I could actually spend time with him again instead of him being out of it.
When I went back downstairs, the room was transformed. Balloons in red and gold and blue were everywhere in clumps and twists and arches that would have taken me months to even figure out. There were streamers and cutouts of characters, and all things Pokemon. I think this was Caspien’s dream more than Emmett’s.
Holden and Cali were there with Loerli, both sets of our parents, and Griffen and his mate Nora, who was caressing her swollen belly. She was due in a month, but she looked like she was ready for labor any time. Caspien asked if we should invite some of the kids in the pack, but he didn’t know them, and I didn’t want him to be overwhelmed.
He would start school next year at the pack, and he could make friends on his own. Cali handed me another coffee, which I gratefully accepted, and Holden moved to the bottom of the steps, whistling loudly.
“Presenting the newly turned five-year-old, Emmett.”
Emmett emerged from the top of the open staircase, wearing a little tan suit over a button-down.
“I’m going to cry,” Cali said.
“Don’t, or I’ll start,” I elbowed her.
He turned back and motioned for Caspien to come, and he joined Emmett on the top landing, wearing the exact same suit.
“Okay, I’m crying; what the heck?” Cali shook her head.
Our moms oohed and ahhed and clapped as Emmett began walking down the stairs with Casppeins hand in his. My mom and Grace were clutching hands at the sight of them.
“Are those little dress shoes? I’m done for,” Cali wiped away a fake tear.
Emmett had tiny dark brown dress shoes matching Caspien’s.
Emmett smiled at me and straightened his jacket. I rushed to him and grabbed his hands, spinning him around.
“You are so handsome and so big.” I felt like I was actually going to cry.
“How?” I asked Caspien, “When?”
“One night, when I was up with him he asked if he could wear a suit like mine for his birthday. He asked for gray and brown shoes, and here we are.” My stomach dipped.
I stared at Caspien the dark Alpha that made everyone in the same room as him afraid. I couldn’t picture that person anymore, I never could, honestly. He was everything I wasn’t expecting and I didn’t know I needed, we needed.
“Mama, look! There’s a real pokemon game and we can fight each other,” Emmett tugged my hand pulling me away from Caspien’s lingering gaze.
I let him lead me around and show me everything, I didn’t know how they set this all up, I swore we were only asleep for an hour. I was so happy to see him have any energy back. He was back.
After a few hours, we all played games, ate cake, and danced to the theme song on repeat. Emmett and Loreli tired himself out, and we were all exhausted.
He got presents from everyone and was so thankful. When we did his birthdays in the cabin, it was something small. My mom made a lot of treats, and we spent the day looking for treasure. We would get him a small gift or two, but it was nothing like that.
It was funny thinking back to that time spent in the cabin, and how I wished I could give him the world. Now that the literal werewolf world was at his feet, I realized I would cherish those memories just as much as the new ones we were making. Emmett didn’t even make it to bed with all the excitement; he passed out on Grace’s lap on the couch while he was telling my parents a story.
“I’ll get him to bed; why don’t you explain to them what we know?” Grace asked her mate.
“It’s a theory,” Rendell responded. Grace raised an eyebrow; it definitely wasn’t just that.
“What do you know?” Caspien came over with two bottles of wine, and Holden carried glasses behind him.
“Loreli can stay here,” I looked at Cali, who had a sleeping Loreli in her arms, ready to take her to Holden’s, “I want you to stay to hear this too.”
Holden took Loreli from Cali, “You sit, and I’ll bring her upstairs,” Cali looked at him affectionately.
“Thank you,”
She took the seat next to me as Caspein filled our glasses.
“First, a toast to, Emmett,” Caspien raised a glass; I swore his voice broke for a moment, “To his birthday and his health.”
Cali squeezed my arm, and I took a long drink. To my baby boy’s health.
“I’ll get right to it then,” Rendell started and all attention shifted to him, “There is a blessed wolf born once every lifetime, no two overlap. There is no way to know, though, who it will be, when they come, or where. It’s not by bloodline, or under what moon, anything like that. They are wolves chosen by the Moon Goddess themselves.”
“There have been other blessed wolfs, though,” Caspien mused.
I had heard rumors of some wolfs that had additional powers, mind reading, strength, protection. I wasn’t sure what was different about Emmett.
“Yes, but those blessed receive those gifts after they connected to their wolfs at eighteen or when they do. None of them shift as pups, which makes it different. That is the only indicator of The Moon Goddesses chosed.”
“Besides shifting then, what will be different about him?”
“Everyone has been slightly different, but pretty much unimaginable power,” His dad shook his head.
“Why haven’t we heard of them more often?” Caspien asked, “Great leaders, power, that would have shaped history.”
“The Moon Goddess chooses these wolves, not for destruction but for peace amongst her children. They’re here as ambassadors for her. That’s why it is not until their fifth birthday that the gift is set. We think that she watches them and makes sure, so that’s why they’re not blessed from birth. The blessing must go to someone worthy of it, someone that won’t succumb to the weight of it.”
I sighed; that sounded heavy. Emmett was so sweet, so gentle; I didn’t want him to bear the weight of what was to come.
“We will figure it out; Emmett won’t be changed.” Caspien promised me, “He will do nothing but good for this world and our pack.”
I nodded. Caspien leaned against the mantle, his brows tugged together.
“What are you thinking?” I directed my question at him.
“That what I mentioned before might be true, that your bond to Nolan was to fill a purpose of creating Emmett,” He shrugged, “Call it sentimentality-,”
“I wouldn’t say anything about you is sentimental,” Holden said dryly, and Caspien turned his hard gaze to him.
“But,” His gaze softened when it turned to me, “Willa was destined for me and only me.” He said with finality. I swallowed; his stare didn’t leave mine.
“Sounds kinda crappy on your goddesses part,” Cali mumbled; Holden nodded in agreeance, “Basically using you as a vessel for her blessed wolf.”
“He is also my child,” I looked at her, but honestly I wasn’t feeling all warm as fuzzy about the potential of The Moon Goddess mating me to someone I wasn’t destined to just to procreate. I scowled at the thought.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.