I watched Travis's eyebrows jump up as I told him what happened to my pups. He growled under his breath, "How can anyone ever do something so pathetic as to slaughter innocent pups?!"
"I have no idea. I never did figure out why my pack got raided. I just remember seeing my children wounded and holding my eldest in my arms as his soul returned to our moon Goddess." I looked away.
"I'm so sorry, Ann. I had no idea and here am I letting you plan my sons birthday... I feel like an ass now." He sighed heavily.
"No," I spoke up, "I enjoyed doing it. I love Andrew and I want him to have a good birthday. By taking on the planning, I gave you time to see your pup. I don't regret even a second of it."
Travis looked at me, his gaze softening, "And he loves you. You've been an amazing caretaker for my son."
Andrew ran up to us with his hands full of tickets and he grinned wildly, "I got a lot of tickets!"
Travis laughed, "Sure did buddy."
Travis took his son to a tickets counter and they slowly began putting in their ticket rolls. Some were bit, some were small. I figured he had around 200 in his hands.
I took a deep breathe and let my mind wander for a second. Then I heard Lady speak, You know, it's okay to dream a little. I know, I told her. Part of me wished that this little family could be real, but deep down I knew it was impossible. Luther held my heart and it felt wrong to try and move on. I was carrying our last pup and I had to make sure I protected it this time. No more pack life and risk. I just wanted to raise my pup to be safe and healthy.
Still... a part of wondered what it would be like to accept Travis. How it would feel to be his mate and accept his son as my own. Then my pup would have a family instead of just me and Nat.
"Ann! I got 256 tickets!" Andrew bounced around me happily with his receipt.
"Why don't we go pick out a prize?" I smiled at him
Andrew grinned and I walked him over to the prize desk. Travis stood beside us. The woman pointed out different toys and candy and explained to Andrew how much it costed. By the end of the transaction, Andrew had snagged a lot of candy and a bag of marbles.
"Good job! That a lot of prizes, birthday boy!" I praised him as we walked back out to the truck.
Andrew laughed, "This is the best birthday ever!"
Travis smiled at his pup, "It's not over yet! We gotta head home now."
We played music and sang on the way back. Andy couldn't sing really well, but we didn't tell him that. We told him that he could be a singer one day and become famous. He loved that idea.
As soon as we got back to the house, I helped unload Andrew again. The little pup bounced around in excitement as we walked back to the pack house. Andrew walked between me and Travis, holding one of each of our hands. He skipped and every once in a while he'd pull our hands to try and get us to walk faster.
We were now in the front yard of the pack house and I saw Nat peeking out the window. As soon as she saw me she turned around and signaled to another omega. They were ready.
"Andy, Ann helped plan your next surprise." Travis smiled at him.
Andrew gasped and hugged me around my legs, "Thank you!"
"You haven't even seen it yet." I laughed.
"But it's from you," he spoke up, "so it must be nice."
I smiled at him and ruffled up his hair a little. Travis turned the doorknob and we all walked inside. The room was darkened and suddenly, there was lights.
"Surprise!" Everyone yelled.
Andrew stared in shock as he started to spot all the decorations. Even I was amazed. There were pinecone and needle decorations all over the tables. Glitter and confetti laid across the floor as the omegas did birthday canons from the other side of the room. There were birthday balloons everywhere. In all sort of colors. Red, blue, purple, white, and green. It was all so colorful.
"Happy birthday!" Nat called out to Andrew.
Then another omega, the older man, said, "Congratulations little Alpha! You're another year old!"
Andrew giggled and grabbed the ends of his shirt and twirled around. Everyone was cheering and congratulating Andrew on his 4th birthday. I couldn't help, but smile.
Travis touched my arm and smiled warmly at me, "You've done an amazing job."
"No," I chuckled, "all I did was plan. The omegas were the ones doing all the work."
An older male walked out of the crowd with a angry expression, "Well when I was told my son was shacking up with an omega, I didn't believe it, but now seeing it for myself. I can't believe I gave my pack to you."
Travis's eyes darkened and he turned around glaring, "Father. I'll have you know, this is my pack. I won't tolerate you talking poorly of my pack mates."
"Ha!" The old wolf laughed sarcastically, "Well I guess when you're last Luna quit doing her job and you had to play b*tch, it doesn't matter what rank you pick from. Because in the end, you're just going to be a disgrace."
"That's enough." An older female stepped up from behind the male, "You, she-wolf. Go do your job. This is between Alphas, not the lower class."
I caught myself glaring and wanting to snap back at her, but Travis stopped me. He held an arm out in front of me and spoke up sternly, "She is my pack mate. You are guests of my pack since it's your grandsons birthday. Do not come into my home and start trouble."
The old male rolled his eyes, "Why don't you just go find you a she-wolf of your own rank? Why run around with some filthy rouge?"
"That's enough!" Travis raised his voice and growled, "I will not listen to this anymore."
He grabbed my hand and pulled me along behind him. His parents stared at us with disgust. Travis then walked into the kitchen and slammed his hand into the table.
"God's! They never know when to quit..." he sighed, "I'm sorry, Ann."
"It's alright. I understand and I appreciate that you stood up for me." I rubbed his back to comfort him.
"They're just always so consumed with controlling my life. I wished they'd just enjoy their retirement and take a break from causing drama."
"You can't change who they are, but you can focus on something better. Today's your son's birthday, think about his instead." I smiled at him.
"You're right." He smiled back, "Thank you."
"I didn't do anything special." I chuckled.
Before I knew it, Travis's arms were wrapped around me. I felt him push his face into my shoulder. He smelled like the cedar trees and it didn't take long for me to be intoxicated by his scent. I hugged him back and his body heat mingled with mine. We stood there for a minute, just holding one another. Something about it made me feel so relaxed.
"Alright! It's time for the birthday cake!" I heard Nat call out as she walked in the kitchen.
She spotted us and gasped. I quickly scrambled away from Travis and blushed. Travis was a little stunned, but after realizing what had happened, he turned bright red. This looks bad, Lady laughed.
I shook my head and smiled, "Let me help you with the cake!"
I hurriedly over and picked up the lid off the cake container. Nat had made a gorgeous green and black cake. The top had fancy lettering that said "Happy 4th Birthday Andy!" on the top.
Nat picked up the cake tray and nudged me, "Getting steamy with our Alpha aren't you?"
I blushed and whispered, "Hush! What if someone hears you? That's not even what happened. We just hugged because he was thanking me for helping with Andrew."
"I don't know, two young attractive wolf's with no mates. Brought together by a child. Sounds like a romance to me." She teased.
I brought her the candles for the cake. There was one big black number 4 shaped candle to go in the middle. Then there were 4 black and greens stripped smaller candles for the corners.
We sat the cake at the head of the table. "Everyone gather for the cake!" Nat called out.
The wolves started pouring into the kitchen. Andrew sat at the end of the table. Travis sat to his left. Travis's mom went to sit beside him, but he stuck his arm out to block her.
"I'm saving this one for someone else." He glared at her.
"Why I never." She glared back and took the next seat instead.
The rest of the wolves filed in and took their seats respectfully. The beta sat near the Alpha. The guards and the omegas sat at the opposite end of the table. I went to sit down when I heard Travis yell.
"Ann! I saved you a seat!" He called out.
I blushed and walked around the table to sit beside him. Andrew grinned happily at us. Nat got up and lit the candles.
Then, everyone started singing Happy Birthday and cheering for Andrew. As soon as they were done singing, he leaned over and blow all his candles out.
"Make a wish!" Travis cheered.
"I wish..." he thought for a second, "for a mommy!"
Travis and I both tensed up and blushed. His mom was sitting next to me and she scoffed. His dad even laughed as if that were the dumbest thing he'd ever heard. Nat just looked at me with a grin, I knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Well. Maybe someday," Travis laughed awkwardly and rubbed his son's back.
Nat cut Andrew's his cake slice first and handed it to him. The pup couldn't wait and started eating the cake with his fingers. Which got icing everywhere. I laughed and so did Travis.
I was happy. Seeing all this before me. It was amazing how the pack functioned together to give Andrew this birthday party.
I looked up and I saw a finger in the doorway. A young male guard wolf with his eyes wide open with fear.
He ran over to Travis and whispered something to him. Travis nodded and turned to me, "I'll be right back."
Without even thinking I reached out and grabbed his arm, "Please don't go."
Travis looked down at me in confusion, "Ann-"
"I-I'm sorry..." I let go of his arm and tensed up.
Memories started flooding my brain. I could see that guard wolf from my own son's birthday vividly as he grabbed my husband. The last day I got to ever see my beloved in his human form. It all felt so familiar.
"Are you okay?" Travis asked.
"Just go!" I freaked out and ran upstairs.
I ran into my room and slammed the door. I broke down on the floor and I felt my eyes water. I was crying. My breathing became erratic and I clawed at my scalp.
I wanted it to stop. The memories. The feeling. All of it. I could see all their faces. Luther, Erin, Jasmine, Max, all of them. My friends, my subjects, my children. They were all screaming at me to save them. Asking me what to do.
I beat my fists on the hardwood floor as my tears fell to the floor.
"Ann!" I heard someone call out.
I felt someone's arms wrap around me and suddenly I found my face being pulled into someone's chest. I recognized the scent of cedar trees. Travis.
"I'm sorry!" I cried out to him.
"Shhh... it's okay. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." He whispered and held me closer.
I started to feel dizzy from all the noise. I couldn't even feel my legs or my hands. I seen the blood dripping down and hitting the floor from my injuries. Travis kept holding me and rubbing my back as if he were holding something precious.
"Trav...is.." I muttered before I blacked out. Suddenly, there was nothing.
It was all dark around me. I was standing in a pool of dark water. My feet were fully submerged in the dark liquid and all I could see was my knees.
"Travis!" I yelled out.
There was an echo, but no response. Where am I? I thought.
I couldn't feel anything. I stood there, confused and lost. I didn't know where I was. I didn't what had happened. All I knew was I wasn't in the pack house anymore. I was trapped inside somewhere I'd never been.
I could hear a wolf cry out in the distance. I started trudging through the water in the direction of the sound. I followed the sounds of her mournful cries.
After I walked for a while, I spotted a family golden pelt. She was half submerged in the water. There was a wolf laying in the water in front of her. She pressed her face into his fur then howled out again.
"Lady!" I called to her.
The she-wolf turned around and beared her fangs at me. Pain, pain, mate, pups, lose, sadness, anger. I heard these words echo in my head. I realized I was hearing Lady's thoughts in my head.
The wolf growled at me and she cried out. It's all your fault!
Suddenly she lunged for me, snapping her jaws in anger. I flinched back and tripped over my own feet into the water. The icy temperature stunned my body as it traveled up my torso. I gasped and tried to pull away as Lady prepared to lung at me again.
Am I about to die at the fangs of my own wolf?