The pack house kitchen was a sight—industrial-sized with sleek black countertops, stainless steel appliances, and white cabinets that stood in stark contrast to the rest of the house’s cozy, floral décor. A massive island stretched across the center, large enough to seat twenty wolves comfortably. The dark gray granite countertop was covered in trays of appetizers and snacks. Along one wall, two sets of dual ovens sat between a twenty-foot-long gas range. Across from them, a bank of refrigerators lined the opposite wall, and beyond that, the entire back wall was made of glass, offering a view of the glowing patio and pool. String lights twinkled above, casting a soft glow on the surrounding forest as the sun dipped below the horizon. It was perfect.

Aaron grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the patio.

“Come on.”

Out back, Luna Ava and Delta Gwen lounged on chairs with glasses of wine in hand. Alpha Michael stood by the grill, flipping burgers, while Delta Kyle and Gamma Brett walked out carrying coolers.

“Underage cooler on the right, legal stuff on the left!” Gamma Brett called out.

Ethan groaned, giving his dad a look. “Seriously? You’re not sharing?”

“Nope,” Brett said smugly. “What you do outside of my sight is your business. But in front of me, you’re underage, and you follow the rules. Don’t do anything that’ll make me a grandpa before you meet your mate.”

We all burst out laughing, and—was that a blush creeping up Ethan’s face? That was emotion number three today. I mentally tallied them with amusement.

Alpha Michael waved me over. “Hope you like burgers, sweetheart.”

“They’re my favorite! How did you know?” I said, walking over and, without thinking, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

The Alpha blinked, stunned for a second before a goofy grin spread across his face. “Warriors tend to like burgers,” he said. “And from what I hear, you’re one of our best.”

His warm words made my heart swell. Before I could get too sentimental, Ryan shouted from across the patio.

“Wait—are you blushing, Dad?”

Alpha Michael cleared his throat, clearly flustered. “The heat from the grill,” he grumbled as the twins snickered.

Luna Ava saved me from the playful chaos. “Selene, did you find a dress?”

And that was all Kylie needed. She launched into a detailed description of every dress I tried on, flipping through the photos she had taken. Luna Ava and Delta Gwen were captivated, both leaning in to see every outfit on her phone. When she finally swiped to the video of the dress, I almost didn’t recognize myself on the screen.

In the clip, I looked... happy. Confident. My ponytail bounced as I twirled in the corseted black dress, the crescent moon necklace glimmering against my skin. You could hear the guys’ voices reacting in awe, and their stunned expressions were crystal clear in the mirror behind me.

Their looks weren’t fake or mocking—they were genuinely taken aback. For the first time, I felt like they truly saw me.

“That video is priceless,” Luna Ava said with a grin. “I’m going to need a copy.”

Delta Gwen nodded. “Definitely. Those boys’ faces are too good.”

“Burgers are ready!” Alpha Michael called, ushering everyone back inside. He carried a large platter of grilled perfection, and we all loaded up our plates before settling at a long outdoor table by the pool.

Conversation flowed easily as we ate. The guys told stories about birthdays past, each one wilder than the last, while the adults chimed in with embarrassing details the boys had conveniently “forgotten.” My stomach ached from laughing so hard. It was the kind of night I never thought I’d get to experience—a night filled with laughter, food, and friends.

As the sun set and the sky turned a deep blue, Leo stood up, taking my empty plate. Devin did the same for Kylie, and without a word, the rest of the guys rose to gather plates from the adults.

Kylie and I exchanged puzzled glances.

“They may act spoiled, but when we gather like this, it’s their job to clean up,” Luna Ava explained with a knowing smile. “They’ve been doing it their whole lives. They’re not too important to help around the house.”

We watched through the glass wall as the boys moved in perfect sync, clearing the kitchen in record time. It was fascinating—a seamless, silent coordination like they were operating on instinct alone.

“They’re like a well-oiled machine,” I whispered to Kylie, amazed. “I noticed it earlier too. They don’t even have to speak—they just know.”

She bumped me playfully. “And judging by that smile on your face, you don’t mind watching them work, do you?”

Before I could respond, a cake appeared in front of me, candles flickering on top.

“Where did that come from?” I gasped, eyes wide.

The cake was beautiful—light blue frosting with dark blue piping spelling out Happy 15th, Selene. Tears welled up in my eyes as everyone began singing. I blinked rapidly, trying to keep the emotions at bay, but as soon as I blew out the candles, the dam broke.

Warm arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a tight hug.

“It’s okay, baby sis,” Leo whispered in my ear as I buried my face in his shoulder. “This is how it’s going to be from now on. How it should have always been. I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”

His voice was thick with emotion, and when I pulled back to meet his gaze, I saw tears glistening in his eyes.

“I didn’t realize—” he began, but his voice cracked. “I didn’t know you never celebrated your birthday. I should’ve paid more attention. I’m sorry, Selene.”

I shook my head, overwhelmed by the sincerity in his voice.

“I don’t know if Dad will ever be able to join us,” Leo continued softly. “Losing Mom broke him, and I think part of him never came back. But I’m here. And I’m choosing to be with you—not six feet under ground with someone I barely remember.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I wrapped my arms around him again, holding him tight.

We sat like that for what felt like forever, the rest of the world fading away. When I finally pulled back, Leo wiped my tears with his thumbs, his smile gentle and full of regret.

“Did you tell the others?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He nodded. “Yeah. I explained enough. They know this is your first birthday celebration and that Dad... hasn’t been the best about it.” His expression darkened for a moment. “Luna Ava wasn’t happy. She had... words with him.”

I stiffened. “He’s going to be so angry—”

“No, he won’t,” Leo interrupted firmly. “Luna Ava told him exactly how things were going to be. If he couldn’t be grateful for you, he could make himself scarce. And that’s exactly what he did.”

The weight of his words settled over me, but instead of fear, I felt... free.

“You’re with us now,” Leo said. “No more hiding. You’re part of the crew.”

As if on cue, Devin strolled out with the biggest slice of cake I’d ever seen.

“Alright, emotional stuff over.” He grinned. “Eat your cake, Little Bit. I worked hard picking this one.”

I took a bite, and the combination of chocolate, vanilla, and caramel melted on my tongue. A small, involuntary moan escaped me.

“If that’s all it takes—” Devin began with a wicked grin.

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Leo warned, shooting him a deadly glare.

Laughter rippled around the table, and for the first time in a long time, I felt truly at home. I leaned into Leo’s side, finishing my cake as the night stretched on, surrounded by the people who finally saw me—not just as Selene, but as someone worth celebrating.