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Chapter 3

Author: Redleaves
On my birthday, Mommy called Daddy a dozen times before he picked up.

The line was loud, full of voices.

He sounded irritated. “What is it? I'm having dinner with Vanessa.”

“Theodore, today's Serena's fifth birthday. Come home and spend her birthday with her.”

Mommy's voice cracked. “At least come blow out the candles with her and make a wish. Please.”

I sat on the chair, swinging my legs, and felt sad all of a sudden.

A week ago, Mommy had reminded Daddy about my birthday, over and over. She'd said that before she left, we should celebrate as a family, just once.

How could he forget and go have dinner with Vanessa?

Was today Vanessa's birthday too?

Daddy's voice came through the phone. “Fiona, I gave you everything you asked for. Stop pestering me.”

Vanessa's voice drifted in too. “Luna, it's not that I want to keep the Alpha. He just has to attend an important event tonight.”

“His car broke down. Could you come pick us up?”

Oh. Daddy's car was broken.

I patted Mommy's cheek. “Mommy, Daddy's car is broken. Let's go get him.”

Before Mommy could answer, Daddy said, “You heard your daughter. Get over here.”

He hung up.

Mommy smoothed my bangs and nodded. “All right. Let's go pick up your father.”

It was pouring outside.

Rain crashed against the windshield, and the wipers swiped back and forth nonstop, yet they could never clear the glass completely, leaving it perpetually damp.

It looked like Mommy's tear-blurred eyes when she and Daddy fought.

The car lurched sideways, and I screamed.

Mommy got out to check, then climbed back in soaked.

“Serena, the tire blew out. Sit still. Mommy's going to change it.”

I nodded.

It took her a long time. When she got back in, she was drenched, and she slumped over the steering wheel, gasping for breath.

Her wolf felt so weak.

Daddy must have felt it too. They were mates, after all.

The car pulled up to a beautiful big house. Inside, Daddy was already eating with Vanessa, and there was no cake on the table.

It was strange. If today wasn't Vanessa's birthday, why hadn't Daddy come home for mine?

Daddy's scent was tangled with the smell of Vanessa's herbs.

He glanced at Mommy, dripping water onto the floor, and went back to his food.

“Theodore,” Mommy said. “I came to get you. Come home for Serena's birthday.”

He finally looked up. “I already had someone fix the car. You don't need to bother. Go on home.”

Vanessa lifted her glass and smiled. “Alpha, since the Luna and Serena came all this way, why don't we eat together?”

Then she clapped a hand to her forehead, fake-embarrassed.

“Oh, silly me. This restaurant is members-only. You have to book ahead.”

She said it loud, and heads turned.

Mommy stood in a spreading puddle. Someone in the crowd recognized her, and whispers spread.

She kept looking at Daddy, but he kept his eyes on his food.

I felt her wolf dim, the same way her eyes were dimming.

But Daddy might as well have been blind. He just kept drinking his wine.

He hadn't felt anything. He really had blocked the bond.

Mommy let out a long, slow breath.

She didn't say anything. She just held my hand tight, turned us around, and walked us out.

I looked back. Daddy was laughing about something with Vanessa.

Why did my chest hurt so much?

I didn't want a daddy anymore. He'd never had time for me, and he'd never celebrated my birthday.

We got home late. The cake Mommy had baked was still on the table.

She lit the candles for me, and I blew them all out in one breath.

“Make a wish, Serena.”

Mommy only had five more days. I wanted to wish for more time, but in the end I decided not to.

Mommy was so tired. I wanted her to go be with Grandma, to sing for the Moon Goddess.

Past midnight, Daddy came home.

“Fiona, I'm here to celebrate Serena's birthday.”

Mommy didn't answer. She kept humming, rocking me to sleep.

“Did you lose your voice?”

His voice was so loud my eyes flew open.

He'd shifted. His eyes were two red lanterns, huge and burning.

He charged at her and grabbed her wrist. “Who's the face for? I came back, didn't I?”

I stood up and tried to pry his claw off her.

He flung me aside.

Mommy tried to push him away, but she couldn't.

He grabbed her hair, dragged her out of the room, and locked the door from the outside.

I heard her crying and him shouting.

I pounded on the door, screaming for her.

It was a long time before she came back. She was covered in bruises, and there was one on her face too.

She held me and sobbed. “Serena, I'm so sorry. Your birthday wasn't supposed to be like this.”

I didn't understand.

Why was she the one apologizing? She hadn't done anything wrong.
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