Chapter 1 It's My Birthday Too

Tessa's POV

The kitchen smelled like sugar and vanilla, soft and warm, almost enough to soothe the restless beat of my heart. I smoothed the final swirl of frosting across the cake, steadying my hand so the moon and the little wolf I'd drawn didn't smear. The candlelight flickered across the icing, and for a moment I let myself smile.

"My moon goddess," I whispered, folding my hands as if I were still a little girl praying at bedtime. "I'm turning twenty-one today. My first wish... my mate Jasper—the future Alpha of Bloodmoon Pack—will marry me and make me his Luna."

The words tasted sweet, like the frosting at the tip of my finger. My smile faltered, but I pressed on.

"My second wish... please, let my wolf Julia return. She's been silent for three years. Ever since I gave her strength to save my mate."

The memory stabbed sharp. Three years ago, the night when I turned 18 and met my wolf Julia for the first time, Jasper was trapped in a burning pub.

He was born two days after me and still had no wolf. I rushed into the flames and noticed he was seriously injured. Without hesitation, I shared Julia's strength to save him.

But then Julia disappeared. That night had cost me everything—my wolf, my father's pride, and any chance of being treated like more than the Beta's strong daughter. Still, it had been worth it. Jasper was alive.

The phone on the counter buzzed. I wiped my hands on my dress and leaned over.

A text from Jasper.

Jasper: Come over. Got a surprise for you.

My heart leapt. A surprise—from him? A smile broke across my face before I could stop it. Maybe he was finally ready to propose.

I snatched the cake box, hugged it close, and ran out the door before doubt could catch me.

The packhouse pulsed with bass so loud it rattled through the floorboards. Laughter and shouting tangled with the music, and when I stepped into the living room, the air reeked of spilled beer, cheap perfume, and Ping-pong balls tainted with the smell of weed.

For a second, I froze. A wild party. Not exactly what I'd imagined. Still, my chest tightened with anticipation.

From across the room, a circle of pack members stood cheering, chanting the same word over and over.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

I squeezed past elbows, the cake heavy in my hands. My smile faltered when I finally reached the center.

Bianca!

My half-sister sat on Jasper's lap, head tipped back, her lips locked to his as they shared a mouthful of liquor, his shirt half unbuttoned, her fingers curled possessively at his chest.

The cake slipped from my hands, tumbling to the floor like my stomach twisting into knots.

"Jasper?" My voice cracked. "How... how could you kiss my sister? I'm your mate!"

The music cut off sharply, like a blade slicing through the air. Silence fell, heavy, broken only by the pounding of blood in my ears. Every pair of eyes turned toward me.

Bianca rose slowly, lips still glistening, a perfectly practiced innocence softening her features.

"Sorry, Tessa. It's my birthday today... and all I wanted was a kiss from Jasper."

My stomach sank. Birthday? Oh... right. How could I forget? When my father had brought his mistress and this half-sister to my mother's funeral, he'd reminded me that Bianca and I shared the same birthday.

Jasper stood, tugging at his collar, his face cool, "Who told you to come here?"

I blinked. "What? You... you texted me—"

Bianca rushed to me, all wide-eyed panic, grabbing my hand as if she were the perfect sister. "Tessa! Don't be upset. I know Jasper's your mate. I'd never try to take him."

Her gaze flicked to the cake. Before I could react, she snatched it on the floor.

"You made me a cake? For my birthday?"

My spine stiffened. "It's not for you." I wanted to take back the cake. I spent three hours making it.

But when I lifted my hand, Bianca gasped, loud enough for the entire room. "Ah! Don't hit me!"

She flung the cake, straight at me.

The impact splattered cold frosting into my hair, down my dress. Gasps and laughter erupted. Phones flashed. My humiliation captured forever.

Bianca ducked behind Jasper, pretending to tremble. "I didn't mean to ruin your cake, Tessa," she murmured, voice dripping with false regret.

"You did this on purpose!" I shouted, trembling with fury.

Jasper stepped in front of her, his eyes hard as stone. "Tessa! It's Bianca's birthday. You can't even celebrate with her? All you ever do is attack her?"

Something inside me broke. My vision blurred, my heart splitting in two.

"It's my birthday too!" I screamed, voice tearing raw from my throat.