Congratulations

Philip ended the hug and tried to cheer Taylor up, assuming his mood was due to his birthday. After coaxing a smile from his friend, he gave a heads-up:  

“Hey, come back soon, before the clock strikes midnight! I want you by my side when we toast the king.”  

“Relax, I’ll be back in a bit,” Taylor said, trying to reassure his Alpha.  

Philip left him there and returned to Rachel, explaining why he’d stepped away. Taylor sighed, about to head back himself, when he caught that familiar scent from his encounter with the king. He turned and saw Andriel approaching, holding two glasses.  

“Your glass is empty,” Andriel said, offering him one.  

Taylor eyed the glass with a serious expression, studying Andriel to figure out his intentions, then took it.  

“Thanks. Sorry about earlier—I didn’t know I was talking to the king, so I didn’t show the respect you deserved.”  

Taylor’s voice carried a hint of coolness, even though Andriel presence was getting under his skin.

“I don’t think you came here just because my drink was empty. Were you worried I’d tell Philip?” Taylor asked, making his suspicion clear.

“Is today your birthday?” Andriel replied, trying to ease the tension in Taylor’s tone.

“You overheard my talk with Philip? So you *were* worried I’d spill to him? Even if I had, Philip wouldn’t blab to anyone.”

Andriel felt uneasy with Taylor’s hostility and knew he was partly to blame, so he tried again.

“Sorry if I doubted you. I think we got off on the wrong foot. I get that this situation isn’t easy for you to process, just like it’s not easy for me. I didn’t explain who I was in the garden or why I needed you to keep quiet. Do you understand how complicated this is for us? Or at least for me?”

At Andriel’s words, Taylor’s hostility softened, and his expression relaxed a bit.

As soon as Taylor finished his thanks, fireworks began bursting in the sky, signaling Andriel’s birthday. The king glanced over, catching Taylor’s smile as he watched the display, and for a few seconds, Andriel longed to feel the same spark he’d felt when he touched him.

“If you want to feel that again, then go for it. Take the first step and let the bond take over,” Frost urged in his mind.

“I can’t, Frost. It’s not that simple. I know the pull of our bond is screaming inside me, but what happens if I give in?”

“You humans overcomplicate everything. If you give in, you’ll feel good—happy,” Frost argued, irritation clear in his tone at the king’s stubbornness.

Andriel didn’t reply, as Taylor turned and met his gaze. He raised his glass and offered his congratulations.

“Now it’s my turn. Happy birthday, Your Majesty.”

Andriel gave a small smile and clinked his glass against Taylor’s.

“I told you to call me by my name. Thanks for being the first to wish me well.”

The king expressed his gratitude, and they locked eyes once more. The urge to draw closer to each other burned strongly within them, but neither gave in to that desire. Taylor decided to take a step forward, only to be interrupted by Hugo.

 

“Your mother is demanding your presence,” Hugo said, slipping his hands into his pants pockets and giving Taylor a steady look.  

“Thank you, Hugo. We wouldn’t want to upset Lady Perla,” the king replied, turning back to his companion. “I’ll be waiting for you in the hall.”  

Taylor nodded, catching Hugo’s glance in his direction before following Andriel. He couldn’t quite tell if the look was friendly or not. The champagne in Taylor’s hand was downed in one gulp, and he decided to head back to the hall. As he walked, he overheard voices in a corridor and paused to listen to what they were saying.

“Did you do what I told you?” one of the men asked.  

“Yes. I made it clear that the first piece is to be delivered to the king.”  

“Perfect! This has to go off without a hitch.”  

The Beta overheard the two men talking, but couldn’t initially make sense of what they were discussing. Taylor started walking again, but slowly, hoping to catch a glimpse of the two who had mentioned the king’s name.  

“Keep an eye on those two,” Taylor’s wolf warned. “I don’t know who they are, but my instincts are on high alert, and yours should be too.”  

The two men passed by Taylor, and one of them locked eyes with him. Taylor lowered his gaze, feigning disinterest, but kept watching them out of the corner of his eye, noting where they positioned themselves in the hall.  

Everyone was standing, their attention fixed in the center of the hall, where Andriel stood with his mother and brother. The crowd began singing “Happy Birthday,” and Andriel scanned the room, searching for Taylor, until he spotted him next to Philip. A cake was brought out, and Taylor’s focus shifted back to the two men. He noticed the one who had stared at him was fixated on the cake, his face brimming with anticipation, which only deepened Taylor’s suspicions.