56

As I open my eyes, I smile at the sight of a note resting on the pillow beside me. I grab it, unfolding the paper with sleepy fingers, and grin at the few short words scrawled across it:

“Happy birthday Baylee Boo, I love you!

— C xx”

I press a kiss to the silly little note, clutching it to my chest. Just that thought—just him thinking of me first—makes my entire day brighter.

Ailm stirs inside me, purring in delight, buzzing with pride that he wished us happy birthday first. She yawns, sniffs the air, and purrs louder, content to fall back asleep surrounded by his scent.

“We better get up for presents,” I whisper, slipping out of bed quietly so I don’t wake Ryan and May. That’s the rule: no waking each other on birthdays. We’d made a pact as kids to avoid accidentally saying happy birthday first. It made perfect sense when we were ten, and somehow, we just never stopped.

And who doesn’t want to be the center of attention on their birthday? Especially when the attention is coming from your mate. That’s the kind of attention I could eat up all day—and all night.

I pull on some sweats and tuck Caden’s T-shirt into the waistband. I don’t train on my birthday. Today is for eating, opening presents, and relaxing. Not even pack duties can interrupt me—my one selfish day of the year.

Fuzzy socks on. Slides slipped over them. Once I’m officially comfortable, I head downstairs, already anticipating my favorite breakfast—the one Evelyn makes just for me every year. May gets hers, too. We even pick the lunch and dinner menu. Like I said, Mum and Dad always go all-out for our birthdays. They do it for all the kids, including the Betas’.

As I reach the kitchen, my stomach growls at the smell of soda farls stuffed with bacon, egg, and sausages, alongside fresh-brewed coffee.

“Evelyn, that smells sooo good!” I beam.

She smiles, pinches my cheek, and kisses the top of my head.

“I’m glad. Happy birthday, Princess.”

“Thank you,” I grin as she points to the table.

“Now go eat before you open presents.”

No arguments here. I grab my plate and head to the table just as Mum and Fiona walk in, chatting away. As soon as they see me, they rush over, each kissing a cheek.

“Happy birthday, baby girl!” they say in unison.

I laugh, swatting them off. “Would you both stop?”

My cheeks flush slightly. “Where are Uncle Ben and Matt?” I ask Fiona.

She waves a hand. “Training. But they promised they’d be back early to watch you open presents. Where are Ryan and May?”

“Still asleep. I don’t know how many movies they watched, but I crashed early.”

“Well, that’s what you get for staying up all night kissing, now isn’t it?” Mum teases.

I smack her as she giggles and fixes herself a plate.

“The boys were warned to get you something good. But if they fail, don’t worry—I got you something awesome,” Fiona winks.

Matt and Ben are notoriously terrible gift-givers. Usually, they just toss Fiona their credit card and tell her to go wild. But it’s different with us kids. I already get a salary working for the company, and apart from shoes, I don’t really have hobbies. I’m not exactly an easy person to buy for.

“I’m sure they did great. And if they didn’t, I’ll pretend they did,” I giggle.

“Is Caden back yet?” I ask Mum.

She shakes her head. “Meeting ran late, but he’s on his way now.”

I nod, finishing my food and waiting until Dad returns from training so the gift-giving can officially begin.

As soon as Dad walks in, Fiona shoves a present into my arms.

“Open mine first!” she says excitedly.

With Ryan and May still asleep, all the attention is on me—for now.

I tear open the box and gasp. Inside are the most beautiful Prada heels I’ve ever seen—violet satin platforms, completely encrusted with crystals that shimmer iridescent in the sunlight. Just as I’m about to leap out of my seat to hug her, she hands me a second box.

Inside is the matching handbag—same violet hue, same crystal finish. It’s small, but stunning.

“I know you’re not a handbag girl,” Fiona says, wincing. “But I thought you might change your mind when you see them together.”

She’s right—I’m not a handbag girl. But I am a girl, and I can appreciate a work of art when I see one. And this? This is a masterpiece.

I throw my arms around her.

“These are amazing! I love them. Thank you so much!”

“You’re so welcome, Baylee! So, so welcome.”

Dad kisses my cheek. “Happy birthday, babe.”

“Yeah, happy birthday, Baylee!” Uncle Matt and Ben chime in, kissing my cheeks before sitting beside Fiona. Matt pulls her onto his lap and kisses her cheek as Mum hands me her gift.

I open the box and gasp. A stunning rose gold Rolex sparkles back at me, set with diamonds and tiny mother-of-pearls along the bracelet and face. Way more than I need.

“Wow, Mum… you didn’t have to go to so much trouble,” I whisper, nearly tearing up.

She yanks me into a hug and kisses my head.

“It was no trouble. Even if it was, I’d do it anyway—because you’re worth all the trouble in the world. Don’t ever forget that.”

“Well, I love it. Thank you,” I say, slipping it on and watching the diamonds catch the light.

Matt hands me an envelope next. Fiona eyes him curiously.

“I’m not good at this gift thing,” he admits. “But I hear this is a great investment.”

I open it and find a certificate: 2,000 bitcoin. My eyes widen. On the back, I find Apple stock information too. I hadn’t heard of bitcoin much, but this? This is so my kind of gift.

“I love it, Matt! Thank you! I can’t wait to read all about it.”

Ben hands me a card next. Inside are vouchers for Louis Vuitton, Prada, Balenciaga, Balmain, and Christian Louboutin.

I squeal. “This is AMAZING! I’m going shopping today!”

Everyone laughs as Dad hands me another small box.

“Maybe take this with you,” he says with a smirk.

I open it—and freeze. A brand-new car key gleams inside.

“Dad… what did you do?”

He winks and points to the door.

“Go see for yourself.”

I race outside—and stop dead. In front of me sit two brand-new Range Rovers. One matte black with a huge purple bow. The other, white with a green one. The black one was clearly mine.

“You got May a car!?” Ben squawks behind me.

“She’s going to kill someone!”

“Relax,” Dad calls out. “I got her a full-time driver and security.”

A collective sigh of relief echoes as I run to my car and swing the door open. Purple leather seats. Completely custom. So cool.

“I love it, Dad! Thank you!” I throw my arms around him.

But just as I pull away, a car pulls up.

My stomach fills with butterflies when I see Caden behind the wheel. But as he gets out and his scent hits me, Ailm leaps forward with a snarl.

I fall to my knees, overwhelmed as a powerful wave of possession crashes over us.

“MINE!” Ailm roars as the bond locks into place.

Caden’s face drops.

I cry out in agony trying to hold her back.

“Caden, get over here!” Mum shouts, landing beside me.

She grabs my face, trying to anchor me.

“Ailm, how many birthdays did you have before you came here?”

Before I can answer, I’m dragged inward—thrown into memory.

⸻

I wake up screaming.

Warm hands catch me, pulling me close to a woman’s chest. I know her instantly—my birth mother. The only love I had before my parents found me.

“Shhh, baby. I’m here. Mummy’s here,” she whispers, rocking me gently.

When my eyes open again, she’s sitting on a dirty floor. The room is cold and dull, but her smile is warm, her eyes shining with love.

“It’s defective. Why the hell can’t she walk yet!?” a man snarls. I never knew if he was my father. I just knew I was a failed experiment.

“You don’t feed her. Two meals a week won’t sustain her. I can’t even produce milk anymore—I don’t have the calories.” Her voice is full of rage.

He slaps her across the head.

My eyes close—then reopen again.

A dirty kitchen table. A single muffin with two candles.

“Good girl! Blow out both candles for me!”

“It’s not much, but at least we can share this.”

If only she knew—the love was enough. I didn’t need cake. I needed her.

⸻

This time I’m outside, sitting in the grass, sobbing.

“I told you not to bring her out here! Look at her screaming for no damn reason!”

“She’s a kid—she needs fresh air!”

He grabs her by the throat. I run to her, crying. He grabs me by the hair, ripping it from the roots.

“She’s only three!!” she screams.

“Three and not worth the trouble. She looks like a damn rag doll. You know what? I can’t be bothered. Dungeon. Now.”

“No—please! Not there! Please, nooooo!”

⸻

I wake again to darkness.

Her voice sings “Happy Birthday” over and over.

I try to move, but my body is too weak. My legs too heavy.

⸻

Then the orphanage.

I sit drawing, alone on the floor. No one knows it’s my birthday. No one cares.

⸻

I’m yanked back violently, screaming as Ailm surges forward. Mum falls back, tears in her eyes.

She looks up at Caden, frowning.

“That’s why it’s been so hard for you two to resist each other,” she mutters.

“What does that mean!?” Caden growls.

“It means… we got it wrong. We missed a year.” She looks up at him, heartbreak in her eyes.

“Caden, she’s eighteen today.”

My eyes widen.

Caden’s face twists. Panic flashes. Tears spill. He grabs his head, cursing.

Then he turns, climbs into the car—and drives away.

No words.

No goodbye.

Just gone.

⸻

I scream.

A sound from the depths of my soul as my heart shatters. The ultimate betrayal. The ultimate heartbreak.

After everything we’ve been through, all the pain, all the waiting… the bond is finally in place—and he still doesn’t want me.

The thought destroys me.

My wolves surround me, howling in agony, trying to take the pain from me.

But it’s too late.

I fall apart from the inside out—ruined once again by the only person I’ve ever truly loved.

The end