Chapter 6

Aria’s POV

On my birthday, I threw a party at home. But when it was time to start, Ethan still hadn't shown up.

Everyone at the party kept asking where he was and whether he was planning a surprise. After all, every year before this, he'd stayed by my side the entire time on my birthday.

I didn't answer their questions. I just grabbed a bottle of champagne and popped it open like a firecracker. "Happy birthday to me!"

Everyone laughed and raised their glasses.

"Happy birthday to our most beautiful and powerful Luna!"

I smiled. "I'm ready to tell Ethan that we should—"

The sound of the door slamming open cut me off.

All the guests in the living room turned around, and then everyone gasped at the same time.

Lily stood in the doorway, supporting a very drunk Ethan. When she noticed everyone staring at her, her face flushed red, and she started stammering. "S-sorry to interrupt. I just brought Ethan home."

Today was my birthday, and he'd gotten drunk with another woman.

I set down my glass and walked calmly to the door. I reached out to help him inside.

But he shoved my hand away.

He clung tightly to Lily, and right in front of every pack member, he kissed her forehead.

The guests stared in shock. A few of the older wolves even started growling low in their throats—their anger at an Alpha publicly humiliating his Luna.

But I just stepped back and cleared the way.

Ethan buried his face in Lily's neck and breathed in deeply, his voice thick with satisfaction. "God, you smell so good. How do you smell this good?"

The entire living room went silent.

Lily's face turned even redder, but her eyes gleamed with triumph. Still, she kept up her act of looking troubled. "Luna, Ethan's drunk and talking nonsense. He's just been so busy with work that he forgot about your birthday..."

I kept my voice calm. "The bedroom's upstairs, last door on the left. You can take him up."

Lily froze. She clearly hadn't expected me to stay this composed.

She gave a stiff nod and helped Ethan up the stairs.

After they disappeared, I picked up the champagne bottle again and smiled at the guests around me. "Anyone else want a drink?"

People stayed for a few more drinks out of politeness, then started making excuses to leave. A few she-wolves I was close with gave me pitying looks on their way out, but they didn't say anything.

In the pack, that was just reality—the Alpha could do whatever he wanted, and the Luna had to endure it silently.

I leaned back on the couch and sipped my wine alone.

The burning in my chest started again. That was the Moonbreak Herb kicking in, reminding me that the mate bond was breaking apart piece by piece.

*****

Lily finally came downstairs at eleven.

With no one else around, she dropped the act completely. She slammed the door on her way out, head held high, strutting like she owned the place.

She was marking her territory.

I watched her leave, my face blank.

The second she was gone, my phone rang.

Cameron's name flashed on the screen, and I smiled—my first genuine smile all night. I picked up. "Didn't we just talk this morning?"

His voice came through the line, a little sulky. "It's your birthday, Aria. You won't even come see me, and I can't call to wish you happy birthday?"

I thought about how hurt he'd looked this morning when I told him I couldn't make it, and my heart softened. "Don't pout," I said gently. "This is the last birthday I'll ever spend in this bond. If it makes you feel better, you can plan all my birthdays from now on. Deal?"

I could hear the smile creep into his voice. "Celebrate however I want? Aria, you better not back out."

I laughed softly. "I'm severing a mate bond for you. When have I ever lied to you?"

We talked for a long time after that. Just before we hung up, I heard fireworks exploding outside my window.

I turned and saw the night sky burst into color—fireworks blooming one after another, so bright they turned the darkness into daylight.

Cameron's voice came through the phone, soft and serious. "Happy birthday, Aria."

"From now on, I'll be right there beside you. Every single year."

I froze.

Cameron did this?

I rushed to the window and realized the fireworks stretched across the entire city skyline. This must have cost a fortune.

Cameron was just a regular wolf. How could he possibly afford something like this?

It had to be just a coincidence.

But my heart warmed anyway, and I couldn't stop it.