Chapter 10

C10: Birthday Night

Two months later, evening…

The days had passed peacefully, with little or no trouble from Alice. Raine thought it was a good sign. Maybe Alice was too focused on her training to cause problems.

Today was her birthday.

Raine sat in the bathtub with her eyes closed, lost in her thoughts.

Raphael had promised her a gift, and although she did not know what it was, she was eager to find out.

She could not wait to see him that night.

Her parents had said the celebration would be held that night because of the full moon. It was meant for her sister, not for her. As always, she was expected to stay in the background.

No one would wish her a happy birthday or raise a toast for her. All the attention would be on Alice.

Raine no longer felt the same pain she used to. She had come to accept that she was unloved, and today was no different.

Instead of feeling lonely, she felt a bit happy, knowing Raphael would come.

Deep down, she was excited about the gift he had promised her.

After bathing, she wore a blue floral dress and fixed a gray hairpin in her hair to hold it in place.

She went into the kitchen, where maids moved around busily, preparing food. One of them bumped into her, almost spilling red wine on her.

Raine quickly lifted her dress and stepped aside. The wine spilled onto the marble floor instead. The maid panicked and tried to kneel, but Raine held her up.

“What is going on here?” Luna Indira’s voice echoed through the kitchen. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the spilled wine.

The maid bowed immediately, trembling as she tried to speak, but no words came out.

“I will not ask again. What is going on here?” she demanded angrily.

Raine sighed softly before stepping forward. She knew how strict her mother could be.

“Mother, she accidentally bumped into me and spilled the wine,” Raine explained calmly, standing slightly in front of the maid.

Luna Indira shifts her gaze to Raine, her anger growing.

“You again. What are you doing here? You always ruin things. Now you want to ruin Alice’s birthday too?” she asked in disbelief.

“I did not mean to. I only came to prepare a meal for myself,” Raine replied.

Luna Indira glared at her. She looked as if she wanted to slap her but held herself back.

“You should thank the Moon Goddess that tonight is a special night,” she said coldly before turning to leave. She gave the maids a sharp look, they all continued their activities quickly.

“Do not make another mistake,” she warned before walking out.

Raine let out a breath of relief as her tense body relaxed. She had not realized how cold she had felt until her palms began to warm again.

“Thank you for saving me,” the maid said quietly

, clasping her hands together.

Raine shook her head.

“It is nothing. I was already in trouble too. Just be more careful next time,” she said before leaving the kitchen.

She decided not to cook anymore. She did not want to cause another problem, especially today.

Soon, guests began to arrive. The hall quickly filled up. It looked as though the entire pack was present.

Raine smiled faintly. If it had been her birthday celebration, the hall would have been empty. Not even her parents would have attended.

She shook off the thought and walked toward the garden.

She preferred to wait for Raphael there rather than stay inside and feel like an outcast in the midst of the pack.

Meanwhile, Raphael dressed in a golden outfit, combing his blonde hair back neatly. In his hand was a small box containing a diamond bracelet, a symbol of his love.

He left his home with the intention of proposing to Raine.

That night, Raphael felt strange. His senses were heightened, and his body felt unusually warm. The feeling was not unfamiliar.

He had read about mate bond symptoms since he was eighteen, giving him the five years knowledge of how it happens and considering he was different he needed to be prepared.

So he understood what was happening. Being different, he had always prepared himself for this moment.

Despite his reserved and strict nature, Raphael had always dreamed of having a mate.

A small smile appeared on his lips as he thought of the Moon Goddess blessing their love. When he arrived at the Alpha’s mansion, he stepped out of the carriage.

The sensations grew stronger as he walked further inside. His heart beat faster, and his vision blurred for a moment before clearing again.

He felt his wolf stirring within him, restless and eager to come out and find its mate.

He clenched his jaw, trying to control himself.

He did not want to frighten Raine.

Raine, who had unknowingly fallen asleep in the garden, suddenly woke up. She looked up at the sky and saw the full moon shining brightly over the garden.

She gasped and quickly got up, heading toward the front of the mansion to check if Raphael had arrived. The moon was already out, and the celebration had begun.

Then she saw him.

Raphael was walking unsteadily, his eyes sharp as they locked onto her from a distance.

His wolf stirred within him, restless and possessive, urging him toward the smaller figure who was a bit far from him.

Relief washed over him when he realized it was Raine.

Raine hurried toward him and held his shoulders.

“Are you alright?” she asked, her voice filled with concern as she felt the skin beneath the fabric was hot…too hot.

Raphael held onto her tightly, burying his face in her neck to take a sniff.

“Mate,” he murmured softly, breathing in her scent.

Then his expression changed.

His brows furrowed, and confusion crossed his face. In the next moment, his expression hardened with displeasure.

Suddenly, he pushed her away.