AVA
The next week dragged by in a mess of patrols, problems, and absolutely no solutions for anything at all. No one found anything useful that would point us in remotely the right direction, or even just a direction that wasn’t wrong. We had no idea where Matthew was hiding. No idea where Elijah was hiding. We hadn’t even found any of Elijah’s rogues in a while, and we had absolutely no idea if Matthew was working on his own or if he had an army behind him.
We had nothing.
We were trying to make an effort to carry on like normal, at least as much as possible. We had to try because today was Callum and Oscar’s eighteenth birthday.
Normally, today would be the day that their wolves would identify their mate for the first time. Of course, we’d known for much longer. Despite that, this was still a big day, and their dad had still planned a big party, just like the Alpha and Luna have for Noah and Theo in a couple weeks time.
“Happy birthday,” I whispered in Callum’s ear, my arms around his neck. He smiled, before bringing his lips down to meet mine in a dominating kiss. By the time I was a whimpering mess of putty in his arms, Oscar had finished his shower. I pulled away from Callum, turning into Oscar’s arms, my arms around his neck, fingers playing with the ends of his still damp hair. “Happy birthday,” I whispered against his lips, giggling when his hands appeared on my waist, lifting me and wrapping my legs around his waist, his lips crashing into mine and his towel dropping to the floor, starting round one for the day.
We held the party that night in the gardens around the packhouse. Weather permitting, Callum and Oscar had insisted that they’d rather have a BBQ and a hog roast than a sit down meal or buffet (I think Eclipse Mountain purged them of that desire for a while), and I was totally on board with that.
I loved the smell of cooking over coals. There’s just something so satisfying about it, especially after spending most of my time recently in an over-the-top dining room.
With everything that was going on, I had six members of my Queen’s Guard with us at the party, and the other six had taken up a patrol around the packhouse with one of Jacob’s teams for backup. We’d found absolutely nothing, so Matthew and Elijah could be absolutely anywhere and we wouldn’t be any the wiser.
Once everyone was there, Jacob and Alex stood to make a speech. “Tonight, we celebrate two of our own turning eighteen,” Jacob began, a drink in his hand ready to toast. “Of course, normally, my speech would be all about how I hoped they would find their mate and settle down happily, but that happened months ago.” He smirked as chuckles burst out amongst the crowd. “Instead, Callum, Oscar,” he lifted his drink in a toast. “I am proud to have had the pleasure of watching the two of you, my close friend’s sons, grow up to become the strong, independent young men that you are today. To Callum and Oscar!”
After everyone toasted and Jacob sat down, Alex stepped up. He’d pretend they weren’t there, but I could definitely see the glimmer of tears in his eyes. “Boys, I’m so unbelievably proud of the young men you’ve both grown into. If your mother was here…” he paused, wiping his eyes. “I know she’d be incredibly proud of the both of you. We never would have dreamed that your lives would have taken the turn they have, but I know that you will continue to do us proud in the future, both as young men, and as two of the future Kings.” He met my eyes, a smirk suddenly teasing around his lips. Oh no, I knew this was coming… “Ava, it’s a little strange that you’re the fated mate of both of my sons when you’ve always been like a daughter to me, but nothing has ever felt more right. I know you’ll be there for my sons through everything life could throw at them… I just hope you also teach them to always close doors so I don’t have to see you on your knees in front of one of them ever again.”
I choked on my drink as I laughed with the rest of the pack. I knew it was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier. I laughed harder when I saw the look on Callum’s face; his smirk perfectly matched his dad’s, and despite the fact it wasn’t even him involved, Oscar just looked mortified.
Once the speeches were over, my mum and dad came over to give the birthday boys a hug. “I’m so glad you’re by my daughter’s side,” my mum sobbed in between them, one arm around Callum, one around Oscar. “Happy birthday,” she whispered, pressing a kiss first to Callum’s cheek and then Oscar’s.
“Thank you,” Callum kissed her cheek in return.
Finally, everyone said happy birthday and hugged everyone else. The five of us sat under one of the trees, my Kings all with a glass of whiskey, and me with a trusty mojito.
It was a peaceful, relaxing end to a chaotic day.
Most people called it a night at about eleven, and we left the party just before midnight. Noah and Theo each pulled me into a quick goodnight kiss when we reached our floor of the packhouse, before turning and heading towards their own rooms.
We’d all agreed that I’d spend the night with just Callum and Oscar, just like in a couple weeks when it was Theo and Noah’s birthday, they’d get me to themselves for the night too.
The three of us dropped into bed together, exhausted, before falling into a rhythm as old as time itself, moving together until we fell into a tangle of limbs in a sated, thoroughly satisfied sleep.