Chapter 6

Aurora POV

The only downside to having four mates is that the bond is intense. Mere glances have my heart skipping a beat and light touches set us all off. We have sometimes only made it to close the door before we are tearing each other’s clothes off. Thankfully, Gabriel, my other incredibly handsome mate and genius doctor of our pack with his healing abilities, has come up with a serum to ease my heat, so we aren’t as rabid as we were when we first mated. It’s also why we don’t have a litter of pups and just the three.

Occasionally, I miss those days where we couldn’t keep our hands off each other for more than five minutes. But three pups are enough for all of us.

The kids shoving food into their mouths faster than they can breathe. As the rest of us dish up, the selection of grilled steak, chicken, sausages with potatoes and salad. Jaden gazes at Stacey like she hung the moon before he clinks his glass to begin his speech once we are all settled.

I sit beside Kara near the head of the table, our mates around us as everyone sips their wine or beers. Jaden coughs before he stands. His green eyes lock with me, a wry smile on his lips before he turns to Kara and then everyone else. Our green eyes are a family trait. It’s rare for wolves to have green eyes. We have never entirely found out why.

“Happy birthday to my sisters. Kara, I never thought this day would come but I am so grateful that you never gave up on me,” his voice cracks slightly as they lock eyes and despite the difficult start to their relationship Kara always knew it was our father who placed a wedge between them. More than a wedge, he made Jaden her captor when he was old enough. Turned him against her to treat her like a prisoner. There isn’t a bone in my body that doesn’t regret ripping out our father’s heart. May he burn in hell.

“Your kindness is something I strive for. I wish you many more years to come.” They smile at each other softly, and then his gaze flicks to mine before an annoying smirk appears. “All of us here have been blessed to know you. You have a gift of making everyone feel special Kara, and that is why you are to be celebrated. Cheers!” he raises his glass in the air as everyone else does to clink their glasses.

But despite the sweet words, I can’t help but feel a little snubbed and as such, my mouth has already popped out and begun speaking before I can stop it. “Excuse me? Where is my lovely speech, big brother?” I demand as his lips twitch and I hear a few muffled laughs. He did it on purpose to annoy me. He loves to push my buttons and I fall for it every time.

“How could I forget?” he drolls as my eyes narrow, making my lips pout. Ethan wraps his arms around me to help to take the sting away from his teasing. I’m not upset about it. Not really, this is Jayden and our thing. It doesn’t mean that on my birthday I am going to let it slide. Ethan whispers sweet words in my ear, and I have to fight to stop squirming or everyone at the table will smell my arousal.

I peer back at Jaden and seeing that serious look on his face, tells me he is about to say something sweet. Or piss me off. I never know which.

“You are the reason all of us are here around this table.” I roll my eyes because even though it is true. I don’t see it that way. We are family and bonded in ways that nothing can separate us.

I watch him look at Stacey, his green eyes going all mushy before I cough to distract him. My brother has a one track mind when it comes to my bestie. If she isn’t careful, they will have a pack of pups because my brother can’t keep his hands off of her. He looks back at me, annoyed, as if I ruined his moment. “And for letting me steal your friend as my mate, I will always be grateful to you,” he gives her a wink. I remember when the two of them saw each other, it was like gravity. Nothing was going to keep them apart. They are chosen mates not even the lack of mate bond would keep them away from each other.

“Like I had any say in the matter, when my girl wants something, there is no stopping her,” Stacey gives me a grin, her cheeks pinking as she looks away from everyone at the table. “To family,” Jaden announces as we all clink our glasses, drinking our drinks. We eat and drink until our bellies are so full and laugh with each other without a care in the world.

I catch the look in Caleb’s eyes, the brush of Sebastian’s foot against mine and Ethan’s hand on my thigh. When Gabriel gives me a wink, I regret eating so much, knowing what tonight will bring. They are all far too handsome for their own good. They get away with far too much. I know they like to annoy me just so they can take their time making it up to me. It’s hard to complain when your body is shaking with pleasure and need you forget how to form a coherent sentence.

The patio door burst open as Pax, Jaden’s gamma charges down the stairs to where we are all seated, a serious look in his eyes. “Sorry to interrupt but I have an urgent message,” I frown, wondering what could be so urgent he interrupted us. Surely the pack can last an afternoon without their alpha. It’s only when I see Caleb shift in his seat that my stomach begins to drop.

Pax doesn’t give the note to Jaden he hands it to me and immediately Caleb is besides me. Oh, goddess. My heart beats a little louder as the table goes silent. Even the laughter from the kids’ table settles and my eyes briefly look at Luca. “Is it a birthday gift?” I ask, forcing some lightness into my voice as I glance down at the note, the smooth white paper so innocent looking. It’s not what you think. He’s just a child. Calm down. We have time.

“It was delivered at the border,” Pax adds when Jaden gives him a sharp look and I see him swallow nervously. I nod slowly, opening the letter, trying not to let the others see my hands shake. Caleb’s hands rest on my shoulders, giving me his strength.

A scream tears from my throat.

Kara wraps her arms around me.

She’s whispering something, but I don’t hear it.

How could this be happening now?

He’s a child.

How does anyone know? We have taken so many steps to hide this. I knew if people looked too closely, what they would see, but I never thought … I thought we had more time. Commotion around the table happens so quickly I can hardly focus as one by one people jump out of their seats. I see Sebastian standing guard over Luca’s chair as if they are about to strike right now. The table is so soundlessness you could hear a pin drop.

“Firecracker, why do they want your son?” Jaden asks me as he looks between me and Luca. As much as I want to answer him. My focus is on the pair of burning silver eyes, his boyish features so innocent with his dull blonde hair and rosy cheeks. How am I supposed to protect him?

The prophecy is that our child would be the alpha of alphas. Destined to rule all the packs. Someone found out and not only that. They want to take my baby from me; they want me to hand him over before they do goddess knows what to him in order to stop the prophecy from coming true. As if they can defy the gods any more than we can.

“Let me see it again, there might be some clues to who sent this,” Caleb demands, moving over to Jaden’s side of the table where Elio is both looking at the note. The second the note is handed to Caleb, it disintegrates in to a puff of smoke. Gone. No leads. Only the threat remains. And it’s coming for my son. They want to stop the prophecy. But what if they awaken it?