Chapter 3: Reagan

Reagan

I wake up late on my birthday only to see Meadow in my face staring at me.

“What are you doing, creeper?”

“Happy Birthday!” she yells and then does some magic that glitter bombs my entire room.

“Aren’t you supposed to do something that I like on my birthday?” I grumble. I am so NOT a glitter girl and no matter how much magic she uses to get rid of it, I still find glitter all over the damn place. The last time she did this, I found glitter on my ass cheeks. No, scratch that, one of the warriors who saw me shift saw glitter on my ass shining in the sunlight and I’ve never lived it down.

I’m pretty sure I’ve punched every male warrior in our pack for calling me Glitter Buns and every damn one of them said it was worth it. Bastards.

“Look, grumpy, just because your mate wasn’t here last night, doesn’t mean he won’t arrive today,” Meadow says much too cheerfully.

Every one of the Alphas and royals that had been here last night had wanted me to continue the party until it was midnight. Then everyone had counted down, like it was friggin New Year’s Eve and ... nothing. He wasn’t here. Everyone went to bed disappointed. Except me. None of them struck me as mate material. There was a lot of arrogance and pride, which I’m used to from living with Alphas and Guardians, but it just seemed ... conceited. Since I’m a Guardian, my mate will naturally become stronger because of our mate bond. And I have no intention of binding myself to someone who is conceited before they’re even mated to me. Thankfully, the Moon Goddess and I seem to be in agreement on this.

"Maybe they could all leave and I could celebrate my birthday with just the new ones,” I say, just as there is a knock at the door.

“Sweetheart, you have to get up. You’re the guest of honor and they have a breakfast planned for you. Your father wanted to get you up to spar, but I talked him out of that. You can’t miss breakfast though,” my mother says, walking in.

She looks around my room at the explosion of glitter. “Is this your work, Meadow.”

“Well you don’t think it’s mine, do you, Mom?” I ask with grumpy exasperation.

Rather than take it personally, my mother comes over and wraps her arms around me. “Happy birthday, sweetheart. Your father and I got you something, but I want to wait until he’s back to give it to you.”

“That’s fine. I need to shower anyway.”

I start to head to the shower, but my mother holds my hand, keeping me here. “Reagan, you’ll find him. If it’s not today, that’s okay. It will happen.”

I nod and hug her. “Thanks, Mom.”

I shower and put on casual clothes. I’m not trying to impress anyone and it’s my birthday. I’ll dress up tonight for the big event, but not for breakfast.

When I come out, my parents and Meadow are waiting for me. Meadow looks really excited so I know whatever my parents got me is going to be good.

My father looks at me and I wait him out. Then he tosses me something. I catch it and look.

“You got me a car?” I ask, excited.

“It’s not just a car, Rea! You have to see it!” Meadow says practically dancing on her toes.

I smile and rush outside, Meadow right behind me.

“Holy cow! You got me the Arctic Truck?” I ask, in awe as I look at the mega off-road vehicle. With this truck, I’ll be able to go anywhere to let Alayla out to run. I can feel her excitement knowing we’ll be able to get to places that we’ve only been able to run to before in the mountains.

“Thank you!” I say, throwing my arms around my father, and then hugging my mother again. “Can I take it for a spin?”

“After breakfast, please Reagan,” my mother says.

I sigh. I know Emlyn, my brother’s mate and the pack’s Luna, will have done something special for me for breakfast.

“Alright. But I’m telling Emlyn that I gave up my first ride for her,” I say as we turn and head to the packhouse.

“A couple more people came in overnight, Reagan. Still don’t smell anything?” my father asks.

“Not yet,” I say. I’ll admit, I’m a bit disappointed. Anyone who is anyone is coming to my birthday. If my mate isn’t here then ... “Maybe I’ll have to wait, like you did for Mom,” I say to my father.

“I doubt that. You’re too special to go that long without your mate,” he says, just as we walk into the packhouse. Sure enough, Emlyn went all out. I’m not even sure when she and the pack had time to take down the decorations from last night and put up the birthday decorations for this morning.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” everyone who sees me yells.

The pack comes up and begins hugging me and wishing me Happy Birthday, as the Alphas and royals make their way toward me. I’ve barely stepped into the packhouse trying to say hello to everyone. Everyone has a gift for me, but my mother expertly guides the gifts to a table that Emlyn set aside.

“Alpha Reagan! Happy Birthday!” Rich’s warriors say. “We’ve got your breakfast right here,” they say, carrying a plate over to me. I look around and see that my brothers and sisters are looking away from me, smirking. Emlyn is holding their youngest daughter, Harper, and smiling at me in a way that has me narrowing my eyes at their warriors.

“Alpha Reagan, we made you breakfast,” they say, their smirks already telling me that I’m about to be aggravated.

When I look at the tray, there are two honeybun donuts that are absolutely smothered in glitter. Over top and underneath them, it has glue or icing covered in glitter. It says ‘Glitter Buns’.

“You fucking assholes,” I growl.

I hear the guests suck in air, but the warriors just laugh, knowing that while I’m annoyed with their antics, I’m not angry about it. It’s actually a pretty cute way for them to acknowledge how much I mean to them.

“At least tell me they’re edible,” I growl.

“Of course they are. Do you really think our omegas would have allowed them to make you something like that if you couldn’t eat it?” Emlyn says, walking over. “Happy birthday, Rae.”

I kiss the top of two-month-old Harper’s head then hug my sister-in-law before snatching a glitter infused honeybun off the plate.

“It’s not bad enough that Meadow glitter-bombed my bedroom this morning, now I’ve got glitter infused donuts for breakfast,” I say, taking a bite. “But compliments to the chef. These are delicious,” I say, knowing the omegas made these for me.

“That explains the sparkles in your hair,” my sister Malin says, walking over to hug me. Her twin, Quinn, is right behind her. I go around, hugging my family, their mates, and the other Guardians before finally being able to sit and eat.

When I finally sit, the omegas bring me a plate of steak and eggs. “Now THIS is the birthday present I’ve been waiting for,” I say, smiling at them.

Rich comes to sit with me, carrying Briella on one hip and Knox on the other. Little Leander comes to sit beside me. Emlyn hands me a booster seat for him and I put him in the chair beside me.

“This is important day, Aunt Rae.”

I lean forward so my face is even with Leander’s. “Why is that Little Leander?” He’s only three but he’s becoming more of an Alpha every day. He looks and acts so much like my brother, Rich, that it’s uncanny.

“Your birthday! You find your mate!” he tells me excitedly.

“Well, I haven’t found him yet,” I tell him.

He frowns, thinking that through. “Then you should fight with the others. Show them what they missed out on,” he says.

“What a fantastic idea, Little Leander,” I say, holding up my hand in a high five. He slaps my hand and then goes back to eating as if he’s settled today’s dilemma. Emlyn shakes her head but Rich looks excited.

“Sparring day?” he asks.

“Best way to spend the day,” I tell him, just as excited.

“What about presents?” Quinn asks, looking upset that I’m choosing to spend my birthday on the sparring grounds.

“We have plenty of time for presents,” my mother says patiently.

“Yeah, and I want to see how my little sister holds up against me now that I’m mated to vampire royalty,” Leana says.

“I’m more interested in seeing how I hold up against your mate,” I say, looking at Drake who is sitting beside her. Besides the very pale skin, the obvious way to tell that he’s a vampire is that there is no food in front of him. The rest of us look like we have plates big enough for three people each.

“He’s not the only royal vampire here, Custos Regni,” a vampire says from across the room.

“Or the only royal. There are many here who would love to see your strength in action, Guardian. Or any of the Guardians for that matter,” one of the royal elves says.

My father claps his hands together, the rubs them back and forth excitedly. “Sparring day!” he says, looking at Rich.

“Alright, I’ll set it up.”