Chapter 17: 18th Birthday

The following morning, Alinta woke up early to the sound of her mother singing as she carried a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

"Happy birthday, my baby," her mother sang, pulling Alinta into a tight hug. Her mother was beautiful, with raven black hair and striking green eyes, just like her daughter. "Today is the day the Moon blesses you with your wolf, Lara, and I can't wait to meet her." She hummed and kissed Alinta on the forehead. "I wanted to spoil you with a special breakfast, but since Bellinor has gotten to you first with his invitation, I guess you'll have to settle for some coffee instead," she winked.

"Mom, no matter what you make or give me, it's always the best," Alinta giggled, enjoying the warmth of her mother's embrace.

"Oh, my baby, I wish I could give you the world—that’s how precious you are to me. When you get home, we can go to the river as promised and run with our wolves."

"I'm so excited!" Alinta exclaimed, eagerly trying to call for her wolf, but there was no response. Her smile shrank slightly, and her mother noticed.

"Linty, your wolf will come at the right time, so don't worry if she’s not here yet. They say if a wolf arrives late, it’s because the Moon is making her extra special," her mother said while combing Alinta's messy hair out of her daughter's eyes. "And you baby girl are extra special."

"Thanks, Mom..." Alinta was interrupted by the sound of an approaching car outside.

"That’s probably Bellinor’s driver. Now I’ll let you get ready," her mother said, giving her a final kiss on the forehead before letting go.

Alinta quickly dressed in a beautiful yellow summer dress with small floral patterns. She wore her long locks of hair down, bouncing over her shoulders, and applied soft pink lipstick, eyeliner, and mascara. Rushing out of her room, she greeted her mom as she headed for the front door. Opening it, she found Bellinor’s driver patiently waiting with a broad smile.

"Good morning, Miss Alinta, and happy birthday," he said with a bow, then opened the back passenger door for her.

"Good morning, Henry, thank you so much," she replied gratefully as she climbed in.

The drive was mostly silent until Henry asked, "Have you finally met your wolf, Miss Alinta?"

"No, not yet, but the day is still young, so fingers crossed," she replied with a beaming contagious smile. The drive took about ten minutes before they arrived at Sage and Salt, a very popular restaurant in the area.

As Alinta entered the restaurant, she noticed it was unusually empty for a Saturday morning, especially at this location. While scanning for Bellinor, she suddenly felt large, strong arms wrap tightly around her from behind. Startled at first, she relaxed as she recognized the familiar cologne. Bellinor pulled her close to his chest and whispered tenderly, "Happy birthday, my dear Alinta." He then kissed her cheek and playfully twirled her around to face him.

"Thank you, Mr. Crassus," Alinta replied, still recovering from her surprise. She laughed nervously, almost not recognizing the man before her; he seemed remarkably different, fancifully dressed compared to usual. His cologne was potent, his hair was styled with glossy wax, and even his moustache was neatly groomed.

Bellinor chuckled, clearly satisfied as he gazed deeply into her wondering eyes. "I have plenty more surprises lined up for you, my darling. Come, let us sit—I have reserved a special table where we can enjoy each other's company without interruption."

As Bellinor eagerly escorted Alinta, she was astonished by the sight before her. The whole table and surrounding area were decorated with turquoise and silver balloons, flowers, and various decorative items. It looked more like an esteemed venue than a restaurant. Alinta gasped, her hands covering her face as she tried to contain her grateful tears.

"This is beautiful," Alinta said, her voice trembling.

Not taking his eyes off her, Bellinor smiled widely and gently urged, "Shall we take a seat, my dear?" He then carefully guided her to the table before she could answer.

A waitress with a small notepad approached the table, her expression annoyed, but she spoke with a forced smile. "Good morning, Mr. Crassus, and happy birthday, Alinta. What can I get for you on this special day?"

Before Alinta could respond, Bellinor quickly interjected, "Just so that you don't choose something dull. I have requested a custom-made menu card featuring only the best dishes for you to choose from." He grinned.

Feeling shy and somewhat overwhelmed, Alinta thought it was very sweet of Bellinor but also a bit excessive for the day. Surely her birthday wasn’t as special as he was making it out to be. After all, all werewolves at her age meet their wolf. "Thank you, Mr. Crassus," she said timidly as she took the menu.

Bellinor gazed at Alinta dotingly and asked, "What would you like to drink, my dear?"

After a moment's thought, she replied shyly, "I'll have a latte, please."

The large man smiled and then turned his attention back to the waitress, who appeared visibly irritated. "Margaret, why don't you be a dear and bring us two long caffe lattes for now? By the time you return, we should have our orders ready for you." She nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. Alinta felt a wave of relief wash over her when the waitress left, grateful for a moment of calm as she prepared for what the day might bring. Margaret had always been her greatest oppressor during school, so Alinta was uncertain about what might happen next.

As Alinta stared at the menu, unsure of what to select, Bellinor’s gaze remained fixed on her. Despite her minimal makeup, she was undeniably captivating, just like her mother. Her red hair and pink lips ignited his imagination, and her green eyes sparkled like rare jewels meant to be admired for days.

"My, my, you have truly become more radiant with each passing year, my darling," he purred, shifting closer to her.

Alinta looked up from the menu, her cheeks flushed with surprise. "Thank you, Mr. Crassus," she replied, her voice slightly stifled as she cleared her throat, uncertain of what else to say.

His eyes darkened, and his voice took on a husky tone, indicating his wolf was surfacing. "Only you hold a special place in our hearts. You believe us, don’t you?" He snaked his long arm around her. Alinta stiffened, her eyes wide with disbelief at the man next to her. He let out a small, knowing laugh and continued to draw her in as his expression returned to normal.

Before Alinta could respond, Margaret returned with the lattes and set them on the table. "Are you ready to order?" she asked impatiently, clearly jealous of the attention Alinta was receiving.

Not taking his eyes off Alinta, Bellinor asked in a tender, loving voice, "What does my birthday girl desire, hmm?"

Frantically looking at the menu again, she stammered, "I...I will have the yoghurt parfait, please."

"Okay, and you, Mr. Crassus?" Margaret asked vexed.

"I am quite famished. I shall order the Millionaire's Breakfast. The strip of steak on top of a roasted oyster and eggs sounds quite delightful," he laughed while squeezing Alinta's shoulder.

"One Millionaire breakfast. How do you want your eggs and steak?"

"Sunny side up and rare, please," replied Bellinor, content. Margaret made a final note and then walked off. He waited until the waitress was gone but kept his eyes on Alinta. He leaned closer to her, breathing in her fragrance, which smelled like Frangipani.

"Onyx and I have been waiting patiently for this day, my dear," he whispered in her ear as he gently placed a small gift bag on her lap. "Happy birthday, my darling," he said, then kissed her temple.

"Th... thank you, Mr. Crassus, but you shouldn't have. What you organised is already too much," Alinta squeaked while looking at the extravagant gift bag.

"Nonsense," Bellinor chortled. "You deserve only the best. Now go on, open it." Alinta timidly opened the small bag. Her face paled, and she started to tremble as she pulled out a small red velvet box. A satisfactory grin spread across Bellinor's lips, exposing his sharp teeth. "Oh my darling, you cannot even fathom what I have in store for you," he breathed in her ear before placing another kiss on the side of her head.

Alinta cautiously opened the box, trying to maintain a brave facade, but her lowered and knotted eyebrows betrayed her as its contents were revealed. No, no, no, this can't be real! Alinta cried frantically in her thoughts. Inside rested a lavish engagement five-carat grand vintage trilogy ring with diamond accents fitted all around the platinum band. The thought of marrying Bellinor sent unsettling shivers down her spine, and her heart raced fearfully in her chest. Bellinor noticed the look of dread on her face and became angry, feeling offended by her reaction.

"Does the thought of me as your husband disgust you so much that you visibly turn your nose up at me?" he hissed bitterly, tightening his hold around her, afraid she might bolt at any moment.

"Oh no! Mr. Crassus, please, it's not like that at all! It's just... all these years... I um... thought of you as... as... uh..." She stopped, looking too embarrassed to continue.

Intrigued, Bellinor's anger slightly subsided, as he saw her blushing cheeks. "Think of me as what, my dear?"

Alinta swallowed her embarrassment as her expression softened, then said in almost a whisper, "A father."