The Voice of the Dead

Birthday party

*Lea POV*

Mom and dad presented me proudly to the almost entire pack that filled the banquet hall. The cheers and howls filled the air, celebrating Alpha's daughter's birthday.

Mine.

I shamelessly cried out of happiness when more and more pack members came to congratulate me on reaching adulthood.

The pack where I was born would never do that to me. But those people, after dad announced that they adopted me, took me in as one of them, even though I'm a sorceress, and never let me feel excluded. I'm one of them and they keep proving that to me.

Since I started to train my soul-speaking with Persephone, after my 16th birthday, I was able to help many pack members that had deceased relatives. I relayed the souls' messages to the living, and helped them go further in the land of the dead.

It became the most rewarding feeling in the world and I almost can't remember how terrified I used to be about this gift.

I can turn the voices off, leaving my mind completely blank but I do that rarely. I like to be aware of my surroundings, this way I'm always ready to help someone.

Since I was adopted by my parents, I decided to give back to the Universe by focusing on helping people, making it my life purpose.

My parents gave me the life I could never wish for, so it's only fitting for me to be like them. Selfless, kind and always ready to help.

As the sun was setting, we all came back to the packhouse to change.

I put on the beautiful, vibrant green dress that was bought specifically for this occasion. Aunt Dora braided my hair into a very elegant, subtle up do. Making my wild, curly, red hair a little less of a mess that I usually let them be.

I walked out of my bedroom to see my parents hugged into each other, whispering and kissing. They are adorable. Except for the moments they are overly touchy and insatiable, grossing everyone with their need for each other.

Although, it is sweet. How much they love and cherish each other.

Will my mate love me and cherish me as much as dad loves mom?

I sighed audibly, making my parents look at me.

Mom smiled brightly, moving her finger for me to swirl. I giggled and did, ending it with a small curtsy.

Dad however…

He put a hand on his heart and looked at me with shock. I saw him getting teary and one tear left his eyes, making him quickly wipe it off.

Mom looked up at her stunned mate and chuckled.

"You look beautiful, honey." She said, coming closer and holding my hands.

"Lea… you are all grown up." Dad said.

And I think he just realized that.

I laughed and hugged him, my face buried in his huge chest.

"I'll always be your daughter, dad." I whispered and he finally smiled.

"There, there. Don't smear her makeup." Mom chuckled, winking. "Let's go, everyone's waiting."

***

We arrived at Sally's Cabin almost 20 minutes later. The twins stayed at home, joined by all of their cousins, under the careful watch of two best pack nannies. The small pups all whined a little, but I promised to spend my entire tomorrow with just them, and they allowed me to have my "grown-up party".

Dad opened the doors for me, and the entire crowd of my family and friends yelled "Happy Birthday Lea" in a, almost, perfect sync.

I was expecting only the people who I already saw this morning, but was stunned to see even more people, who are important to me.

I covered my mouth, shocked.

Using this, Hades and Persephone reached me, both their God's aura hidden under a human disguise.

"Happy birthday, Lea." Hades said with an unusually broad smile. Persephone chuckled at my stunned face.

"Here, this is for you." She said and handed me a neatly packed gift.

I put it on the table behind me and hugged them both.

"Thank you so much for the gift but more importantly, for coming! I wasn't expecting you two! How did you manage to conceal your aura?" I asked, letting them go.

"Oh, Endymion was giving us some lessons on that. We've been preparing for months to leave the Underworld." Hades chuckled, waving towards my grandpa, who chuckled and waved back. "I do now understand why Zeus was so butthurt at Selene for choosing Endymion over him. Your grandfather is a great guy, much better than Zeus could ever be."

I looked at him wide-eyed. Perspephone chuckled and shook her head.

"And they've already cracked open the divine wine barrel we brought, as you can tell." She winked at me and I giggled.

The Lord of the Underworld is already tipsy.

"I can't believe you did that for me." I smiled, holding the Queen of Death's hands, looking down shyly.

"Anything for my favorite apprentice." She pinched my cheek and left towards the table, dragging her smiling husband with her.

"Surprise!" Aunt Eve and her twin brother Finn squealed in unison forcefully hugging me. I squealed back and hugged them even harder.

"Let the poor girl breathe!" Uncle Ryan, Eve's mate chuckled, trying to untangle the three of us. To no avail. Uncle Liam, Finn's mate, just stood back and chuckled, shaking his head.

"Happy birthday Lea." Finn finally squealed out, cupping my face in hands. "Oh, I hope you'll find your mate fast. I can't wait to see Alex's grumbling and misery."

I laughed, hearing my dad's groan. Soon everyone was chuckling as well.

"You are going to get your ass kicked one day. Good thing Liam is so strong and can protect you." I winked at Finn and he rolled his eyes with his usual sass.

"Yeah, he's gonna get me killed as well." Liam sighed, making Eve and Ryan laugh harder.

"Here, a little gift from all of us. Happy birthday, firefly. May your dreams come true." Eve smiled, pecking my cheek while Ryan gave me a present from them.

"Thank you guys. The biggest gift for me is your presence." I said sincerely, wiping another tear.

"Kurt and Trish wanted to come as well, but she is popping soon, again, and can't travel." Finn said nonchalantly, making me giggle. "By the way, who knew Hades is so… hot?"

I laughed out loud while Finn waved towards the Lord of the Underworld with a wink. Hades blushed and quickly looked away. Persephone seeing that started to giggle so hard, she started to cry, bending halfway. Liam growled lowly and grabbed his mate by the waist and walked away, towards the side entrance, where the motel rooms were. The whole room roared with laughter.

"Oh no, they are going to bang now." Eve sighed, wiping her own tears after laughing too hard. "Finn's doing this on purpose, he likes when Liam gets a little jealous."

Ryan groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Unbelievable." He muttered and rolled his eyes. "He is messing with the God of Death. Your brother isn't sane."

"Oh, trust me. You have nothing to be afraid of. Hades and Persephone are awesome. I think Finn made him shy. That's an achievement." I chuckled.

The rest of my family came with wishes again, handing me more gifts.

After that I opened all of them, my makeup getting messier after each gift, as I couldn't control my tears of joy. I thanked everyone profusely, stunned by the amount of things I've received.

As the time came to sit down for dinner, Uncle Jonathan came to me with a small box and a huge smile.

He handed it to me with a wink.

"I've heard that you may need it soon."

I tilted my head to the side and opened the box.

Key?

I gasped when I realized that was a car key.

"What? Nooo, you didn't." I covered my mouth.

He chuckled and nodded.

"I did. With your parents permission of course. You always said that you don't need one, and that using Asteria's or Alex's car is completely enough, but it's time for your first very own car, lady."

I looked from him to my parents and they nodded with a smile. I hung on his neck, squeezing him.

"Thank you, I hope you didn't crash a bank for this."

"You think I would let my niece drive some used, unsafe wreck? I bought you a new one. Salon fresh." He laughed nonchalantly and left, leaving me speechless.

After I took a quick look at my new car, we sat down to eat.

***

Few hours later, the party was in full swing. I was sitting behind the table watching all of my favorite people talk and mingle.

Grandpas Adam and Endymion were talking with Hades, laughing and…

Are they planning a fishing trip together?

I shook that off and looked further.

Mom, Eve and Kira were giggling with each other as next to them Oriana and Dora were describing Persephone how female she-wolves train, showing off some moves once in a while. The Queen of Death was listening with her mouth opened and eyes wide, clearly impressed.

Dad and Ryan stood a little further away, laughing and shaking their heads as they listened to Robert's jokes.

Closest to me stood a group with Horatio, Sally, Selene, Kitty, Eli and Liam. They've been talking and joking with each other, once in a while glancing towards Darius and Finn, who stood further away, whispering and smiling mischievously.

Horatio caught Liam's squinted eyes, as the werewolf was watching his mate talking with another man and chuckled.

"I can't hear what they are talking about." Liam scowled, fighting his jealousy.

Horatio put his hand on Liam's arm and grinned.

"I can and let me tell you pup… When you live as long as we do, you have to learn how to… spice things up once in a while." He wiggled his eyebrows, causing the poor Gamma to blush furiously. "They are exchanging ideas. Darius has a few… intense tricks and he is happily sharing them with your mate. You can thank him later."

Everyone around them roared with laughter as Liam went bright red and nodded.

I giggled, shaking my head.

I looked around and frowned.

Where is Jonathan?

"How are feeling?" His voice startled me and he chuckled as he walked from behind my back.

"You scared me." I sighed, fanning myself. "I'm okay. I'm happy to have all of the people I love so much in one place."

I smiled and looked towards my parents.

My heart stung a little as I thought about leaving them.

"So when are you leaving?" Jonathan asked plainly, sipping wine from a glass.

I looked at him wide-eyed.

"Mom told you?" I asked, whispering.

Jonathan chuckled and shook his head.

"Nope. I can see it in your eyes. Asteria had the same look when she was telling me that she has to leave to look for her mate. I assume you can feel the same pull that she did."

I blinked a couple of times and exhaled.

"I don't know. I feel like I need to leave soon. My heart is pushing me somewhere. I also want to help more people with my gift. I'm terrified to leave, but… I have to."

"Hey. It's okay. My mother kind of hinted at Alex and Asteria that your mate isn't from this pack. They've been preparing themselves for the day you leave. And we all did as well." Uncle smiled, holding my hand.

"It's breaking my heart to watch you guys hurt." I smiled sadly, hanging my head.

"Come on, Firefly. No sadness on your birthday is allowed." Jonathan lifted my chin. "We all love you dearly and we are sad to let you go. But we are happy for the happiness you gave us. And you are going to travel, it's not like you are dying. Even if you settle somewhere else, we are still going to see each other. You can't run away from all of us that easily."

I giggled at his fake serious face.

"That's the spirit. Wherever you are, whatever will stand in your way, your family will always have your back. We will forever love you and help you whenever you need. So don't be sad, be excited for your journey and know that we will always be next to you." Jonathan finished with his usual broad smile and I gave him another big hug.

"Thank you, Uncle Jonathan." I sobbed as he patted my head.

"Everyone! Gather, it's time for a toast!" My dad's voice boomed through and we both stood up, smiling.