The Secret In The Woods

BIRTHDAY!!

It was the next day, and I had no idea what I was walking into.

I woke up late — my body sore in places I didn’t even know could ache, my head still buzzing from the night before. The memories came in flashes: the forest, the run, Raven’s voice, Luca’s eyes, the mate bond that still pulsed faintly in the back of my mind like a second heartbeat.

I thought maybe today would be quiet — that I could spend it recovering, maybe pretending for a few hours that my life hadn’t completely changed under the full moon. But as soon as I walked downstairs, the smell of something sweet hit me — vanilla, chocolate, and cinnamon all tangled together.

For a second, I just stood there, blinking.

The living room was glowing with warm light, sunlight streaming through the curtains. Balloons — actual balloons — were tied to the chairs and door handles. A small banner stretched across the wall above the fireplace that read HAPPY 18TH, ARIA! in big, loopy letters that looked suspiciously like Savannah’s handwriting.

“Surprise!”

I jumped as Savannah, Claire, and Luca popped out from the kitchen doorway, grinning. My uncle Elias followed behind them, carrying a large cake that looked far too fancy for someone who claimed not to bake.

“Happy birthday, kiddo,” Elias said, his eyes soft with warmth.

I just stared, stunned. “Wait—what? You guys did all this?”

Claire laughed, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder. “Of course we did! You’re officially eighteen — and officially part of the pack now. That deserves a celebration.”

Savannah nodded, her grin bright. “We couldn’t not throw you a party. You survived your first shift and didn’t kill anyone. That’s a win in my book.”

I groaned, but I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. “You guys are ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously thoughtful,” Savannah corrected, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the table. “Now sit. Elias made pancakes, and Luca—”

“I supervised,” Luca interrupted, leaning casually against the counter, arms crossed. His lips curved into that small smirk I was beginning to recognize — the one that made my chest flutter far too easily. “Didn’t want her to burn down the house.”

Savannah rolled her eyes. “Liar. You ate half the strawberries.”

“I was quality testing,” Luca said, deadpan.

They started bickering, and I couldn’t help laughing. The sound felt strange — light, genuine, the kind of laugh I hadn’t heard from myself in a long time. Elias set the cake down on the table and watched me quietly, a small, knowing smile on his face.

He waited until everyone was distracted before leaning closer and saying softly, “You’ve been through a lot, Aria. You deserve a day that’s just… good.”

I met his gaze, the weight of his words settling deep. “Thank you,” I whispered.

He nodded. “You’re stronger than you think. Your parents would’ve been proud.”

That made my throat tighten, and for a moment I couldn’t speak. All I could do was nod, blinking away the sudden sting in my eyes.

Savannah clapped her hands, breaking the moment. “Alright, birthday girl! Make a wish!”

I looked down at the cake — white frosting, little silver wolf figurines on top, and candles flickering like tiny flames. My heart twisted at the sight.

For a moment, I thought of everything — my parents, my new reality, the bond that tied me to Luca, the uncertainty of what came next.

Then I closed my eyes and made my wish.

When I blew out the candles, everyone cheered. Claire turned on music, Savannah started dancing terribly in the middle of the living room, and Luca just shook his head, laughing under his breath.

Eventually, we all moved outside. The sun was high, the air crisp and clean. There was food, laughter, stories about the pack, and even a few harmless dares from Savannah that had Claire threatening to throw her in the lake.

It felt normal — almost too normal. For a little while, I could almost pretend I wasn’t something more than human.

But that illusion didn’t last long.

Because every time Luca’s eyes met mine, I felt it — the bond humming quietly between us, the pull that made my pulse quicken and my wolf stir restlessly inside me. Raven didn’t speak, but I could feel her pacing, watching him through my eyes, content but alert.

And then there was Elias — smiling, talking, laughing — but every now and then, I caught the way his gaze shifted toward the forest line, his expression tightening, just for a second.

Something in the air felt… different.

He wasn’t just watching the trees. He was listening.

I could feel it too — faint, like a whisper under the surface of the day’s laughter. A prickle along my spine. A scent I couldn’t quite place.

Raven stirred in my chest, her voice soft and low. Something’s coming.

I straightened slightly, glancing toward the forest. The wind brushed against my skin, carrying the faintest trace of something familiar — dark, powerful.

Kade.

My heart skipped a beat.

But before I could react, Savannah threw an arm around my shoulders, laughing. “You okay? You look like you’re about to shift again.”

I forced a smile. “Yeah… just tired.”

She nodded, oblivious. “That’s fair. You’ve had one hell of a week.”

I laughed weakly, but my eyes drifted back toward the trees, the unease tightening in my chest.

Whatever this day was supposed to be — lighthearted, safe — something told me it wasn’t going to stay that way for long.

And as the wind carried that faint, haunting scent again, Raven’s growl echoed through my mind.

The storm’s not over yet.

I tried to continue to the party but the whole time all I felt was the heat between my thighs every time I looked at Luca.

I could feel him

The tingling sensation crawling against my skin. The pull towards him all of it was so intoxicating.

His presence pressed against my senses like a pulse — steady, magnetic, impossible to block out.

Then, clear as if he were whispering into my ear, I heard his voice slide into my thoughts.

I can feel you, you know…

The fork in my hand froze halfway to my mouth. My stomach flipped violently, and I nearly dropped my plate. The words weren’t just imagined — they were real, threaded through the pack link that bound us now.

I swallowed hard, eyes darting toward him. He was leaning against the porch railing a few feet away, pretending to listen to Claire talk, but his amber eyes were locked on me — glowing faintly in the dim light, like molten gold.

My face burned. I shoved another bite of food into my mouth, trying to hide behind the motion, to pretend I hadn’t heard him.

Stop it, I thought quickly, unsure if he could even hear my response. You’re doing that on purpose.

He smirked — that slow, knowing curl of his lips that made my pulse skip.

Doing what? His voice came again, teasing, brushing across my mind like a warm breeze.

I clenched my jaw, glaring at him. You know what.

He chuckled under his breath, the sound barely audible but echoing in my mind like it was meant only for me. You’re blushing.

I grabbed a napkin and pretended to wipe my mouth just to hide the heat crawling up my neck. You’re impossible.

And yet, he said, you can’t stop thinking about me.

I nearly choked. Savannah, sitting beside me, glanced over. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I said quickly, coughing. “Just—swallowed wrong.”

Luca’s grin widened. He looked away finally, but the smirk never left his face, and I could still feel him — like an echo in my mind, warm and smug and entirely too pleased with himself.

I tried to focus on the others. Savannah was rambling about how the pack’s bonfire next month was going to be “legendary,” and Claire was already arguing about who’d be stuck cleaning up afterward. My uncle had disappeared into the house to grab more drinks, leaving me in this sea of laughter and noise that suddenly felt too loud, too bright.

But all I could think about was Luca.

Every movement he made drew my attention — the way he ran his hand through his hair, the quiet laugh that escaped him when Savannah teased him about being a “birthday simp.” The more I tried to look away, the more my gaze found its way back to him.

This is ridiculous, I thought to myself. Get it together, Aria.

But then, like he’d been waiting for that exact thought, his voice returned — soft this time.

It’s the bond, he said gently. You’re feeling the connection now that your wolf’s awake. It’s… strong between us.

I froze. So this—this feeling—is normal?

He hesitated, his expression unreadable from across the yard. For mates? Yeah. But… it’s also new. For both of us.

My breath caught. Mates. The word hit differently when he said it — heavier, real.

I looked away quickly, pretending to watch the sun dip behind the trees, my thoughts spiraling.

Because even though I wanted to deny it — the racing heart, the warmth in my chest, the way every sense seemed tuned to him — deep down, I knew what it meant.

And the way Luca’s eyes softened when they met mine again told me he knew it too.

That quiet understanding — that pull — scared me more than any full moon ever could.