The birthday she never celebrated
355 Words
The journey back to the other Alpha Lords was quieter than Elara expected.
When they arrived, Kael was the first to step forward.
"You've been gone long enough."
His stern voice softened the moment his eyes found Elara.
"Are you hurt?"
She smiled and shook her head.
"I'm fine."
The other Alphas gathered around her, each relieved to see her safe.
Then Adrian spoke.
"We don't have much time."
Everyone turned to him.
"Her birthday is in three days."
Silence.
Riven blinked.
"...How do you know that?"
Adrian smiled to himself.
"I've known for years."
The others stared.
"What do you mean?" Darius asked.
Adrian's silver eyes drifted toward Elara.
"Long before any of you found her, I watched over her from the skies."
"I visited every birthday from afar."
"I watched her laugh... I watched her cry."
"I watched until the day she left her childhood home to live with her grandmother near Blackwood Forest."
Elara stood speechless.
"You... were there?"
"You never saw me," Adrian said gently.
"But I always made sure you were safe."
Kael's jaw tightened.
Lucian folded his arms.
Riven forced a smile.
Darius looked away.
None of them liked hearing that Adrian already knew so much about the woman they had only just found.
Adrian looked at them with a grin.
"She never liked celebrating her birthday."
"She always believed it was just another ordinary day."
His smile softened.
"So this year..."
"We're going to give her a birthday she'll never forget."
For the first time, all five Alphas agreed without hesitation.
Then Adrian glanced at them mischievously.
"I hope you've already prepared your gifts."
The others exchanged confused looks.
"You have yours?" Riven asked.
Adrian nodded proudly.
"I've been preparing it for years."
A heavy silence followed.
Kael leaned closer to Darius.
"I don't like this."
"Neither do I," Darius muttered.
"He can cook..."
"He has wings," Lucian added.
"And somehow he already knows everything about her," Riven sighed.
Kael crossed his arms.
"We're letting him win."
The four Alphas looked at one another.
Not one of them was willing to lose Elara's heart.
Not even to Adrian.
- Writer
