Chapter 3
805 Words
Chapter 3: Eighteen
The first rays of sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, painting Emilia's bedroom in shades of gold.
For a moment, she simply lay there, staring at the ceiling.
Eighteen.
She was officially an adult.
She expected to feel different.
Older.
Wiser.
Instead, she felt... strangely restless.
Almost as if something inside her had been waiting for this day.
A soft knock came from the door.
"Miss Emilia?"
Mrs. Walters peeked inside with a bright smile.
"Happy birthday."
Emilia smiled back.
"Thank you."
"Your father asked me to tell you he'll be home before dinner."
Her eyes widened.
"Really?"
Mrs. Walters nodded.
"He said today is non-negotiable."
A warmth spread through Emilia's chest.
Maybe...
Things really were changing.
---
By noon, the Hawthorne Estate buzzed with preparations.
The sprawling gardens had been transformed with fairy lights, elegant white tents, and dozens of fresh flowers.
Camila spun in a circle, admiring everything.
"This is going to be perfect!"
Lillian laughed.
"You've checked the decorations five times."
"I know, but Emilia deserves the best birthday ever."
"You've said that three times today."
"And I'll say it again."
Nearby, Killian watched the staff set up tables.
Damien approached with a clipboard.
"The guests will start arriving in two hours."
Killian nodded absentmindedly.
His attention drifted toward the front gate.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
He kept expecting Emilia to arrive.
---
The Miller Mansion...
Emilia stood in front of her mirror.
The bedroom looked as though a boutique had exploded.
Three dresses lay across the bed.
One was navy blue.
Another emerald green.
The last...
A deep wine-red satin gown with a fitted bodice and flowing skirt.
Mrs. Walters smiled knowingly.
"That one."
Emilia looked up.
"The red?"
"It brings out your eyes."
"My eyes are gold."
"Exactly."
Emilia laughed.
"You're impossible."
"And I'm usually right."
After a moment's hesitation...
Emilia picked up the red dress.
---
An hour later...
Sean Miller walked into the mansion carrying a small gift bag.
He paused outside Emilia's room.
His hand hovered over the door.
For years...
He had avoided moments like this.
Not because he didn't care.
Because he cared too much.
Taking a slow breath, he knocked.
"Come in."
When Sean opened the door...
He froze.
Emilia stood before the mirror, fastening the silver moon pendant around her neck.
For one impossible second...
He didn't see his daughter.
He saw Sophia.
The same golden eyes.
The same gentle smile.
The same graceful elegance.
His chest tightened.
"Dad?"
Her voice pulled him back.
"You look..."
Sean swallowed hard.
"...beautiful."
A genuine smile spread across Emilia's face.
"Thank you."
He handed her the gift bag.
"Open it."
Inside was a small velvet case.
Nestled within was a delicate bracelet engraved with a single sentence.
No matter where life takes you, you'll always be my little girl.
Tears stung Emilia's eyes.
She threw her arms around him without thinking.
Sean stiffened in surprise.
Then, slowly...
He hugged her back.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"For everything."
Emilia pulled away just enough to look at him.
"You came."
"I'll always come."
For the first time in years...
They both believed it.
---
By sunset...
Luxury cars lined the entrance to the Hawthorne Estate.
Business leaders.
Family friends.
Pack members disguised as ordinary guests.
Everyone had gathered to celebrate Emilia.
Music floated through the gardens.
Laughter echoed beneath strings of glowing lights.
As Emilia stepped out of Sean's car...
Every conversation seemed to pause.
She wasn't the little girl who used to chase butterflies through the gardens anymore.
She had become a young woman.
Camila ran toward her.
"There she is! The birthday girl!"
She wrapped Emilia in a tight hug before stepping back dramatically.
"Oh..."
"What?"
"You look unfairly gorgeous."
Emilia laughed.
"So do you."
"No, tonight is your night."
Camila linked their arms.
"Come on. Everyone's waiting."
---
Standing near the fountain...
Killian turned at the sound of laughter.
His gaze found Emilia instantly.
Time slowed.
The red dress shimmered beneath the fairy lights.
Her crimson hair cascaded over her shoulders.
The moon pendant rested against her collarbone.
She smiled at something Camila said.
For a heartbeat...
Killian forgot to breathe.
His wolf stirred uneasily.
Beautiful.
The thought wasn't his.
It belonged to the beast inside him.
Killian frowned.
She's Sean's daughter.
His wolf ignored him.
Ours to protect.
A strange chill ran down his spine.
Before he could understand why...
Emilia looked up.
Their eyes met across the garden.
Something invisible passed between them.
A flicker.
A pull.
Gone as quickly as it came.
Emilia blinked.
Did she imagine that?
Killian looked away first.
He clenched his jaw.
Something wasn't right.
And deep in the forest beyond the Hawthorne Estate...
Hidden among the trees...
A pair of crimson eyes watched the celebration from the darkness.
Roman Volkov smiled.
"Found you."
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD