Betrayed and Saved by Love

Chapter Four: Birthday’s Preparation

Liliana’s POV

The Silver Moon Pack was in chaos.

For the last three weeks and five days, preparations for my eighteenth birthday had taken over every waking moment. The Pack House had transformed into a flurry of activity, with decorations being strung up, deliveries arriving in waves, and my mother directing everyone with the precision of a military general.

And the last two days? Pure madness.

Everywhere I turned, someone was rushing around, adjusting floral arrangements, finalizing the music selection, or fussing over the seating chart. The scent of fresh flowers mixed with the mouthwatering aroma of test dishes being prepared in the kitchens, filling the entire house with an intoxicating blend of celebration and anticipation. The air itself buzzed with excitement, a near-palpable energy as the Pack came together to ensure the night would be perfect.

I had never seen my mother like this before—completely and utterly consumed by the preparations. She wanted everything to be flawless, down to the last silver-threaded napkin.

At first, it was amusing. Then it became overwhelming. And now?

Now, I just wanted to escape.

Between selecting the floral arrangements—delicate white lilies and bold red hibiscus entwined with silver wolf-shaped decorations—and choosing a welcoming cocktail assortment of gourmet appetizers, I had barely had time to breathe. The main course menu had turned into a saga of its own, with the final decision landing on an unlimited barbecue spread, mashed potatoes smothered in rich gravy, fresh garden salads, and a massive paella large enough to feed the entire Pack and the neighboring ones.

Dessert was even grander—a six-tier vanilla cake layered with fresh strawberries, elegantly decorated in white, red, and silver. Alongside it, an assortment of ice creams, fruit salads, and flowing fountains of melted chocolate and caramel would be available.

For the music, a string quartet had been hired to play throughout the evening, weaving a soft, enchanting melody through the garden until dessert. After my first shift, a DJ would take over, turning the event into a full-blown celebration.

And, of course, the dresses.

My mother had insisted I wear something grand for the first half of the night—a long, white sweetheart-neck dress embroidered with a silver-threaded moon and a constellation of tiny stars. It shimmered beneath the light, delicate yet ethereal. After my shift, I would change into something simpler—a sleek black dress that would allow me to dance freely.

Everything had been meticulously planned. Every detail accounted for.

And yet, despite all the grandeur, the one thing missing was my human friends.

Since they couldn’t know about the supernatural world, they wouldn’t be able to attend the official Pack celebration. But knowing them, they refused to let my birthday go by without doing something special.

Tomorrow night, before the Pack celebration, Ben, Amy, Lincoln, Paige, and Jay had planned a surprise for me. I had tried to pry details from them, but they had held their ground, smirking whenever I pressed too hard.

Still, I wasn’t worried. With them, I knew I would have the time of my life.

Bastian’s POV

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the day of her birthday.

For weeks, Ares had been restless—pacing, stirring, whispering her name in the depths of my mind. I didn’t understand why, but the thought of meeting her again filled me with anticipation I couldn’t explain.

The past three weeks have been an endless battle of frustration. What do you give someone who is about to shift for the first time?

I racked my brain for days, only to come up empty-handed. Nothing seemed right—until I remembered what I had done for Léna’s eighteenth birthday. A trip with all her friends to Bali.

So yesterday, I booked an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii for her and five of her friends, letting the dates remain open so she could choose when to go.

It felt right. A gift of freedom, adventure, and memories she could make on her own terms.

As for me, I was already prepared.

My black Armani suit was pressed and ready, accompanied by a crisp white shirt and a deep blue tie that matched my eyes. Around my finger, I wore my Crown Prince signet ring—an heirloom passed down from my grandfather to my father, and now to me. And on my wrist, my Cartier watch—the gift my mother had given me on my eighteenth birthday.

Nothing else. I didn’t need more.

Tomorrow, at midday, I would depart with my mother, arriving at the Silver Moon Pack just in time for the start of the festivities.

And for reasons I couldn’t explain, I couldn’t wait.

Liliana’s POV

Yesterday was perfect.

My friends had outdone themselves, planning the kind of day I would remember forever.

We spent the afternoon swimming in the waterfall, the sun casting golden reflections across the crystalline water as we laughed, splashed, and shared stories about the future. Then, after drying off beneath the summer breeze, we went to an Italian restaurant, where we enjoyed ourselves on the best pasta and pizza imaginable.

And finally—bowling.

We played for hours, competing, teasing, and celebrating every strike and gutter ball as if they were the greatest victories and defeats in history. By the end of the night, my cheeks ached from smiling so much.

Their gifts were equally touching.

Amy and Lincoln gifted me a sleek black Yves Saint Laurent purse and an instant Polaroid camera to capture our best memories.

Paige gave me a custom chemistry set—one that would allow me to craft my own birth gemstone based on my DNA. She swore it was real and the real deal.

Jay handed me a Denver Broncos jersey, customized with his name, number, and autograph. He grinned, telling me that when he made it to the NFL, I would have a collector’s item. Then, with a sheepish smile, he also gave me a teddy bear with a recorded voice message of our “Friends 4 Ever” song from two years ago that we wrote together.

And Ben. He gifted me a silver heart-shaped locket, engraved with our names on one side and a photo of us on the other.

I nearly cried.

This birthday was and would be the best that I ever had.

However, this morning, I woke up to chaos.

The moment my eyes fluttered open, Zoé came barreling into my room, bouncing on my bed like a hyperactive puppy.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINIIIIIIIIIIII!” she squealed. “Wake up! Wake up! You need to get ready for your party tonight!”

Before I could react, I tackled her.

We both went tumbling, her yelp of surprise turning into laughter as we landed in a tangled heap.

“Ouch! Zoé, never do that again!” I groaned. “You startled me! And now I’m in pain. Which, technically, is also your fault!”

She grinned, completely unfazed. “You love me anyway.”

I rolled my eyes, pulling her into a hug. “Yeah, yeah. Now tell me everything about your trip.”

We talked for hours, catching up on everything she and Uncle Liam had done in France.

Later that day, my mother helped me prepare myself for tonight.

“Don’t move,” my mother murmured as she carefully placed the last delicate flower pin in my hair.

I sat in front of the mirror, my hands fidgeting in my lap. “Sorry, Mom. I’m just excited.”

She chuckled, her eyes misty as she met mine in the reflection. Then, gently, she placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I can’t believe you’re eighteen,” she whispered. “It feels like just yesterday, you were taking your first steps… and now, you’re a young woman.”

I swallowed hard, tears threatening to spill.

Turning, I threw my arms around her.

“Thank you, Mom,” I murmured. “For everything. I love you.”

She held me tight. “I love you too, sweetheart.”

And with that, the doors opened.

It was time.

Tonight, my fate awaited.