Moonlight Betrayal
Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Astrid’s POV

A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE PARTY

My eyes snapped open before the sun had even thought about rising. There was no slow drift into consciousness; one moment I was asleep, the next I was wide awake, my entire body buzzing with a nervous, joyful energy. Today was the day.

I lay still for a moment, letting the excitement hum under my skin. For the first time, a party of this scale was being thrown for Kaeleen, and I was the one behind it. I had no idea why he wouldn’t even want a party for his birthday especially since I asked his sisters and they all told me he just doesn’t like it. I’m hoping he likes this one and that I’m not making a fucking huge mistake with this.

Everyone, from Serena to Rebecca to Yvonne, had been incredible, diving into the planning with a shared sense of mischievous purpose. The biggest challenge was keeping it a secret from Kaeleen who had eyes and ears who saw and heard everything.

I slipped out of bed, my heart thumping a happy rhythm against my ribs. After a quick shower, I chose my clothes carefully, a simple pair of jeans and a soft sweater. Normal. Today had to be completely and utterly normal. Not.

I made my way to the kitchen and was fixing myself a cup of coffee when he walked in. When he walked in, my breath caught. Maybe it was the fact that I was excited but damn, he looked good in that Armani suit he wore. When his eyes found mine, his face broke into that small, private smile that was reserved just for me, and I felt a pang of guilt for the deception I was about to commit. Yeah, that’s a lie. I felt nothing. I was more struck by his beauty than anything. How was he so fucking handsome?

"Good morning," I said, my voice bright. I turned back to the cook I’d been chatting with, pretending to be absorbed in a conversation about the day’s menus.

I could feel his gaze on me, feel the weight of his unspoken question. I forced myself not to look at him, not to give anything away. My stomach twisted into a cold knot. I hated seeing the flicker of disappointment in his green eyes, the slight slump in his shoulders as he poured his coffee. Every instinct screamed at me to run to him, to wrap my arms around his neck and whisper ’Happy Birthday.’ But I held my ground. The surprise would be worth this small, shared pain. And I also couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he found out.

He left for work without another word, and the moment the sound of his car faded down the driveway, the pack house erupted. It was like a switch had been flipped. The quiet morning exploded into a whirlwind of controlled chaos. Event planners swarmed the grand hall, directing staff who were hanging lights and arranging tables. The scent of flowers and cooking food began to fill the air.

Alex, who had lied to Kaeleen that he was struck with a fever, gave me a thumbs-up before heading out to pick up Marcus and Jonathan from the private airfield.

Rebecca and Yvonne were helping too, directing the flow of activity with an efficiency that was both terrifying and impressive. Serena had called, assuring me she was coming, but not Hunter. His sister will be watching him and he had insisted she come. She was excited even though Hunter wasn’t coming and when I pointed it out, she said they had met the doctors and Hunter was responding to treatment. That in itself was a cause for celebration. With everything in their capable hands, I escaped to my studio.

The large canvas stood on the easel in the center of the room, waiting for me. This was the final, most important piece of the puzzle. My gift. The first large-scale drawing I had ever attempted. I had no idea what I was even drawing at first. I was just going with the flow and it seemed my heart had been controlling my hand all along.

I had let myself get lost in the charcoal and graphite, and when I had stepped back, it was Kaeleen staring back at me.

It was him as I saw him. I’d captured the fierce intensity in his eyes, but also the deep well of kindness behind them. The hard line of his jaw was there, but so was the hint of a smile that he saved only for those he loved. His power was evident in the broad set of his shoulders, but I had tried to draw the weight he carried on them, too. It was a picture of the Alpha, the man, and the mate. It was everything I felt for him, poured onto a canvas.

Looking at it now, I understood. That argument with Sheena a few nights ago... she had been right. The primal, possessive part of me had been ready. But my heart, the one that had been so broken and bruised, needed to catch up. This painting, this act of creation, was me finally letting him in. All the way in. It was me letting go of the last ghost of fear, the last shadow of Leon.

I lost track of time, my world shrinking to the tip of my charcoal stick, the texture of the canvas, the planes of his face under my hands. I was adding the final, subtle highlights to his eyes when a soft gasp from behind me made me jump.

I spun around to see Rebecca and Serena standing in the doorway. Serena had a soft, knowing smile on her face, her eyes shining as she stared at the canvas. Rebecca’s jaw was practically on the floor.

"Holy shit, Astrid," Rebecca breathed, walking slowly into the room, her eyes glued to the portrait.