Moonlight Betrayal
Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Kaeleen’s POV

Everything was a blur to me. I had remote vision and my gaze was mainly on Astrid. I could only see her not even minding that we were giving others a show.

The softness of the silk of Astrid’s dress under my hands, the soft sigh that escaped her lips and vibrated against mine, and the taste of her, a heady, intoxicating mix of wine and something sweet I couldn’t place.

For a long, perfect moment that stretched into an eternity, the grand hall and the hundred people in it simply ceased to exist. Her fingers were tangled in my hair, drawing me closer to her and I had no intention of ever moving again.

Then, a loud, obnoxious voice sliced through the perfect haze, as welcome as a bucket of ice water.

"Alright, Romeo, that’s enough spit exchange for one night! I hate to break up whatever weird mating ritual this is, but you’ve got guests, and some of us want cake! Seriously, my stomach is starting to eat itself."

I pulled back slowly, every instinct screaming in protest. My forehead came to rest against hers, and I let out a low laugh.

I didn’t even have the energy to be annoyed at who just broke the moment. Marcus was an idiot and he wasn’t going to change anytime soon, that fucker.

"This isn’t over," I murmured, my voice a low, possessive growl meant only for her ears.

Her eyes widened slightly as if shocked by my declaration but that smile on her face gave me hope. I brushed a final, lingering kiss against her lips, a down payment, a promise of everything to come later tonight when the world wasn’t watching.

With a reluctance that felt like a physical tearing, I finally turned to face my friend. He was standing there with a shit-eating grin plastered across his face, his arms crossed over his massive chest, looking entirely too pleased with himself. I didn’t waste words. I simply raised my hand and gave him the middle finger, a gesture he returned with a hearty, booming laugh that drew the attention of everyone nearby.

My gaze fell back to Astrid, and the rest of the room blurred again. She was watching me, her cheeks flushed a beautiful shade of pink, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and affection. The emerald gown was a masterpiece of design, a river of silk that clung to her curves, but it was merely the frame. The woman wearing it was the true work of art, and she had taken my breath away so completely I was surprised I was still standing.

"You look beautiful," I told her, my voice thick with an emotion I didn’t bother to hide. I reached out and tucked a stray wave of her dark hair behind her ear, my knuckles brushing the impossible softness of her cheek. "Absolutely fucking breathtaking."

Her smile widened, and she looked down for a second, a flicker of shyness that I found utterly endearing in a woman who had just commanded an entire pack to orchestrate this grand deception. Before I could give in to the overwhelming urge to pull her back into my arms, Marcus clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder.

"Nope. Party time," he declared, pulling me away from her.

He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You’ll have the whole night to whisper sweet nothings and do whatever else it is you sappy mates do. For now, your public awaits. People have brought gifts. Don’t be an asshole." He shot a wink over my shoulder at Astrid before dragging me into the throng of people.

The next hour was filled with interactions and well wishes. Jonathan was the first to corner me, pulling me into a gruff, fatherly hug that smelled of old leather and whiskey. He held me at arm’s length, his sharp eyes assessing me.

"About time you found someone who could knock some sense into you," he grumbled, though his eyes were kind. "She’s a good one, Kaeleen. Don’t you mess it up."

"You just met her," I said with mirth swirling in my eyes. "How do you know she is good for me?"

He laughed heartily. "I know a good soul when I see one. Now, if only my heir could geh his act together and get back with his family."

I laughed at that. Yvonne and Marcus will resolve their issue in due time. I’m sure of it.

Rebecca and Serena descended on me next, "I have never," Rebecca began, poking me in the chest, "seen your face look so utterly stupid. It was like a fish that had just been told the world wasn’t made of water. Priceless!"

"You all caught me off guard. How was I supposed to know she was planning this?" I asked her with wide eyes as I leaned in for a hug from Serena.

"Astrid worked so hard for this. I was a bit scared that you wouldn’t like it though." Serena said as she hugged me. "Happy birthday."

I released her and smiled. "I’m pretty sure there is nothing she’ll do that I wouldn’t like."

"You are so fucking smitten, little brother." Rebecca said with a laugh. "Happy birthday. Let’s hope you get smarter this time."

"I’ve always been smart." I told her.

"Keep telling yourself that."

Yvonne sauntered over a moment later, a glass of champagne held in her hand. She gave me a slow, deliberate once-over. "Well, well. Look at you, actually enjoying a birthday party. Miracles do happen." She took a sip of her drink. "Just so you know, the flower arrangements were my idea. You’re welcome." She swept away before I could retort, leaving me shaking my head with a smile.

Eventually, the initial rush subsided, and I found myself leaning against the polished oak bar, nursing a glass of whiskey. The party was in full swing, and the hall was alive with conversation and laughter. It was overwhelming and chaotic and everything I usually hated.

Marcus sidled up next to me, signaling the bartender for another drink. He was quiet for a moment, just watching the crowd.

"I’ve gotta say," he started, his voice more serious than before. "I’ve known you for years now and I’ve never seen you at a party this big, especially one in your honor, without looking like you were actively plotting the demise of every single person in the room."

I took a sip of the whiskey, the smooth burn a welcome sensation. I looked out over the crowd, my eyes searching for one person.

"And yet," Marcus continued, a genuine note of wonder in his voice as he followed my gaze, "you’re smiling. A real smile, not that grimace you do when you’re trying to be polite. What the hell has gotten into you?"

My eyes found her. She was standing with Serena and Yvonne, listening intently to something Serena was saying, she had a smile on her face as she listened.

The light from the chandeliers caught in her dark hair, creating a soft halo around her. She laughed at something Yvonne said, a bright, musical sound that carried effortlessly across the room and hit me right in the chest, chasing away any lingering shadows. She was the brightest thing in the room, a star that had wandered into my dark sky.

"She has," I said, my voice quiet, because no other explanation was necessary. I thought of the cold emptiness of my office just a few hours ago, the bitter disappointment that had settled in my gut. It felt like a lifetime away. "I spent the entire day thinking she’d forgotten."

Marcus let out a low whistle, shaking his head in admiration. "Damn. She played you. The Alpha of the Emerald Glade Pack, played by one beautiful, quiet woman. That’s impressive." He looked at me, his expression turning serious. "You’re different, man. It’s good to see."

"I feel different," I admitted, the words coming out before I could stop them. "I’ve always hated this day. It was just a reminder of getting older, of more responsibility. It felt... pointless. But this..." I trailed off, watching as she excused herself and started walking, her eyes scanning the room, searching. For me.

Marcus followed my gaze and clapped me on the back again, this time more gently. "Yeah. I get it. She’s something else. You’d better treat her like the queen she apparently is."

"That’s the only plan I have," I said, pushing off the bar.

He grinned, raising his glass. "To that, then. Happy birthday, you old dog."

I didn’t need to respond. My feet were already moving, carrying me through the crowd, my path guided by an invisible string that connected my heart to hers. People parted for me, but I barely noticed. My entire focus was on her.

She saw me coming, and the soft, searching look on her face blossomed into a radiant smile that was just for me. I didn’t say a word when I reached her. I just held out my hand. She placed hers in mine without a single moment of hesitation, her slender fingers lacing through mine as if they were always meant to be there.

I pulled her into my arms, one hand settling on the small of her back, the other holding her hand against my chest, right over my heart. She melted against me, resting her head on my shoulder, her body fitting perfectly against mine as we began to sway to the music.

The rest of the world faded away again, this time more completely. The noise, the people, the expectations all dissolved into a warm, hazy background. There was only the soft, cool silk of her dress beneath my palm, the intoxicating scent of her hair, and the steady, reassuring beat of her heart against my own. I buried my face in her hair, inhaling her scent. This was peace.

"Having a good birthday?" she whispered, her voice a warm vibration that traveled straight through my chest and into my soul.

"This is the best birthday I have ever had," I murmured back, my voice rough with a sincerity that felt raw and exposed. "Thank you, Astrid."

"You’re welcome, Kaeleen," she said softly, and I could hear the smile in her voice.

We danced in our own little bubble, lost in the music and each other. It could have been minutes or an hour; time had lost all meaning. It was only when a loud, theatrical gagging sound broke the spell that I was pulled reluctantly back to reality.

"Ugh, get a room, you two," Alex groaned. He was standing a few feet away with Marcus, a look of mock disgust on his face. "You’re so sappy it’s making my teeth hurt. I think I’m getting a cavity just watching you."

"Daddy, what’s sappy?"

I looked down to see Christian staring up at us, his big, curious brown eyes wide with confusion. He was holding Marcus’s hand, a half-eaten cookie clutched tightly in the other.

Marcus grinned down at his son, a mischievous glint in his eye. He pointed a dramatic thumb directly at me and Astrid, still wrapped in each other’s arms in the middle of the dance floor.

"That, my boy," he said with the gravity of a university professor. "That right there is the definition of sappy. It’s when two people stare at each other like they’re the only two people in the world and it makes everyone else around them want to throw up a little bit in their mouths."

Alex snorted with laughter so hard he nearly choked. Astrid hid her face in my chest, her shoulders shaking with silent, suppressed laughter. And despite myself, a deep, genuine laugh rumbled up from my own chest. I looked down at the beautiful, incredible woman in my arms, surrounded by my chaotic, infuriating, wonderful family and friends, and I knew, without a single shred of doubt, that I was the luckiest, sappiest man alive. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.