William’s P.O.V

“Ohhhhh Goddess,”

I chuckle above my groaning wolf as I dig my oiled fingers into his shoulders, rolling and massaging the flesh and muscle there while Theo tries not to melt between the sheets.

“William,” he stretches out, sounding every bit as pleasured and content as I wanted him to be.

“I’ve told you this before and I’ll tell you this again, for someone who isn’t a fan of anything sexual, you make the lewdest sounds I’ve ever heard.”

Theo moans again, his eyes rolling a little as I press my fingers into the skin over his collarbone, “and you have,” another pleasured groan, “the most talented fingers in the world.”

I bite my lip from saying something about that. For one, it was way too easy and secondly, I didn’t want to tease Theo too much, he’d slip out of this little trace and we couldn’t have that.

The only thing Theo should do today was relaxing.

“Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying them,” I reply instead while I move down a bit, letting my fingers follow suit, “I love doing this for you.”

Theo makes a muffled happy sound that goes straight to my heart, encouraging me to put my back into the massage that had been the first gift of many for Theo’s Special Day.

It was what I was calling it now, Theo’s Special Day. Since my wolf didn’t want to share in on Damon’s birthday which was tomorrow, I’d marked today as a day for Theo to be pampered and adored, even against his many protests.

I’d originally planned to celebrate both of my loving halves on Damon’s birthday, but then Theo had quite shyly come out to tell me that he didn’t really see it as ‘his’ birthday or really a day about him at all, it wasn’t ‘special’ to him and was ‘Damon’s day’.

Of course, something had to be done about that line of thinking so hence, Theo’s Special Day.

So far I’d woken my wolf up with his favourite, cuddles and hugs, then I made his most beloved breakfast meal, a strawberry fruit bowl, while he fawned over Sassy, and now he was getting a massage.

At the start it was all, ‘William, I told you I didn’t need anything’ and ‘this is unnecessary William, I’m happy just as things are’, now it was a whole lot of-, “yessssssss.”

I never thought I’d live to see the day that Theo moaned for me, but apparently, I just hadn’t given him a good massage before.

Continuing slowly with the gentle melody of instruments in the background, I work the muscles that crafted Theo’s wide back before I trace my fingers over the raven tattoo just below his right shoulder with care.

I’d always loved studying the tattoos that were littered all about this body even when I couldn’t see them properly, but now that I could make out every blotting of ink as more than just a blurry haze, I found myself getting lost in them more than usual while I took in every intricate detail.

Initially, I thought they were all Damon’s tattoos, but Theo had surprised me by pointing out the ones that he’d had done for himself like the heavily shaded crescent moon that rested high up his left bicep. The moon itself was perfectly stunning, but what really made the art was the wood’s trees planted inside of it that faded slightly in the background.

That was one of my favourites, along with the tiny little bunny tattoo Damon had got near his shin for Blaze.

(A/N – there’s a chapter in my notebook called Damon’s Tattoos where you can find pictures of these tattoos. There’s also a board on Pinterest with them)

“I was never into the who ‘tattooed bad boy thing’ before you guys,” I confess causing Theo to shift with laughter from beneath me, “but now I can’t wait to see what you’ll get next.”

“It’s Damon’s turn next,” Theo reveals in a slur, “I got the compassed wolf last,” he shakes his left leg beneath him to show it off, “so he chooses next.”

I hum gently, my interest peaked, “Any idea what that’ll be?”

“A little,” his words turn into scrambled mush as I dig my fingers into the centre of his back, “but I think he’s waiting for the right time to get it.”

“Are you going to share what this mystery tattoo is or…”

Theo chuckles and shakes his head, “My lips are selectively sealed, William, you’ll have to ask himself.”

I groan but it was halfhearted, I knew Damon would tell me if I did ask, or I could just wait and see until he was ready to get it. Either way, I was sure that I was going to love it, whatever it was, just as much as I loved all the rest.

“Would you ever get a tattoo?”

I think on it for a bit as I move down to his waist, letting my fingers roll between the small dip there, “I’m not sure, it doesn’t really appeal to me.”

“They’re not for everyone,” Theo allows on another groan.

“I never thought you’d love them as much as you do,” I say honestly, “with your personality, I always thought you just bared with it.”

“I love art, and it is art,” Theo replies in a mumble, “it’s like carrying a sketch or painting on you, and I can’t imagine anything more wonderful than thatttt- ohhh yes!”

“Now you’re just doing this on purpose,” I grumble while I raise myself on my knees so there was no risk of Theo feeling my semi.

I had long since disassociated the sexual part of my brain when it came to Theo, our relationship wasn’t like that, and I never wanted it to be. But Theo did share a body with Damon and when he moaned like that, he sounded just like Damon did when I had my lips around his cock.

That wasn’t something my brain or my dick could disassociate.

“I would never,” Theo replies even though his voice dipped guilty.

“Sure,” I reply, leaning forward to press a kiss to the centre of his back, “well, we’ve still got a long way to go so have mercy on me please.”

Theo’s lips curl upwards against the pillow and he sinks in further, “we’ll see.”

———

Hours later and with oil in places oil probably should not be, Theo lays against the couch as a limp mess, fed and completely relaxed.

“You’re some kind of fairy,” he declares, “that was wonderful.”

I wiggle my fingers in front of me, “magical fingers, now,” I get to my feet, “close your eyes.”

Theo opens his eyes to frown at me while he kept petting Sassy absentmindedly.

Sassy sat perched between his legs, her neck craned up to deliver perfunctory licks to his chin whenever he failed at scratching under her jaw and neck like she preferred, which was basically never with the attention Theo adorned her with.

Theo had very quickly become someone Sassy loved with her entire heart, which was terrifying and beyond strange to see when she so greatly loathed his counterpart.

But somehow, Sassy always knew when Theo was in control and the second he was, she’d shed all her neverending hatred for Damon in favour of her eternal love for Theo.

Like this morning, the second the massage was over and Theo was free to be attacked, she’d jumped onto the bed to greet her favourite person once more, and she’d almost broken her tail with how cruelly it’d beaten the bed with her excitement.

Sassy’s love for Theo and not Damon only made Damon hate her more, but she hardly cared.

“Why?”

“Because I said so, because I’m in charge today, because you love me and do whatever I ask,” I list off my fingers before raising a brow, “shall I continue?”

“They’re closed William, you can stop being smart now,” Theo says, shooing me away with his free hand.

Smiling, I leave him to wait for my return while I head to the kitchen to retrieve the gift I’d hidden away a week ago. Blaze follows behind me, mistaking my journey to the kitchen for something edible when it was really only going to be some much-needed exercise for him.

I don’t break the bad news to him, only play dumb as I retrieve the large box from some forgotten drawer and make my way back to Theo. Blaze stays in the kitchen and stares after me with what I imagined was shock and betrayal, I have a hard time not laughing at the thought of it.

Still waiting with his eyes closed and his fingers scratching at Sassy’s chest, Theo looks up at me and raises an expectant brow, “can I open them now?”

“You can guess first if you want,”

Taking me up on the offer, Theo’s brows draw together and he thinks on it for a moment, “a piano.”

“Why on earth would I get you a piano and how would I get it here so quickly?” I ask through my laughter, “That was a horrible guess.”

Theo smiles happily for me with a shrug, “You did tell me to guess,”

“But a piano Theo?” I move forward, taking his hand from Sassy to spread it open with his other despite her whines.

“I’ve learned to never underestimate you, William,” Theo whispers and my heart can’t help the way its beating falters in response.

I swallow and try not to drown in the fluttery feeling he set loose in my chest, “well then, I hope you’re not disappointed with this.”

Setting the box down in Theo’s waiting hands, I step back and wait as he slowly opens his eyes and rests them on the image of a running river that he’d have to put together with the puzzle inside.

Theo’s eyes dilate like a cat to prey, zoning on the big and bold ‘1000 pieces’ that the box promised and his fingers tighten around the edges with his silent excitement.

Theo loved puzzles. Like he really, really loved puzzles.

I’d discovered it as a potential hobby when we’d first started getting to know one another, he’d said it in passing how he’d never tried a puzzle before but how they looked fun to him. On the way home from work one day, I’d stopped by a few stores until I found a simple, small one and gave it to Theo on our next day together.

Theo had almost suffocated me with the hug he’d given me that day. I would never forget the way he kept me in his lap the entire time he put his first puzzle together, he said I couldn’t go far so that he could hug me close and tell me how much he loved it until it was done.

After that, I’d gotten him more and more, each bigger and more challenging than the last so that he had something to do when he wanted to just relax a bit. He hadn’t reached the four-digit mark yet so today would be the hardest one yet, which would ultimately make it his new favourite when he eventually finished it.

“William,” Theo sings almost sadly as he draws his eyes away from the box and looks up at me, “I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say a thing,” I say settling beside him before he could get to his feet and crush me with another deadly hug, “except maybe, confirmation that you like it.”

“I love it,” he promises me, freeing his hands so that he could hug me despite our positions while he nuzzled my mark, “and it’s a river as well so the water pieces will be much harder.”

“That’s exactly why I picked this one,”

“It’ll take me at least a week,” he whispers as if the prospect was heaven itself, “I love it!”

I hug my wolf back, kissing the inside of his collarbone and squeezing him against me as love and gratitude flooded our bond, “I’m glad you like it, I love watching you do them.”

I always had to say that because a part of Theo always feared that I would get bored of spending our time together over a puzzle. But it was what he loved, and I loved him, so I was always more than happy to lounge close by or cuddle him while he worked on them, once we were together, that was all that mattered to me.

It was like when we did our nails together, something small and simple but perfect for just us.

“This must be my last gift for the day,” Theo says as he pulls back to let his eyes dance between mine, “surely.”

I only smile, neither denying nor confirming it. I wasn’t going to give a thing away to the last surprise to Theo’s Special Day that was most likely going to make him cry.

Bringing my hand to his chest, Theo settles his fingers over mine, pressing them in so I could feel the raising heart below, “You’re going to kill me one day if you keep treating me this well.”

“That would be a tragedy,” I reply as I curl my fingers over his heart, “but someone as wonderful as you are deserves nothing less than to be loved eternally.”

Theo’s deep blue eyes glow with his happiness and love, growing just a little wet as he sniffs and pulls me in for another hug. I go to him easily, wrapping my arms around him and holding him close to me so he knew just how precious he was to me.

I knew now how scared Theo truly was to be mated to another who wouldn’t accept him and his version of love if it didn’t come tied with lust. I understood his fears because I understood him, but what I could never understand was how he could ever think for even a moment, that anyone wouldn’t fall head over heels in love with him once they got to know him.

I for one went falling before I even knew what was happening.

Theo was a treasure I’d somehow gotten when I already was gifted with the gem that was Damon. I loved them both and that would never change.

—

Fast forward an hour later, I’m treated to more of Theo’s moans except these were not pleasured ones, only those fueled by frustration. As another loud groan spreads through the suite, I try to bite back my laugher so it couldn’t escape my corner of the kitchen.

“Do not laugh at me, William,” Theo warns on a growl, “this is all your fault.”

So, while Theo adored puzzles, he sometimes went through this phase of hating them when it was proving to be more challenging than he expected.

He usually got over it pretty quickly and returned to quiet contemplation, but when it happened, it was a funny thing to witness.

While unboxing and setting out all the pieces, Theo had been all smiles and that pure excitement continues when he started on the puzzle with his usual unwavering patience… that was until he’d finished connecting all the corner pieces and had to face the actual puzzle.

It’d become a scene of comical chaos since then.

“I’m sorry I went ahead and got you something you love,” I call back sarcastically as I stir our cups of ice coffee.

“I did tell you not to get me a gift,” I ignore Theo’s grumbles and take hold of our cups before I make my way back to my very frustrated and very adorable wolf.

Hunched over the living room table, Theo had his fingers rubbing at his jaw with his face fixed with serious lines of concentration. Sassy was still seated between his legs but Blaze was now at his side, making them look like they were trying to figure out the puzzle together.

I look over the pieces and squint, “looks like you’re making progress.”

Where Damon would’ve called me on my bullshit, Theo only snorts as he takes the cups from my hands and sets them down on their coasters. The moment they’re settled, he takes my hand and settles me back down at his side, helping my cuddle close so I could join the fray of trying to put this monstrosity together.

“I’m starting to think you hate me,” Theo whispers as he draws his eyes off the puzzle and onto me, “someone who loves another, doesn’t subject them to this type of torture.”

“Torture? You’re having the best time right now,” he doesn’t deny it, “If I hated you, I would’ve gotten you the all-black one,” that had been seriously tempting, “but because I love you, I didn’t.”

Looking to his biggest fan, Theo scratches his fingers under Sassy’s jaws, “he’s evil isn’t he?”

Sassy’s bobbing head makes her nod against her will.

I glare at Theo but he only laughs innocently as if he wasn’t subjecting my dog to blasphemy.

“And he’s ungrateful isn’t he?” I say as I look around him and to Blaze.

Blaze blinks at me and when I open my arms, he gives it a second before he comes over.

It still shook me to my core when Blaze didn’t ignore me, but ever since that bath day, we’d learned to be civil. I stopped calling him chunky and he stopped shitting on my pillow when he was upset.

“Ignore my whining, I am enjoying this,” Theo promises me with a kiss to my temple, “again, thank you for my present.”

“Of course,” I whisper while sneaking a glimpse at the clock on the wall.

I try not to shift too much when the hands show that Theo’s final surprise was due any minute now.

“You know, now that you can see the pieces,” Theo says while he surveys his work, “you can actually help me with this.”

I laugh loudly, “And risk an early death? No, thank you.”

Theo was possessive of his puzzles. When he wasn’t in control, his puzzles were to be left alone and nobody was to touch. It didn’t matter if there was a piece you found a home for, you left that shit alone.

Damon had learnt that lesson the hard way when he’d put together a bottom corner of one of Theo’s puzzles one day when he was bored and Theo wasn’t paying attention. When Theo realised what had been done, well…

Long story short, there apparently were many ways to hurt yourself when you shared the same body. A lesson that could never be forgotten had been learnt that day – nobody touched Theo’s puzzles.

“I wouldn’t do that to you,” Theo dismisses quickly, “you’re my mate, and I’m offering.”

“And I’m choosing to enjoy living while I still can,”

Theo starts to argue but it’s cut short when a knock finally sounds against the front door.

Theo and Sassy look up with the same frown and I have to physically stop myself from cooing over them as I get up with a less than concerned Blaze in my arms.

“Who’s that?”

I send my wolf a wink and get the door, opening it with a smile when I spot Amelia, or rather, Verena waiting behind, along with Xenia, Joseph, and Zyair who were grinning widely at me.

Stepping aside for the group, I turn to look at Theo as Verena steps in first and I can’t help my laughter as Theo jumps a little in his place when he spots her, his shock unmistakable.

“Verena?” He questions as he gets to his feet, “what are you-”

He’s cut short as Zyair, Hagen’s wolf, steps in next, a big smile on his face, “are you growing old Theo? You should’ve smelt us coming.”

“Z-Zyair?!” Theo’s breathless note of both surprise and excitement is doubled as Xenia, Josey’s wolf, quickly follows her twin, “Xenia!”

“I never knew it was possible to miss you as much as I’ve missed you, Theo,” she comments with a smile before looking back for the last member who was clenching his fingers tightly before him. “Come on.”

Joseph, Peter’s wolf, steps into the house with a little nod to me and smiles brightly at Theo who staggers back just a little as he looks over his family.

I was yet to spend time with the family’s wolves but since I could get in contact with Amelia, it hadn’t been hard to get her help in arranging this surprise for Theo. Especially when they all considered Verena – Amelia’s wolf and Theo’s best friend – to be family too.

“You guys,” Theo says shakily, “I… I-I…”

Giving up on words, Theo finally moves forward to greet them. They all crash into one big hug, huddling close as limbs stretch over limbs and they hug Theo between chocked laugher and teasing.

I couldn’t see clearly enough to make out their expressions but by the slight rasp to their words, I knew they were all a bit emotional.

Since coming back to the pack, Theo had spent time with everyone in the family, including Levi, but he’d not spent time with all or most of them at once. It was only when I’d been talking to Josey that she’d told me how close the wolves were and how much the siblings missed Theo.

I’d be a horrible mate if I hadn’t right that wrong.

“You must to come out more,” Xenia chides when they part, “we barely function without you.”

Theo laughs shyly as he passes a hand over her head, “that’s because you never let them, you’re too smart with your words and I’ve missed that.”

Xenia smiles and leans into his touch before she looks to Verena and scowls, “she’s more of a pain when you’re not around.”

Verena gives Xenia a shove that sends her tumbling, “perhaps that’s because Theodore is the only intellectual in this pack, have you ever considered that?”

“Their whining drives me nuts,” Zyair breathes out and Theo hugs him too before he focuses on Joseph who hadn’t said a word yet.

“And you?” Theo questions softly, “how are you baring, Joseph?”

“F-Fine,” he answers with a smile, “I’ve learned to ignore them b-by zoning out.”

Everyone gasps but Joseph only laughs alongside Theo who hugs them all again, holding on tightly, before he withdraws and looks at me, “you did this, for me?”

I nod as I shift in my space, “Josey told me how close you all were and I guessed you missed them,” I start while I watch Theo come towards me until his hands were in mine and I could see the wet lines of tears against his cheeks as he looked down at me with wobbling lips. “I told you, I’d do anything for you and I meant it.”

Clenching his fingers around mine, Theo lets out a shuddering breath as he closes his eyes and tries to settle his breathing, “I don’t deserve you.”

“You deserve everything,” I correct, raising his hands so I could kiss the back of them, “now go, enjoy the rest of your special day with your family.”

Theo’s eyes dart open and he frowns, “I’m not leaving you alone.”

“You won’t be,” I promise, “I’m going to meet Julian and hang out for a bit, I’ll be perfectly fine.”

Theo relaxes at that but still doesn’t let go of my hands, “are you sure? We were supposed to spend the day together.”

“And we have, but I also planned for you to spend it with your family,” I promise, looking over his shoulder and to the waiting wolves who all wave at me. I laugh and look back at my own wolf, “Theo,” I say gently, “go have fun, please.”

Nodding a little, Theo pulls me in for a hug that takes my feet off the ground and bombards my cheeks with kisses and whispers of his love, before he turns to face his waiting family.

“I-” Theo doesn’t get a word out before the group wrestle him out of the front door, thanking me while they went until they were all gone and I was left in the quiet suite with Sassy and Blaze.

Smiling at the closed door, I take in a deep breath and turn to face the pair who were parked right in front of me, contemplating whether I should leave them here or bring them with me as I called on, “Mekhi.”

I don’t jump like I usually do when Mekhi appears in the kitchen and heads straight for the kettle. I’d gotten used to the way he would just start doing things in some part of the house when Damon or I called on him and actually found it kind of cute.

It showed that Mekhi was comfortable with us, he was a lot more than comfortable actually when I thought about it. He came over for dinner sometimes and he never protested when we showed up at his place for literally anything.

If he wasn’t in the mood, he said so, but more and more, it seems like Mekhi was always in the mood to just hang out.

We’d long since crossed the relationship bridge of ‘my boyfriend’s close friend’ and were not at ‘very close friends regardless of said boyfriend’, and now Mekhi treated me with the same causality he’d always shown to Damon.

Sometimes, we even took little trips together around the pack that could run the entire day if we weren’t careful.

While the water boils, Mekhi gets himself a cup and plucks out his designated box of coffee grains from one of the cupboards, “I’m guessing Theo enjoyed his surprises.”

“He loved them,” I correct while I head to the bedroom to get changed, “the last one especially, thanks for helping me arrange it all with Amelia.”

Mekhi hums after me, focusing on getting his fix of caffeine done while I slipped into something cleaner and better than pyjamas.

“People have been asking for you all day you know,” He says sounding tired of it all, “they want your approval for every little thing so that nothing goes wrong tomorrow.”

I frown as I dig through my shirt drawer in search of my favourite lavender top, “why didn’t they ask Julian or Aiden?”

Mekhi laughs, “they did and they’ve been good with most of it, but then they got scared that they may not know all the things Damon likes anymore, so it turned chaotic.”

In the time I’d come to better know Damon’s parents while preparing his birthday celebrations, it was easy to file Julian away as the controlled panicker and Aiden as the one who got distracted by literally anything.

When I was there to ease their worries that ’yes, those balloons, Damon will love it, and ‘no, he doesn’t have a favourite shade of black, any will do’, they were fine and created a lean, efficient machine.

When I wasn’t there, well…

I wrestle with myself to get dressed a little quicker and make it back out just in time to see Mekhi steering his steaming cup of black coffee. He looks up at me and frowns, “stop judging me.”

“I’m not judging you,”

He raises a brow, “Now you’re lying too?”

Laughing, I shake my head, “I just think you need to be careful with all that caffeine, you’re developing an addiction.”

“The only addiction I’m developing is one to sleep,” he grumbles before taking a testing sip, “I feel like a fucking bear with how much I sleep now, I need this,” he raises his cup, “to keep me awake since all I want to do is sleep now.”

The way Mekhi had explained his new love for his bed was that after so many years of sleepless nights and diminished power, his magic was still flooding its way back into his system. Which was a great thing!

He could perform bigger spells and practice more on his own and with Katerina, it was awesome. The only side effect, using all that magic made him tired to the point that he fully embodied his new given name of Aurora Mekhi Amorenia.

It was beautifully ironic how the world worked out sometimes.

“I’m just saying to be careful,” I promise and Mekhi nods in acknowledgement before he takes us to the main field where Damon’s birthday festivities would be at their fullest.

Activity had skyrocketed since when I’d last seen the acres of open fields that sat behind the pack’s Main Hall which was just as big itself.

There were people running all over, some with wrapped presents in hand that they rushed to deposit in the Hall, others with one side of a gazebo in hand as they moved it according to another’s instructions.

Witches were in the air, hovering high above while they helped moved the bigger items while settling decorations in the sky that their magic would keep there even without a tether.

I stand shocked in my place for a moment as I watch things my brain was having a hard time comprehending, take place in front of me.

“William!”

I turn in Aiden’s direction and even from the distance between us, I could spot the massive grin on his face. He was laughing wildly with two handfuls of long sticks I had no hopes of making out from here.

“You’re finally here!” He shouts, sounding a little manic, “look what I’ve got human!”

Aiden shakes his extended hands, still laughing like some movie villain.

Aiden had become… well everything Damon had ever said his dad was since they returned to the pack after hashing things out.

Instead of the quiet man I’d first met, Aiden was a wild, teasing man who didn’t let a moment slide to make some sort of comment, no matter the conversation. He always had a smile on his face, always, and if someone was down, it wasn’t long before they’d be smiling too.

Aiden was the light in his family and it made everyone in the pack shine brighter just having him back.

“I’m blind!” I shout back because apparently, he’d forgotten.

“Oh shit yeah,” he curses before laughing again, “my bad! “It’s fireworks! I’ve got fireworks!”

I glance to Mekhi who was still at my side, but he just shrugged, not understanding either why it was such a big deal that Aiden had fireworks.

“That’s… nice!” I call back, “I’m sure Damon will love them.”

“Oh, he will,” more evil laughter.

So apparently, Aiden was on crack.

“Do you know where Julian is?” I ask Mekhi while looking around for the usual streams of flowing blonde hair.

“In the hall,” he replies quickly, “you good to go on your own? I’m supposed to help Colson set up the knives.”

I quirk a smile, “Yes Mekhi, I’ll make it without dying,” he rolls his eyes and smiles back at me, “thanks for bringing me over.”

“Anytime,” he replies before he disappears.

I start for the Hall but don’t make it there for another ten minutes as I’m stopped by every person who laid eyes on me and immediately ran over with a question.

It was hardly annoying when this was all for Damon, if anything, it was heartwarming to see just how many people cared about him and wanted this celebration to be amazing.

They weren’t forced to be here, Julian had asked for volunteers only and we’d all been pleasantly surprised at just how much of the pack rushed to help out.

I couldn’t wait for Damon to see it too tomorrow and know just how much his hard work to get to know those in his pack was paying off.

Inside the Hall, I waver a minute at the door when I survey all the ribbons and banners that lined the walls, black – of course, but some were blue and white too. There was a massive Happy Birthday sign at the top and a stockpile of more gifts than I’d ever seen in my life that crowded the stage Julian currently stood on.

Even from where I stood, I knew it was Julian. Nobody else stood with so much confidence while calling out instructions with his clipboard in hand. He was a wrecking force of instructions and demands and I’d come to love him for it.

I make my way over to him and smile up at him when he spots me, “I just have one question.”

Julian’s face immediately breaks into a loving smile as he jumps down from the stage and comes straight to me, “William!”

“Why is your husband laughing like a maniac outside because he’s gotten hold of some fireworks?”

Julian’s smile falls and he lets out a heavy sigh as he stops a few paces away from me, “that is all my fault,” he explains apologetically, “I haven’t let him touch a firework since we were eighteen and after much begging, I made an exception for Damon’s birthday,” he sighs again as he massages his temples, “I had no idea the beast I was realising.”

“I mean, I’m sure it’ll be fine, I’ve just never seen anyone so excited about fireworks before.”

“Regardless, I apologise in advance for whatever madness he comes up with for tomorrow.”

I frown, “is it really that bad?” I ask doubtfully, Julian could be a little dramatic sometimes, “what happened when you were teens?”

“Let’s just say there was an incident,” Julian replies cryptically, “and a nationwide warrant for Aiden’s arrest.”

I blink up at him but he only smiles and hugs his clipboard to his chest, “I’ve been waiting all day for you to pass through, I’ve got a few things for you to look over.”

So we were just going to gloss over that arrest part, cool.

Taking Julian’s obvious attempt at a subject change, I nod and swallow down my questions for another time, “yeah, I was with Theo since I wanted to spend most of the day with him. But I’m here now and everything looks amazing,” I promise with another glance around, “honestly, Damon isn’t expecting anything like this, he’s going to love it.”

“I hope to Goddess he does,” Julian mumbles, looking around as well.

When someone comes asking questions about the music selection, Julian and I get pulled into the task of checking over the last minute things that needed just one last tick. From food to the events, patrol lines and so much more.

Planning everything over the last few days with Julian was like a little tester at the responsibilities that came with leading a pack. In my head, the only thing I guessed we’d plan was the actual celebrations. I’d never imagined how much attention had to go into ensuring that the pack was safe while everything went on.

We had to plan for potential attacks that never crossed my mind until now and even though it was scary at first, with Julian’s guidance, it had become easier and easier.

Maybe that was because Julian was an amazing teacher, maybe it had something to do with this being what I was meant for, or maybe, it was a good mix of both.

“Everyone has confirmed that they’re coming for the family dinner,” Julian says a little stiffly, “and Levi…”

I stop in my place and Julian does the same, looking at me with an expression I imagined was nervousness, “Levi’s coming, right?”

I didn’t know Levi’s older brother that well but I knew how much Damon looked up to him and despite their personal issues right now, I knew without a doubt that he’d want him here tomorrow.

“He wants to,” Julian explains quickly, “he’s just a little hesitant that it’s not what Damon wants.”

“It is,” I promise, “Damon would probably cry seeing him again.”

“That’s what I tell him but,” Julian sighs and turns just as Aiden jogs over to us, “he says they haven’t spoken in months and if Damon wanted him there, he’d have called by now.”

I bite my lip to stop myself from saying how Damon wrestled with himself nightly, trying to just take the jump to reach out to Levi. But there was some sort of blockage that stopped him every single time and even though he was ready, he couldn’t seem to see that for himself.

“Plus there’s the runt,” Aiden adds as he stops beside his mate and rests his arm around his shoulder, “Damon’s hates Levi’s mate, he’s scared that coming with Jayson would make things but he doesn’t want to leave him alone either.”

“Rightfully so,” Julian says as he circles Aiden’s fingers with his own and rubs a thumb across his skin, “Levi shouldn’t have to leave Jayson behind or hide him away, he’s done enough of that and the two of them have gone through too much to be separated because of us.”

I had only heard a little bit about Jayson from Damon.

Besides the fact that he was Levi’s mate who’d almost killed Julian years ago, I wasn’t too sure why Damon despised the man so much. Whenever I tried to get him to tell me more, he closed up and grew angry so I never pushed the matter.

But by the fact that Julian was nothing other than protective when he was mentioned, I guessed that all was forgiven. At least with everyone but Damon.

“Do you think it would be okay if I talked to Levi?” I question as I look between the pair, “maybe if I tell him how much Damon misses him, he’ll change his mind and come?”

Both their eyes widen and they share a glance before nodding, “it couldn’t hurt.”

“What about Jayson? Does Damon hate him enough that if he came it would ruin his birthday?” That was one thing I wouldn’t risk.

“Nah,” Aiden says before Julian can, “he hates the runt but he tolerates him and that was all before he met you. I’m sure you can work your human-mate magic over him and he’ll behave.”

“Human-mate magic,” I repeat with a chuckle, “I guess we’ll see how strong it really is. Do you have your phone? I don’t have Levi’s number.”

Aiden digs it out of his pocket and scrolls through it for a bit before he tosses it over, “Levi doesn’t like making anyone uncomfortable so make sure you emphasize how much Damon would want him there.”

I nod and look around for a quiet spot to make the call, “thanks, guys.”

“Anytime William,” Julian says kindly.

“Anything for you human,” Aiden adds with a smirk.

I smile at Julian and flip Aiden off before I wander off to the ends of all the activity and press call on the waiting number before I take a deep breath and bring it to my ear.

I’d never actually talked to Levi on my own and even though I’d grown wonderful relationships with all of Damon’s siblings and parents, it was Levi who I knew Damon held on a pedestal and that made this call a little scary.

But, this was for Damon and when there was anything on the line for my favourite person in this world, I could handle it.

“Calling again old man?” A deep voice that definitely wasn’t Levi says into the phone, “I know you miss Levi but damn don’t you have like a job or a life?”

I bark out a laugh before immediately covering my mouth when I spot Aiden snapping his head my way, “um, this isn’t Aiden.”

“Oh,” the voice replies in surprise, “umm, this isn’t Levi.”

“Yeah, I figured. I’m Will, William, and I was hoping to speak to Levi. Is he there?”

“William,” the man breathes out in awe, “the human mated to Damon.”

“Yeah, that’s me,”

A small huff escapes, “wow… you’re real and you sound as nice as Levi said you were. You know a piece of me thought they were making you up.”

“Um, thank you,” I reply with a frown, “so is Levi there?”

“Oh yeah,” the man chuckles before shouting, “Levi! Damon’s mate is on the phone for you!”

I didn’t think I would ever understand the supernatural’s need to refer to me by everything but my name.

“Well, it was nice speaking to you, William. I hope to meet you soon.”

It was only at that point that the puzzle pieces came together and I realised that I’d been speaking to Jayson, Levi’s mate, because duh, who else would be answering his phone.

Before I could reply, the phone is exchanged on the other end and a breathless more familiar voice takes over, “hey Will, sorry about that, I was just making something to eat.”

“It’s fine,” I say quickly, my heart lurching with unusual nerves as I remember my main objective for calling, “um, how are you?”

“We’re all good this side,” Levi replies freely before he pauses, “Why? Is everything okay there? Is Po okay? Is something wrong with Damon?”

“No, no, everyone’s fine, nothing’s wrong,” I rush out, “we’re all good here too. I was just calling because I wanted to speak to you.”

“Oh, thank Goddess,” Levi’s sigh of relief from the other side helps me relax a little. “Wait, speak to me?”

“Yeah,”

Sounding hesitant, Levi asks, “um, about what?”

“Well, tomorrow is Damon’s birthday,” I start carefully, “he’s turning nineteen and we’re all throwing him a big celebration in the pack and then a family dinner in the evening,” I explain while I stare down at my feet and pace, “I was calling to invite you.”

“Invite me,” Levi replies, sounding every bit as wound up as I felt inside.

“Yeah, it’s been a hard year for Damon and I know he’ll love nothing more on his birthday than spending it with his family… all of his family.”

I could hear the way Levi dropped himself down on the other end like he was taking a seat somewhere, “I don’t know,” he breathes out after a moment, “Damon and I haven’t talked or see each other since…”

He didn’t have to finish for me to remember the night Damon had gone out with his brother for a walk and came back only to break down in my arms. My heart tightens in my chest and my lungs contract as memories of the way Damon had clung to me all night flooded my mind.

That had been one of the hardest nights for Damon since I met him, but it’d also marked a turning point for him and the family as they finally all realised that things couldn’t go back to normal no matter how hard they wanted them to.

“We all agreed to give Damon space to take things at his own pace and I know things are much better with everyone but,” his voice wavers just a bit from his end, “he hasn’t called me yet or reached out, so I don’t think he’s ready to fix things over with me.”

“He is,” I promise, not giving his worst thoughts a moment to congregate, “I promise you he is, he’s just scared since things didn’t end well there and you guys haven’t seen each for a long time.”

“Look,” I take a deep breath and steel myself, “I don’t know you very well Levi and I can’t speak for you, but I can speak for my mate. Damon loves you and he misses you. Before I knew anything about what happened last year, the first person Damon told me about in your family was you.”

“Really?” Levi sounded hopeful, so hopeful.

“He was telling me about the knife you made for him, the one you carved the wolf and trees on,” Levi hums gently from his side, “it’s his favourite knife and he told me all about how you gave it to him years ago as a gift when he first started using knives.”

“Even Dad couldn’t wrestle it away from him,” Levi says fondly, a small chuckle escaping him, “he only agreed to let me keep hold of it when he was in school but always came to reclaim it the second he was out.”

I smile to myself, easily imaging a Little Damon rushing out of some class to get his favourite knife back, “He still carries it everywhere he goes. He never lets it out of his sight, he even had it the first night we met.”

“That sounds like him,” Levi replies softly.

“I’m telling you this because I want you to know that even when Damon was most hurt, he still held onto that knife and he’s still holding onto you. You guys still have to talk and I swear to that Damon wants nothing more than that, but that can’t happen until one of you take that first step.”

“I did that last time and look how that turned out. I don’t want to make things worse, especially when they’re just getting better for everyone. I just want him to be happy.”

“Damon will be happy to see his brother tomorrow, on his birthday,” I insist, not backing down one bit, “please trust that I would never do anything that could ever hurt my mate and I’m asking you to come tomorrow for his birthday because I know it would only make him happy.”

Levi doesn’t reply and the line runs cold for a moment with only shared breaths as he thinks it over.

“Please come,” I beg, “please. It’s been a long, hard year and I know it would mean a lot to Damon to have you there for the end of it.”

“I…” Levi stops himself, “I will come,” he manages slowly, “if you’re sure it’s the right move.”

I scream, actually scream as I fist pump to air.

All I could imagine was the look on Damon’s face when he saw his brother amongst all that his pack had done for him. It was going to be amazing.

“It is,” I assure him while he laughs on the other side, “I know it is. Damon would ask you himself if he wasn’t so scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Probably whatever you’re so scared about,” I reply and get another acknowledging hum. “Don’t worry about getting him a gift since it’s so short notice, just come, that would be enough of a present.”

“Oh I’ve gotten his gift,” Levi corrects with a laugh, “I was going to send it or give it to him another time, but I’ve got him the perfect gift.”

“So Julian wasn’t lying when he said everyone was competitive when it came to gifts as well as games,”

“You’ve got yourself tied up in one hell of a family, Will,” Levi replies sounding as amused as he was proud, “but if things go well tomorrow, then I’m really looking forward to getting to know you more.”

Grinning down at my feet, I nod against the phone, “me too, I’ve heard a lot about you from Damon and the others, Peter talks more when we’re talking about family.”

“Family and bunny are his only two weak spots,” Levi confirms fondly, “but really I’m looking forward to it, thank you for inviting me and speaking some sense into me.”

“Thanks for listening, and please bring Jayson too,”

“Once you’re committed to dealing with Damon’s anger if I do.”

“I am,” I reply confidently, “you just come.”

We hang up shortly after and as Julian and Aiden look my way, I lift my hand in a thumb’s up that gets Julian clapping excitedly while Aiden lifts his mate up and cheers loudly.

Laughing at the scene before me, I look around at this portion of my family, my pack and thank the crazy moon lady once again for granting me with them.

Tomorrow was going to be perfect.

—————————-

I’ve missed Levi and Jayson ughhhhhh

Thoughts????

This chapter is more like a little filler to get us ready for the amazing birthday celebrations tomorrow which I’m super excited for!! Damon deserves an amazing birthday and I just know that chapter 78 is going to fill me with enough serotonin to last me a liftime.

What did we think of the Theo and Will time at the start?

And did we enjoy the little manic Aiden and fireworks?

What about the final convo with Levi?

It’s really nice seeing the family mend as the book comes to an end and just seeing the way everyone’s coming back together. Ugh, I love Delicate so much.

As I’ve said in some posts, I’ve got about 3/4 chapters remaining for Delicate, and that includes the epilogue/s. The book just needs loose ends tied up and a lovely Happily Ever After to tie Damon and Will’s amazing journey together.

I’m taking my time with it though so it’ll be perfect so thanks for being patient with me.

Just an FYI, I got an amazing internship opportunity that starts next week so while I’m going to still write when I can, I won’t be able to be as communicative as I usually am. So I’m sorry for missed messages, posts/comments.

Anyway, voting for August’s Patreon Extras closes tomorrow so if you haven’t voted already, please do so soon!

Until next time,
Byeeeeeeeeeeeee Humanssssssssss