Chapter 120-1

My parents stayed with us for a month. Saying goodbye was difficult. My mom had already told us she was planning on returning when it was time for me to give birth, and no one objected. Having that to look forward to made saying goodbye a little easier.

As spring turned into summer, the drama seemed to lessen, and life returned to its usual steady pace. The reports of people fleeing the Ocean Shore pack became rare. We didn’t know if it was due to the remaining members being okay with the state of things, or if they just couldn’t get out. Those who still had family and friends in the pack said it was the first option. We didn’t know how trustworthy the information was, but it was what we had.

The planning for the Alpha meeting was in full swing. Sam was being stubborn about going with us. No matter how many times we told him we weren’t allowed to bring a third person, he insisted. His line of reasoning was, since he was my bodyguard, he didn’t count. It was sweet, but I doubted the council would view it that way. When he couldn’t change our minds, he started demanding I stay home instead, which suited Finlay fine. Sam argued since I was pregnant, I counted as two people, so I wouldn’t be allowed in. The first time Meadow heard his reasoning, she laughed so hard she had trouble breathing. In the end, we convinced Sam both I and the pup would be alright, and Finlay was there to protect us.

A week before the Alpha meeting, it was my birthday. I had been kept in the dark about what was being planned. I would have settled for a nice quiet pack dinner and then spent the evening with friends and family, but I knew the chances of that happening were low. It was my first birthday as a Luna, and a pregnant one at that. The pack, and by that I mean Meadow, Matilda, and Shelly, would be going all out.

“Wake up, sweetheart,” Finlay gently told me. I opened my eyes and saw him smiling. “Happy birthday,” he said as he bent down and kissed me.

“Thank you.” I stretched and sat up in bed. Finlay was carrying a tray with breakfast. “Breakfast in bed? Did I really sleep through you sneaking downstairs and making me pancakes?” I asked. He placed the tray over my lap.

“No,” he admitted. “You slept through me sneaking downstairs and getting the tray from my aunt.”

“Thank you,” I told him again and carefully leaned so I could kiss his cheek. The pancakes were delicious, and it was nice to be pampered with breakfast in bed. We talked about the day, and I ignored the clear effort that had been put into making sure I was distracted all day. If they wanted to plan this for me, I would let them.

We were almost done with breakfast when my phone rang. I answered and heard my parents and my brother’s family sing happy birthday to me. I giggled and thanked them. Then my mom told us the story about the day I was born, as she had always done on my birthday. It had been a long while since I had heard it, so I enjoyed it more than usual. Finlay loved it.

The rest of the day I spent doing what everyone who was sent my way asked me to do. Matilda and I spent a couple of hours in my office in the house planning a month’s worth of meals to be served in the pack kitchen. We had never planned more than a week in advance before, but I obliged and didn’t point out how obvious of a distraction it was. Then Shelly and Meadow took me for a walk, because, they told me, it was important for my pregnancy, which hadn’t seemed to be the case until today. It was nice to take a stroll with them, and we had lunch. They then handed me over to Jake, who asked me to help him with some paperwork he told me he was confused about. I didn’t tell him he had already done similar paperwork three times without issue. Finally, Finlay took over and sat me down to go through paperwork with him. I was impressed he would voluntarily do paperwork, as he hated it, and I usually was the one more or less forcing him to do it. When he told me we were done for the day, I gave him a warm smile and kissed him.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“For being an amazing mate.”

“I will take it,” he said and kissed me. He brought me back home to change for my party. “I guess you figured out what was happening today,” he said as he helped me zip up my dress. It was white with big green leaves and gold details. It was loose fitting around the waist to make room for my growing belly. The pregnancy was showing, even if the bump was still small.

“I did,” I admitted. “But you were all being so sweet and committed, so I didn’t want to spoil it for you.” Finlay chuckled and kissed my neck as he sneaked his arms around me and placed his hands on my stomach.

“They have been planning your distractions for weeks,” he told me.

“It makes me feel special,” I said.

“You are special, and I’m happy you don’t feel disappointed the surprise was spoiled.”

“It’s not spoiled. I still have no clue what you have arranged. I just know it’s something.” Finlay took me to the glade in the woods where we had most of our celebrations. It was decorated with lanterns and flower garlands. The fire was burning and there was enough food on the tables to feed a small army. Luckily, that was about the size of the pack.

“Surprise!” Everyone shouted as we came walking and I laughed. I had a wonderful evening as Finlay and I walked around. I got to look at the two newest members of the pack. Little Jackson was Emile and Hudson’s, and his big sister was proud as she told me she helped her parents to care for him. Ramses proudly handed his daughter May over to me. Kayla was smiling next to him.

“She is precious,” I told them as I gently rocked the month-old pup.

“When she is happy, she is an angel,” Ramses said.

“My mate thinks our daughter has inherited my temper. I don’t know what he is alluding to,” Kayla told us. We laughed, and I handed the pup back.

‘You looked good holding the pup,’ Finlay mindlinked me when we walked to grab another piece of cake. I was obsessed with the red velvet cake Matilda had made for me. I smiled at him.

‘It’s a little scary to think that in less than four months we will have one of those to take care of,’ I answered.

‘It’s mind blowing. I need to make sure everything is fixed by then.”

“The nursery is almost done, I think we have what we need for the first months at least, and we will have the pack and our friends to support us. I don’t know what else we need,’ I linked him.

‘I need to fix the issue with my brother’s pack, and I need to make sure we have a plan for our pack,’ he told me.

‘I appreciate your determination, but I don’t think we will be able to broker world peace before I’m due.’ He smiled at me and made sure I got a big piece of cake.

‘You’ll never know unless you try,’ he said. After we, well, I, had eaten the cake, we danced and spent time with our friends.

“Ready to head out?” Finlay asked me just after midnight. I nodded. I was a lot sleepier nowadays, and the thought of snuggling up to Finlay in bed sounded like a perfect ending to a perfect night. We said goodbye to everyone.

“Finn, the house is that way,” I told him as he had grabbed a box with cake from Matilda and led me into the forest.

“I know where our house is,” he said.

“Then why are we going in the other direction?” I asked.

“We are not sleeping at home tonight.”

“We’re not?”

“No, we’re not. I haven’t given you your birthday gift yet,” he said. He took me deep into the woods, to where the mountains reached upwards. The summer night was warm, and it was nice walking hand in hand with my mate. Suddenly, Finlay stopped and pointed up at the mountain. Just over the treetops there was something glowing on the mountain face.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Come along,” was all he told me. He took me up a path which went up the side of the mountain; it became narrower the farther we went. In the end I had to walk behind Finlay. “Happy birthday,” he told me and took a step to the side. In front of me was a cave opening. I could see two small camping lights inside the cave.

“We are camping?” I asked, sounding as thrilled as I was at the idea.

“We are. I know it’s not an exotic vacation, but no one knows exactly where we are. The pack knows Jake and Shelly are in charge until tomorrow afternoon. Until then, it’s just you and me in this cave. We can talk, eat cake, and have sex as much as we want.” I looked up at him with wonder. It had been a long time since I had been that free from responsibilities, and even longer for him.

“This is amazing! Thank you, Finn. It’s the best gift ever,” I told him and kissed him long and deeply. As we drew apart, he smiled at me.

“I will give you anything you want. I may not always do it in the traditional way, but I will find a way.” He was just so perfect it was hurting my heart. “Give me two minutes,” he said and headed inside the cave. I took a moment to admire the view. We were high enough up that we could see most of our land. The river was close to us, and on the other side of it most of the packland stretched out. I could see the faint glow of the village, and the night sky twinkled with stars. It was breathtaking. Finlay called for me, and when I walked into the cave, I saw he had placed and lit candles all around the walls. The two camping lights were turned off, and in the back of the cave, he had prepared a thick air mattress with blankets and pillows.

“I’m lost for words,” I told him as I stood and looked around, taking everything in. He was watching me intently.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

“I love it,” I said with a sob. My emotions overwhelmed me, and to my horror I started crying.

“Sweetheart!” he exclaimed and drew me into a tight hug. I clung to him while crying on his shoulder.

“It’s perfect,” I managed to say between sobs. “Happy tears.” He hummed and rocked me back and forth.

“Please stop crying. I can’t stand it. I promise we can sit outside and watch the view and have the cake we brought,” he told me. I had to giggle in the middle of me crying. My emotions were beginning to stabilize.

“That sounds like my birthday last year. I liked that,” I said. He kissed me.

“So did I. But this year we won’t stop when we come to the fun part.”