Falling For My Cruel Mate
Chapter 76

"No, no way. Punch me and I'll kick you right where the sun doesn't shine mister."

I hold up hand signaling for him to stop as he took a step towards me.

"We don't have favorites." My father shakes his head as he looks over all of his children.

My mom makes her way over to me again and wipes the remaining tears from my face. "Happy Birthday, darling." She plants a kiss on my forehead and I instantly hug her again. I missed her scent. Her warmth. I try my hardest to hold back the tears that threatened to spill once more.

"Happy Birthday, Tavia!" The rest of my family shouts before grouping hugging

once more.

My heart felt light and happy in my chest as I looked around at my family. We had moved over to the living room so that we could sit and chat for a few minutes before heading over to my party. Sometime in between all the hugging Ajax had disappeared. I searched for him through the house with my hearing, I think he's in his office doing paper work. A part of me wanted him to be down here so he could meet my family, my real family, not the ones who hate him for taking me away. Although the other part of me missed them so much that I wanted this moment all too myself.

Of course my older brother and father interrogated me about Ajax and how he treated me. I was honest but kept it light. They didn't need to know everything that took place in the beginning. What's important is that he treats me well now. They seemed skeptical, but left it alone.

That was until my mom utterly embarrassed me by asking, "Why haven't you completed the mating process?"

My wolf stirred in excitement at that question. She wanted nothing more than to jump Ajax's bones and bring him to bed. It was a constant thought of hers, something that I could never get out of my head.

"Mom." I groan and hide my now blushing cheeks behind my hands.

"It's a good thing they haven't mated." My father says quickly.

"Honey, if you wait too long your heat will come. You'll be in so much pain-"

"Mom." Odessa and Odin groan simultaneously.

"Alright, don't say I didn't try to warn you."

I push back all the thoughts of mating with Ajax as the topic shifts and we begin to talk about the SnowMoon pack.

Not long after Ajax made a reappearance. I couldn't help but greet him with a smile. A very large smile. He brought my family to me on the day I would miss them the most. On the day I needed them most.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but the party has started and we should probably get over there. The people are eager to wish their Luna a happy birthday." His deep blue eyes meet mine and I want nothing more than to touch him. To have some type of physical contact with him. My wolf was purring at just the thought of it.

"Very well." My father says getting up. He places a kiss on the crown of my head and they all head towards the door. I can't keep my eyes off of Ajax though.

I watch as he stands to move in front of me. Standing up, I place my hands in his. The contact immediately calms my rapidly beating heart. I'm sure anyone could've heard my heart pounding against my ribcage.

His lips connect with mine in a sweet yet short kiss.

"I have that earring you dropped." He smirks a little and pulls the small piece of jewelry from his pocket.

"You know you could've killed me with a surprise like that." I say teasingly, referring to my family.

"Yeah, it almost killed me as well." He pushes my hair behind my ear as I place in my missing earring. "And by it I mean your father."

"I know it must've been hard for you do that, so thank you. I really appreciate it."

"It's my fault you haven't seen them so don't thank me." He places quick peck on my lips as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Come on, the pack is really waiting for you."

Octavia:

November twenty-seventh.

From the moment I entered the pack house I felt nothing but love and support. The inside of the pack house was beautifully decorated along with the backyard. There were about five cakes covered in white roses and on top of each of them read happy birthday. The kitchen was overflowing with food, snacks and drinks while the outside was buzzing with people and music. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, which made me extremely happy.

Thankfully Ajax never left my side as swarms of people came to greet me and wish me a happy birthday. There were just over five hundred people in this pack so without the help of Ajax I'm sure I would've been overwhelmed with all of the people.

I would check on my family from time to time and I was more than pleased to replace them mingling with the pack. Christina nearly suffocated me in a hug and I have yet to see Alexander, Sam and Cipher.

"Alpha." A large buff looking man approaches us and Ajax gives him a taught nod as he separates himself from me. The moment he steps away I feel cold. I watch him as the man leans in to whisper something in his ear. Hopefully, a group of people don't all try to speak to me at the same time. I get so anxious.

"Happy birthday, Octavia." A hand lands gingerly on my shoulder causing me to turn around a little startled. What startled me wasn't just the fact that they had snuck up on me from behind but also the fact that they had called me by my name. For the past few hours or so everyone has been calling me "Luna". I nearly forgot my own name.

Once I see her familiar face a smile breaks its way onto my lips.

"Oh my gosh, Cynthia!" I wrap her up in a hug before pulling back to examine her better. Her hair was cut into a blunt bob and her brown eyes were bright with excitement. She seemed a bit more tan which is odd because I'm pretty sure she went to Europe. I've heard they get a lot of rain in places like France. I could be wrong though...