Chapter 265: The Birthday Outfit

Vivian’s POV

"We really wanted to be the very first ones to say it this morning, so we actually begged the Alpha for special permission," Johnson said, practically beaming with pride from ear to ear.

"Well, thank you all so much for scaring me wide awake out of a dead sleep," I replied, still rubbing my eyes as I tried to shake off the heavy morning drowsiness.

He nodded, looking totally unfazed by my sarcasm. "Totally worth it."

Amber stepped forward a little from the crowd, looking just a tiny bit nervous. "I know we have not really gotten the chance to hang out much like the others yet, but we asked Luke if we could tag along. Happy birthday, Vivian."

"More like you harassed me until I finally said yes just to get some peace," Luke grumbled from the back of the room, speaking just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"And the best part is that we come bearing gifts!" Angela chimed in happily with a wide grin.

She motioned with her hand for the twin guards, Drake and Blake, to step aside, and the second they moved out of the way, I let out a loud gasp.

An entire rolling cart overflowing with presents was standing right behind them, stacked high with shiny wrapping paper, bright ribbons, and bows in every color of the rainbow.

I blinked in pure shock. "Okay, I am not always great at math, but I am pretty sure there are way more presents sitting on that cart than there are actual people standing in this room."

Mila crossed her arms over her chest, smiling slyly like a wolf holding onto a very good secret. "Oh, those are just the gifts from all of us right here," she said with a bright twinkle in her eye.

Oh no. That probably meant there were even more giant piles waiting for me downstairs. I was deeply grateful, really, but there was zero chance I was going to open all of those gifts with this many pairs of eyes staring directly at me. I never quite knew how to react properly in moments like that if I acted too excited, I felt like a fake, and if I acted too mellow, I came off looking ungrateful.

"We will leave you to get dressed and ready for the day. Happy birthday, Luna!" Cort shouted loudly, already turning around and playfully pushing people toward the door before I even had a chance to protest. There were a few mild complaints from the group, but one by one, they all filed out into the hallway.

"Thank you so much, everyone!" I called out after them, feeling genuinely touched by the sweet gesture.

Joshula paused right at the doorway before leaving, his expression unreadable as always. "Wishing you the happiest day today, Vivian. May all your wildest dreams come true." His tone sounded oddly sincere, though I still could not entirely tell if he was being sarcastic or sharing a rare moment of genuine kindness.

Hannah was the very last one to leave, her wicked, knowing grin still firmly in place on her face.

"We are not going very far we are having our breakfast right down in the kitchen, all thanks to your very generous mate," she whispered loudly. She winked at me, then paused with a mock-serious expression. "I know birthday sex is a big tradition and all, but please do not make me explain to your future kids why they happened to be born exactly nine months after today."

And with that utterly horrifying mental image left hanging in the air, she slammed the bedroom door shut behind her.

I sat there on the bed, my mouth hanging wide open, my face completely flushed red, and feeling thoroughly mortified.

Right behind me, Zahliver’s low, rumbling growl vibrated right through the mattress, his warm voice brushing softly against my ear like smooth silk.

"Birthday sex..." he murmured softly, his tone suddenly turning dark, low, and deeply teasing. "That honestly sounds a lot more thrilling than a boring breakfast, does it not?"

He leaned in closer, letting the tip of his warm nose trail slowly along the sensitive side of my face. My heart instantly began to race wildly against my ribs.

"I think " I scrambled backward off the bed in a hurry, suddenly feeling like I needed both physical distance and a very strong distraction. " that I really need to take a hot shower right now."

But the second I turned around to face him fully, the rest of my sentence completely died in my throat. "Wait a minute... what on earth are you wearing?"

He was definitely not dressed in soft, comfortable pajamas like me. Nope. Zahliver was already fully showered, perfectly styled, and looking dangerously, unfairly good.

Oh my god.

Zahliver slowly straightened up to his full, towering height right in front of me, and for a moment, all I could do was stand there and stare.

My wide eyes traveled slowly down the sheer, undeniable embodiment of male perfection. He had clean white Converse sneakers on his feet and for some reason, seeing him in casual sneakers was criminally unfair. His long, strong legs were sheathed in a pair of washed gray pants that hugged his powerful thighs nicely while tapering neatly at the ankles. They were not overly tight, just... dangerously well-tailored. A crisp white shirt collar peeked out neatly from beneath a rich, mocha-toned cardigan that hugged his broad chest as if it had been custom-stitched specifically to the shape of his body. And draped over that was a sleek coat a deep coffee-brown masterpiece, sleek and commanding, ending just a few inches above his knees.

It was not just the stylish clothes, though. It was purely him. Zahliver. Every single inch of him simply exuded effortless power and smoldering control. All but one single jet-black strand of his hair had been neatly swept back, leaving that one rebellious lock to fall just slightly across his forehead. His piercing dark blue eyes, framed by long, unfair eyelashes, were locked directly onto me with such intense heat that my brain completely forgot how to function.

Breathing? Instantly gone. Blinking? Who even needs it. Standing upright on my own two feet? Barely managing.

And I was pretty damn sure my inner wolf had just passed out cold in the back of my mind. Like, full collapse with her tongue lolling out and everything.

I finally understood why he usually kept his daily style so simple with basic black shirts and dark jeans. He never actually needed to try to look good. But now that he had made the effort? Now that Zahliver had walked into the room dressed like an absolute runway model sent straight down from the moon? I was completely doomed. He was the literal definition of every forbidden fantasy wrapped up in one devastatingly handsome outfit.

And judging by the slow, triumphant smirk spreading across his handsome face, he knew it. The man completely knew what kind of chaotic effect he was having on my brain and probably on the entire female population of the pack, too. Honestly? Even a holy nun would probably consider sinning for him. Hell, a totally straight man might even consider crossing a few lines just to get a closer look. That is how utterly ridiculous this situation was.

"You did tell me earlier that I should try to dress a bit better," he said with a playful, teasing lilt in his deep voice. "Does this outfit happen to count?"

Instead of bothering to give him a proper verbal response, I decided to let my actions do the talking for me. My hungry gaze raked slowly down his impressive frame one more time, and then, without a single second of hesitation, I reached up, grabbed the hem of my loose sleep shirt, and yanked it straight up and over my head, leaving me standing right in front of him wearing only my pajama bottoms and a simple bra.

"Birthday sex..." I murmured softly, my voice laced with heavy distraction as I looked up at him. "Yeah, that actually sounds just about perfect."

Honestly? This day was already shaping up to be one of the absolute best mornings of my entire life.