Chapter 270: The Birthday Surprise

Vivian’s POV

I reached out and took his warm hand gently, giving it a light, reassuring squeeze. He offered a faint smile in return, but it did not quite reach his cold eyes. I was just about to say something literally anything to break the heavy mood when the dining room door suddenly swung wide open and Albericus walked right in, holding a bright blue-wrapped gift box.

His sharp green eyes scanned the room and everyone sitting in it before he pointed an accusing finger straight at me and Zahliver.

"Oh sure, just leave the beta completely out of everything, huh? Send him off running useless errands while you two sit here all cozy "

Zahliver did not even say a single word out loud. He just shot Albericus a look so chillingly cold that the rest of his sentence died instantly in his throat. I tilted my head to the side, curiosity and confusion prickling at the edges of my mind.

"What on earth " I began, but I did not get very far. Albericus suddenly tossed the suspicious gift box straight up into the air, and my fast instincts kicked in. I caught it smoothly without even thinking.

A soft, mechanical click came from deep inside the box, immediately making my full focus shift. What the hell was that noise?

"Happy birthday, Luna!" Albericus said cheerfully, puffing out his chest like a proud little child. "I honestly do not care what any of the others got you mine is definitely the best present here."

"Thank you, Albericus," I gave him a flat, unimpressed look as I eyed the strange package in my hands. His feline-green eyes rolled dramatically at the sound of his full name.

"If this thing blows up right in my face, I swear I am setting your ass on fire."

A collective gasp went around the dining table. I guess the pack members were still not used to seeing their Luna threaten their Beta in broad daylight. Albericus placed a dramatic hand flat against his chest, looking mock-offended.

"Honey, you cannot burn what is already blazing hot. You will only make me sizzle even harder." He licked his index finger, touched it to his forearm, and made a loud, sizzling sound with his mouth.

I burst out laughing at his antics.

"Zahliver told me that you once actually tried to hit him in the face with a birthday cake," I added, raising a questioning brow. At first, Albericus looked completely confused and then absolute horror washed over his features. Zahliver let out a rare, genuine laugh at the sudden shift in his face, and I could not help but chuckle right along with them.

"Do not ever bring that up again. Seriously. Ever," Albericus groaned, rubbing his face. "That birthday cake nearly killed me. He shoved my own expensive gift right back into my face like a total madman. I think it was... what? His six hundredth birthday?" He gave Zahliver a withering look. "There is something deeply wrong with your brain. You nearly murdered your own Beta with dessert. Is that really how little my life means to you? Cake?!"

Despite the heavy theatrics, he casually grabbed the plate of leftover bacon from the table and started munching on it like it was just another regular Tuesday.

"You are still alive, aren’t you?" Zahliver muttered as he slowly pushed back his chair and stood up.

"Yeah, but if you ever "

"I know. I will keep it in mind."

"Aurora wants an update on the perimeter "

"Does she really need to know right now?"

"She is going to freak out "

"Fine. I know."

"Do you have the documents "

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Okay."

I blinked rapidly. "What the hell was just that?" I mumbled to myself, watching the two of them go back and forth effortlessly like two people sharing one single brain cell.

Albericus flashed me a bright grin. "That is just what happens when you have known someone for far too long. You start finishing whole conversations that never even officially start."

Drake pointed over at him and Blake, looking genuinely amazed by the display. "We are identical twins and we do not even do that kind of telepathic weirdness."

Zahliver’s tone dropped a notch, and the relaxed mood shifted back into something serious.

"Albericus, I want you to go speak with Hogan today. Find out exactly what Joshula keeps discussing with him behind closed doors," he instructed quietly.

Everyone else around the table pretended not to hear a word, but I could clearly feel the room subtly shift its attention.

Albericus nodded. There was a quick flicker of something strange in his eyes, as if he had something else important to say. But the second he noticed me watching him closely, he smoothed his expression out with a easy grin and looked away.

As Zahliver picked up his empty plate and began clearing it from the table, everyone else followed his lead instantly, standing up and collecting their dishes like it was some kind of unspoken military command.

Hannah walked over to me, her warm hands gently turning me around to face Zahliver.

"Do not worry about a thing, Alpha. We have got everything here totally under control. You two go off and have some fun," she said, giving him a firm, supportive nod.

Zahliver studied her face for a moment, looking deeply skeptical, but finally gave a reluctant nod. "Thank you, Hannah."

"Thank you, everyone," he added, his voice steady but reserved. It was classic Zahliver no over-the-top farewells, no cheesy ’make yourselves at home’ speeches.

I smiled warmly at the rest of the group. "Thanks so much for coming today, and thanks for all the wonderful gifts!" I truly meant it, too. Sure, the breakfast had taken a few weird and tense turns, but overall, it had gone way better than I ever expected.

No pack fights, and no spilled blood.

That was definitely good enough for a Luna’s birthday celebration.

Zahliver reached out for my hand again, his touch warm and steady as his piercing eyes settled deeply into mine.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked softly.

I blinked up at him, feeling a little confused.

"Where are we even going?"

He had not said a single word about any plans for the day, but the way he was dressed practically screamed outdoors. Sleek, dark, and confident just like him.

Instead of answering my question with words, he just flashed me a devilish grin that made my heart skip a frantic beat and heat rise straight up my neck. Without another word, he led me away from the dining room. Everyone we passed in the hall called out their cheerful goodbyes and waved happily. Albericus even gave me a cheeky grin, something mischievous glinting in his eyes that I could not quite place.

Before we actually made it out the front door of the house, Zahliver suddenly darted back upstairs to grab something he forgot. While I stood waiting near the entryway, the house phone sitting on the small table started ringing loudly. I picked it up out of sheer habit.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart!" my mom’s familiar voice came rushing through the speaker, sounding overly emotional and teary, just like she always did on this specific day.

"Thanks, Mom," I said warmly, a soft smile touching my lips.

My dad’s voice came in next on the line, just as heartfelt and deep. "We are going to visit you as soon as we possibly can, kiddo. We promise."

They were always like this on my birthday soft, nostalgic, and weirdly sentimental. But this year, their voices felt somehow more raw and urgent than ever before. It sounded like there was a whole lot more hiding beneath their simple words.