Chapter 33 33
I just stared, my mind struggling to catch up. My eyes took in the other decorations—a few tasteful silver and blue streamers draped over the banister, a cluster of balloons tied to the newel post. It was simple, but it had been done with clear care.
I walked closer to them, my panic dissolving into pure confusion. “Hey… what’s this?”
They looked at each other, then back at me, their faces creased with identical, beaming smiles.
But I didn’t like it. The scare was too fresh.
“Really?” I said, my voice trembling a little. “I almost had a heart attack thinking the worst had happened, and you guys are just… smiling?”
“Oh, dear, no!” Granny said, rushing forward to take my hands. “This wasn’t meant to be a prank like that. We wouldn’t truly frighten you.”
Quinta nodded, her own smile softening. “Yes. We wanted to throw you a little party. A mini celebration.”
“Celebration?” I blinked. “For what?”
“Your graduation, silly!” Granny said, squeezing my hands. “Our little Arielle didn’t just grow into a lovely young woman, she’s finished high school! That’s progress! It deserves to be marked!”
I let out a shaky chuckle. “Come on, guys, it’s been over a month…”
“Still,” Quinta insisted, her voice firm. “We celebrate you. Congratulations, dear.”
Granny leaned in and pressed a soft, warm kiss to my cheek. The simple affection, so unexpected, hit me right in the center of my chest.
Honestly, after I’d graduated and my mother hadn’t said a single word—hadn’t even glanced at my final reports, which were, admittedly, nothing spectacular—I’d thought no one would care. I’d shoved the whole thing into a mental box labeled ‘Disappointments’ and tried to forget about it. I hadn’t seen this coming.
Quinta stepped forward and wrapped her thin, strong arms around me in a brief, tight hug. “You did well,” she murmured into my ear.
Tears pricked at the back of my eyes. I swallowed hard. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice thick.
Granny gestured grandly toward the little cake. “Go on, then. Make a wish!”
My brows creased. “A wish? Ah, it’s not my birthday.”
“Still, go on,” Quinta urged, a twinkle in her eye. “You should make three wishes. It's a tradition for new beginnings.”
I let them lead me to the table. Granny carefully picked up the cake, holding it out for me. The tiny candles, already lit, flickered cheerfully.
I inhaled, the scent of vanilla frosting filling my nose. “Alright, then.” I glanced between their expectant, loving faces. “First, I wish…”
“We know,” they chorused in unison, their expressions so knowing and fond it made me giggle even as a single tear finally escaped and rolled down my cheek. “For your father to wake up soon.”
I nodded, blinking rapidly. “Yeah.”
“And your second wish,” Quinta said, leaning in conspiratorially, “will be for your family, including us, and your friends and their families, too.” She then turned and stage-whispered to Granny, “Your granddaughter has a gigantic heart, you know. Always thinking of others.”
I nudged her shoulder playfully, and Granny beamed.
“So,” Granny asked, her voice gentle. “What’s the third wish?”
I looked at Quinta, reached out, and took her gnarled hand in mine. “I want Quinta to live to be over a hundred years old.”
“Huh?” Her eyes widened comically. “Nah! You shouldn’t waste a good wish on an old sack of bones like me! You could wish that for Agatha.” She jerked her thumb at Granny.
“Well, Granny here doesn’t walk with a cane, and her bones aren’t as fragile as yours,” I said, smiling. “I’m sure Granny will live a long time anyway. But you’re always talking about death and coffins, and I’m not giving that idea any chance.”
Granny nodded vigorously in support, and we all laughed. The two of them always agreed on everything in the end.
Quinta pretended to frown. “Nope. Terrible wish. Won’t you ask for a prince charming instead, dear? A strapping young Alpha to sweep you off your feet?”
My smile shrank. I shook my head, looking down at the melting candle wax. “I don’t want to wish for things I won’t get.”
“But maybe your mate wants you!” Quinta insisted.
“Really?” The word came out flat. “A wolfless girl? A human? No one will. I’m sure my so-called ‘mate’ is out there somewhere, praying every night that he never has to cross paths with me. I might look all right on the outside, but only my mother seems to see the truth—that I’m basically useless.”
“Shut up!” Quinta said, but there was no real anger in it. She reached out and gave my arm a light, scolding slap. “Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that.”
Granny moved closer, her hand on my shoulder. “You’re not wolfless and useless, Arielle. You’re a gem. A unique one. Never forget that.”
I forced another chuckle, trying to lighten the mood I’d darkened. “Whatever.”
Then we heard footsteps. A firm, measured tread on the marble floor coming from the west wing. I wasn’t the only one who recognized that sound. I saw the realization dawn on their faces too, their smiles becoming a little more careful, a little more prepared.
I turned.
My mother was approaching. She wasn’t dressed for bed. She was still in her day clothes, her hair perfectly in place. It seemed like she’d been out of the house until just recently.
She stopped a few feet away, her gaze sweeping over the scene—the confetti on the floor, the streamers, the cake, the three of us standing in a guilty-looking little huddle. Her expression was unreadable.
Quinta, ever the brave one, spoke up before the Luna could ask. “We’re just having a little celebration, Serena. For Arielle’s graduation. We thought she deserved a bit of recognition.”
My mother’s eyes moved from Quinta to Granny, and finally landed on me. They held no warmth, no surprise. Just that familiar, assessing coolness.
“You all don’t need to do this,” she said, her voice flat. Then her focus narrowed on me. “You should be preparing for college rather than wasting time wandering and… celebrating.”
The dismissal of their sweet effort was a sting I saw flinch across both Granny and Quinta’s faces. But before I could muster a word in our defense, before I could even feel the full burn of the insult, she dropped the bomb.
Her words were calm, absolute, leaving no room for argument.
“I’m sending you to another city to go to college.”