Chapter 26 Vanilla Cake
Lira
My body tingled all over in anticipation for what was to come. Each step I took closer to his office was one filled with a mix of feelings. Anxiety. Uncertainty. And weirdly enough, considering he blatantly refused to give in to the pull of our mate bond this morning, I felt excitement too.
As I made the last turn to his office, I halted in my tracks as I came in contact with a block of body mass. And from the dread that filled my spine, the perfume and the air surrounding him, I knew who it was.
“Beta Daniel.” I greeted, my head slightly bowed. The last thing I wanted was trouble with him. He was Alicia’s father, and he obviously raised her. That meant that whatever Alicia was, he was a hundred times worse.
“Lira!” He replied, his tone half cheery like he was expecting to see me.
I ignored that I tried to move around him but his hand shot out, stopping me. My eyes immediately rose to his face, confusion written across my face. Why wasn’t he letting me go?
“I was just thinking about the things we needed to do for your mum’s birthday party next week. Good thing I saw you.”
As soon as I heard that, I lowered my guard and eased my defense. In fact, I lit up. But at the same time, guilt crashed into me. I had been having ill feelings towards my mum to the point where I completely forgot about her birthday.
“Oh… What do you need?”
"Well, I was hoping we could discuss it properly. It’s a surprise party, and these hallways have ears, you know." He gestured toward his office down the corridor. "Would you mind stepping into my office for a moment? It won't take long."
I hesitated, glancing back toward Kael's office. But this was about my mother. Despite everything, I still loved her. And maybe planning something special for her birthday would help bridge the distance that had grown between us.
"Of course," I said, following him.
His office was smaller than Kael's but just as imposing, with dark wood furniture and shelves lined with pack records and strategy books. He gestured to the chair across from his desk, and I sat down.
Beta Daniel settled into his chair with a warm smile, and for some reason, that unsettled me. "So, as you know, your mother's birthday is coming up next week. The Alpha wants to throw her a proper celebration. Something befitting of our Luna."
"That's wonderful," I said, genuine happiness blooming in my chest and overshadowing the jealousy. "She deserves it. She's done so much for the pack already."
"Exactly my thoughts." He leaned forward, clasping his hands on the desk. "Now, I need your help with some of the more personal touches. After all, you know her better than anyone. Tell me, what are some of her favorite things? What would make this day truly special for her?"
I thought for a moment, as the memories flooded back. "She loves gardenias. She's always kept them around the house. And she has this thing for vanilla cake—not too sweet, but with real vanilla bean."
"Gardenias and vanilla cake," he repeated, nodding as he made notes. "That's perfect. What about colors? Any particular shades she's drawn to?"
"Cream and gold," I said without hesitation. "She always said they reminded her of sunrise. Fresh starts and new beginnings."
Something about the way he was looking at me made my skin prickle, but I pushed the feeling aside. This was just about my mother's party. Nothing more.
"And what about the guest list?" he asked. "Are there any old friends from before she became Luna? People she might want to invite but wouldn't think to mention?"
I frowned slightly. "Well, there was Mrs. Henley from the market. Mom used to talk to her every week when we'd go to the market."
His smile widened. "You know, I've noticed you two seem a bit distant lately. Is everything alright between you?"
The question caught me off guard, and I felt my defenses rise slightly. But maybe talking about it would help. Maybe Beta Daniel could offer some perspective.
"I think…" I started. "With the move to the pack house and all the changes, we haven't had as much time together as we used to."
"I can imagine." He leaned back in his chair. "Tell me, what was it like? Just the two of you before all this?"
Something about the question felt oddly probing, but the memories were already surfacing, bittersweet and warm.
"It was simple," I said softly. "We had this small cottage on the edge of pack territory. Nothing fancy, but it was ours. Mom would wake me up every morning with tea and we'd have breakfast together. She'd tell me stories about my father, about how brave he was, how much he loved us."
I smiled despite myself. "On her birthdays, we couldn't afford much, but I'd always pick wildflowers from the meadow and make her a crown. She'd wear it all day, even when it started wilting. She said it made her feel like a queen."
"That's beautiful," Beta Daniel said, and for a moment, something flickered in his expression. "Those simpler times must seem very far away now."
"They do," I admitted. "Everything's changed so fast. Sometimes I barely recognize our lives anymore." At least my life.
"Change can be difficult." He paused, studying me intently. "But this party could be a way to reconnect with her. To remind her of those simpler times. What do you think would mean the most to her?"
I considered the question carefully. "Honestly? I think just having quality time together would mean more to her than any grand celebration. Maybe we could recreate one of our old birthday traditions… Something intimate and personal."
"Like what?"
"We used to have this tradition where I'd cook her favorite meal. Nothing fancy, just herb-roasted chicken with vegetables from our garden." My throat tightened. "I'd like to do that again."
"That sounds perfect. We can definitely incorporate that into the evening." He made another note. "Now, this is very important, Lira. We need to keep all of this completely secret. Your mother can't know anything about the party plans. Can I trust you not to mention any of this to anyone?"
I nodded. "Of course. I won't say anything. I want it to be a surprise. I think she’ll love it."
"Good girl." He stood up, and I took it as my cue to leave. "Thank you for your help, Lira. This is going to be a birthday your mother never forgets."
I rose from my chair, the feeling of unease creeping up inside me, this time more present as the space seemed to become smaller. But I smiled anyway, concealing my feelings.
"Thank you for including me in the planning, Beta Daniel. It means a lot."
As I turned toward the door, eager to finally get to Kael's office, my hand reached for the handle. It didn't turn.
I tried again, jiggling it slightly. Nothing.
A cold sensation crawled up my spine as I realized the door was locked.
I turned back to Beta Daniel, forcing a smile even as unease settled heavier in my stomach. "The door seems to be stuck."