Chapter 1 Big Surprise
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come give you a hand, Mia?” Sonya’s voice resonated through the speakers of the smartphone, her low tone laced with so much concern.
Mia chuckled softly, grabbing the cake from the back seat of the taxi. “Don’t worry, Sis. It would be very unfair of me to put you under such stress in that condition. I wonder why the father is yet to come back now that you are almost due,”
The night wind blew across her face, swaying part of her raven hair to a corner.
She groaned while the taxi sped away, but it was hard to tell if she was angry at her sister’s baby-daddy, or just reacting to the weight of the red velvet cake.
“Tell him to come see us, Sonya. I am worried he has abandoned you.”
“Don’t worry, Sis. Everyone will get to meet him.” Sonya assured from her end, taking a swift break.
“I hope Alpha Darrell proposes tonight. It’s been two years already. I can’t wait for you to become the Luna of Willow Pack.”
Mia blushed at the thought of having a proposal on her birthday. “I need to go now, Sonya. I don’t want this cake to fall.”
“Bye, Sis, and send my wishes to Alpha Darrell. I wish I was there to taste some cake. Now that I am thinking about it, I think I am craving some.”
Mia ended the call.
Her smile lingered for some extra seconds.
Clad in the new red gown she bought with almost half of her savings, she sauntered excitedly along the avenue that led to the Walker Manor, clanking with her black heels.
Where the rays from the moonlight could not reach, the bright lights from the streetlights continued, shining along the avenue.
It seemed like such a blessing that she shared the same birthday date with Alpha Darrell Walker, her mate, and the Alpha of Willow pack.
Though they were five years apart, Darrell never treated Mia like she was lesser in any way.
Soon, she got to the doorstep, and taking out the spare key Darrell handed over to her, she inserted it into the keyhole and twisted.
She held onto the cake like it was life itself, and when she was certain that she had her balance, she pulled the handle.
“SURPRISE!!!”
Her jaw dropped, her eyes widened, and the cake almost fell from her hand if she wasn’t careful to hold it still.
“What…” She couldn’t find her words, staring at the crowd who were already gathered in the living room, all dressed up for a party.
The chandelier hanging above the living room added sparkle to the party dresses of the unexpected guests.
They were mostly young werewolves of Willow Pack, standing at different corners of the large room.
“What’s happening? Mum? Dad?” Mia looked at her parents. They seemed to be overly excited.
Then Alpha Darrell walked up to her from behind the crowd, clad in his usual grey suit and a nice pair of brown leather shoes.
Mia admired her mate as he drew closer with his evergreen smile intact.
“Isn’t he wonderful?” She thought, unable to take her eyes off his scintillating golden eyes and silver hair.
Mia felt a little relief seeing him.
She believed he may have decided to surprise her first.
Maybe her wish for a proposal was finally coming to fulfillment.
“You didn’t tell me that you were planning a party, Darrell.” She pouted, but she couldn’t be vexed for so long.
“Anyway.” She sighed, presenting the cake to him.
“Happy birthday anniversary, Alpha Darrell!”
Her excitement dwindled when Darrell didn’t seem impressed.
The Alpha looked down at the cake with an icy countenance. Silent and still.
“Don’t you like it?” Mia looked at the cake to be sure it was the same red velvet the Alpha loved.
Darrell huffed, smile shifting into disdain. “Happy birthday anniversary to you as well, Mia. I see you brought some cheap cake.”
Mia gasped, beam vanishing as her eyes widened.
Darrell had never spoken to her in that tone.
She knew something was wrong, and turning to see that almost everyone who loved and hated her was there, she confirmed her thoughts.
“What’s going on here?” She asked no one in particular, but before she could get any response, someone walked out from one of the rooms with a protruding belly.
“Hello, sis!”
Mia turned. “Sonya? What are you doing here?!” Her already wide eyes expanded. “You are supposed to be at home.”
Sonya sniggered. “Oh, this is home.” She walked straight to the Alpha and planted a kiss on his lips, lingering in the euphoria to taunt Mia.
The same sister she had just gotten off the phone with was dressed like she was the celebrant.
Sonya’s long brunette hair was perfectly braided and held up in a twist by a bronze hook. Perfectly matched her blue dress.
“Happy birthday, anniversary, Love.” She chuckled when she pulled out her lips, turning to sneer at dumbfounded Mia.
“Thank you, my dear.” Darrell grabbed her ass, pulling her closer like he was about to eat her up.
Sonya chuckled loudly. “Stop, Darrell! My sister is watching!” She didn’t care, she just wanted to spite Mia.
“I am sure she doesn’t mind watching. After all, she chooses to hold onto her innocence.” Darrell kissed her again, squeezing and smacking while he reached for her baby bump.
“I can’t wait for our baby to be born. He will be as handsome and strong as his father.”
Mia’s heartbeat increased, throbbing violently against her ribcage.
“You are the father?!” Her lips parted, vibrating while she battled for air.
Everyone seemed to know what was happening except her.
They cheered, admiring the Alpha and Sonya.
Mia needed an explanation.
“Can someone please explain what is going on?” She asked, voice trembling as tears dropped from her eyes.
Sonya walked up to her. “Let me have that!” She forced the cake from her grip and kept it on the table.
“Thank you for your services, Mia. You are no longer needed.” She moved back to send Mia away, but she stood her ground.
“I am not leaving until someone tells me what the hell is going on!” Mia could already see that her parents were not going to help.
She decided to turn to her mate. “What is this, Darrell? I planned to surprise you for our birthday anniversary.”
“Well, I guess I surprised you first.” Darrell’s voice was devoid of any form of remorse. The love and memories they shared seemed to mean nothing to him.
“Did you think that I was going to settle for you when I have better options, Mia? I am an Alpha, and I don’t need a wolfless Omega like you, denting the name I have fought so hard to retain.”
It felt like a sharp sword had pierced through Mia’s chest, but that was just the beginning.
When her father, Jerome stepped forward, she thought that he was going to be compassionate, but the moment she saw his scowl, she gave up hope.
“I wish we didn’t have to pick you up that night, Mia! You have been a burden to us!”
“Sonya is a better choice, and you almost made us lose the honor of being called the parents of the Luna of Willow Pack,” Hilda added, taking a few steps while she held onto her glass of wine.
“By the time Sonya gives birth, we will become grandparents of the future Alpha or Luna of Willow Pack,” She smugged proudly.
Mia thought she loved her, but it appeared that she would always choose her real daughter over her.
The other guests were not left out.
As they encircled Mia with disdain in their eyes, their indistinct voices became audible.
“Look at her! Such a wolfless creep!”
“I can’t believe she just turned twenty and has still not shifted!”
“She thought she could lure her way into Alpha Darrell’s bed with her beauty and charm!”
“We can’t have such a weakling as our Luna!”
No matter how hard she tried, Mia couldn’t stop hearing the resentful comments that were fired at her, accompanied by mocking laughter.
She had run out of tears, sniffling with a quivering breath.
Sonya got tired of watching her cry. “That’s enough before you ruin this party.” She signaled to the guards standing nearby, and without delay, they grabbed Mia and threw her out.
She didn’t need to struggle.
Darrell just watched with a wry smile, and that was enough to tell her that it was game over.
Thrown out of the gate like garbage, Mia tried to pick what was left of her dignity, heels held tightly while she staggered back home.
She knew her adoptive parents had disowned her, and that meant she had to grab her things and leave.
“Pick up, Bella!” All her attempts to reach her best friend was futile, and she could have persisted if not for the swoosh she heard in front of her, causing her to lift her face in fear.
“Who is there?!” Her voice was still shaky, her heartbeat still throbbing while she scoured with wide eyes.