Together they left the shelter of the lush, green forest and walked out onto the neatly cut lawn. The lawn was still packed with guests and pack members. Children were running around, chasing each other and dodging their parents. Off to the side two wolves were wrestling, snapping at one another’s necks. Goddess only knows what they were arguing about but no one seems to be paying them any attention.

As they walked deeper into the crowd, Amelia felt eyes turning on them, staring, watching them. She felt herself inch closer to him, gripping his hand tighter than before while still holding her head high, squaring her shoulders. She was not going to let anyone intimidate her, especially not her own pack.

Amelia spotted her brother near the stage. A large five tier cake adorned a small table beside him. She moved in his direction, Gabriel following closely behind her, their hands still entwined. Nearly reaching her brother she looked back at her mate, he gave her a small smile before letting her go.

Stephan spotted his daughter, holding hands with Alpha Gabriel as they approached. The last thing he wanted to do was cause a scene so he kept his mouth shut, but he would be having a word with the Alpha and very soon.

Stephan stepped forward, now that both of his children were accounted for and present. “I know a lot of you have already celebrated Amelia and Damon’s birthday last night.” Stephan glared at his children, who at least had the decency to be embarrassed, and noticed dozens of teens casting their eyes elsewhere. “But tonight, is for all of the pack. Today my children become adults. Damon is going on to become one of the greatest Alpha’s our pack has ever known and Amelia … well we all know she’ll do whatever her heart tells her.”

This earned him quite a few chuckles and an annoyed glare from his daughter. “Raise your glass and let’s wish them a very Happy Birthday. The start of the rest of their lives.”

Everyone in attendance raised their glasses in the air, wishing them happy birthday and cheering. Amelia smiled brightly, bouncing on her toes beside her brother. Damon stood proudly, his cheeks gaining color by the second.

Amelia cut into the cake, portioning out a slice and lying it down on a plate. She turned to her brother, smiling, offering him the first slice. Damon looked at her curiously. Normally she always insisted on the first piece. He went to take it from her, smiling in thanks.

Silly man. She mind linked him, just before smashing the slice of cake straight into his face. She caught him off guard, the icing sticking chunks of cake to his skin. Amelia laughed out loud. Most of their friends were laughing as well. The adults and elders that knew them couldn’t help but smirk, rolling their eyes. Typical Amelia.

“Here we go again.” Stephan mumbled.

Damon licked the cake that was stuck to his skin around his mouth. He wiped the icing from his eyes, blinking them open, trying to keep them from sticking. Amelia was laughing hysterically at him. He pursed his lips, nodding his head, reaching around her. He pulled back, a solid hand full of cake in his palm.

“You wouldn’t.” Amelia narrowed her eyes at him. He looked ridiculous.

“Oh, I would.” Damon pushed his handful of cake straight into her face, smearing it in as he went. Amelia gasped, shrieking as he went further, smearing the food into her hair.

Stephan stepped in before it went any farther. He did not want to deal with another food fight clean up.

“So much for being adults.” He said to the two of them, his eyebrow raised.

Amelia wiped the food from her eyes before sticking a finger into her mouth, sucking off the delicious buttercream frosting. “We can be adults tomorrow.”

Stephan laughed, shaking his head at her. “No food fight tonight. Let’s not further ruin this stunning cake Mrs. McKready made.”

Amelia pulled a small piece of cake from her brother's face before popping it into her mouth. “It’s really good.”

Her father just laughed at her. She was always a spitfire. He pulled out two towels from underneath the table, handing one to each of his children. This had become a tradition of theirs since they were pups, he hadn’t expected anything different.

Amelia took the towel from her father, wiping off the cake from her face while one of the omegas from the kitchen began to cut the cake and hand it out. She felt his eyes on her, like a moth to a flame. Still wiping off the icing she walked over to him, his eyes narrowed at her.

“I’m gonna have my hands full with you.” Gabriel stated once she was close enough. She still had icing streaked through her blonde hair, lining her eyelashes.

“Probably.” Amelia reached up, wiping icing down his cheek. His eyes widened. She stood up on her tippy toes, reaching behind his neck, pulling him down closer to her. She slowly licked the icing off his skin, pulling back to find his eyes shifting from silver to black and back as he fought his wolf for control. “I’m also a tease.” She whispered in his ear, pulling back and leaving him speechless.

Let me know what you think of this chapter <3