It had been a few days since I had first woken up. Frida and I had both recovered enough to go home, however, we were asked to rest till the final bits of silver left our systems completely.

Regardless, here I was, waiting for Gramma to fall sleep so I could leave the house without her finding out.

I had decided I wanted to do this. I had to, for Valente's sake. So I picked up my bag, placing the box I had to take with me carefully inside, and leaving my house as stealthily as I could.

"You're acting like a criminal Rayne," Imadis said.

"I feel like one," I replied back.

I didn't want anyone to see me leave, so I walked behind the houses till only a straight short road was left till the edge of the pack.

It took me a few minutes to finally reach the front of Valente's house.

My thoughts of leaving Fathilagt were now pointless, given that Eidis was literally in a deep, dark hole, and Sylvia was awol.

But that didn't stop me from being more anxious, and less trusting.

Gramma was being highly protective of me too, and didn't leave my side all day till she finally tucked me into bed for the night.

It was about 11:55 pm now, so I could guess she was fast asleep.

As I stood in front of his house, I contemplated on whether I should ring his doorbell or not.

Although I knew his aunt wasn't home this time, I finally decided to climb into his room again. It would add to the surprise.

"I wonder why I had to be paired with the dumbest human alive," Ima said.

I rolled my eyes and walked around his house to get to the back. I held the pipe alongside the back wall to climb it.

"Don't even think about it Rayne," I heard his voice from above me.

Too late, I guess.

"I'm opening the front door, get your ass back there," he said, sounding serious.

I was a little disappointed, but also a little relieved because I've gotten myself hurt quite a bit lately.

As I walked back to the front porch, he'd opened the door already, leaning on the edge of the doorway, eyebrows raised expectantly.

Hello handsome.

I reached up to him and kissed him, not too hard nor too soft.

"Happy birthday," I said to him softly.

His tough-man look dropped instantly, and he pulled me inside, closing the door behind me.

He kissed me back hungrily, just as I placed my bag gently on the floor. His fingers were instantly running through my hair, pulling me closer. It felt amazing to be with him again.

He let go a bit, so he could speak, but he took just enough space as was needed.

"It's not my birthday baby," he said, his arms tightening around me.

"Well, I know. But I missed it. With everything going on, I highly doubt you celebrated it," I said to him.

He sighed.

"I didn't even realize it was my birthday till I checked the days since you went into the coma. It wasn't a good feeling Rayne, waiting everyday for you to wake up. Don't worry though, I spent that whole day with you," he said.

"Like all the other days I was at the infirmary," I said to him.

He pulled back to look at me questioningly.

"Gramma told me you only left for training. Otherwise you'd be with me the entire time," I told him, touching his cheek softly. "Why didn't you go home to rest?"

"How could I? Leave my butterfly all alone when she's most vulnerable? Even one is too many when it comes to traitors, who knows who else is plotting behind my back? Training was a must though, I need to be in shape for the attack, but otherwise, I couldn't bring myself to leave you for a second," he said, pulling me to his chest, resting his head on my shoulder.

We stayed like that for a while, in each other's arms, cherishing the feel like it was the last time we were going to be this way.

Neither of us wanted to let go, so we didn't.

It took me a very long time to form words again.

"I got you something," I whispered.

He kissed my neck gently, and then hugged me again.

"Yes. You are the best gift I could ever ask for. I've watched you from a distance for so fucking long, all I've wanted to do was to hold you, and now that I can," he pulled back to kiss me possessively, "I can't ask for anything else."

I could feel butterflies in my stomach erupt from his words, and all I was trying to do was not turn into a pool of mush right there in his arms.

I put my arms around his neck and kissed him again, without even realizing when we got on the couch, without losing any contact.

I pulled away from him. "Don't you want to see what I got for you?" I asked him.

"Can it wait?" he asked me, his adorable eyes pleading for me to not stop.

"No it can't Alpha," I said, pecking his lips and getting up from his embrace, although only I knew how hard it was for me.

I walked to the door, took out the box from my bag, and brought it back to him.

"I couldn't do much," I said, handing him the plain brown card box.

He lifted the lid, causing the sides of the box to lay flat on his palm, revealing a large dark chocolate frosted cupcake inside, with a black origami topper.

He stared at it in awe, touching the origami wolf I'd made to top his birthday cupcake.

"Let me tell you, origami is super tough. It took me so long to make it, longer than it took to prep and bake the cupcake," I told him. "I've no idea how you do it all the time."

He pulled the origami piece from the stick looking at the black paper wolf.

"Rayne it's so beautiful," he said, taking his time to examine it.

"Okay don't get too nitty gritty with it, I'm sure there'll be mistakes," I said taking it from him to place it on the center table. "There's only so much you can learn from an online video."

He laughed and kissed my hand, bringing his attention to the cupcake.

"You got the flavor right butterfly," he said, pulling out the black paper covering from around it.

He put his finger into the frosting, licking his finger, his eyes instantly closing.

"Oh Rayne," he said, the tiniest moan escaping him.

I felt a weird warmth in my body, and I couldn't help but enjoy watching him enjoy his little treat.

He put the cupcake in front of my lips.

"Try it Rayne! It's heavenly!" he said, all excited.

"It's for you," I told him.

He made a face of fake anger, pushing it closer to my face, the frosting touching my nose.

I took a small bite, grateful that it turned out better than I expected.

He quickly finished up the rest, seeming quite satisfied. Then he looked at me, smiling the same evil way a naughty child does before dropping something off a shelf.

He quickly licked the frosting off my nose, stunning me, before bursting into laughter.

I smiled at the way he laughed, he looked genuinely happy.

I did that for him.

He pulled me close again.

"Thank you butterfly," he said, his hand slipping under my tshirt just a little bit, so he could touch my skin underneath.

It was enough to make me feel hot, even though he did it just to tease me.

"You didn't seem to be in the best mood when I got here. Is something bothering you?" I asked him.

"Just a little nervous I guess. I still haven't received word about Aunty from Kristján. He and his search party have been looking for her all this time. It's like she's just, vanished. It's weird to think about tomorrow's shift without her," he said. He was talking to me, but his thoughts seemed so far away.

I could understand that feeling for him. After all, Sylvia was his only family. And it's going to be the biggest day of his life yet.

"I don't get it though. Why'd she run?" he asked me.

Maybe I'd tell him about her threat, but now didn't feel like the right time. He already had so much on his plate, telling him that I thought she was involved would surely topple a few things off.

So I remained quiet, holding his hands in mine in a small attempt to comfort him.

"I've been training so hard for this day Rayne, and it's finally here. After the shift, we can finally avenge Fathilagt," he said.

The thought of Valente going off to fight Sgriosaire was scary enough, but it was worse to think he wouldn't let me fight by his side.

I sighed. I didn't like to see him worried.

"Anything I can do?" I asked him.

"Stay with me tonight?" he asked me. "I sleep easier with you."

Gramma's gonna kill me.

"Of course," I said to him, snuggling closer.

He put his arms around my neck, his fingers massaging my nape gently.

"It sounds pretty good," I told him.

"What does?" he asked sleepily.

I smiled at him, caressing his cheek.

"Alpha Valente."