Wolf 178
Chapter 178 Xavier 473 The pack house had never looked like this before. Not for any Alpha ceremony, not for a victory feast, not even for a wedding. Tonight wasn’t about warriors or politics or bloody battles; it was about one small girl whose smile had the power to break down every wall we’d built around ourselves. A princess deserved her castle, and damn it, we were going to give her one. Haiden was directing a pair of omegas in the corner, making sure the balloon arch held steady over the double doors. They were pearly pink and lavender, woven with thin silver ribbons that shimmered whenever they caught the light. The banner stretched across the wall read “Welcome Home, Princess Macey” in letters so glittery I could already hear her squealing. I tugged on the fairy lights strung along the beams overhead, stepping back to make sure the glow was soft enough to feel magical without blinding anyone. “Not bad,” I muttered, mostly to myself. “Not bad?” Haiden’s voice cut in, sharp as always, but there was a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “That’s the understatement of the year. We’re about to host the biggest princess adoption party the Underworld, or the mortal world, for that matter, has ever seen.” I laughed under my breath. “And you’re loving every second of it, admit it.” He didn’t deny it. Just kept adjusting the balloons until they were perfectly symmetrical, typical Haiden. The long oak table in the center of the room had been transformed. Instead of the usual rugged dining setup, it was draped in a cloth of pale pink silk. A runner of white lace stretched down the middle, scattered with crystal bowls of sugared almonds, trays of cupcakes frosted with swirls of purple and gold, and vases of roses enchanted to sparkle faintly. At the far end, the cake sat on a pedestal, a three–tiered masterpiece covered in lavender fondant, edged with edible pearls, and topped with a crown made of spun sugar. “She’s going to lose her mind when she sees that,” I said, nodding toward the cake. Haiden smirked, arms crossed. “She deserves it.” An omega hurried past us, carrying a tray of sparkling drinks that fizzed with enchanted bubbles. Another trailed behind with a stack of tiaras we’d picked up from the market earlier that day, Gold, silver, even one shaped like little black flames for the dramatic flair Macey would inevitably insist upon. “Set those on the side table,” I told them, and the omega obeyed, bowing her head. The smell of sugar and butter drifted from the kitchen, where more omegas worked tirelessly on plates of cookies shaped like crowns and castles. The sound of laughter filtered through as they argued over whether the frosting should be pink or purple. I didn’t care which, as long as Macey got to shove a handful in her mouth and laugh until her cheeks hurt. Haiden came to stand beside me, both of us surveying the room like generals before a battle. Only this time, the stakes weren’t blood and territory; they were a little girl’s happiness. “You know,” I said quietly, “if someone told me a year ago that we’d be here decorating for a party like this, I would’ve laughed in their face.” 1/3 13:31 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 178 Haiden snorted. “Same. But look at us now.” : “Yeah.” My chest tightened, in the good way. “She’s ours now. Official. No more uncertainty.” A 73…