I thanked her softly, though my chest tightened, then headed straight for Xavier’s office. With each step, dread crept deeper into my stomach. His door stood slightly open, and I could hear his voice before I even knocked—calm, composed, confident. The voice of an Alpha who believed everything was under control.
“Come in,” he called, not even glancing up as I entered.
“Alpha,” I greeted gently. “I just saw the decoration designs.”
He lifted his head briefly. “Oh? Good. What do you think?”
“I think they’re…” I hesitated, searching for the right word. “A bit childish.”
“Exactly,” he replied immediately, his pen continuing to move across the documents on his desk. “It’s meant for children. It’s Liam’s birthday celebration, after all.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“Liam’s… birthday?”
He looked up again, puzzled by my reaction. “Yes. It’s this Saturday. You should attend too. It’ll show the pack that things between us are still harmonious.”
Saturday.
My pulse began to race. “Alpha,” I said carefully, “Saturday is also my birthday.”
His eyebrows knit together as he tried to recall. Then, a brief flicker of realization crossed his face before it disappeared beneath indifference.
“Oh,” he said casually. “Right.”
Right.
That was it.
Silence settled heavily between us. I waited—hoping he’d say something more, offer an apology, at least acknowledge how much that hurt. But he simply lowered his gaze and resumed signing papers, as though my birthday were a minor detail not worth further thought.
There was a time when he counted down the days with me.
Now, he barely remembered.
I stood there, humiliation burning beneath my skin. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he spoke again.
“By the way, your parents’ pack hasn’t sent their monthly support yet. Have you contacted them?”
My jaw tightened. “Support?” I echoed.
He nodded. “Yes. The Moonveil Pack usually sends contributions to help strengthen our resources. I was wondering if there’s been a delay. Maybe you could remind them.”
A hollow laugh nearly escaped me. My chest tightened painfully. “That’s what concerns you? My family’s contribution?”
He looked at me calmly. “It’s not about the money. It’s about maintaining alliances.”
I didn’t want to hear another word.
I turned and walked out before my anger spilled over into something I couldn’t take back.