Chapter 261 The Future Planned Out
The family room is already full when Elliot and I step through the portal. It’s warm and bright, sunlight spilling
through the high windows. There’s laughter, plates of food on the table, and the soft hum of too many people
talking at once. All conversation stops the second everyone sees me. Noah’s halfway through a cup of coffee when
he freezes, blinking like he’s seen a ghost. Levi lowers his paper. Xavier straightens up, and Haiden just… stares.
And then they all start talking at once.
“Look at you!” Noah grins. “You’re glowing!”
“Holy hell, she really is,” Levi mutters, squinting like he can’t decide if it’s a trick of the light.
Haiden smirks. “Guess we can thank Elliot for that, huh?”
Kieran gags audibly. Dorian’s face scrunches in disgust, and Felix just keeps whispering, “I knew it,” While Lyra walks around all of them, smacking the back of their heads, and then smiling at me. “I’m happy for you.” She says softly.
Envy steps forward, shaking her head but smiling that small, knowing smile that’s equal parts mother and goddess. “Alright, boys, enough, all of you. Don’t embarrass her.”
“She’s wearing his hoodie,” Kieran says in mock offence. “The audacity.”
I glance down at myself, at Elliot’s oversized hoodie hanging off my shoulders, and tug the hem self–consciously.
“It’s comfy.”
“Sure it is,” Dorian teases, waggling his eyebrows.
Elliot chuckles behind me, entirely too pleased with himself. “You all done?”
Kieran pretends to think about it and shrugs. “Probably not.”
I roll my eyes and head toward the table, tugging Elliot along by the hand. “You’re all children.”
Envy clears her throat, reclaiming the room with a single glance. “Alright, enough teasing. We do actually have
things to discuss.”
We all sit–Elliot and I on the couch, Envy in her usual armchair, the quads, both sets, scattered around the room. There’s a moment of soft silence before Envy begins.
“First,” she says, “we want to talk about your birthday tonight. Given everything that’s happened, we’d still like to
celebrate you.”
I blink. “Do we have to?”
She smiles. “Mhm. You might already have your wolf, but that doesn’t mean we can’t mark the day. We were
thinking of a party.”
My instinctive response is to panic. “Not a massive one, right?”
“Of course not,” Envy assures. “What would you like?”
I hesitate. “Something simple. Maybe a bonfire out back, barbecue, the pack… nothing huge. I just want to breathe,
you know?”
“Done,” Noah says immediately. “I’ll handle the firewood.”
“I’ll call the kitchen,” Levi adds.
Haiden gives me a wink. “You want music?”
I grin. “Obviously.”
Xavier claps once. “Perfect. It’s sorted.”
For a moment, everything feels easy. Safe. Like it used to be. But then Envy’s expression softens, her tone turning careful. “And what about your friend?”
49
The question hits me like a stone to the gut. Tessa. Elliot shifts slightly beside me, his thumb brushing the back of my hand in silent comfort. We’d talked about her last night–how she’d helped Dean, how she’d done it all under the guise of love. Love that was more poison than truth.
My throat tightens. “I don’t want her here tonight,” I say quietly. “Not for the party. But…” I take a breath. “I do want her here today. I think I deserve to say my piece.”
Envy nods, pride flickering through her eyes. “I agree. We’ll have her brought to you after the meeting.”
1 nod, exhaling slowly. “Thank you.”
Then Xavier clears his throat and leans forward, lacing his hands together. “Alright,” he says. “Next thing. School.”
I blink at him. “School?”
“Yes, school,” he says patiently. “You’ve missed a lot, Mace. Given everything that’s happened, we’d like you to have
options. If you’d rather finish the year online, we’ll support that completely.”
Levi nods. “You’ve been through more than most adults could handle. You deserve some peace, kid.”
I laugh, and they all look at me like I’ve grown another head.
“What’s so funny?” Haiden asks.
Elliot’s already smiling, because of course he knows.
I lean back, grin wide. “I don’t think school’s going to be much of a problem after what happened last night.”
Envy tilts her head, curious. “And what do you mean by that?”
I take a breath, sitting up straighter. “I had visitors,” I say simply. “Selene and Hecate.”
That gets everyone’s attention.
Envy’s eyes widen. “You spoke with them?”
I nod. “They told me why Saphra came before my birthday. They said it wasn’t an accident but a gift because our family’s seen enough hurt.”
The room goes still, and I don’t miss the way Envy’s face softens, the way her shoulders tremble just a little before she blinks it away. “That’s…” she whispers. “That’s beautiful.”
I nod again. “That’s not all.”
Xavier groans quietly. “There’s always more with you.”
“Always,” Haiden mutters under his breath.
I shoot them both a look and then glance at Elliot, who’s already watching me like he knows what’s coming.
“They told me,” I continue, “that when Elliot and I complete our bond… I’ll have the power to untether your souls. Both of you. From the Veil.”
Envy gasps, her hand flying to her chest. “Macey…”
“It’s real,” I say softly. “They showed me. You’ve both carried the weight of the Veil for so long, but you don’t have
to anymore. The goddesses said it’s time for you to be free.”
Envy’s tears come fast, silent but shining. Levi reaches across the table, taking her hand as she whispers, “All this
time… and it’s our daughter who will set us free.”
I smile, throat tight. “That’s not all either.”
Haiden leans back, sighing. “Of course it’s not.”
I ignore him and continue. “When we’re fully bonded–marked and mated-”
That word makes every single one of my dads cringe, and Kieran starts gagging again.
“-the goddesses said,” I push on, holding up a hand before they can interrupt, “that Elliot and I will take over the
Underworld.”
No one breathes for a good minute. Then Xavier blurts, “I’m sorry–what?”
Levi rubs his temples. “Define ‘take over.“”
Elliot coughs softly beside me, clearly trying not to laugh.
Envy’s staring at me with wide eyes. “You mean–ruling it?”
I nod, trying to sound casual even though my heart’s pounding. “Apparently. Not as prisoners, but as its heart. Balance and life. Moon and flame. It was all very cryptic and confusing, but yes, we will take over.”
Noah whistles low. “Holy shit, kid.”
Haiden just mutters, “You really don’t do anything halfway, do you?”
I shrug, smiling now. “Guess not.”
Envy stands, crossing the room to cup my face in her hands. “You have no idea how proud I am of you,” she whispers. “Of what you’ve become.”
I lean into her touch, the weight of everything settling around me like a promise instead of a burden.
“I know,” I whisper. “But this time… I think I finally believe it, too.”