Chapter 264 Bonfires and Bloodlines

Macey

The backyard is alive by the time the sun dips below the trees. Laughter carries across the pack grounds, the air thick with the scent of grilled meat and wood smoke. Strings of fairy lights stretch from tree to tree, casting everything in a golden glow. The massive bonfire crackles in the centre, sending sparks spiralling into the twilight sky. Someone’s playing music, something low and happy and everywhere I look, there are familiar faces. Elliot’s hand finds mine as we step through the open space. His thumb brushes over my skin, grounding me in that quiet way he always does. A few of the younger pups spot us first, and before I know it, I’m surrounded, hugged, spun, and

smothered in affection from every direction.

“She’s back!”

“She’s finally here!”

“Happy almost birthday, Mace!”

I can’t stop laughing. Every hug, every word, every burst of warmth fills the parts of me that had gone cold in those dark tunnels. Envy appears through the crowd like she always does, radiant and calm, with her dark hair loose around her shoulders. She’s holding something small in her hands, and when she reaches me, she smiles in that way only a mother can.

“Happy birthday for tomorrow, sweetheart,” she says softly.

“Thanks, Mum.”

She takes my hand and presses a small, silver pendant into my palm, a crescent moon entwined with delicate gold vines. The metal hums faintly with power, an old and steady presence.

“It’s from one goddess of balance to the next,” Envy says. “You carry more light than most could ever understand, and I’m so proud of

you.”

The words catch me right in the chest. “Mum…” I whisper, but I can’t finish the sentence. She knows. She always does. Before I can blink, the quads barrel toward me, Lyra leading the charge, her wild dark hair flying, and her three brothers close behind, all grinning like they’ve been waiting for this all day.

“Presents!” Lyra declares. “Well, technically chaos, but same thing.”

Kieran’s already laughing. “We couldn’t think of anything serio so… we leaned into tradition.”

He hands me a small wrapped box, and inside I find a soft black T–shirt with white lettering that reads: “Kidnapped Once. Don’t Try Me

Twice.”

I choke on a laugh. “Oh my gods.”

Dorian throws an arm over my shoulders. “That one was my idea.”

Felix smirks, handing me a small box wrapped in silver paper. “From all of us.”

Inside is a charm bracelet, each charm a tiny replica of something from our family: Envy’s twin swords, Layah’s paw print, the quads insignia, the symbols of each of dad’s crowns, a small black feather for Elias and a heart for Elliot.

My throat tightens. “You guys…”

Lyra grins. “We know. We’re amazing.”

The crowd laughs, and for a moment, I feel lighter than air. Elliot steps forward last. He doesn’t say anything at first, just reaches into his pocket and pulls out a simple necklace. The charm is small, dark metal shaped like the curve of his old scythe blade.

“I had it reforged,” he says quietly, his voice rough. “It’s the one I carried for years. Thought maybe it could be something new now. My past…for our future.”

The firelight flickers across his face, softening the sharp edges, catching in his eyes. I take the necklace, fingers trembling a little, and when I look up, he’s smiling that small, crooked smile that’s always undone me.

“It’s perfect,” I whisper.

He takes it gently from my hand and fastens it around my neck, his fingers brushing the back of my skin. The touch makes the bond between us hum to life, a pulse of warmth that feels like home. Someone starts clapping, and soon everyone joins in, the air full of cheers

and laughter.

The night turns into a blur of joy after that. Food, dancing, too much laughter. Someone starts roasting enchanted marshmallows that burst into a rainbow of flames. My dads chase some of the pups around the fire, and Haiden tries (and fails) to play a flute he conjured. And me? I dance, I laugh, and I breathe. For once, I don’t feel like the orphaned girl who was always a little bit less than everyone else around her. I feel more like…me, who I’m supposed to be, the heir to something greater, yes, but also just Macey. Envy’s standing near the fire, watching me with a soft smile, Layah’s tail swishing lazily beside her. I swear I can see the pride shining in her eyes, the kind that speaks of generations before me and the future that waits ahead. Eventually, I end up sitting on the grass, barefoot, with a plate of food in my lap and Elliot beside me. The fire crackles softly, sparks dancing up into the night. The pack’s laughter hums in the background, steady and comforting.

Elliot nudges me with his shoulder. “You look happy,” he murmurs.

“I am,” I say honestly. “It’s strange, though. For the first time, I feel like everyone’s seeing me for who I am, not who I was.”

He smiles, looking at me like I hung the stars. “That’s because you’ve always been more than what happened to you, Mace. Now you finally see it too.”

I rest my head on his shoulder, letting the warmth of the fire wash over me. “I like that.”

He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Me too.”

The music softens after a while, and the night settles into that quiet hum between heartbeats. I’m about to suggest another dance when I catch movement near the edge of the firelight. Envy’s there, watching me with that same knowing smile. She lifts a hand and crooks a

finger in a quiet summons.

My pulse jumps.

Elliot catches the look and raises a brow. “Everything okay?”

I nod slowly. “Yeah.”

He squeezes my hand once, his thumb brushing over my wrist before he lets go.

The firelight flickers across my mother’s face as I cross to her. Behind her, the flames shift subtly, almost unnoticeably, but I can feel the

air change.

Envy reaches out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Happy birthday, my darling girl,” she murmurs.

“Thanks,” I whisper back.

Her smile deepens, proud and a little sad all at once. “Come with me. There’s something you and Elliot need to do.”

The sound of laughter fades behind us as we walk toward the treeline, the fire crackling softly at our backs.

And somewhere deep inside me, my wolf stirs, whispering in a voice like starlight-

It’s time.