Chapter : 942

She started to take off Casey’s coat. Ryder and I took off ours, handing them to the butler.

“Babe, you should be resting, not working in a kitchen,” I told her, coming up behind her and putting my hands on her sides. “Not in your condition.”

Judys’ frown deepened as she turned to look at me, her arms folded across her chest.

“It’s not a condition, it’s pregnancy. And you are the one who did this to me… again,” she said, pressing her lips together in a thin line. “I don’t need to rest; I need to help my friend with her first-ever party. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

She turned and started to walk away, but then she froze and turned back to our kids. She kissed them both on the cheek and pulled them both in for a hug before she went with Nan to the kitchen.

There were a lot of guests at this party; it seemed as if Nan invited most of the pack to her twins’ 9-year-old birthday.

“I’m going to go into hiding,” Ryder said as he started to walk away. “Don’t come find me.”

“You aren’t going to say happy birthday to Kylie?” I asked, but he didn’t turn around; he just disappeared into the crowd, making me roll my eyes.

“Guess it’s just you and me, Case,” I said, putting my hand on my little girl’s head. She looked up at me and smiled.

“Is Irene going to be here too, Daddy?” Casey asked, hope on her face.

She loved Irene and missed her very much.

I let out a breath and shook my head.

“No, she’s not,” I said. “She couldn’t get the time off.”

Irene had been traveling the world as a renowned fashion designer. Erik has been working as her bodyguard and her husband. I had to admit, when she told me she was leaving the pack to pursue her dreams, I was against it. But I knew she would be safe with Erik by her side, and he was refusing to let her go without him.

Now, she’s made something of herself; she’s built her own empire, and I was so incredibly proud of her. But unfortunately, she couldn’t get out of work this week. That’s the downside of her career; I don’t get to see her often.

“Uncle Gavin,” said a familiar voice, and I looked up to see Emalyn walking towards me. She smiled, hugged me, then waved at Casey. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too, kid,” I said. “How’s school going?”

“Boring,” Emalyn muttered. “Everyone is so stuck up…”

Emalyn is going to a private school with a bunch of rich kids. Since Nan’s restaurant blew up and both Chester and Nan became well-known chefs, they were able to afford a luxurious life for their family.

“Ema, it’s your turn to entertain the kids,” Chester said as he made his way towards us; he looked tired.

“Ugh… do I have to?” She asked, crinkling her nose. “I’m almost 11. I shouldn’t have to hang out with a bunch of 9-year-olds.”

“Yes, we had a deal, remember?” Chester reminded her.

She groaned.

“This is your fault for not booking entertainment,” Emalyn muttered.

“Yeah, you have me there,” Chester said, running his hands through his hair, not bothering to argue. “You know we aren’t good at this party. thing.We don’t host parties… we normally only cater them But you mother is trying to prove herself now that we are living in this fancy

lifestyle.”

“I know dad,” Emalyn sighed. “I’ll go entertain them.”

She waved at me and then disappeared through the crowd. Chester sighed and turned to me.

“Glad you could make it, Alpha,” Chester said. “I’m sure my wife already snatched up yours.”

“The second we walked in,” I said, letting out a low laugh. “How’s it going here?”

“Chaotic, if you couldn’t tell. I think she invited most of the pack,” Chester said, shaking his head.

I laughed; that was an understatement.

“Hi, Daddy. Hi Uncle Gavin,” a sweet voice said from down below.

I looked down to see one of the

twins standing in front of me.

already knew it was Kylie based on the freckles around her nose and cheeks and the gap between her front teeth. Kenzi didn’t have any freckles, but she did have a beauty mark on her chin “She also had gỗ gap between her teeth, so they were pretty easy to tell apart if you knew them.

“Hey, Kylie,” Chester said. “Everything okay?”

She nodded and then turned to me.

“Ryder here?” She asked, eagerly.

I laughed; she and Ryder had been best friends since she was born, pretty much,

even though he was only a year at the time.

“He’s somewhere,” I told her, motioning in the direction he went.

She thanked me before she went off, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

Soon enough, Nan was wheeling out the large birthday cake, and Judy was right behind her. Everyone was singing happy birthday to the twins, and when looked around felt ang swell of pride in my chest.

This was my pack… my family… my friends… and everyone in between celebrating two little girls’ birthdays.

My eyes locked onto Judy, and she gave me the brightest smile, and I knew with certainty that there would never be a single place I’d rather be than right here.