A Wholesome Evening
Sienna
At peace.
That’s how I feel as I rest my head against Jayce’s chest as we sway slowly on the dance floor as the song comes to a close.
I can’t express how happy I am tonight. To know that he accepts me, that we’re finally together again…
I missed him so, so much. Missed that look in his eyes, the expression he has been trying to hide for months and failing.
Having him hold me because he wants to, without other external factors contributing to it.
“Alright, we’ll take a little break for dinner now, and then we’ll be back in a bit,” the man playing DJ says before he puts on some soft music.
I don’t want to let go…
Jayce gives me a squeeze as if he knows what I’m thinking, kissing my shoulder softly and holding me for a moment longer. His emotions have been a little chaotic since we’ve returned to the party, and although I’m not worried, I am a little concerned, as it isn’t like him to feel so out of control.
I lean back slightly and look up at him, brushing my fingers through his hair as I gaze into those gorgeous green eyes.
“Are you ok?” I ask softly.
He nods, touching his forehead to mine. “Yeah. I’m perfectly fine.”
From the look in his eyes, he’s telling the truth, and that puts me at ease. “Good.”
We have a huge audience, though, he murmurs through the mind-link before trailing light kisses up my neck.
Mhmm, I know…
It’s extremely hard trying to contain how I feel. The spell I cast earlier to mask my arousal is hard at work because I’m soaking wet for him. I’m sure if he could smell me, he’d have me out of here fast.
“Are you guys going to eat?” Renji calls. I turn and, sure enough, he’s looking at us, a mischievous smile on his face.
“Think they would rather eat one another,” Skyla’s sing-song voice comes, making my eyes widen as the others snicker.
“We’ll be there in a few,” Jayce says, unfazed as he turns and looks towards the buffet table.
Shahira is there, in a conversation with Uncle Liam. I wonder if he’s noticed her spending a lot of time with Renji. Even though they’re still keeping their relationship pretty quiet, they aren’t completely inconspicuous either.
“You can go sit if you like; just let me know what you want, I’ll grab it,” Jayce suggests.
I raise an eyebrow. “I can get my own food; you don’t need to be a complete gentleman,” I tease with a small, amused smile as I pull away, lacing my fingers with his as I guide him towards the buffet table and stand in line, waiting for those ahead of us to get their food.
“I’m not always a gentleman,” Jayce murmurs in my ear as he locks his arms around me from behind, pressing our locked hands to my waist. I blush at his words.
“That’s true…” I reply, leaning into him. And I love it.
Good… Cus tonight I don’t plan to be one, he murmurs huskily through the mind-link.
Gods, this man. I tilt my head up, about to lean up for a kiss when someone clears their throat from behind us.
“You know, the line has moved,” Grandad Elijah says from behind us.
Jayce looks over his shoulder as we move forward.
“Surprised you didn’t try to just cut in front of us then,” he says.
Grandad Elijah smirks. “Well, I did consider it. I’m happy to see you both have worked through things.”
“Thank you,” I say with a small smile.
“Will we see you as part of the Blood Moon soon, or not yet?” he asks.
Jayce looks at me, and I glance between them. I haven’t thought of it yet, but staying away from Jayce is already so difficult. “I’d say soon… If, of course, Jayce is ok with that.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” he replies softly.
I smile, looking away. “I’m going to miss everyone.” It’s not like I’m always home, but just knowing that I’m still a part of that pack meant something. I look across towards the table where Kaden is sitting beside Dad and Ahren, and Mama is trying to roll up his sleeves, and I smile softly.
Yeah, I’ll definitely miss them.
“Well, they’re always welcome at the Blood Moon, and you can go visit whenever you want,” Jayce says.
“Would you come with me?” I ask.
“Always,” he replies.
“Please not always,” Allie says dryly from behind Grandad Elijah, who smiles at her. “I support this relationship in theory, but prolonged exposure to couple behaviour has been linked to psychological deterioration. And my mind is already deteriorating seeing all these couples.”
Jayce glances at her. “It shouldn’t make much difference for you. She’s still part of your family, just a different branch.”
“Trust me, it gets worse.” She shudders, then frowns at Grandad Elijah. “Aren’t you old now? Like, why are you still so lovey-dovey?”
Grandad Elijah smirks. “If you ask your grandmother, you’ll realise-”
“Please don’t finish that sentence,” Jayce says, sounding uncomfortable.
I giggle. “Well, I don’t think Grandad Elijah looks old either, and I’d hope we continue to be as in love when we’re that age,” I say, looking up at Jayce before smiling at Allie, who looks horrified. “And when you find your man, I’m sure you’ll be one of us.”
Allie shudders and shakes her head as we move forward, and I pass us all plates. “Not happening,” she responds with complete confidence.
“And if it does?” Jayce cuts in. “Then you’re going to have to apologise to us all. I’ll be waiting for it.”
“Deal,” Allie says with complete confidence once again.
I raise an eyebrow. “You’re wiser than that; you should never say never.”
Jayce and Grandad Elijah nod their agreement, but Allie completely ignores them as she focuses on wiping down her plate.
I know a day will come when she’ll meet ‘the one’ and I can’t wait.
It’s much later, and a bunch of us are seated around one of the tables. Some people have already retreated, mainly those with little kids, although some have returned after putting them to bed.
Jayce disappeared with Ahren for a bit but returned shortly after. It’s now me, Jayce, Heaven, Allie, Renji, Carter, Ares, Artemis, Brock, Asher, Shahira, Charlotte, Skyla, Azura, Ahren, Scheherazade, Tatum and Katara, although Katara clearly doesn’t want to be here.
I’m worried about her. I know Mama has tried to talk to her, but it didn’t go well. She said she’ll continue to try.
“So, it’s almost twelve. Do you guys have a birthday wish?” Artemis asks.
Ares raises an eyebrow. “We’re turning fucking twenty-one; who makes birthday wishes anymore?” he scoffs.
“Some of us do,” Charlotte says.
“Even at your age?” Ares asks mockingly.
“Yes. Live a little, Westwood.”
“Ok, anyone else got a birthday wish aside from Grumpy over here?” Artemis asks, making a few of the others snicker.
“I have everything I could wish for,” Jayce says, his arm resting around my shoulders. I look up at him, and his eyes meet mine. I smile, blushing lightly as the others whistle and tease us.
It’s almost full circle… It was my eighteenth birthday when Jayce made love to me for the first time, and tonight, on his twenty-first, we’re coming together again.
“I have a wish,” Renji says, smiling slightly. “But I won’t be sharing it.”
“Can’t fault that,” Azura says, drinking her wine.
“Why are you still here?” Allie asks her.
“I’m waiting to wish my boys a happy birthday,” Azura replies, sticking her tongue out at her.
I look over at Heaven, who is sitting between Allie and Charlotte; despite her normal expression, I’m sure she’s missing Theo right now. I wish he were here. What is he doing out there?
I look between Jayce’s siblings and remember what Theo had warned Heaven of before he left. Something I know he told Jayce as well, but he didn’t believe it, or, more like, is struggling to accept.
Seeing them all seated around the table, I hope Theo was wrong…
but I believe he isn’t. And I know that truth is going to devastate so many people.
Heaven’s working on something to reveal what happened the night Ares was attacked, to find the answers we need.
I’ve seen her pouring over grimoires in all her free time.
“This is going to be the first birthday without Mom, though,” Carter remarks as he downs his drink, a small frown on his face.
The table falls silent until Azura reaches over and gives his hand a squeeze. “It is, but she’d want you to have a blast and would be so proud of you all.”
“Yeah, sure,” Carter mutters before he stands up and walks off. Asher watches him walk off, a small frown on his face, before he looks down at his glass, lost in thought.
“Well, I know for a fact she’d not like the gloomy atmosphere,” Skyla says lightly. “Just two minutes and it’s your birthday, guys! There’s a cake Mama baked.”
“Which I am bringing out now,” Aunty Kiara says with a small laugh before she disappears inside.
“And there are presents!” Skyla says as she gets up. “But we’re leaving those for tomorrow, apparently.”
“What the hell is this fucking merging into, a birthday party? How old are we?” Ares grumbles.
“I think it’s sweet,” Shahira offers with a smile. Ares opens his mouth before settling for a frown.
I nod in agreement. I had gotten all the quints something, but Jayce had been the hardest. I didn’t know we’d be together before his birthday, and I didn’t want him to throw it away either.
The cake is brought out, a five-tier cake with each layer made from the quint’s favourite flavour. Theo’s is the second layer; Aunty Kiara still included him even if he isn’t present.
Each one is covered in blue fondant, Jayce’s layer being the darkest and Renji’s the lightest. Each tier has one of the quints’ names on the side with a ‘Happy Birthday’ on the top.
“The cake is pretty; Renji’s is itty bitty at the top,” Asher says with amusement.
“I’m not sharing it with you now,” Renji promises him.
“It’s lemon flavoured; I’d not want it anyway,” Asher replies, making a few of the elders laugh.
“Alright, it’s almost midnight!” Mama says, looking at the time as we all begin counting down.
“Seven… six… five…”
I glance up at Jayce as we surround the cake; his eyes meet mine, and he leans down, kissing my lips softly.
“Two… ONE!”
Fireworks explode above us courtesy of Mama and Aunty Ri as everyone shouts, ‘Happy birthday’.
“If anyone dares fucking sing, I swear I’m walking out,” Ares says.
“If I didn’t detest singing, I would definitely sing it then,” Allie says as Katara and Corrado begin singing just to annoy him.
“Come on, boys, cut the cake together,” Aunty Kiara says as she holds out the knife to Renji.
Jayce hesitates, but I remember his Mama made them do that… They’d all put their hands on top of one another.
“Go on,” I say, and he sighs before he steps forward. I look around, spotting Heaven and motioning her over. She walks over to me, completely composed, but I know her better than that.
“Put the shortest at the front,” Carter taunts, returning to the party, motioning Ares to step forward as the others snicker.
I wrap my arms tightly around Heaven, resting my head against hers. I don’t say anything, knowing she just needs silent support right now. I’m about to turn back towards the quints when I realise Heaven has glamour on.
It’s barely noticeable; she’s done an excellent job at masking it, but residual remains of her magic linger, and I can pick up on it.
Why is she glamoured? I’m about to ask her, then change my mind. I’ll ask her at another time. So instead I turn to watch the quints.
“Shut it, wanker,” Ares growls as they slice the cake, and he steps back first, glaring at Katara and Corrado.
“Come on, man, lighten up,” Tatum says from where he’s standing beside Scheherazade. Although he’s one to talk, he dislikes parties, too.
He catches me looking and gives me a small smile before he kisses Scheherazade and comes over to Heaven and me.
“You two ok?” he asks. He and Ahren had congratulated me earlier.
“Yeah,” I say as Heaven nods.
“Perfectly well,” she answers just as Ahren joins us.
“A sibling get-together without me? I’m almost offended.”
“You’re the loner; I think you need to get a woman,” Tatum remarks, making Ahren chuckle.
“I think I’m good for now, thanks.”
Jayce walks over to us, carrying a plate of cake, which Aunty Kiara is now cutting up.
“Mind if I steal my woman?” he asks.
“I’m not used to the ‘my woman’ yet,” Ahren says. “I mean, it’s quite a sudden flip; I think I-”
“Let me rephrase that: I’m stealing her,” Jayce cuts him off.
Tatum snickers as Ahren sighs dramatically. “Fine, I guess…”
Jayce tugs me away, and I glance at Heaven, who’s smiling, motioning for me to go.
“Happy Birthday,” I say softly, reaching up and breaking a piece of cake and holding it up to his lips.
“Thanks,” he says as he takes it slowly, his eyes locked with mine. He then feeds me a piece, my heart racing beneath his intense gaze. “So… shall we get out of here?”
My stomach flutters, the flames of desire curling in my core. “Yes, please,” I murmur.
“Good, cus I’ve made some arrangements.”
“What? How?” I ask, my eyes widening.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Heaven’s packed you a bag, so I think you’re good to go as well.” His hands skim my waist, and I blush, nodding.
“I’d like that. Let’s do this the Westwood way,” I say. He smirks at that before I kiss his lips softly.
“I’m going to go say bye to Mama and Dad,” I whisper.
Jayce nods as I pull away slowly, my cheeks still burning. I’m excited and, for some crazy reason, nervous, too.
One thing is for certain: tonight is going to be a good night.