It wasn’t a hardship. The packs were a part of her soul, connected to her on a level she’d never truly understand. They were her strength. Her home. And she’d keep giving them what they needed until the day she died.
“Good and bad. How about you? Three years of being a wolf, any regrets?”
“None. Though sometimes I regret wanting to be a vet. I swear, after I finish vet school, I am never driving a car again.”
Katalina laughed. “Yep, I don’t envy your commute.”
“Mom! Watch me, watch me!”
A smile lit Eva’s face, her eyes like sparkling jewels. “I’m watching, Matty,” Eva called back. “I swear,” she continued dreamily, “I will never get tired of hearing him call me Mom.”
“You earned the title, Eva,” Katalina replied. Since the moment Mathew had come into her life, Eva had made sacrifice after sacrifice for the boy, changing the direction of her life for a child she’d never known she’d wanted. “Not many people would drive an hour there and back every day to vet school, just so they can be home for bedtime.”
“I do it for John too,” Eva added.
“The mate and mom of the year award most definitely goes to you.”
“What about you and this party? You’re my friend, Kat. I know you’d rather be at home eating junk food and moping.”
Katalina glanced at Eva, who had become one of her best friends over the years. She was right, of course, but that made no difference. The truth was she couldn’t mope forever. At some point, she had to leave the past in the past and move on.
Mathew chose that moment to show Eva what he’d been shouting for. Giving a running head start, the boy ran a few steps before doing a cartwheel and then turned into a backflip. Katalina bit her lip to keep from laughing as Eva growled softly. “I’m going to kill my brother,” she muttered.
“Did you see, Mom? Did you see? Uncle Zac showed me!” Mathew explained excitedly.
“I did,” Eva replied, eyes wide. “You were amazing. Though it looked a little dangerous to me.”
“I’m a wolf, Mom,” Mathew complained, rolling his eyes before he ran off to show his friends.
Eva glanced at Katalina. “Excuse me a moment. I’m just going to go hunt down my brother and throttle him.”
Laughing as Eva stormed off, Katalina turned for the school building and the food that was held within. Bass had promised her the best chocolate cake in the world for agreeing to have a birthday party, and she’d be holding him to that promise.
As if reading her mind, he appeared in the doorway cast in silhouette. “Cake for the birthday girl,” he announced as she approached.
Pausing before him, Katalina eyed the huge slice of cake and then the noisy room behind him. Her cousin, Dillon, waved as their gazes met, her aunt and uncle chatting next to him to Cassady and Evan. It had taken time, but her human family had come around to their new way of life, and her uncle had become a valuable member of the Dark Shadow pack.
After waving back to Dillon, Katalina then focused on Bass. “Come out here and kiss me first.”
Bass stepped down into the dark and took her into his arms, whispering in her ear, “I can take you home and give you more if you like?”
Butterflies took flight in her belly, his kiss to her neck sending her heart racing. Not once in four years had she grown tired of the way he made her feel. She’d fallen in love with him more each day. “I haven’t even attended my own party yet. The party you thought I should have, I might add.”
“It seemed like a good idea, but now I’ve seen you all sexy in your dress, I’ve changed my mind about sharing you.”
“Kat! Come give your father a hug,” Jackson called from behind them.
“We can still run,” Bass suggested. “He’s getting old now. We’ll beat him.”
Laughter slipped passed her lips before Katalina pressed her mouth to Bass’s and savored the taste of him for a moment. She stepped from his embrace and looked at Jackson. “You’ve got terrible timing, Dad,” she said, walking toward him.
“Or perfect,” he answered, grinning as Bass growled. “Happy birthday, Kat,” he whispered as she walked into his arms.
“Thanks.” Stepping away, she entered the building, Bass on her left, Jackson on her right. Katalina the link joining them all together as she’d always been destined to be.
Their friends and family approached, smiling and giving their words of celebration. Katalina hugged and thanked them all, grateful for each and every one of them.
“Getting old, Kat,” Nico teased, handing her a gift.
“I said no presents,” Katalina moaned.
“Shut up and open it. You’ll like this one,” Nico replied, rolling his eyes.
Olivia stood to his side, her hand curved around her swollen belly, which seemed to grow day by day as the months ticked by. “This is his gift,” Olivia explained. “I’d have gotten you something far more girly.”
“She’s not a girly girl, though,” Nico grumbled, hugging his mate to his side and placing his hand over Olivia’s, caressing their unborn child. “Some girls prefer to kickass instead.”
Ripping open the wrapping paper, Katalina wasn’t sure if she should be offended or not by Nico’s words, until she found a box containing the most beautiful knife she’d ever seen inside. The gemstones and filigree on the hilt seemed girly to her, but it was the sharp lethal edge of the blade that really caused her heart to leap. “I love it, Nic. Thank you.”
“Knew you would. Happy birthday, Katalina.”
Putting the knife back into the box, Katalina leaned further into Bass’s side,
