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Ava smiled as she walked into her house with Dan. She felt at ease in his presence. For some reason, she wanted
him around her to keep someone else’s thoughts atrof her mind. She just did not want Ian around her, giving
her the uneasiness she always felt around him.
“Alpha Dane”
Gamma Harper approached them and greeted him. Ava was pleased to see how Gamma Harper welcomed Dane.
Angela lowered her head, trying to avoid Dane.
Dane shook Harper’s hand and walked towards the others.
On the other hand,
Ian was standing near the doorway. He did not come to greet Dane. He was only looking at the smile on Ava’s face.
Was that a real smile?
Was she really that happy with Dane?
His heart clenched inside. He looked away, ignoring the pain. His friend’s mind linked him, telling him to join
others.
Ian did not leave the house. He wanted to see Ava celebrating her birthday. He indeed ruined her birthday four years ago. He would not ruin it this time.
As he walked toward them, he got a phone call. He took out his phone from his pocket and saw that it was Freya.
He received the call and muttered,
“Speak.”
Freya’s voice came out filled with annoyance. “Why didn’t you take me with you to the party, Ian?”
Ian’s eyes shifted to Ava. She smiled proudly as she introduced Dane to his parents.
“I don’t want you to ruin her birthday, that’s why,” he muttered.
“What the hell! What about her? She ruined my life too. Can’t you show this sympathy to me? It looks like Alpha Ian is really weak but only in front of his favorite woman.”
Ian’s eyes flickered when he heard her. His gaze moved to Dane, who took a seat on the couch beside Ava.
“But she is also someone else’s favorite woman, and she likes it.”
“This man! Why do you care? Didn’t you say you hate her? Can’t you be like me? I am no longer concerned about them. You should come to me rather than celebrate her birthday. Come to my house after getting out of her house. I will wait for you.”
Ian hung up the phone and moved toward the couches. Rather than sit down, he stood in a corner and picked glass of alcohol.
While drinking, he focused his gaze on the discussion going on there.
“It is incredible that Ava has such a successful man in her life. Alpha Dane is a true self–made man. He had witnessed the war from a young age. He has ruled his pack flawlessly,” Alpha Martin said with a calm look.
Dane’s lips curled up in response to his appreciation. “Righ. Not everyone is self–made, you know. Some people are always dependent on their father’s throne. They should take some advice from the senior Alphas.”
“Dane’s face was very calm, and his voice was way more gentle. However, the atmosphere became tense as they realized who he was referring to by saying that.
Ava blinked her eyes, not knowing how to react. To her surprise, Ian did not mock Dane back. She was expecting, though.
Her friends noticed her nervousness and concern about the two rivals Alpha getting into an argument. They stood up after clearing their throat.
“There is only one minute and ten seconds left before 12 a.. Get ready to cut the cake, birthday girl,” Abigail said. Debra nodded her head in agreement.
Angela rose up and went to take the trolley where a beautiful cake was seated there.
She brought the trolley into the center of the living room and smiled at her daughter.
Everyone made their way over there.
Dane reached out his hand to Ava. She held it while looking at him.
“Let’s go, birthday girl,” he said, winking at her.
She blushed and chuckled.
7
Abigail and Debra were impressed by Dane’s behavior toward Ava, even though they had witnessed it before at the reunion party.
Ava and Dane walked toward the cake. She walked past Ian without a single glance, as if he were invisible in her
eyes.
“Ian,” Ronald said softly, placing his hand on his shoulder.
Ian let out a chuckle and lowered his head. He had a painful grin on his face that hurt Ronald. He could not bear to see his best friend in such a state.
He started to feel that this love was only causing pain to his best friend. Though it was Ian’s fault that he misunderstood Ava, he was not happy all these years either. During those years, he felt like he was being punished for loving someone. Now that he knew the truth, he felt as if all those years were nothing in comparison to this guilt.
Ava received applause and cheers from everyone.
She was beaming broadly, feeling grateful to be surrounded by her loved ones. She was happy and trying to ignore the negative vibes she was getting from someone.
She lowered her head and closed her eyes to make a wish before blowing out the candle.
“Moon goddess, please make this birthday memorable for me. I hope all of my problems are resolved so th spend my life with the person in my heart.
