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Chapter 260
Snowflakes
“Happy birthday to you, Snow. Blow out the candle.”
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Mother’s voice was soft, loving, laced with the kind of joy that made my chest ache in the best way. I leaned over the cake, grinning so wide it hurt and blew out the twenty–two candles in one breath.
The tiny flames flickered and died. A round of applause erupted around me, warm, genuine, from the people who had chosen me when no one else would.
I stared at the number glowing in frosting. 22.
Twenty–two years old. Born on Christmas Day. Spending it here, with Cupid’s rogue family was not something I could have imagined even a few months ago. Yet here I was, heart full to bursting, feeling more alive than I had in years.
I cut the first slice, chocolate, rich, perfect, took a bite, and handed the knife to the maid who stepped forward with a smile to finish serving.
I had arrived hours earlier, ringing the doorbell with my heart in my throat. The butler had rushed to open it, bowing low.
Marlik had looked me over for a long moment before nodding once, silent acknowledgment. Yasmin had thrown her arms around me without hesitation, hugging me tight like I was already family.
Mother had been overwhelmed, hands trembling as she pulled me close and whispered how much she’d missed me.
Tonight I came bearing gifts, small, but chosen with a full heart.
A pack of cigarettes for Marlik. Just for tonight. He could smoke because we were celebrating.
A set of drawing materials for Yasmin. Pencils, charcoal, sketchbook and tab because she’d mentioned wanting to draw the places she remembered from Feroz’s den. She’d squealed when she opened it.
For Mother, a delicate hairpin, silver with tiny moonstone inlays, elegant and perfect for her silver–streaked hair. She’d touched it ike it was made of starlight.
‘d also brought friars, small, fragrant blooms from the werewolf department, symbols of love, loyalty, and new beginnings.
handed them out to the domestic staff who had quietly rejoiced with me when midnight struck and my new age began.
‘You know, on a normal night we would’ve gone to bed already,” Yasmin said, smiling at me over her slice of cake.
‘Same here,” I laughed. “I usually go to bed early”
‘But it’s your birthday and Christmas,” she pointed out, eyes sparkling. “I can’t believe you were born on Christmas Day. Isn’t that ovely?”
giggled, soft, real.
‘Yeah. That’s why Dad named me Snow. Snowflakes. He said there was so much of it when the ride took my mom to the hospital.”
The words left a bitter taste on my tongue.
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Chapter 260
When my human father, Grant, had told me that story years ago, we had all believed I was his blood.
Now I knew better.
“I wish we celebrated Christmas,” Yasmin said wistfully. “Mom, can’t we?”
Mother smiled, gentle, thoughtful.
“We can, but as werewolves… it leans more toward the human side.”
“Maybe a little celebration at daybreak would do,” Yasmin suggested. “Marlik, what do you say?”
We all turned to him.
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He was finishing the last cigarette I’d brought, taking his time, savoring it. He nodded slowly in appreciation when he’d first opened the pack, then again now.
He lowered the cigarette, exhaled a thin stream of smoke, and met my eyes.
That steady gaze made me pause.
“You and Jahan are not on good terms,” he said quietly. “That’s why you came alone. Right?”
Cold rushed down my spine.
I didn’t speak.
Mother laughed, light, disbelieving.
“She can come here anytime without Jahan. Why would they have any fight?” Her laughter faded as she turned to me, eyes wide, searching. “What? You two are on bad terms?”
Silence fell, heavy, expectant.
I bit my lower lip.
“Cupid is mad at me.”
“Cupid?” Mother echoed, pronouncing the name strangely, quietly, like it was foreign on her tongue.
“Jahan,” I corrected softly. “He… I offended him. He hasn’t been picking up my calls.”
Mother went still, panic flashing across her face.
“What did you do? What’s going on? How long has this been happening that you didn’t speak of it?”
Panic surged in me now.
I didn’t want to tell the full story, not the memory loss, not the nosebleeds, not how I’d almost lost myself completely. But they were all watching, waiting and there was no escape.
Quietly, carefully, I explained.
I told them everything, how I’d lost my memories that night in the snow, how the emotional overload had triggered the nosebleed,
Chapter 260
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the blackout.
How I’d ended up at Ares’s mansion without knowing who I was. How Cupid had walked in, seen me with my ex and walked out without a word.
I told them about the condition, the shrinking brain, the memory gaps, the records I kept at home to remind myself who I was.
I made sure they understood I wasn’t the villain in this story. I was just… broken. Trying to hold myself together.
Silence fell when I finished.
Then Marlik frowned, deep, troubled.
“You’re… dying?”
“I… yeah. In a way.” I exhaled shakily. “I’ll heal once I get my werewolf back. And my werewolf won’t come unless I find my mate.”
Marlik turned to Mother.
She shook her head slowly, negative.
“Well, that too,” she said quietly. “We’ve had situations like this many times. Wolfless wolves usually happen when the first transformation rituals aren’t completed properly.”
“Yes,” I nodded. “Remember I told you I couldn’t take my first transformation because I lived too long among humans.”
“Then you go for all the necessary rituals.”
“I did.” My voice dropped. “Even after that… nothing. So I was told it would happen when I found my mate. And that hasn’t happened.”
Silence descended again.
The jolly mood had turned sour, thick with worry.
Mother looked at me baffled, searching.
“What tribe are you from?”
“Um… the Alpha tribe. My dad is an Alpha. The Alpha of Mooncrest Pack.”
Her eyes flew wide open.
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