The Golden Lycans (Ella) novel Chapter 97

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

**Freya***

Claim

A few hours later we have put on some slightly nicer casual clothes to head to the upper sixth form common room to present Ollie with his insane, potentially diabetes-inducing birthday cake.

I knew Ollie didn’t eat cake so it seemed kind of stupid, but perhaps now he was of age he might liven up a bit with nice food. It’s not every day someone comes of age. Thankfully we’d gone to dinner at different times so I hadn’t yet come into contact with Ollie. Truth be told, I hadn’t seen him since Wednesday night when he followed Mira on our run.

It had been….awkward.

Mira and Artemis had engaged in an activity that was frowned upon in our human forms and all I

could do was take a back seat at that time and try my best to stay in the back of her mind. There

was no further doubt after that point about whether Ollie was my mate or not.

He was; one hundred percent.

Mira and Artemis were probably thrilled and I knew they were confused over why Ollie and I were

apprehensive. Once they connect, Mira might be able to give me some insight into how Ollie is

feeling.

Still, I was one of the youngest ones in the year and I was still several months away from turning seventeen so it was fairly unusual I could sense the mate bond this early. But I had grown up with

Ollie, I was an alpha and he was a strong beta, so perhaps that fed into it somewhat.

It wasn’t strong or consuming like the way Ella had described how it had been for her, but I was

definitely aware. It was there, but I was able to easily brush it aside for the time being. I knew it

would only get stronger over time so there wasn’t much point in denying it.

I can feel a subtle tug as I now stand in the doorway to the common room, my eyes falling on Ollie for the first time since he had turned eighteen. His sandy hair was styled in a messy sort of surfer way, and he had a crisp white linen shirt on; the sleeves rolled up to his elbows to display his strong forearms and the top few buttons undone to show off the shapely chest he worked so hard for.

I inhale slowly as I began an internal row with Mira about how to proceed.

“You okay?” Ella mutters next to me. I nod; perhaps a little too vigorously. Ella frowns at me…yeah, I wasn’t buying it either.

Ollie suddenly looks up toward our direction and locks eyes with me…and I freeze.

Come on woman, Artemis is waiting! Mira howled at me internally.

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<Happy Birthday

You’ve connected already?

Claim

Yes dear, and I’m telling you, it’s going to be alright. Ollie feels the same way as you, in every aspect, sh e says happily. He is aware of the bond, but very aware of the fact you’ve been like family for so long.

Okay, so he isn’t expecting anything physical right now? Not expecting me to hop into a broom cupboard with him or something like that? I ask to confirm.

No! He knows you’re too young and he will wait as long as it takes, Mira says proudly.

“Is Mira on board?” Ella asks quietly to me as she leads me over to grab a fizzy drink from a table.

“She’s connected with Artemis already. I don’t know why I’m surprised that they did that so fast. But…it sounds…positive. I just gotta be brave and talk to him,” I say, sighing with relief.

“Good,” Ella says, squeezing my arm. People fall silent across the room as my brother stands up on one of the coffee tables, tapping a glass loudly with a spoon.

“Thank you for coming, everyone. Ollie and I have always been each other’s sidekicks ever since we were a year old…” Austin begins. But my focus shifts rapidly to Ollie and now we were so close in proximity the world was, as Ella had quite rightly described it, becoming more muted as my mind somehow tunes out everything apart from him. If I had doubted it thus far, this definitely confirmed it. He meets my gaze and in his intense expression I knew everything Mira had said was true. I feel my heart beat racing as I feel nerves setting in.

Good nerves…of anticipation.

After we’d eaten a slice of cake I head down to the greenhouse with Ella, feeling more nervous as she flicks on the thousands of fairy lights she’d strung up around the place. It was beautiful and it was actually pretty magical. She was not wrong and it does quell my nerves a little for I felt grateful I had now had the backup of doing this in such a romantic surrounding.

“Well, I’m going to go,” Ella says quietly, giving me a quick hug, “just be honest and whatever happens, I’m here for you. But I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised.”

gave her a nervous smile as she steps away and leaves the greenhouse.

***Ollie***

“There are no drinks in the greenhouse, are there?” I ask, slowly to a stop in the middle of the

sports hall. Austin huffs and turns around with a smirk.

“Honestly, I’m surprised you made it this far before asking. No, there are no drinks,” he admits. I

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Happy Birthday

nod, running my hand through my hair anxiously.

“Freya is in there isn’t she?” I ask bluntly.

“I hope so, yes,” Austin replies, “just…ignore that she’s my sister for ten minutes but also try to consider how she’s feeling. You’re a bit much, Ol. Don’t get me wrong…you talking about your experiences to me has recently become quite helpful. BUT…she’s never even kissed anyone, Ol…aside from you that one time, because of Mira. Just imagine what she’s wondering. I don’t

want my sister wondering if she’s going to measure up.”

I run my hand nervously through my hair once again.

Clair

“I know! I get it, Aus. Trust me I’ve thought about all of this a lot. Give me some credit, dude, please,

“I exclaim with an edge of irritation. Austin nods.

“So..how did you guess?” Austin asks innocently, gesturing with his head toward the door to the

greenhouse.

“Well Aus, you’re a bit too straight laced to be doing drinks on campus. Even for me,” I reply with a

laugh.

“Aye, true true,” he says, nodding his head toward the small door that led to the greenhouse.

“It’s fine Aus, I can take it from here. But it’d better be as nice in there as you say it is,” I say, clapping him on the chest as I walk past him towards the door, mustering up as much courage as I

can as I go.

I hesitate outside the doors to the greenhouse, steeling myself.

It’s fine, Ollie. I told you. Its weird for her too. But Mira and I know you can both move past it all. You can do this, Artemis says gently as I put my hand out onto the door handle.

“She was made for us,” I remind myself as I turn the handle. I take a deep breath and open the door,

stepping inside.

I am floored by the sight before me.

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