The Alpha's Runaway Queen

Chapter 6 - Birthday dinner

Jasmine POV

My birthday was coming, and I was so thrilled to be spending it at home. The academy had announced a two-day school holiday, and that meant I could enjoy my entire birthday weekend without worrying about homework. I invited Tania to spend the long weekend at our pack. She was surprised at first, then got excited. After she got her parents’ approval, she started packing right away.

Kaia, Tania, and I arrived at the pack lands on Friday night. Tania stayed with me, while Kaia, who also wanted to join the sleepover, opted to spend the night at the palace to spend more time with her parents. Anyway, she was granted permission to join us the following night–the eve of my birthday. My birthday celebration wasn’t going to be huge, just a gathering of family and close friends, including the alpha and gamma families. Aunt Kendra generously offered one of the palace’s large rooms as the venue for my celebration. It was a relief for us. I considered our house big enough to accommodate everyone, but it would have been a squeeze. Plus, I didn’t want to trouble Mom and Grandma with organizing the party. All we needed were food and drinks. Reagan and his stories would be enough entertainment for the night.

Saturday morning arrived with the sun shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the pack lands. I expected Reagan to arrive later in the day, so to pass the time, I decided to give Tania a tour. We piled into my dad’s car, Kaia tagging along. As we drove through the pack lands, I pointed out the important structures, which were minimal–the hospital, the daycare center, a gas station with a convenience store, the barracks for the warriors, and the two fire stations. The pack lands were surrounded by forest, making the fire stations essential in case of forest fire.

Tania was fascinated, her eyes wide as she took in the sights. “You get to live here? It’s like a hidden paradise,” she marveled.

I laughed. “It does have its charm. But wait until you meet everyone.”

We turned around and went straight to the pack house, where I introduced Luis, who was staying together with his mate on the top-most floor of the building. She gave me a knowing look and whispered, “You get to be best friends with the hottest guys. Do you have any more friends like him?”

Those who were within the vicinity heard what Tania said. Most of them smiled, while the rest ignored her remark.

I could only laugh again. “I’ll show you tomorrow morning at the training.”

“Goody!” Tania clapped silently.

Kaia and I could only shake our heads at our friend’s silliness.

It was almost noon when we finished the tour. I thought of taking us all out for lunch, but then Kaia invited us to eat at the palace.

“Yes to this! My grandma is the head chef in the palace! We don’t want to miss it!” I exclaimed.

We eagerly accepted the invitation, and soon we were savoring Grandma’s delicious cooking. After lunch, we toured the palace. Tania was in awe of the grand architecture and luxurious rooms.

Our next stop was the nearby town for some shopping, but we didn’t stay out long. Compared to big cities, there were only a few stores. After shopping and ice cream, we decided to head back to the palace and binge-watch movies in the theater room. The reclining leather seats and giant bean bags made it even better than the cinemas.

Dinner was a casual affair with the alpha family, but still, there was no sign of Reagan. After eating, I slipped out to the huge receiving area by the front doors, looking out the window and wondering why Reagan was taking so long. I checked my phone, but there was no update.

Staring at my phone, I remembered vividly when he called me a few days after his eighteenth birthday. I had wanted to call him so badly before that, but fear held me back. What if he told me he had met his mate? The thought twisted my heart in ways I couldn’t fully understand. I wanted Reagan to be happy, but a part of me selfishly hoped he wouldn’t meet his mate just yet. So, I avoided talking to him, dreading the news I might hear. When he finally called, I gathered all my courage to face whatever he had to say. His words were a blur, except for one thing that stood out: he hadn’t met his mate. I was so relieved, and I couldn’t help but clap once before quickly stopping myself, hoping he hadn’t noticed. I could only hope this long wait for Reagan was not bad karma catching up on me for the way I acted before.

After letting out a deep breath, I looked outside again.

“Jasmine, is everything okay?” Aunt Kendra, the Alpha Queen and Reagan’s mom, asked with concern.

I turned to her and smiled. “Yes, Aunt Kendra. Uh, I was just waiting for Reagan. He has not updated me yet. Do you have any news from him?”

“No, but he’s probably on his way. You know how he is–he’ll be here. Don’t worry about it,” she replied.

We chatted about my time at the academy, my classes, and my plans for the future. Aunt Kendra encouraged me not to pressure myself and offered her support if I decided to pursue further studies.

“Thank you, Aunt Kendra. That means a lot,” I said, hugging her.

She hugged me back. “You’ve been a wonderful influence on both my kids, especially Reagan. Don’t worry, okay? He’ll be here.”

We both left the receiving area, with me returning to the theater room, where Tania and Kaia were waiting for me to start a new movie. Afterward, we headed to my parents’ house for the sleepover. Mom had set up a mattress on the floor for me, so Tania and Kaia could take my bed. As we waited for midnight, we gossiped while having snacks. Tania was amused by how much we ate without gaining weight. It reminded Kaia and I of the training session we promised to take Tania to the next day.

As we prepared for bed, the clock struck midnight, and they both greeted me with birthday wishes.

“Happy birthday, Jasmine!” Kaia handed me a paper bag. “Wear this outfit for the birthday dinner.” She gifted me with a red cropped top and a black skirt.

“I love it! It’s so cute and yet sexy! Thank you so much!”

Tania then handed me her gift, which was a makeup set. “High time for you to get into makeup. I’ll give you a makeover for your birthday dinner.”

I was hesitant at first, but knowing how well Tania did her own makeup, I agreed. After thanking them both, we turned in, with me still thinking of Reagan.

We woke up early, with Tania grumbling about the cold and early start. Once we arrived at the clearing for training, her complaints vanished. The sight of half-naked men sparring and training captivated her. We planned to stay briefly, but Tania insisted on watching some more. It was a fun experience.

After the glorious early morning, we had breakfast at the palace, followed by a dip in the palace pool. The cold air contrasted with the heated water, making it a refreshing experience. We spent most of the morning in the pool, then got out for lunch. It was still hours before my birthday dinner, so we immersed ourselves in the entertainment room. We played board games and video games, and even tried the pool table–though none of us were good at it.

Finally, it was time to prepare for my birthday dinner. Tania and Kaia helped me get ready. Tania expertly applied makeup on me, making me look stunning yet natural. Kaia’s outfit fit perfectly, and I felt excited for the evening.

As we walked to the party room, I couldn’t help but feel excited and nervous at the same time. The room was beautifully decorated, with fairy lights casting a warm glow. The aroma of delicious food filled the air, and soft music played in the background.

The guests started arriving, and I greeted them, but my eyes kept darting to the entrance, hoping to see Reagan. Aunt Kendra approached me with a reassuring smile.

“He’s coming, Jasmine. Don’t worry.”

I nodded, almost crying. Aunt Kendra walked away, leaving me in my sorry state. My sadness turned into anger. My hands clenched into fists as I thought of Reagan.

The night went into full swing, and the soft melodies of a slow song drifted through the air, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. I stood by the edge of the dance floor, trying to muster the enthusiasm to enjoy my birthday party. The hours had ticked by with no sign of Reagan and no reply to my messages.

Luis, the ever-attentive friend, approached me with a concerned look. “Jasmine, would you like to dance?” he asked gently.

I nodded, grateful for his presence. We moved to the center of the floor, and Luis guided me into a slow dance. I didn’t know how to, but following Luis's steps, we mainly swayed to the soft rhythm.

“I know you’re upset,” Luis began softly, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “Reagan should be here. He promised.”

I sighed, trying to keep my emotions in check. “It’s not just that he isn’t here, Luis. He could’ve at least sent a message.”

Luis listened intently, his eyes filled with understanding. “I know it’s hard, Jasmine. Reagan has a lot of responsibilities, but that doesn’t excuse him for not keeping his promise. You deserve better.”

“I don’t want to pressure him,” I said, my voice wavering. “But it hurts, you know? He always seems to be too busy with work.”

Luis pulled me a little closer, offering silent support. “Sometimes people forget what’s important until it’s too late. But don’t let his absence ruin your night. You deserve to be happy.”

I managed a small smile, appreciating his comforting words. As we danced, Luis suddenly twirled me around, spinning me slowly. When I turned to face my dance partner, I was no longer facing Luis.

It was Reagan. His eyes were filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher, but the sight of him made the tears I’d been holding back finally spill over.

“Jas-mine,” he said softly, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket. He gently patted my tears, his touch tender. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

I looked up at him, trying to process my conflicting emotions. I slapped his arm lightly. “Reagan, you promised. And you didn’t even send a message. I thought…I thought you didn’t care anymore.”

After patting my tears away, Reagan held me close as we danced.

“I should have communicated better,” he admitted. “Can you forgive me?”

I took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of his embrace. Wanting to get back to him and to lighten up the mood between us, I answered, “Maybe.” I then pursed my lips to hide my smile.

Reagan smiled. He knew I was up to something. As we swayed to the music, the tension slowly melted away. Both of us were usually full of words when we were together, but at that moment no one said anything. We stared at each other, smiling like we knew what the other was thinking.

The song ended, and we stood there for a moment, just holding each other. We only separated when our family and friends applauded us both. We joined the others, and Reagan took on his role as the entertainer of the night. His charisma and energy were infectious, and soon the hall was filled with laughter and joy. Tania couldn’t stop gushing about how amazing he was, and I couldn’t blame her.

As the night wore on, we all gathered around the grand table for the birthday feast. The food was exquisite, and the company even better. Reagan sat next to me, giving me all his attention. I was not sure if it was only me, but he was extra…attentive. I just dismissed it as his way of making amends for being late.

After dinner, it was time for the cake. Mom had outdone herself with a beautiful, multi-tiered masterpiece. Everyone sang “Happy birthday,” and I blew out the candles, making a silent wish.

The party continued, and Reagan finally pulled me aside. “Let’s go for a walk,” he suggested.