"Hey, man." Hudson called out immediately he sighted Damien as he came out of the airport.
Damien just nodded at him.
"Any improvement yet?" He asked.
"No, not really." He replied.
"Ohh.. Okay." Hudson said.
"What is the urgent matter you called me for?" Damien asked.
"Actually, i was told that one of our companies was expecting a business tycoon, Demetrius Negal, and he had asked of the owner of the company." Hudson said.
"Really?" He said.
But he noticed Hudson was trying to prevent himself from smiling.
"Okay, i will go get ready and we will head out." He replied and rushed in.
"You are back home." He heard a feminine voice say.
He turned and looked at Nicole.
"Yes, i am." Damien said softly.
"You did not tell me you were traveling." She said coming closer to him.
"I was in a hurry." He said.
The mate bond was affecting him in a way that he does not understand. He felt like some force was propelling him to be so gentle towards her.
"What's happening, Cayden?" He asked in his thought.
"I feel attracted towards her." That was Cayden's curt reply.
No way!!!
"Hey, Damien..." Hudson barged in and the force was disconnected.
Nicole swerved her head towards Hudson immediately. He had ruined the moment for her.
She was almost done with achieving her aim. The spell had worked on him.
The only way for the so called spell to work on him was when he had his guard down and that was what happened exactly. But now... He will keep him guard up.
She just had to carry his pups.
"I just wanted to say that you should be quick." Hudson said while Damien nodded and headed upstairs.
"What just happened?" He asked himself.
He came downstairs some minutes later.
"Hey, let's go." Hudson said.
They entered into the car and drove off.
*
*
*
"I thought you said we were going to the company." Damien said looking around.
"Yes, what's up?" Hudson said.
"Well, this is not the route to the Company." Damien stated matter-of- factly.
"Yeah, i know... It's not bad to try out new route, is it?" Hudson asked.
"Nope." Damien said and relaxed.
*
*
*
"And we are here." Hudson announced as he drove into the garage.
Wait, is Damien the only one seeing another place?
"What the fvck?" Damien said as he looked around.
"Does this look like a company to you?" Damien asked looking around to make sure he was not in an illusion.
"Well, this is a hotel." Hudson said.
"Exactly... I know."
"What are we doing here?" Damien asked.
"Oh, please, Damien don't ruin the fun." He said and he took Damien by his hand and dragged him Inside the hotel.
As they got to the hall, every where was dark. Hudson had left his hands.
"Hey, Hudson."
"Where are you?" Damien yelled.
It was too dark for him and cayden was not helping matters either.
"Hey, Hud..."
"Ouch, fvck." Damein cussed as he hit his leg on a table
Then one by one the light bulbs were turned on.
"Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday." Several voices sang in unison.
"We wish you a happy birthday on this joyful day."
"May you live long."
"May you live long."
"May you be happy forever."
They all sang as they came out of their hidden place.
(PS: birthday song composed by me.)
He was shocked. Like did he just forget that today was his birthday?
He was so occupied with searching for Ciara that he forgot.
He smiled a little towards them - his pack members.
They had missed their Alpha.
It had taken so many efforts to convince them to surprise him.
They were scared that he would not accept it or he might even punish them. But to their surprise he did not. All he did was smile.
"Happy birthday, Alpha." A little girl said.
He looked down to see her holding him by his legs. He bent down and carried her.
"Thank you." He said as he collected the gift the girl had brought.
Other pack pups came over to give him their gifts which he gladly accepted.
"Happy birthday, Damien." He heard his mother's voice say. He looked up to her and smiled.
"Thanks, mom." He said.
She smiled with tears rolling out of her eyes.
Her son had replied her. He had just replied her.
In the past years, he had ignored his father and his mom. He did not talk to them or even went close to their abode.
Anytime she comes up with a discussion, he doesn't reply but now... He just did.
He hugged her.
"I'm sorry, mom." He said. He had to blink back the tears that were trying to force their way out of his eyes.
He is the ALPHA.
"I have been a bad son." He said.
"No baby." His mom said.
"Son." His dad's voice called out.
He moved away from his dad and smiled at him.
The party went on and on.
Ever since he was at Lucian's pack. He realised how much of a self isolation he had drowned in.
He realized that his connection with his pack was slowly wavering. He realized that he needed to be a good Alpha. Even if it means giving up the only thing that was important to him.
But will he give up?
He looked around to see how his happy his pack is right now.
He went over to the stage and took the microphone.
"Thank you everyone for this surprise." He said.
"I was not expecting this, thank you all for your never ending support for me, i love you." He said.
"And one more thing, we will be having a party like this on every 15th of the month." He said.
And they all cheered. They were happy that their ALPHA was back.
But was he really back?
Nicole watched from afar how happy Damien looked. But she could see that he wasn't so happy as his expression had given off.
She felt excluded from the pack. When they were preparing for the surprise, she was not even consulted. It was a young girl that had told her about the surprise party.
Maybe with time, they will accept her.
But will they?