Chapter 188: Happy New Year

When I leaned closer, our noses brushed lightly.The air between us shifted.

"So," I whispered, my lips barely grazing his, "do you want to do that?"

I let my breath linger against his mouth on purpose.

Lewis froze.

A faint flush spread from his ears down to the back of his neck. It was so unfair. Just hours ago he had stood in a room full of grown men, commanding it with a single glance. Now he looked like a shy boy who had just been cornered.

"If you want to..." he murmured softly, voice low and careful, "then I’m okay with it."

His restraint made my chest warm.

I laughed under my breath. "I’m teasing."

Of course I wasn’t going to be that bold in the middle of a car parked outside our pack estate.

But the second he saw the playful curve of my lips, something changed in his eyes.

His hand tightened at my waist.

He kissed me again slow at first, then deeper, more certain. His control always slipped a little when it came to me. By the time we reached the Bolton residence, my lips felt tender and swollen from his relentless affection.

When we stepped inside, the warmth of the pack wrapped around us. Laughter. Voices. The scent of roasted meat and spiced wine.

Jeffrey had invited Sera over specially tonight.

The moment she saw me, her eyes dropped to my mouth. Then realization dawned, and she smiled.

"Riley no, I should say Aunt Riley now. You and Uncle Lewis seem very close."

Her tone was light, but there was curiosity in it.

I smiled back. "Call me whatever you like. Where’s Julian?"

"He’s resting in his room," she said quietly.

There was a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.

He was avoiding her.

I took her hand gently. "Sera, your engagement hasn’t been announced publicly yet. If you ever change your mind... you still can."

After everything Julian had been through, his heart wasn’t ready. And especially not for anything that felt calculated.

Sera squeezed my hand.

"This is the path I chose," she said firmly. "I don’t regret it. I can wait."

Her scent carried determination. Stubborn hope.

I nodded.

Sometimes advice can only go so far. The rest is instinct.

That evening, the Bolton pack estate was alive. Extended family filled every corner. Children ran across the courtyard, chasing each other with sparklers. Jeffrey laughed loudly as he handed out gifts.

Then someone shouted, "The fireworks are starting!"

Everyone rushed outside.

Cold air bit at my cheeks as I stepped into the yard. I looked up just as the first burst exploded across the night sky.

Blue.

Deep, glowing blue.

Gasps rose around me.

"Blue fireworks! They’re beautiful!"

They were different. Not the usual red and gold. Blue like winter skies. Blue like the mark fate carved into my life.

Then drones lifted into the air.

They moved together in perfect formation. First, they shaped a time-traveling spaceship. People laughed and pointed.

Then the lights shifted.

Letters formed slowly in the sky.

R, love you forever.

My breath caught.

"R?" Sera grabbed my arm excitedly. "Aunt Riley, this must be for you! Who knew Uncle Lewis could be this romantic? But why just R?"

He didn’t shorten my name.

He couldn’t dare use it fully.

That confession wasn’t for Riley.

It was for Elena.

Only he knew.

I felt his presence beside me without looking. Strong. Quiet. Possessive in the way he stood slightly closer than necessary.

Julian stood a few steps away, staring at the blue fireworks in silence. His jaw tightened.

Then he turned and walked back inside.

"Julian! Aren’t you staying? They’re beautiful!" Sera called.

"There’s nothing special about them," he replied flatly.

But I knew what he was thinking.

On our wedding day, fireworks had filled the sky too.

But those were for Camilla.

That was the day I died in the snow.

Now, under the same winter sky, Lewis used fire and light to confess his love to me.

Julian couldn’t bear it.

The past was heavy for him.

But not for me.

I had already walked out of that storm.

I had already chosen my Alpha.

I felt Lewis’s fingers brush against mine. A small touch. Almost nothing.

But the bond between us stirred instantly. Warm. Alive. Steady.

I turned to look at him.

His expression was calm, but his eyes searched mine.

"Do you like it?" he asked quietly.

I stepped closer, ignoring the others.

"I love it."

The fireworks continued to burst above us, blue light raining down like sparks of fate.

That night, Lewis gave me something more than romance.

He gave me certainty.

Under the winter sky, surrounded by pack and family, he told the world without saying my full name

I was his.

The celebration at the Bolton estate lasted deep into the night.

Some pack members gathered around long tables playing cards. Others watched holiday shows in the main hall. The children ran outside, their laughter sharp and bright as they threw snow at each other and spun sparklers under the winter sky.

It felt warm. Lively. Alive.

But I sent Lewis back to the bedroom early.

My phone kept vibrating nonstop New Year blessings from friends, business partners, distant relatives. Everyone sending wishes. Everyone watching.

Then I saw one message that made my fingers pause.

Julian.

Just three words.

Happy New Year.

I stared at it for a few seconds.

I didn’t reply.

Maybe he meant it sincerely. Maybe he truly wished me happiness.

But my happiness no longer had anything to do with him.

I set the phone aside.

When Lewis came out of the bathroom, steam still clinging to his skin, his hair damp and slightly curled, I picked up a towel and stood in front of him.

"Come here," I said softly.

He obediently lowered his head a little so I could reach better.

I gently dried his hair, my fingers brushing against his scalp. His scent wrapped around me warm, steady, grounding. The bond between us stirred quietly, like a satisfied creature settling in for the night.

This, I thought, is what love should feel like.

"The fireworks were beautiful tonight," I said. "I really loved them."

"I’m glad," he replied, his eyes softening in a way only I ever saw.

Then he reached to the side of his wheelchair and pulled out a large gift box.

"Happy New Year."

I blinked. "You’re still giving me gifts at my age?"

He stood slowly and pulled me into his arms, his strength undeniable despite the way the world underestimated him.

"What do you mean, your age?" he murmured. "You’re still a kid to me."

I swallowed softly. "Thank you."

It had been years since someone gave me something just because they wanted to.

The box was heavy. Expensive, probably rare.

I guided him to sit on the bed and smiled. "I prepared something for you too."

His brows lifted slightly. "Oh?"

"It’s nothing big," I said quickly. "Just something small."

I pulled out a leather belt.

"I didn’t know if you’d like it."

He looked at it for a second, then looked at me, eyes darkening with amusement.

"Trying to tie me down?"

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"Maybe."

He stepped closer.

"You don’t need to," he said quietly. "I already belong to you."

His hand came to my waist, and he leaned me back gently against the bed. His presence pressed over me not aggressive, but undeniably dominant. The kind of closeness that made my heartbeat shift.

"Elena," he murmured, voice low. "It’s dark now."

My breath quickened.

I placed my palm against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm beneath. Strong. Protective.

"Wait," I whispered. "I still have something to do."

He paused immediately.

"What is it?"

Even though half my clothes were already undone, he didn’t rush me. He waited. Always controlled. Always patient when it came to me.

I reached for the new phone I had prepared earlier.

"Since it’s New Year’s Day," I said slowly, "it’s only fair Camilla gets a special gift too."

I opened the folder.

The photos.

The video of Camilla kissing Silas.

The ultrasound report.

I sent everything anonymously to Sadie.

The screen flashed: Sent Successfully.

A small smile curved my lips.

Camilla’s wedding was just days away. And when that video played at the ceremony, the entire pack would finally see her true face.

The hunt was nearing its end.

Before I could set the phone down, Lewis’s body pressed against my back. His warmth surrounded me completely. His breath brushed my ear.

"Darling," he murmured, voice thick and intimate, "where’s my gift?"

I tilted my head slightly. "Didn’t I just give you the belt?"

He gently nipped at my ear, slow and deliberate.

"Not enough," he said.

His hand tightened at my waist.

"I want you."

The air changed again.