Episode 3.

The gift rested in my hand: a delicate, white gold charm bracelet holding five essential pieces of me. My initials, 'A' and 'N,' linked together, sat alongside a miniature, stylized wolf, a proud, regal crown, a simple, perfect heart, and a solitary butterfly caught mid-flight.

I went silent, simply staring at the polished metal catching the light. It was breathtaking. I felt my breath hitch with genuine delight.

"Do you like it?" Charlotte whispered, her voice tight with nerves.

I looked up at her, nodding fiercely. "Like it? Charlie, I absolutely love it." I set the jewelry carefully on the table and pulled her into a tight, grateful hug.

"It looked better in pure silver, honestly, but..." she trailed off, her expression apologetic.

I laughed, a light, understanding sound. She hadn’t needed to explain. Real silver is devastating to our kind—it won’t kill us outright, but the burns and weakness are agonizing. As beautiful as the white metal is, the real stuff is a lethal inconvenience. "It’s perfect, Charlotte. I’m happy it’s white gold. The burns aren't worth the aesthetic."

"It was my idea," Asher declared, stepping forward with a smug grin. I giggled and moved to hug him too.

Charlotte immediately swatted his arm. "Don't lie. Your only idea was the letters," she scoffed.

"It was still a damn good idea!" he protested. Everyone laughed. I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"It was a great idea. Thanks, Asher," I said sincerely.

Asher grinned. "Thanks, kiddo."

I shot him a dark look at the familiar nickname. He chuckled. "Sorry. Legally you're an adult. But to me, an adult is someone who can go bar-hopping without giving me a heart attack."

"I can go bar-hopping," I countered automatically. It just wouldn’t be legal by human standards, I added internally.

"That would be illegal," Asher dismissed, his eyes twinkling. "We, however, are going pack-hopping."

"What the hell is pack-hopping?" Dad demanded, voicing the confusion of everyone present.

"Exactly what it sounds like. We’re going to be traveling from Pack to Pack," Asher explained, relishing the dramatic pause. "We’re going pack-hopping so Ari can find her mate."

Charlotte let out an earsplitting squeal. "Oh my gods, I forgot! He’s going to be the best mate ever!" If she wasn't pregnant, I could picture her bouncing off the walls like a teenager. Despite being a couple of decades older than me, Charlotte, Asher, and my parents all retained that youthful, chaotic Alpha energy.

"Wow. That’s not offensive at all," Asher muttered, pouting slightly. Charlotte sealed his lips with a quick kiss, and his pout dissolved into a wide smile. The power of the mate bond—instantaneous joy. It was a beautiful, immediate kind of love.

"I’m going to have a chat with him first before anything happens," Asher announced, cracking his knuckles.

Charlotte’s enthusiasm vanished, replaced by an unnerving, icy glare. "You are going to chase away her mate before I even get to meet him?" she exclaimed.

Asher paled visibly, taking a hasty step away from his mate. Never, ever, ever infuriate a pregnant Luna. "I'll just make sure he's worthy of Ari," he defended weakly.

Charlotte threw her hands up in exasperation. "Of course he's worthy! The Moon Goddess wouldn't pick someone who isn't perfect for Ari. She deserves the best!"

"Let’s go talk about that Alpha stuff, shall we?" Dad interjected smoothly, saving Asher from the pregnant wrath. Asher nodded gratefully, and the two men walked off.

"So what do you want to do now?" Charlotte asked.

I bounced on the balls of my feet. It was my birthday, I'd had an amazing breakfast, hung out with my family, and now I had a trip to plan. I needed to pack—but more importantly, I needed clothes for the trip.

"Shopping trip," I declared. Charlotte and Mom shared identical conspiratorial smiles, and we grabbed our bags to head to the mall.

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