The day after the Black Moon, just like usual, started slowly for the wolves. Well, most of them.

A group of them had a bumpy morning, like Samantha.

But Nate and the pups were silent and tired as if they had run forever. Lara was the one to wake up early that day. She made breakfast for everyone and noticed the glass of wine among the dishes drying next to the sink. It wasn’t Nate’s for sure. Maybe it was Melanie’s. She also had her difficult night, for she had lost her mate.

After finishing their food, the cubs got up from the table and walked to her for a hug.

«I love my mommy,» Jaden said.

Lara crouched in front of them and hugged each with one arm. She pecked their heads and enjoyed that familiar warmth she had envied Nate the night before.

«Mommy loves her cubs as well,» she replied, inhaling their scents just like they did with her so often. They had a familiar and sweet fragrance. «Now, shall we get ready for school?»

«Yes, mommy!» said Scarlet, turning around and pulling Nate’s sleeve. «Let’s go, daddy, come to help us.»

Lara smiled when the man got up and stepped in front of them towards the stairs and then the bedroom.

«Come with us, Jaden. You also need to get ready,» Nate murmured, waiting for the little boy to reach his side.

«I wanted to be with mommy some more,» was the reply.

«You will, but later. It’s not like your mother is going anywhere.»

«I know, but… Today I wanted to hug my mommy more.»

«You can hug her in the car,» Nate sighed.

Jaden pulled his sleeve just like Scarlet had done, and Nate halted. What was happening? Why was Jaden acting all cute?

He picked the boy up, sighing when he hugged his neck.

«I want to do something for my mommy,» Jaden said.

«Something like what?»

«I don’t know. What do you do for my mommy?»

«Hmm… Nothing much because she’s difficult to spoil. But I would like to buy her presents and flowers, bring her to a nice place and take a stroll together, talk about something she likes… That kind of thing.»

«I can’t do anything,» Jaden pouted. «I don’t know how to buy presents.»

«Oh, but we can find a way. I can help you, after all. I’m your dad, aren’t I?»

«Yes. So, will you help me buy a present for my mommy?»

«I will. But do you know what she would like the most? Something you do with your own hands.»

«What can I do?»

«Let me think. You can draw something or write a letter.»

«Which letter? L?»

«Not that letter,» Nate chuckled. «Put your feelings on paper, with words.»

«I don’t know that.»

«Indeed, it’s a little early. You can just write that you love your mommy and draw her.»

Jaden didn’t seem very convinced.

«Or we can buy a new puzzle and frame it when it’s done. Then, you can gift it as if it were a painting.»

«Would my mommy like that?»

«I’m sure she’ll place it somewhere in her room where she can look at it every day!»

«Oh, nice!»

«But why are you talking about this?»

«Is it July now?»

«Yes, it is.»

«I heard grandma say that July is a nice month and that the garden would be even better.»

«Yes?»

«So, it must be July.»

«That’s right. What happens in July?»

«My mommy’s birthday is in July.»

«Which day?»

Jaden pouted his lips and bowed his head, looking down in shame.

«I don’t know,» he whispered.

«Oh, no big deal. I can retrieve the information somehow. I will find out, and then we can organise a surprise party for her.»

«Surprise?»

«Yes. Wouldn’t it be even better? Your mommy won’t expect it… But for it to be a surprise, we need to keep it secret.»

«Oh, don’t tell Scarlet then. She says everything to mommy!»

«Everything?»

«Yes! Every time we argue, she runs to mommy and tells me off. She tells her everything I’ve done wrong.»

«She’s a telltale.»

But the little girl had kept the secrets they had shared during the first days. Lara didn’t know about him being the CEO until he told her, and she didn’t know about Scarlet’s torn and then repaired clothes.

«She does it only when it brings her some advantage,» Nate noticed. «Or when she’s angry and wants to get back at someone.»

He’d better remember not to rely on her discretion too much.

«We shouldn’t tell Scarlet,» Jaden replied.

«Sure! We don’t want her to get angry and then ruin the surprise, right?»

«Right!»

Jaden chuckled, hugging Nate once again.

«My mommy has never had a surprise party,» he said.

«I guess there was no one to organise it.»

«She used to buy a small cake. For our birthday, it’s always been way, way bigger than hers. I thought it was because we are two, but mommy never liked buying things for herself. Not even cakes or flowers.»

«It’s fortunate you now have me. By the way, what kind of cake did she buy? Can you remember?»

Jaden thought hard, visibly considering how to exploit the situation for his own gain.

«Chocolate,» he said.

«Are you sure?» Nate chuckled.

«Yes! My mommy likes it so much.»

«Not fruits?»

The grimace on the boy’s lips was an answer clear enough.

«My mommy likes both fruits and chocolate, but her cake should have chocolate!»

«Hmm… I see. If you think she’ll be happy like this, we will find a chocolate cake.»

Jaden seemed conflicted while clinging on to Nate and considering his options. On one hand, he could have chocolate cake with little effort. Moreover, his mommy really liked it.

On the other hand, he could make his mommy very very happy with her favourite cake. It was a tough battle, but his feelings won in the end.

It was his mommy he was thinking about.

«You know, dad… Mommy likes fruits very much. Maybe, it’s better if we find a fruit cake.»

«Is it?» Nate chuckled. «Then, I’ll arrange for the best fruit cake in the world!»