Page 43 of Claimed By the King's Gamma

She beams, clearly pleased with my reaction.“It’s for Ivy.She deserves to feel like a queen on her special day.”

I nod, blinking back tears.“She’s never had a birthday cake before.Mrs.Daley never let us celebrate.”

Clarice’s face softens, and she reaches out to squeeze my shoulder.“Well, tomorrow she’ll have this one.And I want you to make sure you have a slice, too.A big one.”

I grin, my excitement bubbling over.“I’ll have two slices,” I say, and Clarice laughs.

The rest of the day is spent putting the final touches on the ballroom.Clarice has me help arrange the flowers—elegant arrangements of white lilies, blue hydrangeas, and silver-tipped roses—and set out trays to place the delicate pastries and finger foods on.The scent of freshly baked bread and sugary sweets fills the air, and I can’t stop myself from sneaking a few stolen bites when Clarice isn’t looking.

By the time the preparations are done, the ballroom looks like a dream.Candles flicker softly on the tables, their light reflected in the polished silverware and crystal glasses.The cake sits on its own table in the center of the room, its crown glinting in the light.It’s perfect, and I can’t wait to see Ivy’s reaction.

As I step back to admire our work, Clarice places a hand on her hip, surveying the room with a satisfied smile.“That’ll do,” she says.“Now, all we need is the guest of honor and I got a few cupcakes to finish for the bottom of the cake.”

“Ivy’s going to love this,” I say, unable to contain my excitement.

Clarice chuckles.“She’d better.Otherwise, I’ll have a bone to pick with her.”

We share a laugh, and for the first time in a long while, I feel a sense of hope.Tomorrow will be Ivy’s day, and I’ll make sure she knows just how loved and celebrated she is.If anyone deserves a moment of happiness, it’s her.And I’ll be there to make sure it happens.

So we set to work making the last of the cupcakes late into the night.

Clarice even lets me scrape the icing with a spoon and eat while she puts on the last finishing touches.I can’t wait to see the look on Ivy’s face when she sees it.We have made matching cupcakes that sit along the different tiers.

When we are finally finished with the cake, I help decorate the ballroom, and by the time I climb into bed, I’m exhausted but excited for what tomorrow will bring.I’m also excited to see Gannon.Buzzing with excitement, I find it impossible to sleep, so I pull the sketch pad and pencils.I’m so absorbed in my drawing I don’t realized it is 1 AM when Dustin knocks on my door.He pushes the door open just as I close the sketch pad.I was drawing a picture of Gannon’s Lycan side.

“Beta Damian requests your presence in the king’s quarters,” he tells me, and I jump to my feet.

“Is Ivy okay?”I ask in a panic.However, Dustin says nothing, just holds the door open and nods for me to follow him.I don’t even bother to put my shoes on, instead racing after him to the king’s quarters.Suddenly I hear Ivy crying out from behind the door.I burst through the door and stop dead in my tracks when I find her writhing on the bed holding her tummy.Damian hovers nearby, speaking softly to her and trying to calm her down.

“What’s wrong with her?”I ask, rushing to her side, but I don’t think she realizes I’m here as I caress her hair away from her face.

“She is fretting for the king,” Damian tells me.

“Fretting?”I ask, staring between Dustin and Beta Damian, who both nod.I have no idea what they were talking about, yet it is apparent Ivy is in pain.I try to soothe her and for a while, she calms as I spoon her.Eventually her breathing evens out and we fall asleep after she cries herself to sleep.It isn’t until the early hours of the morning when I feel hands scoop me up.I woke to find Liam picking me up.

“Go back to sleep,” he whispers, and I glance around and yawn.“Is Gannon back yet?”I ask him and he purrs before staring down at me.“Go back to sleep,” he orders and my eyes snap shut, and I am sucked under only to awaken in Gannon’s bed around lunch time.

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