Hey, kittens! I have a birthday this month and I'll be celebrating by hosting a GIVEAWAY for you!

So... What would you like to win in the giveaway?

Write your answers in the comments! I'll include the things you ask for the most in the giveaway.

I pulled my hair in a bun, letting a few strands fall and securing the rest with a large hairclip. A look in the mirror told me I'd done a well-enough job. My clothing was nothing too fancy, just a pair of jeans, a light pink shirt and a burgundy vest. My phone rang out for a couple of seconds then stopped - a signal that Kelly was already outside. I pulled at the shirt and vest one last time to straighten them and headed downstairs where I grabbed my black leather jacket. I locked up - we trusted each other, but we were encouraged to pick this habit up for the times we went away on vacations or for college - then walked up to my cousin's car and got in.

"Looking good, cous," she exclaimed as she turned the key and drove away.

"You too," I said, taking in her attire. She'd gone for jeans and a leather jacket too, but her top was a light blue blouse, the sleeves just an inch longer than those of her jacket.

She laughed.

"I didn't mean the clothes, Keri. You are smiling."

"Oh."

I looked at myself in the rear view mirror and what did you know? I was smiling.

But why wouldn't I?

Things were going well lately.

No new murders, Lisa had a healthy baby, Rhys and Riley were getting married...

My smile only grew as I remembered the excitement on their faces when they'd visited me on Monday morning before Rhys drove Riley to the Milk & Cream. I'd opened the door, saw them flushed and grinning, their hands linked together and I knew - even without a ring on Riley's finger - that the human boy had said yes.

I didn't congratulate them then and there for one reason: I wanted to give them the opportunity to announce the engagement themselves.

And they did.

They told me how Rhys proposed; how Riley had been so excited he'd screamed and forgot to even put the ring on; how they'd already told Rhys' family, but no one else; how they wanted to tell me first and Riley would tell Winnie and Tim today at work; how the reason why Riley wasn't wearing his ring was to put it on that night at the pub when he and Rhys shared the happy news with the rest of the pack.

The two of them had been positively beaming, grins never leaving their faces, chuckles and giggles coming out of their mouths every few minutes. And blushing. Oh, the blushing!

And the hugs.

I'd congratulated them with a hug, they'd each hugged me during one of the many times they'd thanked me for helping Rhys with the ring, and we'd embraced once again as I was seeing them off.

The contact had been exactly what I'd needed.

My friends and I used to hug a lot as children; why did we only reserve the gesture for special occasions these days?

It felt so good to be held by someone you cared for; it felt like a blessing.

"Did you hear about Horace's birthday?" Kelly's voice brought me out of the pleasant memories.

"No." I turned towards her. "What about it?"

She maneuvered the car round a corner and I was surprised to realize that we were no longer in our neighbourhood. How long had I been wrapped up in my own thoughts?

"Jasper is letting him celebrate it at the pub," she replied, a small smirk on her face as she briefly glanced at me. "I think that conversation he had with you finally managed to scare him into being sensible."

"I wish there'd been a way to make him sensible without scaring him," I said and pushed one of the lose strands of hair behind my ear. "But I'm glad he did that. Sixteen is a big deal."

"Do you think Horace will recognize his mate that night?" She asked, making another turn.

Mates was not something I felt like discussing now. After all, everything was going well; everything, but that.

I quietly gulped and tried to keep my voice cheerful.

"I hope so. I hope it's someone from our pack."

I meant it. I of all people knew what it was like to be away from a mate.

A bitter lump began forming in my throat, but I swallowed it. Tonight was about having fun. I had to focus on that. Not on being alone, not on Callum; on having fun.

"Any guesses who it might be?" Kelly asked and I furrowed my eyebrows as I contemplated.

"Mira and Jizelle are the right age, but age isn't always a factor," I began and almost cringed. I had to bring up age when talking about mates, didn't I?

I just had to somehow point my thought towards Callum and the twenty years he had on me.

"Fair point." She was silent for a moment, then laughed.

"What?"

"I just imagined my brother's face if Horace ends up with a guy and not a girl."

I frowned.

"I don't think that's funny, Kelly. Just imagine how hard Jasper will be on the poor boy."

"Oh, come on, it's not like he'll forbid Horace from..." She halted, her smile melting. "No." She vigorously shook her head, hand tight on the steering wheel. "No. Even Jasper wouldn't keep his son from his mate. He is an ass, but he can't put Horace from that; he can't be that cruel."

"I hope so." I sighed. "Because if Jasper tries that I will kick him out of the pack."

I would not let anyone else suffer like me.

Kelly gave a slow nod, her features set in a hard expression, but then she cleared her throat and attempted a smile.

"I'm sure it won't come to that."

You don't sound sure, I thought, then reminded myself: having fun. No need to worry about something that hasn't happened yet. That might not even happen.

Kelly seemed to have reached the same conclusion as she changed the subject to a more pleasant one: Rhys and Riley's engagement, and then, of course, Everett and Lisa's baby.

"You know, Alec actually visited Riley at the Milk & Cream this Monday," I told her and her eyes rounded.

"He did?"

I nodded.

"But why?"

"Well, at first Riley thought it was so Alec would mess with him, but apparently he'd mentioned Ollie so maybe he was fishing for info about his baby brother?"

"Half-brother," Kelly corrected as she huffed. "I hope Alec doesn't have plans for Oliver."

She turned into a small parking lot and stopped at the first available slot.

"Not sure how that would turn out," she went on as we unbuckled our seatbelts.

"What if he actually gets on well with Ollie?" I asked as we got out, the February air chilling my face instantly.

She snorted.

"You've met Alec, right?" We shut the doors, the car beeping as Kelly turned the alarm on. "When has he ever gotten on with anyone?"

She led the way towards the pub's entrance.
"Apart from Vika," she added, just as I said "There's Vika."

We smiled at each other and I held the door open for her.

Warmth greeted us, mixed with the scents of wood and alcohol, and the sounds of chatter and laughter.

"Not bad," I said, looking at the place. It reminded me a lot of our pub with its wooden bar, tables, chairs and benches, but this place had no second floor. However, there was a pool table.

"We could take a turn on that when they are done," Kelly said once she noticed what I was looking at. A few people were already playing, but it didn't seem like anyone was getting ready to take their places once their game was over.

"In the mean time," she placed her hands on my shoulders and pushed me towards the bar, "drinks and darts."

"If you want to lose that badly." I smirked and she rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Kelly," a man greeted and once we turned the people around the table raised their mugs and glasses in greeting.

"Hey." My cousin gave them a nod. Back to facing me again, she said: "And I'll be the one kicking your ass in both darts and pool."

We made our way to the bar with Kelly greeting a few more people. Even the bartender called her by her name.

"You come here often?" I asked, surprised that she hadn't preferred to drink with the Bullets instead.

"Oh, yeah," she answered distractedly. "Beer, right?" I nodded and she addressed the handsome, thirty-something bartender. "Two beers, bottles, cold."

He nodded and picked two bottles out of one of the fridges behind him.

"How about we sit there?" Kelly pointed at a small table with three chairs around it.

"Sure," I said as I pulled a few bills from my pocket and paid for both of us. Each with a bottle in hand, we headed for our table, the floor screeching once as we walked.

"So, do we drink first or," she began as we both took off our jackets and placed them on one of the chairs, "do we shoot darts?"

"You really can't wait to lose, can you, Kells?" I teased, taking a swig of my beer. She grinned and did the same.

"When was the last time I lost to you, cous?"

"The last time we played." It was my turn to grin as I placed my bottle on the table and stepped towards the board.

"I'm pretty sure we ended up at a tie," she said, following me.

"Not how I remember it." I began picking the darts off the board.

"Then you remember wrong."

I moved away and aimed.

"If you say so." The first dart I threw landed on the outer bullseye. I smirked and looked at Kelly - she rolled her eyes - then I glanced at our table.

"The beers will be there when we return," she assured me.

"It's not the beers I'm worried about." I threw again, hitting almost the exact same spot. "It's the jackets. And the money and phones in their pockets."

Kelly snorted.

"Doubt anyone will be dumb enough to steal in this pub."

"How so?" I took aim again.

"It's close to the precinct so off duty cops come here all the time."

I froze, but she didn't seem to notice my tension and she kept an even tone as she continued:

"Why do you think I know so many of the patrons? They are my colleagues."

"Oh." I took a deep breath and threw the dart with a shaky hand; it landed nowhere near the bullseye. "Callum come here often then?"

"Callum?" She went to the board and plucked out the tree darts I'd embedded in it. I stepped to the side so she could take my spot and throw.

"Sometimes."

My throat clenched at her answer.

"He usually drinks at home though." Her first dart also landed on the outer bullseye. "That way no one bothers him and the alcohol is cheaper than in the pub." The second dart ended up in the inner bullseye and she fist pumped the air, clutching to the last dart.

"He's careful with money lately." He voice became quieter so only I could hear her. "You know he sold that house he had at the edge of town and moved to a much smaller apartment, right?"

A nod was all I managed, fine sweat breaking over my forehead as chills ran over my body. Kelly, preoccupied with her aim and not looking at me, went on:

"I think he's sending money to his family or something and that's why he tries to save up. He still drinks though," she squinted and threw the dart; I paid no attention to where it had ended up, "but I doubt we'll run into him tonight..."

I knew she was wrong.

It wasn't some premonition or me being superstitious enough to think she'd jinxed us. As my cousin spoke, the air had charged up, the electricity going through my fingers, legs, arms, torso, heart... All the way to my soul... I let out an unsteady breath.

Callum was here.

So... Callum's here. Yay? Nay?

How do you think he'd react to Kelly and Keri?

Would he join them for a drink? Would he and Keri get into some sort of fight?

Would Kelly notice the tension coming off of her cousin and figure out the reason?

Did you expect Jasper to change? Were you surprised he allowed Horace to celebrate his birthday at the Silver Bullets pub?

How do you feel about that? Do you want him to recognize is mate there?

Do you think Jasper will try to keep Horace away from his mate if he (Jasper) doesn't approve of them?

Do you think Alec has plans for Ollie? What could they be?

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please support it with a VOTE if you did and have a great time wattpadding!

And before you go: what do YOU want to win in my giveaway?