Chapter 82

OLIVIA'S POV The kids had been buzzing with excitement from the moment they opened their eyes that morning. It was their birthday, but more than the cake, the balloons, or the gifts, it was him they were excited about. Their father. In our previous pack, it was always Derek who had tried his best to fill the gap of a father figure in their lives, but as werewolves, they could sense that they weren't connected by blood. If it weren't for our blood connections, Derek would have claimed them as his own a long time ago, and I wouldn't have stopped him. He was everything my kids deserved. I shook my head and tried to focus on today. It was their first birthday with Dominic in their lives. Even though I'd been wary, I had allowed it. I told myself it was for them. They deserved to know their father—even if I didn't trust him completely, even if it still hurt to be near him. I was willing to put all of that aside for their smiles. Aria had made me sit down so she could braid my hair, all whil