Page 383 of Alpha Mates

Julian barely hands it over before I’m tearing the wrapping paper off like a child on Christmas morning. I’m already grinning from ear to ear, but it softens when the paper falls away. It’s a photo album. The cover’s simple—just a few words scrawled in cursive.

“Julian and Aiden: Their Journey,” Julian reads, leaning over my shoulder to peel the first page open.

We both fall silent. It’s us—but tiny. Barely the size of a wolf’s paw, curled up next to each other in an old crib, fast asleep. I’m swaddled in grey, Julian in blue.

“I haven’t seen this in years,” he whispers at my side. “You were so chubby.”

I snort. “I think this is one of the only pictures that exists without us fighting.”

I turn the page, and we’re a little older here, bathing in a tub with me trying to shove Julian underwater. I chuckle, and Julian scowls.

“You know, that made me afraid of swimming for years,” he whispers, making me fight against another laugh.

“My bad,” I say, flipping to the next page, and I immediately wish I didn’t.

In this one, I’m dangling from a tree by my underwear, wedgied within an inch of my life. Now he’s the one snickering.

“Some of my best handiwork,” he mumbles and I shove him.

Still laughing, he drapes himself back over my shoulders, and we keep flipping through the album filled to the brim with pictures of us growing up. We really are fighting in every single one, and the pattern doesn’t break until pictures of last year surface, right after we found out we were mates. The shift is captured through a picture of us walking together, faces downcast, yet we’re still holding hands.

“Oh my Goddess,” Julian gasps, laughing behind his hands. “Is that what we looked like?”

“Apparently,” I mutter, chuckling at the scowl on my face.

The next one’s sweeter. We’re in school—Julian’s laughing at something I said, and I’m staring at him like he hung the damn moon. My heart beats a little faster seeing the way I look at him. With each picture, my heart melts as the memories resurface, presenting moments Isabel somehow captured without us even knowing.

“There’s one more,” I say as I turn the last page. The world slows.

Julian is standing outside the pack house with Damon in his arms. They’re both focused on me. I’m grinning at them, my hands up to keep Levi on my shoulders. His hands are in my hair like he’s steering me.

“When did she …” Julian begins in a whisper that never ends as we stare at the picture of us, of our little family. Our whole damn life.

There’s a folded piece of paper tucked behind the photo and I slip it out, finding Isabel’s familiar writing.

When I first heard you two were mates, I was secretly going ballistic. I knew from the start it’d work out. There’s a very fine line between love and hate, and you guys have been dancing on it for years.

It’s been a pleasure watching you two become one of the most beautiful pairs of mates I’ve ever seen. I can only hope that one day I can be as happy as the two of you are.

Happy Birthday, guys.

Yours truly,

Isabel

“She’s amazing,” Julian whispers as I close the book. “I hope she finds her mate.”

“She will,” I say firmly, and when Julian nods, I lean over to press a kiss to his forehead. “So,” I add as I pull back, “what did you get me for my birthday, Mr. Heil?”

“Me,” he answers, turning my smirk into a glare that makes him snort. “I’m kidding. It’s here.”

Julian crawls over to his secret bag and shuffles inside before he pulls out a large cylindrical case. It almost looks like a Bodkin case. He shuffles back over and pops it open and pull out a rolled-up sheet of paper.

“Wow! You got me … paper,” I say, feigning enthusiasm.

He smacks me with the case.

“I’m kidding! I’m kidding!”