Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 234 Celebrate Damian’s birthday 3

Victoria’s POV

I took Damien to ride the last rollercoaster of the day, followed by the pendulum ride, spinning coaster, and every other adrenaline-pumping attraction in the park. While everyone else around us screamed at the top of their lungs, my mate remained stoically composed, his face an unreadable mask.

"You don’t have to keep that serious face on," I said, reaching up to touch his cheeks. My fingers gently pressed against his skin, coaxing the corners of his mouth upward. "We’re here to have fun. Smile!"

Damien’s lips curved into a slight smile, and my wolf Nora purred with satisfaction inside me.

"That’s more like it," I said, feeling a flutter in my chest at his handsome face. "My mate looks so good when he smiles. You should do it more often."

"Don’t I smile enough already?" he asked, his smoky cedar scent intensifying as he leaned closer.

His question made me laugh. "Around me, sure. But everywhere else? Your employees are terrified of you. I’ve noticed our son is starting to take after you too. He might grow up with that same intimidating scowl."

"I’ll work on it," he promised, his eyes never leaving mine.

"So, did you enjoy today?" I asked, my heart beating a little faster as I waited for his answer.

Damien nodded without hesitation. "Very much."

I could sense there was more he wanted to say. The bond between us vibrated with unspoken emotion. Every day with me brought him joy—I could feel it through our mate bond, even when he didn’t put it into words.

"Close your eyes," I instructed, excitement bubbling inside me.

"Why?" Suspicion flashed across his face, and I caught a whiff of anxiety in his scent.

His reluctance surprised me. Damien Sterling, Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, hesitating to close his eyes for a simple surprise? I could sense his wolf Arthur growling protectively inside him.

"Just do it, please?" I urged, my voice softening into something close to a playful whine.

Still, he hesitated, his grip on my hand tightening. "If I close my eyes, will you disappear?"

The vulnerability in his question shocked me. After everything we’d been through, did he still harbor such deep insecurities? My heart clenched at the thought.

"Where would I go?" I asked, genuinely puzzled. "We’re heading home together after this. I’m not going anywhere."

"You promise?" His voice carried a weight that spoke of old wounds.

"Here," I offered, extending my hand. "Hold onto me if it makes you feel better."

"Alright." He finally took my hand, his fingers entwining with mine so tightly I could feel our pulses synchronizing. Only then did he close his eyes.

With a quick wave of my free hand, I signaled to the park attendant waiting nearby. The young man hurried over, carefully placing a bouquet of midnight blue roses and white lilies into my arm. The colors of our packs blended perfectly together, just as we did.

I stood there for a moment, admiring Damien’s face in repose—the sharp jawline, the proud nose, the slight furrow between his brows that never completely disappeared even when he slept. Unable to resist, I rose on my tiptoes and pressed my lips against his.

He stiffened momentarily before his eyes flew open in surprise. Finding me so close, his gaze intensified, pupils dilating as he realized what was happening.

I pulled back, pretending to be annoyed. "I told you to keep your eyes closed! Why did you open them?"

"I wanted to see you," he answered simply, his voice dropping to that deep register that always made Nora howl with delight inside me.

"Well, since you’ve ruined the surprise," I sighed dramatically, offering him the bouquet. "These are for you."

Confusion crossed his face as he accepted the flowers. "Shouldn’t I be the one giving you flowers?"

"Don’t you know what day it is?" I asked, watching his expression carefully.

Seeing his genuinely puzzled look, I confirmed what I’d suspected all along—he’d completely forgotten.

"It’s your birthday, Damien," I said softly.

The change in his expression was instant and profound. Something shifted in his eyes—a mixture of shock, realization, and something deeper that made my breath catch. His wolf stirred powerfully beneath the surface, responding to the recognition.

"You’re kidding," he said, stunned. "You remembered my birthday when I didn’t even remember it myself?"

I couldn’t help but smile at his bewilderment. "Only you would forget your own birthday. Who does that?"

He stood there silent, clutching the bouquet as if it were something precious and fragile.

"How did you know?" he finally asked, his voice unusually quiet.

His question made me smile. I’d done my research, piecing together the story through various connections.

"I found out by chance," I explained. "One of your old classmates is a client of mine. He saw the news about our mating ceremony online and realized I was your mate. While discussing business, he mentioned you."

I reached up to touch Damien’s face again, this time letting my fingers linger against his skin. "He told me about the last time he heard from you—how you asked him if amusement parks were fun, if his mother enjoyed going there. You told him you were planning to visit one with your mother on your birthday, but then..."

I didn’t need to finish the sentence. We both knew what had happened to his mother.

"I didn’t mean to pry into your past," I hurried to add. "And I didn’t bring you here today to dredge up painful memories. I just wanted to give you something you missed out on, to make you happy. I—"

Before I could finish, Damien pulled me into a tight embrace, crushing the flowers between us. His scent enveloped me completely—smoky cedar mixed with midnight rose, intensified by emotion.

"I am happy," he whispered against my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "This is the best birthday I’ve ever had. Thank you, Victoria."

The sincerity in his voice made my heart swell. I hadn’t realized how much this simple gesture would mean to him. This was what being mates was about—knowing each other’s wounds and helping to heal them, one day at a time.

"You’re easy to please if this qualifies as your best birthday ever," I teased, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Let’s celebrate every year from now on, okay? Together."

"I’d like that," he murmured, his grip on me tightening as if he still feared I might vanish.

Love is reciprocal, and seeing him happy made my wolf purr with satisfaction. His happiness had become mine, our emotions flowing back and forth through our bond.

"Alright, big guy, you’re going to crush both me and your carefully selected flowers," I laughed, patting his back. "Let me go so I can give you the rest of your present. Those flowers were just the beginning."