Goddess Of The Underworld (Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 152

Goddess Of The Underworld.

Chapter 152

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68

The movie flickered out, the last notes of the soundtrack fading into the night. I was still curled into Xavier’s chest, warm beneath the blankets, when his voice rumbled low

against my ear.

“Little mate,” he said, careful with his words, “Felix will be here soon. We’ll need to start

preparing.”

The reminder pierced the bubble we’d built, dragging back the weight of what was coming. My Lycan shift. The danger to the baby. Felix is giving his life for ours. My heart clenched, and I pressed my hand to my bump like I could hold the pup closer just by touch. But then Haiden clapped his hands together, cutting through the heaviness. “Not yet. We’ve still got cake.”

Noah grinned, conjuring a spark of light to guide them as they ducked to the side, and moments later, they returned carrying the cake they’d worked so hard on earlier at Mum and Dad’s. It was imperfect, lopsided on one side, with too much icing pooling at the bottom, but gods, it was beautiful.

“Happy birthday to you…” They started, voices overlapping, off–key, but louder with every line.

By the time they finished, I was laughing through the tears sliding down my cheeks. I leaned forward, closed my eyes, and whispered into the candles: Keep them safe. All of them. Then I blew them out in one breath, the smoke curling up into the fairy lights

above.

Noah conjured music next, something soft, stringed, that hummed into the night like it had been waiting for us. Levi offered his hand with a crooked smile.

“Dance with me,

doll.”

I stood, slipping into his arms. His movements were steady, practiced, leading me slowly across the rug as the candlelit path glowed around us. “You look radiant tonight,” he whispered. “Even more than the first time I brought you here.”

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Chapter 152

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68

Before I could answer, Haiden cut in, pulling me into his chest with a cocky grin. “My turn.” He spun me once, carefully, mindful of the bump pressed between us, then kissed my cheek. “You’re mine, birthday girl. Always.”

Xavier stole me next, his hands warm and grounding on my waist. He didn’t move fast, didn’t spin me, he just held me, forehead pressed to mine, swaying in the soft glow of the lights. “You’re everything,” he murmured, so quiet I almost thought I’d imagined it. And then Noah swept me in, his lips brushing my temple as he moved us in time with the music. “We’ll carry this with you,” he promised. “Every step. Every breath.”

I laughed and cried all at once as they passed me between them, spinning me gently, kissing me softly, telling me in every way they knew how that I wasn’t alone. For a little

while, the music was louder than the fear. But when the song faded and I turned toward

the treeline, I saw him.

Felix stood at the edge of the clearing, watching, his silhouette cut against the last strips of twilight. For a heartbeat, I didn’t see the man who kept secrets, who let Marcus twist too much of my life. I saw the man who raised me. The man who once tied ribbons in my

hair and taught me how to hold a blade.

I stepped forward, and his arms opened like they always had, like nothing had ever

broken between us. I fell into them, the sob catching in my throat.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “For what I didn’t stop. For what I didn’t protect you from.”

I pulled back just enough to look at him, tears blurring my vision. “I love you,” I said simply. “No matter what. I love you.”

His face crumpled, and he held me tighter. And in that moment, I let myself believe he was still the man who had loved me first.

Felix held me like he had when I was small, like nothing could touch me as long as his arms were there. For a moment, I let myself believe it. That maybe he’d never faltered, that maybe none of it had happened. But reality sat between us, heavy and unyielding. Behind me, footsteps drew close. My mates formed a circle, not crowding, just steady. Four walls of strength bracing me in place.

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