Emma pov

　　For two weeks, Ava was examined every day by the Night Howlers Pack's doctor.

　　"Your vital signs are stable and good. Your wolf seems to have suffered no sequelae from the spells," the doctor explains while looking through Ava's files. "I believe you officially have clearance, Miss Ava. Congratulations, and take care of yourself."

　　Ava and I embrace with the great news the doctor gave us after breakfast. "What do you want to do?" Ava asks as we leave the office.

　　"I need to help with the decoration for Matthew's birthday party now, and then I want to go to the mall to buy something special for him as a birthday present," I explain as Ava and I head to the party hall at the packhouse.

　　Everyone in the Night Howlers pack is committed to preparing the entire territory for Alpha Matthew's twenty-fifth birthday. A large number of guests are expected, especially from other packs.

　　"Do you think my family will show up?" Ava asks as we arrive at the party hall, greeted by a wave of voices chatting around us. The hall is filled with wires, balloons, chairs, tables, and still-rolled carpets to be laid on the floor.

　　"I'm sure someone from the Moonshadow Pack will attend, Ava. Maybe your brother or your father," I reply hopefully. "Speaking of the Moonshadow Pack, I was thinking of something interesting," I comment mischievously and excitedly, seeing curiosity spark in Ava's eyes.

　　"Girls, I need you in the cutlery section, please," Beta Liam requests as we approach him. He points us to the location, and we both agree quickly. Beta Liam is in charge of overseeing the final preparations for today.

　　"What do you have planned, Emma Smith?" Ava asks suspiciously but excitedly at the same time. I tease her before answering, making my best friend even more curious. "Come on, spill it, don't leave me too curious!" Ava insists, nudging me with her shoulder, making me laugh.

　　"I was thinking of making a revelation about you to the Moonshadow Pack during the birthday party. Since it's been almost four months since you were declared dead, I believe the birthday is the perfect setting for your return. Your parents and your brother will be shocked and happy, I'm sure of it!" I inform excitedly. Perhaps with this revelation, with Ava's testimony that she was well cared for and treated here in the Night Howlers Pack, the confrontation that occurred almost three weeks ago will be forgotten and forgiven. Moonshadow Pack and Night Howlers Pack are about to disrupt the alliance they have, and I don't want that, especially if it was sparked by my fault. "What do you think? This way, you can also go back home, and things between Moonshadow Pack and Night Howlers Pack will be peaceful again."

　　Ava raises an eyebrow upon hearing that, which leaves me curious and worried. We are both gathering the cutlery sets and tying them with red ribbons as we talk. "What's wrong? Don't you like the idea?"

　　My best friend shakes her head, "No, no... it's not that I'm thinking. I loved it, and we'll do it, yes. I just don't want you to put too much hope on the reconciliation between the two packs. Especially knowing what lies behind our pack's territories. We're not the good guys, Emma," Ava comments seriously, and I'm confused. "What? Don't tell me you didn't know?" she asks, surprised at my naivety.

　　"Know what?" I ask curiously. Ava leans closer to me, tilting her head towards me to speak softly in my ear.

　　"The former alpha, before my father, acquired the Moonshadow Pack's territory through betrayal. A coup he made against another pack that is now extinct. In reality, the rights to the lands of the Moonshadow Pack are not really ours; as far as I know, they belong more to the Night Howlers Pack than to us," Ava explains in a low and secretive tone.

　　I process the shocking information, and Ava clicks her tongue and shrugs.

　　We continue arranging the cutlery in silence, keeping my focus on this new information. Curious to know which pack was extinct because of us, I want to ask Ava more, but we are surrounded by werewolves who might misinterpret this story.

　　We helped in the hall for a few hours, and the place was already coming to life with the chosen decoration. The party would take place inside and outside the hall, after all, it would need a lot of space to accommodate so many different packs. With almost little time to buy Matthew's gift, Ava and I went to the mall without exactly knowing what to buy for him, until I found the perfect gift!

　　"Are you sure you want to give him that?" Ava asks incredulously at my choice.

　　"Yes, it's an inside joke between us; you wouldn't understand. But it's a great gift, believe me," I assure before paying at the checkout for the item.

　　Returning to the Night Howlers Pack, I go over my entire plan with Ava about her revelation at the party.