Chapter 30 - Sam

“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” Oshki muttered as he dipped his finger in the icing of the chocolate birthday cake and raised it to his mouth. He went back for more but Eloise slapped his hand away. He whimpered like a kicked puppy while her scowl deepened.

“He’s overwhelmed,” Luna Aki said as she massaged Sam’s shoulders. She’d been standing behind him since Mik abruptly stormed to the washroom. Always Sam’s pillar of strength and support when he needed it most.

“I’m sorry, everyone,” Sam mumbled. “Maybe a surprise party was a bad idea.”

“It was a sweet idea, Sam,” Luna said, “but maybe it was too soon for him. We should do something fun to take his mind off things.” She turned to her son playing with legos on the floor with Chloe. “How about a game?”

The four-year-old pouted. “But our house isn’t done yet!”

“It’s almost done,” the nine-year-old male told her without lifting his head as he put pieces together.

Chloe brightened and agreed to a game before trotting her lego horse around the floor.

“He won’t want to play,” Sam mumbled.

“He can watch. Maybe we can coax him to play after everyone else has had a turn.”

“What did you have in mind?” Sam asked Luna as she stepped away to rummage through the games she had brought.

“How about pin the tail on the wolf? Something simple that the pups can enjoy and we can all laugh at each other.”

Chloe jumped to her feet and ran over to Luna’s side. “I want to play! I want to play! Can I go first? Please?”

Luna assured her that she could go first and started to set up the game on one of the walls when Alpha and Mik emerged from the bathroom.

Sam couldn’t help but let his eyes trail over Mik with his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his shoulders squared, and his head held high before focusing on his face. His red-rimmed brown eyes held no salt, but a nervous sweat clung to him. He looked around the room as everyone pretended not to notice. Lids were put on top of dishes, dirty plates and cutlery were thrown out, casual conversations were picked up, while Chloe and Luna worked to set up the game and Animkii was putting the final touches on the lego house.

Mik turned his eyes back on Sam and headed straight for him, picking him up from his chair and sitting on the biggest plush chair in the room. He wrapped Sam up in his arms and buried his face in the crook of his neck and gulped in his scent in big greedy breaths. His exhalations tickled Sam’s neck and he couldn’t stop the giggles from erupting.

A faint rumble of appraisal vibrated from Mik’s throat. He didn’t say anything, just continued to hold Sam tightly as his heavy breaths eased and he began to relax.

“You okay?” Sam whispered after a few minutes.

“I just need you,” was Mik’s breathy reply. “Just a minute with you.”

A blush crept up Sam’s neck to his ears and cheeks causing Mik’s throat to rumble again in a sort of purr.

Through his peripheral vision, Sam looked around at everyone he could see casting small smiles and glances at them while pretending they weren’t seeing this intimate display from a male with a normally hostile demeanor.

It wasn’t long before the game was set up and Luna asked everyone to gather around, including Mik with Sam.

“I’m not playing,” Mik grunted, his face still planted in Sam’s neck.

“That’s fine. You haven’t eaten yet. Why don’t you pull up a chair with Sam and help yourself to some food and watch,” Luna suggested as Chloe jumped up and down in the background asking to be the first to play.

Mik’s stomach gave a growl at the mention of food and he unfurled his hold on Sam and tromped to the long table.

Alpha moved the plush chair Mik left Sam on in front of the game with everyone gathered around in a half-circle. While Mik filled a plate, Luna reminded everyone how to play the game and that mates were not permitted to help each other. She then blindfolded Chloe, who was having a hard time standing still, and spun her around on the spot a few times before releasing her.

While Chloe stumbled forward and placed her tail on the wall—five inches away from the wolf’s rump—Mik returned and Alpha held his plate while Mik adjusted Sam on his lap. Everyone cheered for Chloe while she giggled and pulled the blindfold from her head and passed it to Animkii, telling him that his turn was next. After placing his tail, he handed the blindfold to his father. The game continued until all the adults had played and it was Sam and Mik left.

Mik had cleared his plate and left to throw it out. When he returned, the corners of Sam’s lips curved up in a mischievous smile. Mik grunted. “I’m not playing.”

Impish energy built up inside Sam like he hadn’t felt in a long time. “But I want to play.”

“You can climb on my back and I’ll pin it for you,” Cameron offered.

Sam flashed him a grin and saw Cameron grinning right back. It felt like old times when they could share glances without a word being uttered and knew they were on the same page.

A low snarl emitted from Mik. He promptly picked Sam up and swung him over his shoulder. The air whooshed out of Sam with the unexpected force and rough impact. Mik may not have the muscles he once did but he was still strong, lean, and firm.

Mik was blindfolded and awkwardly spun around with Sam hanging from around his neck. With insufficient strength, Sam was draped on Mik’s back, while Mik bent forward, holding Sam’s arms around his neck with one hand and reaching out with the tail in the other. He staggered toward the wall while everyone cheered him on like they had for each other.

Closing his eyes, Sam nuzzled his cheek against the fabric of Mik’s shirt and inhaled his scent. If this was the only way he could get Mik to participate and step out of his shell, then it was worth it. It wasn’t good to be isolated all the time. Sam had once been like that. He knew the struggle, the fear of being accepted. The people gathered here were the only ones that mattered, and he was surprised to find more than Luna, Alpha, Cameron and his family. Maybe Mik had forged some kind of relationship with Eloise, Heather, and Dr. Waaban while he was in his coma that prompted them to come too? And Oshki too. Sam couldn’t wait to take him up on his offer for a double date.

Cheering erupted when Mik must have pinned his tail and hands clapped together. A few touched Sam and Mik’s back as Mik straightened and pulled the blindfold from his eyes. Sam opened his eyes as Mik shifted Sam’s weight on his back so he could peer over Mik’s shoulder. Their pin was right next to the wolf’s rump, equal distance to Oshki’s mate’s pin.

“Daddy! Daddy! Me next! Me next!” Chloe was tugging on Cameron’s hand, her smile wide and bright as she gazed up at him.

Cameron melted, and Sam’s heart swelled for him. Having his mate and daughter with him now was everything Cameron had wanted. Sam was so happy for him.

Mik turned and Sam lost sight of the father-daughter duo and Mik made himself comfortable on the plush chair with Sam again on his lap. He still seemed a little on edge but less so as everyone turned their attention on Cameron getting blindfolded and Chloe jumping on his back before he too was spun around. Everyone was laughing while Chloe giggled, stealing the spotlight and further relaxing Mik.

While everyone’s attention was diverted, Sam rubbed his cheek against Mik’s shoulder. Mik’s heart beat along his jaw. “Thanks. That was fun.”

Mik’s throat rumbled softly in response. His nose brushed lightly through Sam’s hair, drawing shivers to dance up Sam’s spine.

Once Chloe was done, Animkii wanted a turn with his father.

A tie was announced for Sam and Mik and Oshki’s mate. The two pups (especially Chloe) wanted to keep playing, so they started a new game for the two of them, along with Cameron (wrapped around Chloe’s little finger). The females gathered together in the corner while the males watched the pups continue their game, chatting between themselves.

“Feel better now?” Sam asked in a whisper after a minute of relaxing.

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Later,” Mik answered with a sigh.

Drawing away, Mik sniffed the air, his nose scrunching up as he looked at the females in the corner. A soft glow of yellow light began to grow, outlining their silhouettes with gold.

“What’s going on over there?”

Sam’s lips curved up. “Oh, I think you will find out soon enough.”

“Everyone,” Luna called, “time to gather around the birthday boy and sing.” She initiated the birthday song as the females pulled away, revealing a cart loaded with four different cakes, all lit with candles that they pushed toward them.

Everyone gathered around their chair and Mik stiffened in his seat. His arms locking tighter around Sam as Sam joined in the song.

The cart was pushed before them and Sam looked at the four cakes, three square with the fourth one tall and round. One was red velvet, another chocolate, another vanilla confetti, and the round one—Sam’s favorite—angel food cake topped with strawberries. “Happy 23rd Birthday Mik” was written across the cakes, one word on each with the number on the round angel food cake in the top right corner. There were seven candles on the square cakes and two on the angel food cake.

Mik sat there stiffly, staring at the dancing candles as the song came to an end.

“Now you make a wish and blow out the candles—only don’t tell anyone what you wished for, or else it won’t come true,” Sam whispered, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Take a big breath and blow out as many as you can.”

“Make a wish and blow with me?” Mik’s question was soft, almost hesitant. If Sam could smile wider, he would have. His heart lifted. He felt lighter.

“Okay. Hold me and we’ll lean down together. First, make a wish,” Sam told him. After a few seconds, he asked, “Done?”

“Yeah.”

Mik’s arms wrapped securely around him and they leaned forward towards the cakes. The candles flickered, the wax melting and dripping down the sides.

“Ready?” Mik nodded. Sam drew in a big breath, Mik following his lead, and blew. All but two of the candles went out and everyone cheered.

The cakes were removed to be sliced and passed around. Each one was a favorite made by a pair of their guests so Mik could discover his favorite. As Luna handed Mik a plate with four slices of cake, Sam didn’t fight him this time when Mik offered him the first bite of each before trying each as well.

Sam hoped his wish for Mik came true. That whatever happened between them, Mik would find happiness.