*****10 years later*****

Mia's POV

Today was going to be a good day, I could feel it. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and brush down my light brown and red hair trying to make it look as presentable as possible. I scrunched my nose causing my freckles to move with it.

"Mia! Hurry up, love! Your Aunt and Uncle will be here at any moment!" Mom yelled.

"Coming Mom!" I fan myself and wipe the small drops of sweat off of my forehead.

My skin was becoming paler by the second as I was nervous about how I looked. The small sundress helped put breeze onto my pale skin. I rush down the stairs to see small decorations hanging around our house.

"Happy Birthday my sweet love, how was your morning?" Mom kissed me on the cheek.

I give her a strong embrace and wipe the cheek she kissed me on causing her to snort at my childish actions.

"How do I look?"

I twirl slightly in my dress before halting face to face with Mom who was smiling at me creepily while winking. I laugh loudly at her actions and give a light slap on her shoulder.

"Mom!"

The doorbell rang taking us away from our goofy distracting selves.

"I got it!" I say.

The bell rings again making me roll my eyes at the impatient visitor on the other side of the house. I open the door and nearly scream with joy when I see Uncle Luca standing there with flowers in his hands.

Without another thought, I jump into his arms hugging him strongly since he hasn't visited in two years! Uncle Luca was the best person I knew, his green eyes were always filled with love and his hair was so maintained he looked like a businessman. Though he never acted like one...

"Hey, sweet girl! My! you are getting old!" Uncle Luca speaks.

"Haha, look who's talking!"

I pull out of the hug and look over his built shoulder trying to see if Aunt Diana was here. I didn't see her anywhere and I felt quite upset about it. Uncle Luca walked inside and set the flowers down on the couch armrest while he visited Mom.

"Hey Jade, long time no see! Did you get a new haircut or something?" Uncle Luca waves his finger toward his own hair.

She raised an eyebrow and folded her arms with all seriousness. Uh oh.

"Where is Diana?"  Mom questioned and ignored Uncle Luca's question.

Uncle Luca sighs sadly and shakes his head to let us know that she wouldn't be able to make it today.

"Diana had to uh stay home. There has been an incident that occurred which I have to talk to you and Hayden about it."

Speaking of Dad, he rushed downstairs and greeted Uncle Luca with a firm handshake and a quick nod of his head.

"Hey, Mia? Why don't you go outside and wait for your other Uncles?" Dad asked politely.

I felt quite upset that they didn't feel like I was responsible enough to stay with them but I obliged to prevent any arguing.

I left the small house and waited outside for Uncle Aiden, Daniel, and Alex.

Uncle Aiden was funny, his life stories are hilarious! My favorite one was when Dad and Uncle Aiden went snowboarding. Apparently, they had put a bet on my name and who would be able to name me. If Dad won, Mom and Dad could name me but if Uncle Aiden won...I would be named after him.

Luckily I wasn't named after Uncle Aiden.

Mom did.

Uncle Daniel was quite strict and always thought that he was the strongest out of all of them. Sadly, Uncle Luca had him beat and I knew that he was scared of him. Uncle Daniel was someone I would take to meet a teacher if I get into any trouble, he was always there for me.

Uncle Alex was the coolest one! He took me to places I have never been too before, like our trip to Beijing, China that was my favorite! Oh, he did so much for me and I don't think I have ever appreciated anyone more than him.

"What do you mean his body is missing?" Mom yelled loudly.

I flinched and shifted my ear to the front door that was creaked open slightly. I put my eye near the crack to see their blurred figures as they stood in a circle among each other with arms crossed.

"I have no idea who would have taken it. When we buried Xavier he was still well shifted." Uncle Luca harshly whispered.

"Won't his body be decomposed by now though? This doesn't make sense!" Dad says while rubbing his lips and chin in stress.

Who's body? I was so confused about their conversation and who this Xavier was. I continued to listen to the eerie conversation my family was having about a dead body.

"I read this online, dead bodies don't decompose until 6 to 18 years. How long has it been since he passed?" Mom wondered.

Uncle Luca muttered to himself while doing quick math in his head,

"Today's Mia's birthday, which means...18 years. It has been that long since Xavier died in front of all of us,"

Someone tapped my shoulder and I let out a small scream before covering my mouth to muffle the noise.

"Hey, kiddo! Happy 18th birthday! Look at how grown-up you are now!"

It was Uncle Aiden. He pulled me into a rough side hug messing up my hair that I took so long to fix this morning.

"I am an adult now, are you proud of me?" I asked him.

He chuckled with his eyes closed and shook his head in disagreement.

"No I am not, I don't want my baby niece to grow up ever! Why don't we head inside?"

This time I shook my head putting my hands out so he wouldn't be able to enter.

"Wait, Mom and Dad are talking to Uncle Luca about something..."

Maybe he knew about Xavier? I was quite curious to know who he was and how did he die?

"Uncle Aiden, I have a question."

I fiddled with my fingers and curled my toes inside my shoes from being more nervous to ask him.

"Sure kid, what is it?" He said with a bright grin.

"Who is Xavier?"

His smile slowly faded and became a frown in an instant. So he knew who he was also based on his reaction to the question.

"Oh, uh. He was just a family friend who passed away a long time ago when you were very young, you were just a few days old. Nobody you should worry about, trust me, kid."

The door opened revealing Uncle Luca.

"Is everyone here?" He inquired.

"Not yet, just waiting for Uncles Daniel and Alex, we can get started though,"

"Alright, birthday girl! Let's get this party started!"

Diana's POV

I rub my eyes and stare at the paperwork in front of me blankly. I couldn't believe what my eyes were reading and I threw the papers back on Luca's desk.

My eyes glanced over the number of members we had gained this month with stress. Luca and I have been completely busy with it all which is why only one of us could go to Mia's party. I badly wanted to go, but so did he.

There was no way I would allow him to miss it. He deserved a break from all of this work and I was glad Luca was able to go and enjoy the day with his niece.

I take the pen in one hand and write down the amount of money we had spent this past month on new houses and neighborhoods. It was more money that was being spent faster than ever.

"Hey, Luna Queen."

I look up and see Frankie, who was the son of our two Betas, Monica and Blake. He had light brown eyes and chestnut-colored hair. His height was quite average for his age and his voice was pretty nasally.

"What's up bud?"

"My mother was wondering where you would like us to handle the meeting tonight?"

Shoot! I totally had forgotten about the meeting tonight. Luca wasn't even here to hold it and I didn't know what the hell to talk about. Maybe we can talk about Xavier's body going missing?

I did think about him occasionally. I knew both Luca and me missed him dearly as running two separate packs was much harder than we both had ever expected.

Mia's POV

"...Happy Birthday to you!" Everyone sang loudly while off-key.

Uncle Alex and Daniel showed up a few minutes before.

I closed my eyes and wished for nothing but a good and healthy life for me and everyone who was around. My heavy breath blew out all 18 candles that surrounded the entire cake, creating a messy wax layer on the top.

"What did you wish for?" Uncle Alex asked.

"Pft, I can't say! Or else it won't come true at all!"

Yes, I know it was weird but I believed in the theory when you tell someone your wish it won't ever come true. With mine, I want it to happen for sure.

Dad kissed my cheek and wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his head on top of mine.

"Happy birthday my little darlin'."

I snuggled into his touch and tapped his cheek.

"Thanks, Papa."

When everyone was minding their own business I decided that maybe I could ask Dad about Xavier, it seemed to me that he was really close to everyone. I really wanted to know why his body was missing. But then they would find out that I was eavesdropping on their conversation.

Well, it is worth a try I guess.

"Dad? Who was Xavier?"

I assumed that I was loud because all of the chatter came to a sudden stop and everyone stared at each other quietly, waiting for someone to say something. Uncle Luca was the first person to speak.

"Who told you about him?"

"Oh, uh I heard his name while you were talking...but I swear that was it! I didn't hear anything else I promise." I lied. Shoot, hopefully, they will believe me.

"What do you think guys? Should we tell her? I do think she deserves to know who he is." Uncle Aiden said.

Everyone soon agreed except Mom, I knew she was not feeling comfortable about this conversation.

"Sweetie, do you remember the story I used to tell you when you were younger? The one about the princess and the two princes?"

I nod my head slowly.

"So, Prince X...was Prince Xavier. He saved one of us and lost his life from doing so. I hope one day we can tell you the entire thing but right now let us forget about him and worry about you becoming an adult."

Uncle Luca gripped Dad's arm tightly and dragged him away from all of us with a scowl on his face. His jaw tightened and his teeth gritted slightly.

"Anyway! Why don't we eat cake and open presents, because that sounds like fun? I wonder what your Auntie Diana sent you..." Mom tried to change the topic as quickly as possible.

I decided not to probe them further and just agreed with her. We all moved to the couches where there were large and small bags of gifts all around me.

It took a while to open all of them but I loved everything I was given. Aunt Diana gave me a bracelet with my name engraved into it, Uncle Aiden gave me a pair of socks, but not just any socks. They had capes! Uncle Alex gave me some nice shirts and a new backpack for our new trips. Uncle Daniel gave me some R-rated movies as a joke.

Mom had given me another box which was elongated. I open it and gasp loudly. Oh, it was so beautiful. The silver cross was beautiful and felt so light as I held it in my hands.

"Thank you, guys!" I said.

They all said 'you're welcome' or 'anytime'.

Today was a good day but I was still irked about Xavier. Soon I will find out the importance of who he really was.