Page 201 of Under an Endless Moon

River and Charleigh. Theo and Cash. Plus the whole family from Redemption Hills.

Sienna, Raven’s friend from the café across the street from her shop, was there, too, standing at a high-top table chatting with Charleigh.

A round of hoots went up. “Ah, the man of the hour.”

I lifted my arms high, letting the lightness take me over. It wasn’t like I was one to reject the finer things in life. Always ready for a good time. Only that definition had shifted a bit, thefiner thingsin life standing right next to me.

“That’s right. The fun may now begin,” I shouted as I lifted the rope so Raven could duck under it.

Everyone gathered around us.

River first, with his hand outstretched, shaking my hand hard before he pulled me in for a clap to the back. “Happy birthday, brother.”

“Thanks, man.”

Theo edged forward next. “Happy birthday, old man.”

A rough chuckle got out of me. “Fuck off, asshole. You’re only a year younger than me.”

“Might as well claim it, Otto. It’s called wisdom,” Trent Lawson said as he strolled up with his wife Eden tucked under his arm.

Owed Trent a ton of gratitude. The way he’d stood beside me when all the shit had gone down with the rest of the Owls. Wasn’t long after that when the MC had fallen apart after his father, the Owls’ president, had tried to take him out.

Trent and his brothers had ended up in Northern California in Redemption Hills, not that far from here.

When we’d left Los Angeles so River could find a place to raise Nolan, Trent had convinced us to come here. Had been sure it’d be a good place for Sovereign Sanctum to fly under theradar.

“That’s right. Pure wisdom right here,” I said.

“Pssh,” Raven said from beside me. “I guess since it’s his birthday, we should go ahead and let him believe that.”

“Watch yourself, now,” I warned, cutting her an eye that promised wicked things.

Could see the thrill roll through her limbs. She hid it behind a coy grin. “Okay,old man.”

She emphasized what Theo had said.

“Can you believe this nonsense? Look at her, busting my balls,” I razzed, hooking a thumb in Raven’s direction.

“She always was the smartest one of the bunch,” Eden said as she came forward and gave me a hug.

I squeezed her back. “Ouch. It appears this is a roast rather than a party.”

“I’ve always said our family’s love language is giving each other shit.” Raven’s smile was wide.

Love.

It pulsed inside of me. A heavy current that swept me off my feet.

The rest of the crew from Redemption Hills came up to wish me happy birthday.

Jud and his wife Salem.

Logan and Aster.

Milo and Tessa.

“Glad you all made the trip out here to celebrate with me.”

---