“Missed me already?” Ryker teased, sliding into an empty chair beside Aiden. “I’m sure you two were doing just fine without me.”
“Oh please”, Bryan scoffed.
“He wishes,” Aiden said to his brother.
Bryan just laughed, “Agreed.”
Ryker chuckled, “I know you guys did, no need to pretend.”
“Good to have you back Ryker!”, Orion said interrupting the boys’ teases with a proud smile as his wife concurred.
“It’s good to be home”, Ryker smiled back.
Kira, on the other hand, had no idea what was happening. Her gaze flickered to Ryker, studying him from beneath her lashes. She tried not to make it known that she was trying to figure out who he was.
“Who is this person?”, she thought to herself. “And why do they seem so comfortable with the Alphas?”
“So, how did everything go?”, Aiden asked but then as soon as he asked, he changed his mind about bringing up that topic, “Scratch that. We will talk about it later in the office. For now, please dig in.”
“You do not need to tell me twice”, Ryker rubbed his hands as he prepared to serve himself some food.
Finally, his eyes landed on Kira. He gave her a nod, his smile lingering.
“And you must be Kira,” he said, his tone lighter but with curiosity. “I have heard quite a bit about you. It is an honor meeting you finally, Luna.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of her name, and she forced a small nod in return. “Yeah… that’s me. It is a pleasure meeting you too,” she replied, her voice quieter than intended.
Aiden, noticing Kira’s confusion, chimed in and introduced Ryker to her properly.
“This is Ryker Hayes, our Beta and most trusted friend. He has been a close confidant since we became Alphas and close friends long before. He just returned from a business trip, which is why you have not seen him around.”
“Ohh”, Kira nodded…
Now she understood why he was so comfortable and playful with Bryan and Aiden and vice versa.
“Welcome back then, I had no idea. I apologize if I was a bit dull,” Kira said to Ryker.
Ryker shook his head, “Not at all Luna.”
“Kira, Just Kira is fine.”
He gave a slight dip of his chin, “Very well. I will keep that in mind.”
Kira gave him a small smile and went back to eating.
“You have never smiled at us before”, Bryan suddenly said out of nowhere.
Kira, who was busy eating, raised her head, looking around, “Me?”, she asked, pointing to herself.
“Yes you”, Bryan accused. “You just smiled at Ryker. You have never smiled at me or Aiden before.”
He always had to include his brother too. Same goes for Aiden.
“Well umm…i-“, she stuttered, not sure of how to react or answer.
“Well??”, Aiden asked her with a raised brow while tapping his fingers on the dining table.
“Uhh,” Kira said, clearing her throat and licking her lips. “I-it’s…”
“Easy on your mate”, Ryker intervened on her behalf while laughing softly. “Plus it’s not her fault that she could not resist my charms.” He teased.
Meanwhile, Kira’s eyes widened in shock. He was going to get her in trouble if he mistakenly angered them.
“Leave! Go home, to your house Ryker. Bye!”, Bryan said to him immediately.
“Come on … it was just a little joke”, Ryker tried to defend himself while raising his hand in surrender.
“A little joke that might cost you your life, hahahaha very funny”, Aiden laughed sarcastically.
“Ouch! This is not how you treat someone you claim to miss”, Ryker sulked.
“That is why we never said we did”, Bryan responded, “I think this business trip did a number on you in a bad way.”
“I know right!”, Aiden agreed.
“And you!”, Aiden referred to Kira, “Don’t think we have forgotten that you smiled at Ryker.”
She had already thought it was all forgotten now, since they were all teasing each other, but it seems like Bryan and Aiden had a problem with letting things go.
She just ignored him and sipped some juice.
Bryan and Aiden’s parents were just like the extras in the whole conversation, although they enjoyed the little banters. It was a loving sight to see.
After breakfast, everyone went about their day.
Since Kira had nothing much to do, she headed to the library, although she noticed that she had some guards watching her. That would probably be because of her miserable failure of an attempt to run away.
And on the other hand, Bryan, Aiden and Ryker headed to Bryan’s and Aiden’s office.
“It is really good to have you back safe and sound,” Bryan said as they walked into the office.
“It is good to be back!” Ryker exclaimed gladly as he took a seat. “But who would have thought that Kira Valen, the same Kira would turn out to be your mate. Damn!”
“We were equally shocked!”, Aiden chuckled. “But these few days with her, even with her being stubborn most times, it’s like she just keeps getting more desirable, like I just feel like giving her all this love.”
“I know right”, Bryan concurred, “She makes me feel different things including frustration.”
Ryker had to move back a bit on his seat to look at Bryan and Aiden while having a funny smirk on his face, “Hold on, let me get this straight. You are both in love with her.”
“Why are you acting surprised?”, Bryan asked him.
“The great Alpha Twins. Firstborn Alpha Twins in centuries in love…”, Ryker uttered but right after that kept quiet. Leaving them wanting more.
“Spill it!”, Aiden ordered in a not too serious tone.
“It’s nothing!” Ryker quickly dismissed it.
“You are just as frustrating as always Ryker. Go back!” Aiden glared at him and shook his head, “You give me so much stress!”
“Alright, alright just teasing, but on a serious note. I am delighted you guys found her. It’s not a surprise you both have the same mate either,” Ryker said to them sincerely, “Unlike me, who still have not found mine.”
Bryan walked up to where he was seated and patted his shoulder, “Don’t worry, you will soon.”
“But…”, Ryker started, “Have you told her about the curse?”
Bryan and Aiden looked at each other before answering.
Before they even answered, Ryker already knew they had not.
“But why?”, he asked them, “Maybe things would be easier if she knew.”
Both Bryan and Aiden disagreed.
“She already hates us. We do not need to tell you why, you already know why. Her finding out about the curse would complicate things a lot.”
“And what about her being in the dark about it?”, Ryker asked them.