Aiden quickly checked for his phone, and so did Kira.
“Oh sorry brother. I didn’t hear it ringing, and we hung out, went to our favorite ice cream spot.” Aiden apologized and explained sincerely.
Bryan nodded, “I see. Good for you both.”
His voice was different, and he seemed a bit cold even to Aiden as he turned to leave.
“Bryan?” Aiden called out to him, but Bryan ignored him, going upstairs.
“Bryan??” Aiden called again.
“Yes?” Bryan finally answered, stopping in his tracks but not turning.
“What’s wrong?” Aiden asked, clearly noticing the change in his behavior.
“Nothing,” Bryan answered and resumed going to his room. “I have some work to do.”
There was no way Aiden believed him, but he let him be for now. He may truly have some work to do, but he was sure it was not, nothing.
Meanwhile, Kira felt somehow as she watched him leave. She also thought something was wrong, but she was not sure if she should care or not.
So she just decided to call it a night. “Aiden!”
“Yes?” Aiden turned to her with a warm smile.
“I will be going to bed now. Thank you, for today. Surprisingly, I enjoyed myself.” She told him.
“I’m glad you did. Thank you for accepting to go with me.”
“Sure”, she uttered softly and left, also heading upstairs.
Aiden had something to do first before he would also call it a night.
For a week now, Aiden and Kira got closer and were hanging out more often, whether outdoor or indoor. It seemed like she had indeed grown to know them more, or rather Aiden more.
She found herself trying to see if she could totally forgive them, both their parents and the pack, for their bad judgment and the pain they caused her.
While, on the other hand, Bryan got himself busy with work. He didn’t want to be jealous of his brother and mate, but he could not help but feel left out and excluded. So he just worked more to distract himself from the pain.
Like the last two days when it was he and Aiden’s birthday. Kira and Aiden had gone out, forgetting about him.
He got back from yet another meeting, expecting maybe a surprise or something that would make him stop feeling the way he had been feeling, but was met with that. It hurt, but he just kept it to himself and focused on work.
That was when he grew more distant.
“Where is Bryan?” Aiden asked his parents one morning as he joined them and Kira in the dining room for breakfast.
“I don’t know, he didn’t come down for breakfast as usual,” Elara answered, noticing that Bryan had been acting differently lately and hardly joined them for breakfast or dinner.
“I can go call him,” Kira offered.
“Alright, sure,” Aiden agreed.
Kira got up and went upstairs. First, she stopped by his room and knocked, but there was no answer, then she headed to their office.
There she heard him answer, saying, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Kira!” She responded.
“Come in,” he said.
Kira opened the door and came in, seeing numerous paper works laid out on his table.
“Hi,” she said softly.
Bryan didn’t even look up from what he was doing as he immediately asked her what she wanted.
“Yes? What do you need?”
Kira felt a little stung at his attitude and asked herself, “Was he not the one supposed to be wanting things to work between us. Why is he then being this way?”
She sighed inwardly, “I just wanted to inform you that breakfast is served, and we are all waiting for you to join.”
“There is no need to wait, I already informed the maid that I won’t be having breakfast,” he told her abruptly, “So you all can eat without me.”
“Oh,” Kira whispered.
He didn’t say anything afterward, ending the conversation.
Kira turned to leave but stopped and turned back.
“Are you okay though?” she asked him sincerely, wanting to know what was with his behavior. “I just feel like you have been overworking yourself and I know it’s not my place to be in your business, but I just thought to ask.”
Bryan finally stopped and put the pen he was holding down, looking up at her. “It’s surprising that you asked, since you hate me, but I appreciate your concern, and I am fine. Thank you!”
“I took what you said into consideration”, she said, “The thing you said about trying to give you and Aiden a chance, I took that into consideration even though I hate you both.”
“I don’t think you took that into consideration for me,” Bryan told her, pursing his lips. “Anyway, if you’re done, I’d like to get back to work. Thanks again for your concern.”
“Umm you-” she stopped herself, “okay.” she nodded and left.
When Kira got to the dining room and took her seat close to Aiden, she informed them that Bryan was not having breakfast.
“Did he say why?”, Aiden asked. He was starting to get worried about his twins’ behavior recently.
Kira shook her head to Aiden’s question.
“Hmmm”, Aiden thought, but then noticed Kira looked a bit down, like she was also thinking of something.
“What’s wrong?”, he asked her, taking her hand into his.
“Nothing really, I just feel like something is bothering Bryan. And he’s so distant even though we are not very close, I can still feel how distant he is,” Kira explained.
Aiden sighed and rubbed her hand softly, “Don’t worry, we will figure it out, together.”
Kira smiled softly, the smile not really reaching her eyes, and looked at Aiden, muttering, “Okay.”
“Okay,” Elara said, watching Aiden and Kira. “Is there something that I’m missing?”
Aiden knew what his mother meant and went ahead to give her and his father the good news. “Well, Kira has decided to give me and Bryan a chance, she has not forgiven us fully, but we are getting there.”
“Ohh wow, so happy for you three,” Elara said, smiling happily. She really wanted things to work out for them and Kira was such a lovely girl, and could also be the daughter she never had.
“Thank you, Kira,” Orion said, a wide smile on his face, “I am overjoyed and wish you three the best together.”
“It’s okay, hopefully things go well”, Kira muttered with a small smile, taking a deep breath.
After breakfast, Aiden and Kira decided they would go speak to Bryan together.