The inside of the cabin matched the outside perfectly. It looked as though it had been plucked from one of those home improvement TV shows that Kat loved to watch. Judging from the kitchen with its stacked ovens, touchscreen refrigerator, and mini bar area, it was most certainly a luxury cabin.
The interior held earthy tones, mostly browns and a few different shades of red. The sectional in the center of the cabin was big enough for an entire family, and the flat-screen mounted on the far wall was the biggest I had ever seen. Plush pillows sat on the sectional, and I resisted the urge to throw myself onto them, happy to sink into the soft material. I ogled at the brick fireplace and the hand-carved mantle above it, grinning when I spotted a few framed pictures of the twins and their parents.
They looked like the picture-perfect family, and for once, there was no twinge of pain in my chest. I was happy the twins had this incredible life, that they were surrounded by people who loved and respected them. Just because I had a crappy upbringing didn’t mean I wished it on anyone else.
Ethan and Kieran stood in front of their parents, shit-eating grins on their faces, which made me wonder what they had previously gotten into before taking the photographs. Their parents shared a look in one photo, a look that told me they knew exactly what Ethan and Kieran had gotten into. It was silly and kind of cheesy, but cheesy in a way that made it more sentimental.
Ethan cleared his throat, and when I turned around, the two of them were just a few feet away. Both were frowning as they caught me looking at their family photos.
“We can never understand what you went through, living with Lauren and Darren, but you’ll never have to experience that again,” Ethan said.
“You’ll never have to want for anything, and you’ll never have to live in a shithole like that again. Whatever you need, you’ll have it,” Kieran continued, a look of equal sincerity on his rugged face. It was incredibly alluring to have two strong men with a soft spot for me. Only I got to see them like this, vulnerable and intimate.
In their emotions, I could taste the sharp tang of guilt and knew they both punished themselves for the way I was treated. I couldn’t place a single ounce of blame on their shoulders. I had kept my treatment a secret, thinking there was no one to help, no one that cared. I even kept the whole Jessy ordeal a secret. I hadn’t a clue what secret world lived beneath my own, and if anything, I regretted not speaking up sooner.
Their whirlpool of emotions had tears springing to my eyes, which I furiously blinked back. I had never been a fan of crying in front of others, no matter how comfortable I was with said person. Crying made you vulnerable in a way that made me uncomfortable.
Mistaking my sudden rush of tears, the twins shifted on their feet. I let out a garbled chuckle. The two of them didn’t know how to handle a crying female; it made them anxious. Two towering warriors, brought to their knees over their emotional mate.
“Don’t-don’t cry, sweetheart,” Kieran grumbled, his dark brows knitted tightly together. I stepped into their arms, a hidden smile on my face as I stole their warmth and scents.
“We didn’t mean to upset you,” Ethan chimed in, his rough hand brushing the stray hairs back from my face.
“You didn’t upset me.” I giggled, quickly swiping at the stray tear that managed to escape my eye. Once I was sure all traces of tears were gone from my gaze, I looked up at my two beautiful mates. “I’m just really lucky to have you both. I don’t want you blaming yourselves. None of it is your fault. I kept it a secret because I didn’t think anyone could help.”
“We could’ve told you the truth, doll,” Ethan shook his head, his lips set in determination that only made me pull him closer. “We could’ve told you the truth and put a stop to it all.”
“If you had told me the truth, I still would’ve run. Especially if you pressured me into going with you both,” I told them honestly. “I wasn’t ready for the truth. I think-I think Sebastian did me a favor by telling me. I needed to decide what I wanted for myself, and the two of you let me do that. You gave me a choice. That’s more than anyone else has ever done for me.”
I stayed locked in their arms until the bitter edge of their guilt faded. It would never completely vanish, that much I was certain of. A part of them, no matter how small, would always blame themselves for how I was treated. All that mattered was that I reminded them of the truth. They had no hand in my treatment, but they had a hand in my saving. The human life I had lived was wrought with danger, constantly tiptoeing around Lauren and Darren, waiting for the day Darren got the upper hand. This life, while it is just as dangerous, is beautiful. No life is perfect, but it’s the flaws of the people you love who make it more authentic-who make it worth living.
“While I’m not opposed to keeping you in our arms all day, I think you should check out the bedroom,” Ethan murmured, his chuckle tickling my ear and making me shudder. “The second part of your gift is in there.”
As I looked into his eyes, I couldn’t mistake the flash of hunger that lingered in those dark orbs. That same flash was mirrored in Kieran’s eyes, but I knew they were being patient.
“Upstairs, down the hall. It’s the first door on your left,” Kieran chimed in, giving me a gentle push. “We’ll have dinner ready by the time you come down.”
“Do you two have any flaws?” I snorted, stopping halfway up the stairs. Both cocked a dark eyebrow in my direction, and my insides fluttered at the identical smirks that formed on their faces. “Cooking and cleaning? I’m one lucky Luna.”
“Actually, we’re ordering pizza,” Ethan chuckled, flashing me a smile that was all teeth. “We’ll save the cooking for tomorrow.”
“I’m going to have to thank your mom sometime.” I snickered, poking my tongue out at the two of them. “She raised the two of you right.”
“Please, don’t,” Ethan groaned. The twins shared an incredulous look with one another before turning back to me. “She’ll never let us hear the end of it.”
“You might want to get up there, sweetheart. Your gift won’t appreciate waiting so long,” Kieran called out, waltzing into the kitchen.
As heavy confusion settled over my face, I was given no explanation other than an innocent grin, which looked quite humorous on Kieran’s face.
I wandered down the large hallways until I found the room I was looking for. As I slipped inside the bedroom, I was met with the thick smell of cinnamon and leaves.
“Oh wow,” I cooed, murmuring to Silver and myself. “Think we can convince them to move here?”
“You have my vote,” Silver shrugged. “Huge forest surrounding the cabin, great for running.”
The master bedroom was a huge rectangular room with maroon walls and dark hardwood floors. The four-poster bed sat on a raised platform with a few stairs leading up the side. Black silken sheets and pillowcases along with a furry comforter. I knew that once I curled up in that bed, I’d be out within moments. Thankfully, the bed was larger than most, and I knew the three of us would fit just fine. Underneath the bed was a plush, shag carpet. Against the far wall was a fully stocked bar, countless decanters sat with crystal tops. An identical fireplace jutted out of the other wall, this one free of family photos and knickknacks.
Along the left-hand wall were a set of double doors, which I learned led to an equally immaculate bathroom. I wandered over to the last door in the bedroom, pulling it open to stare into a walk-in closet. The closet was bigger than my bedroom at Lauren and Darren’s, fully stocked with both men’s and women’s clothing.
As I trailed my fingers along the hangers that spanned the closet, I stiffened when something rustled behind me. Despite training for an entire week, I had yet to actually use what I had learned. I’m embarrassed to say I failed this test.
A pair of hands grabbed at my shoulders from behind, and I whirled with an open mouth to face Kat. The horror-movie scream that left my mouth was one that I’d always remember, one that would bring a horrible blush to my face.
It’s not that I didn’t know how to defend myself, but I’m not some trained warrior. I don’t have finely tuned instincts that tell me to attack first and ask questions later. Besides, who really expects to get attacked in a walk-in closet? Not me, for sure.
My hand flew up to my chest as my stomach tickled with surprise. I had always hated the feeling you get when someone jumps out at you. Too many run-ins with Darren to find the feeling amusing, but I didn’t blame Kat for that.
“What the hell, Sophia!” Kat shouted, her hands raised in exasperation. Her face was a bit pink, and her fiery hair was falling out of the ponytail she had it in. Her green and brown-flecked eyes were wide as my ear-splitting scream came to a warbled halt.