Chapter 78: Chapter 78

The interior of the cabin perfectly complemented the charm of the exterior. It looked like something straight out of one of those home improvement shows that Aly loved to watch. The kitchen, with its modern built-in oven, touchscreen refrigerator, and a small bar area, undoubtedly belonged to a luxury cabin. Earthy tones dominated the interior, with a palette of browns and some touches of red.

The central area of the cabin was spacious enough to accommodate an entire family, and the gigantic flat-screen on the back wall was the largest I had ever seen. Cozy pillows adorned the space, and I resisted the urge to dive into them, although I would have loved to sink into their softness. My eyes landed on the brick fireplace and the intricately carved mantel above it, and I smiled as I saw some framed photographs of the twins with their parents. They looked like a perfect family, and for some reason, I didn’t feel envy or pain in my chest. I was glad that the twins had such a wonderful life, surrounded by love and respect. Just because I had a difficult childhood didn’t mean I wished the same for others.

Liam and Ethan were standing in front of their parents in one of the pictures, with mischievous smiles that made me wonder what mischief they had gotten into before taking that picture. Their parents shared a look in another photograph, a look that made it clear they knew Liam and Ethan’s antics all too well. It was silly and somewhat cheesy, but in that charming way that made everything more endearing.

Liam cleared his throat, and when I turned around, the two of them were standing a few meters away.

Both of them frowned when they caught me looking at their family photos. “We may never fully understand what you went through, living with Lia and Dub, but you won’t have to go through that ever again,” said Liam.

“You’ll never have to want for anything again, and you’ll never live in a place as terrible as that one. Whatever you need, you’ll have it,” Ethan continued, with a sincerity evident on his rugged face.

It was incredibly attractive to see these two strong men showing their vulnerability for me. Only I saw them this way, intimate and vulnerable. In their emotions, I could taste the strong flavor of guilt, and I knew that both of them punished themselves for how they had treated me. I couldn’t hold them responsible at all. I had kept my situation a secret, thinking there was no one to help, no one who cared. I even concealed all the torment I endured alongside Grace. I had no idea of the secret world that lived beneath mine, and in any case, I regretted not speaking up sooner.

The whirlwind of emotions emanating from them made tears well up in my eyes, and I blinked hard to contain them. I had never been a fan of crying in front of others, no matter how comfortable I felt with that person. Crying made me feel vulnerable in a way that made me uneasy.

Confused by my sudden torrent of tears, the twins took some awkward steps back. I let out a choked laugh. The two of them didn’t know how to deal with a crying woman; it made them anxious. Two imposing warriors, disarmed by their partner’s emotions.

“No, don’t cry, sweetheart,” Ethan grumbled, his dark eyebrows furrowing deeply.

I took a step towards their arms, a hidden smile on my face as I absorbed their comforting warmth and scent. “You didn’t upset me,” I assured, as Liam gently brushed some loose hair away from my face with his rough hand.

“We didn’t want to cause you any distress,” Liam said, shaking his head. His eyes reflected determination as I moved closer to him.

“You didn’t cause me any distress at all,” I laughed, quickly wiping away the tear that had managed to escape my eyes. Once I made sure there were no traces of tears in my gaze, I directed my attention to my two beautiful companions.

“I feel so fortunate to have both of you. I don’t want you to blame yourselves for anything. It’s not your fault at all. I kept everything a secret because I didn’t believe anyone could help.”

“We could have told you the truth, sweetheart,” Liam said, his lips pressed together in determination, which only made me draw closer to him. “We could have told you the truth and put an end to it all.”

“Even if you had told me the truth, I would have run away anyway. Especially if you had pressured me to be with both of you. I honestly told both of you, ‘I wasn’t ready for the truth.’ I think Axel did me a favor by telling me. I needed to decide what I wanted for myself, and you two allowed me to do that. You gave me the chance to choose. That’s more than anyone has ever done for me.”

I held on to them until the bitterness of their guilt faded away. I knew it would never completely disappear, but what mattered was that I reminded them of the truth. They had no responsibility for my past, but they played a crucial role in my present. The life I had lived before was filled with dangers, constantly walking a tightrope between Lia and Dub, waiting for the day when Dub would take control.

This life, though equally dangerous, was beautiful. And it was largely thanks to Liam and Ethan.

No life is perfect, but it’s the flaws of the people you love that make it more authentic, that make it worth living.

“While I don’t oppose having you in our arms all day, I think you should check out the bedroom,” Liam murmured, his laughter tickling my ear and making me shiver. “The second part of your gift is there.” Looking into his eyes, I couldn’t help but notice the persistent glint of desire in those dark pupils. That same glint reflected in Ethan’s eyes, though I knew they were being patient.

“Upstairs, at the end of the hallway. It’s the first door on the left,” Ethan chimed in, giving me a gentle push. “We’ll have dinner ready for you when you come down.”

“Do you two have any flaws?” I snorted, pausing halfway up the stairs. Both of them raised a dark eyebrow in my direction, and butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I saw the identical smiles forming on their faces.

“Cooking and cleaning, I’m a lucky Luna,” I joked.

“We’re actually ordering pizza,” Liam laughed, showing a wide grin. “We’ll leave the cooking for tomorrow.”

“I’ll have to thank your mother at some point,” I laughed, sticking my tongue out at both of them. “She raised you both well.”

“Please don’t,” the twins said in unison, which only made my laughter even louder.

The twins shared a look of disbelief before turning back to me. “She’ll never let us hear the end of it.”

“You might want to go up there, sweetheart. Your gift won’t like waiting for too long.” Ethan called out, entering the kitchen with a playful dance.

As a great confusion settled on my face, they didn’t give me any more explanation than an innocent smile, which looked quite amusing on Ethan’s face.

I wandered through the large hallways until I found the room I was looking for. As I slipped inside the room, I was greeted by a strong scent of cinnamon and leaves. “Oh, wow,” I whispered, murmuring to Gea and myself. “Do you think we can convince them to move here?”

“You have my vote,” Gea shrugged, “Huge forest surrounding the cabin, perfect for running.”

The master bedroom was a massive rectangular room with garnet walls and dark wood floors. The canopy bed was on an elevated platform with steps climbing up the side. Black silk sheets and pillowcases along with a furry comforter adorned it. I knew that once I snuggled into that bed, I’d be out in no time.

Fortunately, the bed was larger than usual, and I knew the three of us would fit perfectly. Underneath the bed, a luxurious long-haired rug added comfort to the space. Against the back wall, there was a fully stocked bar with countless bottles of liquor with crystal caps. An identical fireplace protruded from the other wall, without any family photos or trinkets around it.

Along the left wall, there were a pair of double doors which, I deduced, led to an equally impeccable bathroom. I approached the last door of the bedroom and opened it to find a well-equipped dressing room. The closet was larger than my room at Lia and Dub’s house, and it was filled with clothing for both men and women. As my fingers ran through the hangers, something rustled behind me.

Despite training for an entire week, I hadn’t had the chance to apply what I learned. I was ashamed to admit that I failed this test. A pair of hands grabbed my shoulders from behind, and I turned with my mouth agape to see Aly. The terrifying scream that came out of my mouth is something I’ll always remember and cringe at the mere thought of it.

It’s not that I didn’t know how to defend myself, but I’m not a trained warrior. I don’t have sharp instincts telling me I should attack first and ask questions later. Besides, who really expects to be attacked in a dressing room? Certainly not me. My hand flew to my chest as my stomach churned with surprise. I always hated the feeling of someone startling me like that. Too many encounters with Dub taught me that it’s not fun at all, but I couldn’t blame Aly for it.

“What the hell, Sussan!” Aly exclaimed, raising her hands in exasperation.

Her face was a bit flushed, and her hair fell loose from the ponytail it was in. Her green eyes with flecks of brown were wide open when my deafening scream stopped.

“Don’t scare me like that!” I retorted sharply, still gasping from the fright. “You were the one who jumped on me! What did you expect?”

“I expected you to use your training. You never know when someone might try to attack you.” Aly grimaced and put a hand on her forehead. The severity of her expression quickly transformed into amusement as she let out a laugh.

“I guess you can just scare them off with your screams! Damn, that would make any warrior hesitate for a moment. With that scream, you could star in a horror movie. Hell, I’d watch it.”

“So, is this my surprise?” I asked as Liam and Ethan entered the room. Neither seemed surprised by my outburst, though their lips twitched as they struggled to contain a smile. I pinched the bridge of my nose as I looked at all three of them. I appreciated how they tried to hide their amusement, but I could feel their emotions. Liam was on the verge of bursting into laughter, while Ethan was a bit more skilled at hiding what he felt. Neither of them felt fear from my sudden scream, which led me to believe that Aly was my surprise after all.

“Besides training, we barely had time to hang out,” she shrugged and stepped out of the closet before I could think better of it and lock her inside. She looked at the twins with narrowed eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “I didn’t think it would take you so long to send her up here. I was so bored; I was about to start trying on clothes. Are we going to have a threesome or something?”

“Don’t answer that,” I interjected, just as Liam opened his mouth to speak. “Are you mad at us, sweetheart?” He asked instead, letting his lips transform into a playful smile.

“No,” I snorted, my eyes shifting towards Aly. “Did you really have to jump on me like that?”

“I wanted to see how quick your reflexes were.” She shrugged, as if it were a plausible response. “Seems like your reflexes are pretty quick. Well, at least your voice is,” Ethan commented, and I swear my eye began to twitch. “With more training, your first reaction won’t be to scream.”

“She’s got a pair of lungs, doesn’t she?” Aly laughed, causing Liam’s smile to widen. “Alright, enough of that,” I grumbled, “Where’s that food you were talking about?”

Thirty minutes later, the three of us were lounging in the living room area, eating our share of pizza.

The soft murmur of a reality TV show filled the air, ignored by the four of us. The wide glass doors leading to the pool in the backyard were open, allowing a warm summer breeze laden with scents of fresh water, earth, and sweet flowers to waft into the room.

My stomach still wasn’t used to the never-ending whirlwind. Despite devouring five slices of pizza, I still looked at the delicious food longingly. Liam and Ethan had each ordered two pizzas, filled with tasty and sometimes eccentric ingredients. On the other hand, Aly and I had our own pizza, a portion that turned out to be just right for us.

“I bet twenty bucks they won’t eat two whole pizzas,” I whispered to Aly as I chewed on a slice.

Aly paused for a moment, looking at the twins with calculating eyes. “Mm, I think they will eat two and then ask for some of ours.” Her laugh was soft and mischievous. “Werewolf men are insatiable when it comes to food and s*x.”

Liam and Ethan turned their attention to me once Aly finished speaking, and a feeling of warmth flooded my face at the mention of s*x. It was undeniable that that word always captured men’s attention.

“Typical alpha males,” I joked. “You’re lucky we’re giving you the day with Aly,” Ethan growled, sharing a reluctant approving glance with Liam. Otherwise, we’d keep you locked in that bedroom all day.

“That sounds terrible.” Aly scolded them, looking at the twins. Though copious amounts of s*x with the twins sounded tempting, she wanted to explore the lake and the surrounding forest. Though I thought Aly was on my side, my jaw slackened slightly as she continued, “Why would you only have s*x in the bedroom? There’s a whole lake out there and a pool in the back. Plus, there’s a big forest all around us. Give it some variety!”

“You’re not helping,” I muttered, sinking into the soft cushions of the couch. Despite my feigned embarrassment, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of warmth at the constant desire the twins expressed for me.

These two always showed an endless interest in me. Throughout my life, the people around me used to be temporary, either due to moves or simply because I was always pushed into the background. I used to lament this situation, feeling like I wasn’t special and that nobody considered me important. However, with time, I came to accept it. I didn’t need to be a priority for others; I needed to be one for myself. Having Liam, Ethan, and even Aly was something I had never experienced before. I didn’t feel ignored or pushed to the sidelines.

“Really?” Aly teased, raising her eyebrows at me. “You seem very interested in my love life, Aly.”

I replied, raising my eyebrow in response. Pretending surprise, she placed a hand over her heart. “Oh, Sussan. You caught me. Now everyone can be my mates.” She laughed and settled back into the couch cushions with a mischievous smile. “Actually, my love life is non-existent. Having two mates like you two is enough to live vicariously through someone!”

Liam and Ethan looked at each other, equally surprised and confused. Their look seemed to ask, “are all girls like this?” Either way, that was enough to make Aly and me burst into laughter. Two muscular Alphas, both baffled by a couple of girls.

“Well, well.” Aly took several deep breaths as she calmed her laughter and directed a cheeky smile at Liam and Ethan before continuing. “After this, we’re going swimming! In the lake or in the pool? It wasn’t hard to decide. The sun was still shining, as it was only midday. We’d have plenty of time to swim in the temperature-controlled pool at night. Aly was excited about the changing lights and the artificial waterfall cascading over the pool’s crystal-clear surface.

“Lake, definitely the lake.” I nodded, and from Aly’s wide smile, I knew we were in agreement.

“Then, the pool tonight.”

“One would think werewolves don’t like swimming, but we actually love it.”

Aly let out a little chuckle as she stood up from the couch, placing a hand on her satisfied stomach. “Flying, on the other hand, definitely not. There’s something about being trapped in a metal box in the sky that gives me chills.” “I never thought of it that way,” I admitted, standing up as well. For almost a quarter of my life, I had been completely unaware of my werewolf condition. I had never traveled by plane, but the idea didn’t scare me. Sure, it was a bit strange, but practical. I was sure we wouldn’t be flying to where the High Table was. Liam and Ethan were entirely opposed to the idea, convinced that if I were on the plane, we wouldn’t land safely. It was hard to believe that the High Table would simply try to kill me without hearing me out, but I trusted that the twins would keep me safe.

“Are you two ready?” Aly turned to the twins, placing her fists on her h**s and raising an eyebrow. Liam was busy eating another slice of pizza, while Ethan looked disapprovingly at his empty box. I knew what they were going to ask before they said it, and I didn’t even bother to hold back my laughter.

“Can we have the rest of your pizza?” Surprisingly, it was Ethan who asked. “You owe me twenty bucks.”

Aly let out a barely audible giggle, but the twins could clearly hear it this time. Both of them gave us narrowed-eyed looks but didn’t say anything more. It was really adorable, honestly. I loved how even though these two men were practically warriors, they were also very human. They had their flaws and weaknesses, but they weren’t things that needed fixing or belittling. My face was starting to hurt from smiling so much, but it was a pleasurable pain. The twins couldn’t feel my emotions, so I hoped my smile conveyed how truly happy I felt.

“Sure, go ahead,” I replied under my breath, linking my arm with Aly’s as we headed upstairs to get our swimsuits. The twins had left my suitcase carefully packed on the bed. Aly pulled out a small canvas bag from its hiding spot in the closet and chose an emerald green bikini. The top and bottom had small ruffles that gave it a more flirtatious than sexy touch.

“I always thought redheads look amazing in green,” I complimented her, flashing her a smile.

“Honestly, I’m jealous of your two different eye colors,” Aly sighed, plopping down on the bed next to me.

“You could wear any color, and you’d still look great.”

“Or maybe they would clash completely with my other eye,” she replied with a grin.

I never really cared much about fashion, but there was nothing wrong with wanting to look your best. The twins’ mom had picked most of my clothes, and I found that I loved them all. I wasn’t used to dresses and skirts, but I was willing to give them a try. As I rummaged through the suitcase they had packed for me, my jaw dropped, and my eyes narrowed. There wasn’t a single pair of shorts or shirts in the entire suitcase, not to mention pants. I found only one bikini, light blue in color. The top piece seemed a bit small for my bust, and I frowned as Aly leaned back on the bed and burst into laughter.

“They packed your suitcase for you, didn’t they?” She laughed, the sprinkling of cinnamon freckles on her cheeks dancing as she chuckled. “Oh, they’re good, very good.”

I pulled the baby blue bikini out of the suitcase and stuffed everything else back in. The only wearable pieces of clothing in the entire thing were a dress or two. However, there were plenty of tiny bras and lace underwear.

“You’re going to be very busy these next two days,” Aly grinned, playing with one of the lace bras before I snatched it from her hand. She flopped onto the bed with a teasing growl, “Oh, the life of a Luna.”