Chapter 79: Chapter 79

As I looked at myself in the mirror, examining the little bikini that the twins had picked out for me, I came to the conclusion that I actually liked the swimsuit. Its color perfectly matched the tone of my eyes, though I acknowledged it was a bit small.

I had always had a more robust build, and training with Aly had only reinforced that reality. My waist had slimmed down thanks to the workouts, but my h**s were wider, and my bust more prominent than that of most women. Despite that, the small triangles on the top managed to contain my breasts, though with little room to spare.

The bottoms, on the other hand, were different. Small ties were fastened on the sides of my h**s, barely covering a quarter of my behind.

Aly approached from behind, tilting her head and tossing her curly, fiery hair into a ponytail that bounced with each movement. She pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose, making her cinnamon-colored freckles stand out even more.

“Why can’t I have more volume here?” she joked, and though I tried to hide my surprise, her words affected me.

I wasn’t used to this kind of conversation between friends, that’s for sure. Aly was one of those women who accepted herself and embraced every curve, mark, and protrusion with enviable confidence. Her security in her sexuality was admirable, something I was also trying to cultivate.

“You look fabulous,” I snorted, playfully shaking my head at her. “Besides, I’m sure you can rock way more outfits than I can.”

“Hey, that’s not your fault,” she retorted, placing her hands on her h**s. “We all know the fashion industry is fixated on smaller sizes, Sussan.”

“I never thought it would bother you so much,” I teased, laughing as she rolled her moss-green eyes.

Aly was a little shorter than me, and her figure was slightly less curvaceous. Where my chest practically spilled out of the top of the bikini, hers was more discreet. I didn’t want to embarrass her or anything like that; all breast sizes matter. It would be foolish to let something as trivial as breast size define a woman’s worth. Perhaps Aly’s attitude was rubbing off on me after all.

I turned my head as I observed my reflection in the mirror, and finally decided that I liked this bikini on my body. As silly as it may seem, it was the first time I wore a bikini. When I was younger and lived with my grandmother, she took me to the community pool sometimes, and I would wear a one-piece swimsuit like most girls. I had never felt so exposed or confident.

“Oh, I know that look,” Aly smiled widely, rubbing her hands together. “Hey, they picked the swimsuit.”

I shrugged, not bothering to hide the smile that formed on my face. “It’s only fair to make them regret it.”

It was a strange feeling, smiling so much. My cheeks ached from all the smiles and laughter, but it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. It was one of those pains that reminded you that you were alive, that life was beautiful and worth living, despite the bad parts.

“I’m going to get a lot of looks today, huh?” Aly laughed, but her excitement hid something different. I felt her joy and happiness like petals soaked in sunshine and tanning lotion, but there was something deeper beneath it all. An emotion so subtle that it surprised me to feel it at first. Beneath the fun and happiness, there was a faint longing and a hint of bitterness. Both emotions were tiny, but they stopped me for a moment.

Why would I have been given this gift if not to use it? If I could help Aly, even if only for a moment, maybe my gift wasn’t so dangerous after all.

“Are you okay?” I furrowed my brow, concerned, letting that emotion resonate in my voice. It was a tone I had never used before, nor had it been directed towards me.

“I don’t mean to pry, but you know I can’t help sensing emotions,” she explained, seemingly surprised by my question. “All this happening is stressful and all, but I’m not upset about that.”

“It’s not that. I sense a longing in you, just a tiny bit of bitterness,” I confessed, feeling the words come out of my mouth. After all, what was wrong with telling someone what I felt? A part of me regretted mentioning it, but honestly, I just wanted to help.

The guilt eased a little as I saw Aly’s shoulders slump. “It’s nothing against you, but when I see you with your mates… I wonder when my turn will come,” she confessed with a sigh, tucking back a curl that had come loose from her ponytail. She bit her lower l*p as she held my gaze, and I could feel the guilt bubbling in her stomach.

“I turned eighteen months ago. It’s been two full years, and I still haven’t found my mate. If I were in our pack, I would have discovered it by now.”

“Is it possible that he’s in a different pack, like Axel’s or Thomas’s?” I asked. I knew what it meant to find your mate, how it felt to be with them, but I couldn’t quite imagine exactly what I experienced when I found Liam and Ethan. I only remembered that it was overwhelming to be attracted to two people, something I had never experienced before.

“If I could, I would have already done it,” she sighed, fidgeting on her feet. “I guess he could be in a different pack, but from what I know, he could be in England. I’ve never left this pack, maybe that’s why I haven’t found him yet.”

“Well, you’ll come with us to the High Council meeting. That’s as good an opportunity as any,” I said, trying to comfort her as an idea struck me.

Being the Luna would mean having certain freedoms and power to make decisions. With that confidence in mind, I squared my shoulders and gave Aly a determined look. The guilt no longer affected my voice, only unwavering resolution.

“When I assume my role as Luna, we will search for your mate in Axel and Thomas’s pack. If he’s not there, then I’ll make sure you have everything you need to go look for him,” I told her. My words fell upon Aly, who widened her eyes in astonishment as she processed what I was offering her. I was almost offended by her surprise. She had been my first friend here, the first one I had in a long time. If I had the power to help her, how could I not do it? I may not be an expert at being a good friend, but I’m sure I’d be a terrible friend if I didn’t help her find her soulmate.

“Would you really do that for me? Give me the money to search for my mate?” she asked excitedly, her green eyes becoming increasingly moist.

“I’ll even send a group of warriors with you. I don’t know how often rebel attacks happen, but I won’t leave anything to chance,” I assured her, not daring to risk my friend in the clutches of those wild rebels.

“Do you think Liam and Ethan would agree to that?” she replied, hope blooming in her face and heart.

I found myself enjoying the uniqueness of hope, an emotion I hadn’t experienced yet. Feeling emotions was like savoring different experiences, scents, and flavors unique to each person. Aly’s hope reminded me of those moments when I climbed up to the rooftop, relishing the silence of the night while gazing at the stars and dreaming of a life beyond the one I lived, beyond Lia and Dub’s hurtful words.

I didn’t need to ponder whether Liam and Ethan would agree or not with my bold decision. I knew they would do what was best for Aly. Not just because she was an incredible person and a member of the pack, but also because she was my friend, the first real one I had in a long time.

“What do you think we’d agree with?” Liam’s voice sounded from the open bedroom door, with his head poking in a few inches into the room. His black hair fell over one side, and he brushed it aside with a swift motion.

“Nothing,” Aly replied with a nervous laugh, trying to discreetly wipe the tears from her eyes. “At least, nothing you need to worry about right now.”

“Are you already getting into trouble, sweetheart?” Ethan’s voice resonated from the end of the hallway. I snorted at his words, attempting to shake off the blush from my face.

Liam’s eyes moved from Aly’s bright eyes to me, and it was evident that he noticed her emotional state. His gaze lingered on my chest longer than necessary before lazily trailing down the rest of my body. Every place his gaze touched, my skin tingled.

“I think you should have chosen a different swimsuit for her, brother,” Liam commented, clearing his throat and redirecting his gaze to my face. I noticed how his hand adjusted lower, out of Aly’s sight.

A few seconds later, Ethan appeared at the door, his alluring eyes capturing all my attention along with Liam’s. Almost inadvertently, Aly faded into the background, and all I could see were the twins, my twins. An intense heat spread through my stomach under their combined gaze, a feeling akin to honey melting between my thighs.

Ethan remained silent for almost a minute, and I could swear I could hear Aly softly laughing under her breath. “I don’t regret anything, though I think she’ll be our downfall,” he growled, giving me one last hungry look before walking into the adjacent bathroom. I was sure my face was filled with confusion as I heard the sound of the shower turning on.

Liam, on the other hand, seemed to know exactly what his brother was up to. “I think I’ll need a cold shower too,” Liam murmured, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. I couldn’t help but notice how his shirt had lifted, revealing the muscles of his abdomen, nor the bulge in his sweatpants as he followed Ethan to the bathroom.

“See you at the pool in five minutes,” Liam called out, closing the bathroom door with a mischievous grin. “Girl, you’re in for quite an experience later.”

Aly shook her head, making her curls move like dancing flames. I laughed in agreement, although I knew from experience that the kind of experience she was referring to was mixed with more pleasure than I had ever experienced in my short life.

“Maybe I have three mates out there,” she joked as we descended down the curve of the stairs and headed towards the sliding glass doors that led to the pool. “Hmm, or four. I can’t stand odd numbers.”

“Four mates?” I mumbled, shaking my head in disbelief. Can you imagine? Four men claiming you as theirs while you claim them as yours. No, thank you! I’d rather stick to my two mates and move forward.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to have my own harem,” Aly teased, her hands intertwined as she hopped through the backdoor. “Have you always dreamed of having a harem filled with men?” I snorted, raising an eyebrow at my eccentric friend.

“Not really, but I wouldn’t complain if the Moon Goddess paired me with four devastatingly handsome men,” she replied with a dismissive wave. “Although right now, I’d be willing to settle for one without complaints.”

“You’ll find your mate, Aly. I’ll do everything I can to help,” I reassured her with a smile.

The pool behind the cabin was as big as the community pool my grandmother used to take me swimming to.

The pool was shaped like a large ‘L’ with a diving board at the end. Unlike the community pool, which was only two feet deep at the beginning, this pool started with nearly seven feet of depth. I laid out some towels on the wicker section of the deck and looked out at the crystal-clear water. The weather was incredibly humid outside, hot enough to make sweat run down my neck. As I dipped a toe into the water, I let out a slight sigh at the coldness.

“Oh, Luna,” Aly whispered, and I didn’t bother turning around as I responded with a snort. I knew I didn’t have to be called Luna, but she did it whenever she could.

“Yes, my loyal subject?” I replied, hearing her laughter behind me. That was the last thing I could say before she tackled me from behind. I recognized her scent, sunscreen and Granny Smith apples, a strange combination but one that reminded me of summer.

My mouth opened in surprise as we both fell into the pool, becoming a tangle of arms and legs that seemed impossible to separate. I knew she intended to push me, but for once, my supernatural reflexes helped. I managed to wrap my arm around her waist and pushed her to the side before falling into the water myself.

As we both emerged, our hair completely disheveled and crooked smiles on our faces, I playfully splashed a wave in her face. I couldn’t help but laugh as the water made strands of hair cling to her cheeks and neck. Once our laughter subsided, her mouth opened, and her eyes widened. Her gaze lowered for a moment before fixating on my face, avoiding looking below my forehead.

“Um, Sussan…” she stammered, clearly trying to hold back laughter. “Did you hit your head or something?” I raised an eyebrow, asking, “Can’t you see properly with all that red hair?”

Something floated on the surface of the water about three meters away. It was a thin piece of sky-blue fabric. My jaw dropped as Aly snorted, one hand flying to cover her mouth. “Looks like we came back just in time for some fun.”