Chapter 81: When it was perfect
Kaden could remember it like it was yesterday. The old beach house south of the Ravencourt territory. He remembered the sound of waves, the smell of sea salt and that warm feeling that felt like home.
After a long drive, he found himself at the old property. The building was well maintained but they have not visited here in a long time ever since things started to fall apart.
His car slowed down at the entrance. The car headlight shone on the large iron gates. Kaden stepped out, and the cold sea breeze blew across his skin giving him goose bumps. He approached the gates. Kaden’s hand reached for the keypad.
He entered the passcode from memory. The gate let out a beep and started to automatically open. He went back into his car, started the engine then drove inside before the gates closed on their own. The ride from the gate to the villa took a while.
The path was quiet lined with trees. The eerie silence didn’t bother him if anything it finally placed his chaotic mind at peace. The car stopped in front of the villa. It felt different from his memories like all the warmth had been stripped from it.
Kaden’s release a sigh and then stopped the car. No one had tried contacting him since the trial. He wasn’t the only one overwhelmed by reality. His shoes tapped against the floor as he walked up the stairs to the main entrance.
Kaden inputted the password, those 6 digit he bore in mind. 21 - 03 -××. 21st March was his parents’ wedding anniversary. This place was their honeymoon home and the password never changed even if the marriage was over. He pushed the door open, the place was pitch dark aside from the pale moonlight streaming inside from the door..
All the windows were shut. Kaden stepped in and switched the AC unit. He didn’t bother with the lights, he could perfectly see without them if anything he wanted the darkness. Kaden wandered around the dark house carrying the bag of snacks. His fingers rolled over the surfaces it was all polished
He eventually found himself in the kitchen. He dropped the bag on the kitchen aisle. The top was spotless just like in the past. Kaden glanced over at the glass windows facing the sea and he couldn’t help but be pulled into memories...
It was summer, the air was warm, the house was filled with laughter and the aroma of cupcakes. His mum loved making them, Kaden remembered running on the sand with his brothers, and the hot sand burned their feet.
The wind whipped around their hair. Killian was always the fastest, Kaden was always following closely behind him, while Kieran was always behind trying to catch up and not trip on his feet.
"Killian wait up..." an 8-year-old Kaden called to his brother with burning blonde hair. Killian spun around and stuck out his tongue.
"Slow poke.." he teased.
"I am not slow. " Kaden roared his competitive side flaring up. Killian was minutes older than him but acted like he was the boss every time Kaden hated it
Kaden gritted his teeth. Trying his best to run as fast as possible when a scream stopped him on his tracks..
"Ahhhh." Killian and Kaden stopped then glanced around at the figure almost identical to Kaden, face down on the sand crying.
Kieran..
Killian’s eyes twitched. "Kieran..." he called out. Kieran sat up and glared straight at his brothers. "Stop running fast. You are bullies." He accused pointing at his brother. His voice broke. Killian was about to speak when their mother’s gentle voice cut through their mind.
’The cupcakes are ready..’ Estelle’s voice chimed. As soon as Kieran heard about cupcakes his tears dried up immediately and he stood up.
The brothers sprinted for the kitchen and this time the same boy who was dead last was leading. Kieran’s sweet tooth was the biggest mystery ever. As long as sweets were involved he was the Flash.
"Mummy!!" Three pups ran into the Kitchen Estelle was standing at the counter instructing Alexander on how to do the frosting. Her face immediately lit up once she heard her sons.
Kieran rang straight to her legs. "We want cupcakes.." he grinned and Estelle couldn’t help laughing. If she didn’t know better she would have thought Kieran was the youngest from how spoilt he was.
She pulled his cheek. "Sure, your dad is almost done decorating although the design is depressing." She teased. Alexander, the scary Ravencourt alpha, was decorating cupcakes with complete focus trying not to ruin them.
"The frosting is ugly." Kaden pointed out and Alexander glared at him as he finished the last cake. "Don’t blame your daddy. It’s my fault for not teaching him well " Estelle said.
Soon the family of 5 sat by the counter. Sipping juice and enjoying cupcakes. Back then Alexander frequently took them to the villa and those were the best days of their lives. The cupcakes were fluffy and were filled with magic that healed their injuries from playing.
*******
Kaden sat against a cupboard in the dark kitchen drowning in memories of how things were before it started to fall apart before his parents couldn’t stand each other again.
The next morning Yuki got ready for school. The atmosphere at the pack house felt strange especially after what happened during the trial; most people couldn’t meet her eyes. She didn’t know if it was fear or something else.
The fact that she was their mate was undeniable.
Breakfast went on as usual although she didn’t catch a single glance of any of the brothers at the table. Everyone tactfully avoided the topic too.
"I will be leaving now," she announced taking her leave from the table. Alexander glanced up. A complex emotion flickered across his gaze. He still had no idea how to handle her.
"Be careful someone will take you to campus." He informed her before she stepped out. She walked down the foyer and stepped outside sure enough someone was waiting. Maverick her unofficial driver was leaning against the SUV with one more person already inside.
He straightened up the moment he saw her. "Lady Yuki." He called in an oddly respectful tone then pulled open the door for her
"Good morning Maverick," she replied stepping in.
.
"Good morning. "
The door was shut and the car started. And for the first time, Maverick didn’t drive like he was on the Fast and FurFurioust. It seemed that becoming the pack’s potential Luna had finally convinced Maverick that speed limits existed