CHAPTER 123 : OPENING UP

Aiden told Kira everything they knew about the curse, including how Ryker's trip was to find out questions or answers, anything at all that could help them and also how Morane had almost died trying to break the curse. 

Kira listened attentively, not once stopping him, and only spoke when he was finally done talking.

"Is this what happened that day? I mean the day you choked me when you both brought me back to the pack," Kira asked. 

It was not her intention to make them feel bad because it already seemed like they did, but she just needed to know.

"Yes," Aiden answered truthfully. "That is what happened, but we were still fighting for control. But this time around, this recent one, we lost control. You know, at first when we were eighteen, we didn't feel it."

"Feel what?" Kira asked, wanting to know more.

"We didn't feel the darkness. But after Morane found out and after sometime, we started feeling like something was in us," Aiden explained. "It's difficult to explain, but it was like we knew that something was inside us, we felt it and with time we just got used to the feeling. There was nothing to do about it."

"We also started having the thoughts that no one would want us or love us with this darkness inside us," Bryan added. "This is not an excuse for what we did, we take full responsibility, but we did it because we thought…"

"I would not want you if I found out. You were scared of rejection," Kira muttered, finishing the sentence for him. 

"Yes," Bryan nodded, smiling softly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "We have always wanted a mate, we always talked about it, and we were also prepared to have only one mate and when we finally found you, we had already done something that made you hate us, so we thought making you fear us will make you stay."

"And it was wrong," Bryan continued after a short pause. "We didn't want you to hate us more. We didn't have a chance and to be honest, there was a point when we considered letting you go. We never told you that or anyone else, but it's true."

"That was until you gave us a chance," Aiden said, picking up from where Bryan had stopped. "We were thinking about letting you leave, we talked about it. It was hard, but we just thought that maybe it would be best, especially with us being cursed. We thought maybe it was good that you hated us so much. But when you gave us a chance, after some days if I can remember correctly, we went to Morane to break the curse and well, it didn't work. She said it was dormant."

As Aiden's words sunk in, Kira didn't know what to say. They were showing her that side of them and it hurt her deeply. She was just… speechless.

"So when she told us it was dormant, we were like okay that's a good thing, even though breaking the curse didn't work. We thought we could still make things work with you," Aiden continued. "We thought we could make everything right again, and here we are now. The curse never left."

"And that is not your fault," Kira told them, her eyes already watery. "It is not your fault, and how could you think that way of yourselves? Because you are cursed, so you feel you are unable to be loved? Mom and Dad love you both so much, Ryker loves you both, Morane loves you both enough that she almost died trying to break the curse. I love you both. I would have loved to know a long time ago, but I understand you now, and knowing about your curse doesn't change anything between us."

"It doesn't," Kira said, making sure that sunk into their heads and just then, a tear slipped from her eyes. "I just wish I could have known sooner. I am your mate, I want to care for you both as much as you care for me. I want to be there for you both, too. Yes, you are Alphas, strong and powerful, but that doesn't mean you have to bottle everything up. Tell me when you're hurt, tell me when you need comfort. It might be hard but tell me." Kira's voice cracked as she finished speaking.

Listening, and watching her break down, made her mates' faces twist in pain and worry. They didn't want to cause her more pain.

"Baby, please don't cry. I'm sorry," Aiden muttered softly as he pulled her closer to himself and wiped the tear that slipped from her eye.

"I can't help it, Aiden," she muttered, her voice breaking as she closed her eyes and tried to take a deep breath.

Aiden gently pulled her into a comforting hug, wrapping his arms around her. His hands softly rubbed her back in slow, soothing circles.

He kept holding her until he was sure she was okay. His hand moved gently from her back to her hair, brushing against it softly.

Bryan, seated by Aiden's side, watched in silence. He noticed that his mate had been quite emotional today, and his eyes softened with concern. 

After a moment of giving them space, he shifted closer and rubbed her hair softly as Aiden's hand was now on her back. 

"Baby Luna, are you okay?" Bryan teased quietly, wanting her to at least laugh a little. "Baby Luna?" He called out while still gently stroking her hair with care.

Aiden just chuckled softly and shook his head as Kira let out a deep sigh, her body fully relaxing now.

"My Baby Luna, let me see your face, hmm?" Bryan continued, ruffling her hair a little.

Slowly, Kira pulled away from Aiden's embrace. Her face was visibly puffy, her eyes red and swollen from all the crying, and her nose pink.

"Don't call me that," she said to Bryan, pouting angrily. "It is not funny."

"Ouch," Bryan muttered, acting hurt. "I am funny and you know it."

"I don't," Kira said back.

"Stop teasing her, Bryan," Aiden warned his brother playfully and gave Kira a soft smile, his eyes full of affection and warmth. "Leave her alone."

"Of course, you two would gang up against me. How betrayful," Bryan said to them, his expression as if they had plunged his heart out and cut it into two pieces.

"There is no word like betrayful, Alpha Bryan," Kira told him and laughed softly. "You really don't know anything for an Alpha," she teased back, wanting to get her revenge.

Bryan glared at her then looked at his brother, waiting for Aiden to say something, but Aiden simply ignored him. Instead, Aiden leaned forward and kissed Kira on the nose.

"You are so cute when you cry," he said gently. "Ignore Bryan. We make you cry a lot, don't we?"

Kira blinked, not pouting anymore, before she muttered, "Maybe."

"This is not fair. You know what?" Bryan said to them, specifically to Kira. "Give me back, my brother."

"He's mine!" Kira glared at him, momentarily diverting her attention from Aiden before turning back to him.

"But… I'm yours too," Bryan said softly, and that caught Kira's attention.

"Bryannn," she whined and took his hand in hers, pulling him to come closer. He didn't resist and let her draw him in.

"You are both mine, stop that," she scolded but smiled at them. "Don't mind me. I am just being a crybaby today. I don't know why, I just feel so emotional."

"I know. I wanted to lighten the mood," Bryan said softly. "Also, You are just… you. And we wouldn't change a thing about you."

"I still have more questions though," she said quietly, the tears from earlier already dried up, thanks to Aiden, who kept touching every part of her face.

"You can ask anything," Bryan replied without hesitation, assuring her.

Kira looked between the two of them before she asked. "So, where have you both been these past days?" she inquired. "Morane said you were unconscious, but no one would tell me where."

"We have a hidden room," Bryan admitted. "That's where we were. No one else knows about it except a few trusted people who you already know."

"A hidden room?" Kira repeated, her curiosity piqued. "Hmm."

After a brief pause, she added, "Can I see it?"