CHAPTER 94 : PUSH AND PULL

As the engine of the cars silenced, the doors opened. Kira was the first to step out this time, taking a deep breath of the familiar scent.

"Mmmm," she let out as she looked around. "I may have been gone for a little while, but how glad I am to be back," she murmured to herself.

"Alright, let's go in. I am hungry," she announced, turning to face Bryan and Aiden, who had relief washed over their faces.

"Yeah sure, food," Aiden muttered, agreeing with her. "Give me a second," he informed her and then turned to the warriors who were gathered behind them, waiting for an order. 

"Take him to the dungeon," Aiden ordered, nodding toward Dave, who Ryker held painfully tight and whose face was a mask of pain. "And Ryker, come in with us."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Ryker responded and pushed Dave toward the two warriors who had stepped forward. 

The warriors' expressions were stoic as they gripped Dave under his arms and dragged him away. 

With the rest of the warriors now dismissed, and no other order to give, Kira, Bryan, Aiden, and Ryker walked to the mansion, walking up the steps. Just as they reached the entrance, the door swung open.

"Kira?" Elara whispered, her voice cracking with emotion as she took a step forward. She looked really worried, her hair not really arranged well and then there was her face etched with all the worry and anxiety.

Without hesitation as Kira's eyes met hers, she broke into a run, wrapping her arms around Kira. "Are you okay?" Elara immediately asked, pulling back to inspect Kira's face, then her arms, "Are you hurt anywhere? Mm?" She continued asking as she turned Kira around gently to check for any sign of harm.

"Let me see you," she said, her voice trembling as she touched Kira's hair and ran her fingers down her arms. "What happened to your cloth?" Elara asked, feeling upset at what she was seeing as she tried to arrange it properly— the part where Dave had cut earlier. "Someone did this, right? You found who did this, right?" She turned her attention to her sons, asking them.

"Yes, mother," Aiden answered both questions at once, trying not to laugh at his mother's behavior.

"Calm down mother," Bryan also joined in, telling Elara, "You can be so dramatic sometimes."

"If i-" Elara was about to say but stopped herself as she gave Bryan a warning look and also glared at him.

"Mom," Kira called out as she chuckled softly. "I am fine, truly," she assured Elara, and took Elara's hands in hers to still them and rub them softly, "I am totally fine, and don't mind Bryan. He is just jealous, so ignore him."

"Jealous indeed," Bryan muttered and scoffed, earning a glare from both Kira and Elara this time.

"What?" He asked them, looking so innocent and pretending not to know why they glared at him.

"Anyway, ignore him," Kira turned back to Elara and said with a warm smile.

"We should," Elara agreed and pulled Kira in a tight embrace once more. "I am so happy you are safe."

"Me too, me too," Kira murmured and hugged her back tightly as she let out a breath.

Meanwhile, Orion, who had gone upstairs to use the restroom, was now downstairs looking for his wife, and had asked a maid about her whereabouts, which led to him finding out that Kira had been found. 

A smile broke across his face as he reached the entrance and saw his wife and Kira hugging each other. He walked up to them and placed his hand on Kira's shoulder. "What a relief," he said and then moved his hand to her head, patting her head affectionately, "You are safe and that is all that matters."

"Thanks Dad," Kira smiled widely as she and Elara broke the hug, and she ended up hugging Orion too who laughed softly and hugged her back, still patting her hair.

"Alright," Elara said, exhaling a shaky breath as she composed herself. "Let's all go inside. Kira, Bryan, Aiden— go freshen up. And Ryker," she added, turning to him, "do you have new clothes with you?"

Ryker shook his head, a faint smile touching his lip. "No Aunty, they are back at my place."

"Not to worry," she said and immediately waved it off. "One of the twins will lend you something."

"Yes, ma'am," Ryker nodded and looked at Bryan and Aiden who exchanged amused glances with him, a chuckle slipping from Bryan's lips.

"You know how she is," Aiden whispered to Ryker who nodded and tried not to laugh.

"Come in, all of you," Elara said, ushering them inside. "Get cleaned up. I will make something delicious for breakfast or brunch… whatever, I will make something delicious for us to eat. You all need it. We all do."

"As if we were not going to go in before," Bryan murmured to himself and rolled his eyes, but Kira overheard him and hit his shoulder playfully.

"What?" He exclaimed, laughing. "She is overdoing it."

"Let her be," Kira told him as she also joined him in laughing, "Just let her be."

After the reunion, Bryan, Aiden, Kira and Ryker made their way to their rooms as Elara had said. Bryan, Aiden, and Kira took turns in showering and putting on something clean and comfortable, before they decided to head downstairs.

"I will be right there," Aiden informed them as they stepped out of the room. "I have to give Ryker these clothes."

"Sure. See you downstairs," Kira said as she smiled at him, and then she and Bryan left.

Aiden walked to the guest room, nudged the door open and stepped inside.

"He didn't lock it," he said to himself as he could still hear the faint sound of running water which indicated that Ryker was still in the shower. Smirking, he placed the clothes on the bed and glanced around. 

Unable to resist the feeling of teasing Ryker, Aiden walked to the bathroom door and knocked lightly but persistently.

Inside the bathroom, Ryker answered, his voice slightly muffled by the water and called out, "Who is it?" 

But there was no response.

Aiden stayed silent and kept knocking with an exaggerated rhythm, which made Ryker sigh and reach for a towel. At that moment, Aiden had noticed the sound of water had stopped and smiled to himself in satisfaction.

The door cracked open just enough for Ryker's soapy head to peek through, water droplets sliding down his face as he gave Aiden a suspicious look. "Aiden? Seriously? What the-"

Before he could finish what he was going to say, Aiden quickly gripped the edge of the door to push it wider. 

Ryker's eyes widened, and immediately he pushed back with his free hand, still half-wrapped in a towel. "Aiden, let go!" He warned, although there was a mix of exasperation and laughter in his tone. 

"Come on, open up," Aiden said as he tried to keep a serious face but failed miserably as he smirked, still trying to push the door open further.

"Bro you better stop!" Ryker chuckled, the lather of soap in his hair starting to drip down his forehead. "You are going to make me slip, and goddess knows I will get my revenge," Ryker said, trying not to laugh too loudly.

"The audacity," Aiden uttered, feigning a serious tone, "Just let me in. I need to… supervise."

"Supervise what?" Ryker gasped in disbelief, managing to push the door back enough to almost close it. "Let go, you better let go. Supervise yourself first."

The playful struggle continued for a few seconds before Aiden relented with a laugh, letting go.

Ryker immediately shut the bathroom door and locked it as he called out, "I have never seen a type of Alpha like you, you know that right? Never."

"Yeah I know. I'm unique. So, hurry and get your ass downstairs, unless you would prefer I bring you a pillow and duvet, seeing as you plan on sleeping in there," Aiden said to him while laughing, and leaning his head against the door.

"Yeah, whatever," Ryker responded with a small chuckle as he resumed washing the soap out of his hair.

With a final pat on the bathroom door, Aiden smirked and walked out, laughing as he made his way down the stairs.