Chapter 171 Chapter 170

Chapter 171 Chapter 170
Aloria.

Kairos follows immediately after, and before long, I have two huge wolves standing in front of me, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

I let out a startled chuckle, my hands itching to touch their fur.

Draven gestures for me to climb onto him, and I do so, holding tight.

"Let's go!" I call, my voice carrying through the wind.

Draven jumps forward, and before long we're sprinting through the forest, ready to complete the final stage of the bonding.

We run for what feels like forever through the forest before arriving at a clearing nestled within tall pine trees. Sitting between them is a small cottage, looking sturdy yet quaint.

A soft gasp escapes my lips as I stare at the building, my grip on Draven's fur tightening. His pace slows down, the muscles underneath his skin relaxing as he takes on a languid walk.

"Why is there something like this in a forest?" I ask aloud. Beside me, Kairos is already shifting back to his male form, his expression impeccable and unreadable as always.

"There are so many like this scattered around the forest that surrounds Moonblood, Aloria," he says, glancing at me. "Most of them are primarily used for the mating act, and other times they're just a getaway for people who wish to disconnect from city life."

"Oh..." I murmur, trailing off as understanding dawns on me. Draven gives me the signal to dismount, and I do, sliding down off him, watching as he shifts back to his male form.

"Why do you ask?" Kairos asks, peering at me with a curious look in his eyes. "Is this your first time seeing something like this?"

"Not necessarily..." I answer, my voice much more subdued. I glance back at the cottage. "It just looks so well kept."

Kairos lets out a sound that's suspiciously like a scoff, but it can't quite be called that. "This was recently purchased and remodeled, hence the look. But... we plan on using it frequently from now on," he explains, looking at me.

I nod, looking back at Draven, who's still trying to get his appearance together.

After combing through his hair, he turns to me, stretching out his hand. "You ready?" he asks, a corner of his lips quirked up but not quite forming a smile.

I return his smile, then take his hand, letting him lead me into the house. We walk up to the porch, the floorboards creaking slightly beneath our feet.

Kairos moves ahead of us, bringing out a bunch of keys, unlocking the door, and opening it.

"Come in..." Draven mutters as he leads me into the space. My eyes widen as I take in the scene before me. The interior is nothing short of spectacular. It's warm, it's cozy... it's perfect.

The flooring is smooth and reflective, there's a roaring fireplace blessing the room with its light and heat, clean scents, and sturdy wooden pillars holding up the ceiling.

"Wow..." I murmur, my voice filled with awe as I look around me. "It's really beautiful here. I never imagined this," I say, glancing back at the alphas.

"We knew you'd like it," Draven says, smiling at me. He takes several steps closer, erasing the distance between us until I can feel the heat radiating off him. "We'll be here for the full moon and several days later," he mutters, his voice low.

A shiver runs down my spine at those words, my mind already beginning to conjure indecent images of what that might look like.

"But... that's still a day away," Draven adds, effectively breaking the spell. "What do you want to do now?"

I look at both of them, feeling my cheeks warm, and soon avert my gaze, bringing it down to the dress I'm wearing. "I would like to get out of these clothes. A bath sounds lovely too," I mutter.

"The bathing chamber is down that hallway..." Kairos says, pointing at the hallway just around the corner. "The last door to your right. We'll prepare something light for you when you step out," he says, his voice grave.

I nod, pulling back from Draven as I head to the bathing chamber.

The bathing chamber is just as breathtaking as the rest of the house. The tub is carved from a huge granite rock, and there seems to be a natural hot spring just outside. I check the wardrobe and find clean, lavender-scented towels kept in there, as well as cleaning supplies.

I immediately set to filling the tub with hot, steaming water, adding fragrant oils and flower petals into the water for a more aesthetic look. Then, very carefully, I slip out of my ceremonial dress and my undergarments until I'm clad in just my skin. Then, armed with a bar of soap and a wash towel, I slip into the water, letting the heat seep into my bones.

A soft sigh escapes my lips as the hot water pulls the rest of the tension from my limbs, and very gently, I start to wash my body, cleaning off all the grime of the day.

The bath is slow and idyllic. The alphas don't come to join me, nor do they interrupt, and honestly, I find I need the moment to myself.

By the time I'm through with the wash, my fingers and toes have already pruned, and the water has gone tepid. I rinse off all the soap and step out of the water, wrapping the towels around myself and drying my skin.

Once I'm through, I slip into the silk nightdress I find, letting my half-dry hair hang loosely over my shoulders. The silk nightdress is modest enough, but it still manages to cling to my curves, leaving things to the imagination.

A faint blush stains my cheeks as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. The alphas must have picked this out. It has their handprints all over it.

Draining away the bath water, I put the bathing chamber back in order and return to the living area.

There, I find that the alphas have already shed their outer robes, dressed in only simple dark tunics and their trousers, with a small tray of fresh bread, cheese, and a bottle of wine sitting on the table in the center of the room.

The moment they hear me, their gazes turn to me, and I see them stiffen, their eyes traveling over me appreciatively. Draven even tilts his head to the side, watching me with that particular gaze that never fails to send goosebumps racing over my entire body.

It almost feels like they're seeing through me.

Maybe they are.

Draven gestures for me to sit next to him.

"Come closer... Have something to eat if you're hungry," he says, gesturing to the food.