CHAPTER 171 : THE TALK

Stepping out of the room after getting dressed, Kira felt very comfortable in the oversized clothes Bryan had given her.

She had also noticed the difference in the clothes-how the shirt smelled like Bryan, while the shorts were definitely Aiden's.

She wondered if they had debated over if she would wear Bryan's clothes or Aiden's before coming to the conclusion of mixing them and giving it to her.

The thought was so funny that she couldn't help but giggle as she made her way down the stairs, her hair packed in a messy bun.

"Sorry for keeping you all waiting," she said when she walked into the dining room, everyone already in their seats waiting for her.

"Oh, nonsense, sweetheart," Elara said, waving for her to join them. "It's completely fine."

"Yeah, it's not like we were starving or anything," Aiden added with a smile.

Bryan gave him a look and just smiled while shaking his head before turning back to Kira. "Come on, sit. Quit acting like a stranger."

"I am not acting like a stranger," Kira muttered and walked toward the table, Bryan and Aiden standing up and making way for her to get into the seat that was in the middle of theirs.

She smiled, a sweet feeling blooming in her chest as she slid into her seat, and they took their seats as well besides her.

This was how it had always been, the three of them... always together.

Since everyone was now seated, the maids began bringing out the food, and Kira was instantly on alert.

There were different varieties, including her favorite; there was rice, chicken, roasted vegetables, freshly baked bread, fruit platters, and jugs of juice.

It showed that Elara had taken great care in preparing the meal in the way she beamed at Kira's reaction.

"I see someone's excited," she said while chuckling, her face glowing with happiness.

"Who wouldn't be?" Kira smiled widely. "This is incredible."

"I am glad," Elara responded with a wide smile of her own. "I want you to eat as much as you want. I missed feeding you, and I did get some help from the maids, but I cooked everything for you myself."

"Like we aren't also here and about to eat the food," Bryan coughed out, pretending he didn't say anything afterward.

"What was that, son?" Elara asked in a tone that dared him to repeat himself.

"Me?" Bryan pretended, shaking his head like he was confused. "Nothing, mother, the meals look delicious."

"Better," Elara uttered, making everyone at the table laugh quietly before she then reached for the serving spoon.

Once everyone had a full plate, she gave a satisfied nod.

"Alright, let's eat."

With that, they all started eating, each person enjoying the food and complimenting her on how the food was delicious.

Elara was thrilled that her family enjoyed her cooking, and it made her heart swell with happiness as she watched them eat with satisfied happy faces.

"Here," Bryan said, lifting a piece of seasoned meat toward Kira's lips while she was in the middle of chewing.

"You'll like this," he urged, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Without hesitation, Kira leaned forward and took a bite.

"I'm not surprised," she muttered as she chewed and hummed in approval. "This is really good."

"Of course it is," Bryan said smugly before taking a bite himself.

Not a second later, Aiden did the same, but he was holding up a piece of fruit. "Alright, now try this one. It's sweet, just like you."

Holding back a laugh and rolling her eyes, Kira took the fruit.

"It's definitely sweet like me," she said, making Aiden and the rest laugh silently while eating.

As the meal continued and Kira took another sip of her juice, Orion decided to bring up the topic.

"So, how did you know?" He asked, the chatter around the table stilled as they all figured out what he meant and waited for a response from her.

Setting her glass down, Kira proceeded to tell them.

"There was a traditional party at the Elven kingdom, and I was there when the Queen sent for me, saying there was a problem," she explained, everyone listening intensively.

"So, obviously, I wondered what the problem could be, as there had not been any rising issue there. And when I went to see her, she told me that it was time for me to return. That my pack and my family needed me."

"And you came... just like that," Aiden muttered, not sure of what to feel in a good way.

"Yes," Kira nodded while looking at each of them before continuing. "I immediately got ready. Some of the elven warriors offered to come with me. Lythari was even the first to say she would come. She's a very close friend of mine, a best friend, you could say," she explained to Orion and Elara, who had not met Lythari and the other elven warriors but heard of how they had helped.

"And... That's how I'm here," she finished but then decided to add a few more things as she already knew she would be asked about that.

"Also, I am a hybrid. Half-wolf, Half-witch."

"That explains it," Bryan acknowledged, wanting to know more. "Please, go on."

"So... When I found out what I was, at first, my head was a mess because everything was happening all at once," she admitted. "I have no idea how I am a hybrid or which of my parents I got the whole witch powers from, but I guess that is something I will have to find out sooner or later."

"Whatever you need," Aiden assured, reaching out to rub her hand, which was on the table.

"Thank you," Kira mouthed with a smile before going on with what she was saying. "So, I trained and trained with the motivation that I would be able to return home one day."

"That motivated me so much, and I also wanted to be stronger," she admitted, her voice slightly softened. "The way I trained, one would think I was obsessed with training," she chuckled, remembering how Lythari would always tease her about how much she trained.

"I wanted to find a way to destroy the curse as well or do it myself. So, that's how I'm here," she finally finished and leaned back, a proud smile on her face. "I'm stronger now, and I'm back."

Hearing those words, Bryan and Aiden sighed at the same time. She had worked so hard, and hearing and knowing that everything she did had also been for them was something else entirely.

She had gone through so much, all for them.

"I am so proud of you," Elara said sincerely. "Of course you wouldn't have just given up like that. That's you, Kira; you never give up."

"Never," Kira mouthed and winked at Elara, both of them giggling softly at each other.

"We are all proud of you," Orion added. "Very proud."

Squeezing her hand gently, Aiden said, "And I'm sorry you had to go through all of this because of us. Through all the pain and hurt. We are really sorry."

"Stop it," Kira scolded, placing her other hand on top of his while looking at him. "It was no one's fault, plus I also had to grow stronger and find myself. So, don't even start with that thinking."

"I'm not," Aiden said, looking at her as well. "You are just the most amazing thing that has ever happened to us."

"I know," she smirked, then laughed softly and looked away, her cheeks starting to burn. "I love being amazing."

"Of course you do," Bryan chimed in, laughing gently at her reaction. "Blushing sure looks good on you."

"Don't even start," Kira said with quiet confidence, her tone playful. "I will win."

"Fine," Bryan muttered, raising his hand and surrendering to her.

"Better," she gave him a look before asking them about themselves.

"Well, the truth is we also tried everything we could over the past few years to cure this curse so that we could find you," Bryan confessed, letting out a small humorless chuckle. "But we found nothing. Not even a clue."

"We love that you are back, but it scares us that we might hurt you," he added. "It scares us a lot, and I don't know how we are going to do this when there is literally no single answer or clue."

Knowing they were right, Kira let out a soft breath but knew that whatever it took, she would help.

"I'm stronger now," she declared, making sure to look at each of them before continuing. "We will find something, and you don't need to worry about hurting me."

"I understand what your fear is," She continued before any of them could say anything. "I know Morane had also warned us of the outcome, and I know that she is also a strong witch, but not to boast or anything... I'm stronger, and so we will figure this out together," she concluded as she reached out and held both of their hands. "Together."

Letting out a breath through their noses, Bryan and Aiden nodded and muttered, "Together."

"Good," Kira said with a content smile and released their hands. "And if you two even try to make me leave again..." She warned, narrowing her eyes at them, but in a playful way. "I will snap your necks."

The entire table went silent for a second, Bryan and Aiden taken aback by her words before quickly recovering.

"We won't try that," Bryan assured her, his eyes still wide from the shocking threat as he held in a chuckle. "Never."

"Yeahhh," Aiden added slowly, still also taken aback. "We most definitely like our necks intact."

Being the first to laugh, Orion watched his sons and Kira, the joy of being together again showing in the way he smiled at them with Elara.

"This is good," Elara whispered to Orion. "I'm so happy."

"Me too," Orion whispered back, his smile widening.

"You know," Bryan started, his voice softer than before as he glanced at Kira. "I am so relieved you didn't fall for someone else."

Turning to him and giving him a loving smile, she whispered, "Me too," before picking up her fork and taking a bite of her food. "We will get through this. I know we will."

"I trust you," Aiden said, making her turn toward him. "I trust us, together. So... let's make this work."

Nodding, Kira gave him his own loving smile.

"Although, what about Baba Razz?" He asked. "You haven't said anything about him."