<h4>Chapter 85: Mild Envy</h4>


    <strong>**************</strong>


    <strong>Chapter 85</strong>


    <strong>~Tempest’s POV~</strong>


    Aira was in a pale green bikini that showed off her beautiful body, while Zara’s was more modest—a one-piece with thin straps and a deep blue colour that matched her eyes. They both looked serene and effortlessly content.


    And here I was, raw, still trying to scrub away every trace of yesterday.


    My chest tightened—jealousy, resentment, and something I couldn’t name— all fuelling my thoughts. I couldn’t take it, watching them so easily and free.


    Aira—my twin—the one who had everything I didn’t—love, kindness, strength that didn’te from anger, seemed to be enjoying herself better than I did.


    I spun around, ready to slip back where I’de before they could see me.


    "Tempest!" Aira’s voice carried across the space, stopping me in my tracks. Her tone was soft but threaded with something that wouldn’t let me ignore her.


    Toote.


    I took a deep breath, masking my emotions as best I could, and turned to face them.


    Zara’s face lit up upon seeing me as she waved. "Hey," I replied, forcing a small smile as I approached them, wishing I could just turn and leave.


    "Wanna join?" Aira asked, a bit casually. I could see she was trying to act normal and as awkward as it sounded, it brought a smile to my lips.


    "Sure."


    I slipped off my cover-up, folding it neatly before sitting by the pool’s edge. The water shimmered coolly, inviting me as Aira and Zara slipped in effortlessly, theirughter mingling with the soft sshes.


    Aira swam over to me with a soft smile, as though she knew I needed the quietfort she always brought. Her hand reached out openly for me to take.


    "Come on," she encouraged. "It’s perfect in here."


    I sighed, slipping my legs into the water and feeling the coolness seep into my skin. It felt grounding and calming, like a balm on everything Koda had stirred up inside me.


    With a small smile, I took Aira’s hand and slid into the water, letting the chill ripple over me.


    Aira swam backwards, her face breaking into a wide grin. "See? I knew you’d like it."


    I sshed her, letting a genuineugh slip free. "Fine, fine, you win. But don’t expect me to join you every morning."


    Aira rolled her eyes yfully, nudging Zara, who chuckled. "I’ll take what I can get," she said with a wink.


    Watching Zaraugh, her head tipped back, her eyes sparkling under the sunlight, I felt something strange.


    She was almost... luminous, like someone who belonged. It was a rare look for someone who wasn’t born into this life—my life.


    I found myself staring, unable to shake the curiosity in my mind. "Zara," I asked, leaning back against the pool edge. "You seem... I don’t know,fortable here. I wouldn’t have expected it."


    She nced at me, surprised by the question but smiled. "It’s peaceful," she said, choosing her words carefully. "I’ve been through a lot and this ce... it’s different. Safe, maybe."


    "Safe?" I echoed but the word tasted foreign. Did she really think this life, with all its broken pieces, could offer any kind of safety? But then she didn’t know the half of it.


    None of them did.


    The water cooled the frustration boiling under my skin, and I sighed, sinking deeper into the pool. For a while, we swam in silence, each of us lost in our thoughts, asionally exchanging smiles or sshes, grounding ourselves in the simplicity of it all.


    But the peace onlysted so long. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zara drift toward the edge of the pool, staring thoughtfully at the horizon.


    "Thinking of leaving already?" I asked, my tone half-teasing butced with something sharper.


    Zara looked at me, surprised, before her gaze softened. "I might. There’s work to be done in the city, after all."


    The reminder that she would be going back to her life—her world—stirred something bitter inside me. I was envious. Here she was, free toe and go, untouched by bonds nor burdened by fate.


    "Lucky you."


    Always quick to sense a shift in mood, Aira ced a hand on my shoulder, her grip grounding me. "Let’s just enjoy this moment, Tempest," she whispered before facing Zara. "But taking a vacation wouldn’t be bad."


    "It wouldn’t, truth be told, but a major investor wants a deal signed in two days. I need to make preparations and see if I can push things back a bit for Stornm as well.


    "Ah, I see. Sore about the extra load."


    The way Aira spoke, it came naturallyforting people and perhaps I needed thatfort, but I was too stubborn to crave or seek it.


    And so, I pushed everything aside and sank into the pool topletely drown it all.


    <strong>**************</strong>


    <strong>~Koda’s POV~</strong>


    I clenched my fists, leaning against a sturdy oak, hiding just out of sight as Aira’sughter reached me, light and carefree, floating from the direction of the pool.


    Just that one sound had me rooted to the spot, my chest tightening like it always did whenever I heard her. To make matters worse, the thought of me losing her felt like my breath was stolen from me.


    But then I caught another scent—a faint, familiar wildness that set my nerves on edge. <i>Tempest</i>.


    My wolf, Moon, immediately stirred when he sensed Tempest but I couldn’t move. Moon wanted her—needed me to ept the mate bond and our mate but no.


    My grip on the tree tightened.


    One step closer, and I’d be right there, caught between the two people I wanted least to see together.


    Every instinct in me urged me to turn back. But damn if my feet would listen.


    I hovered there, shifting my weight, wrestling with the urge to go, just for a second—to look, maybe talk to Aira, apologise even.


    Just as I was about to cave, my phone vibrated sharply in my pocket. I took it out and nced down at the screen, feeling my stomach twist at the sight of my alpha’s name: <i>de</i>.


    With a sigh, I turned on my heel, stepping further from the pool as I answered the call.


    "Koda," de’s voice greeted me, a yful edge coating his words. "So, I haven’t seen my beta in three days or more. Should I be worried? Or have you ditched me for some other pack, hmm?"


    Updat??d from freew??bnov??l.co(m)