Fourteen

NOVARIA’S POV

“Maya, Alaric, off!”

Kelvin and Collins’ voices rang across the field at the exact same time as they hurried toward me.

The dogs immediately moved closer to my sides protectively, low growls rumbling from their throats as they faced the brothers.

My eyes widened.

For the first time since meeting the dogs, I finally understood what Sylvester meant when he said they were aggressive.

Maya’s ears flattened while Alaric stepped slightly in front of me like a guard.

The sight wouldn't have been terrifying if I wasn’t standing right in the middle of it.

“Hey… hey, calm down,” I whispered quickly, placing both hands on their heads.

Their growling softened instantly beneath my touch. Kelvin and Collins slowed to a stop a few feet away, both staring at me like they had just witnessed a miracle.

“Okay…” Collins muttered under his breath. “That’s officially creepy.”

Kelvin blinked repeatedly.

“Those demons almost ripped my arm off last month.”

I couldn’t help giggling softly at his offended expression.

The tension finally eased from the atmosphere just as another man stepped outside through the mansion doors. He wore a chef’s uniform and bowed his head respectfully.

“Lunch is ready, boss,” he informed politely.

I guessed he was the chef everyone called Clinton.

Since I was already standing, Collins casually slung an arm over my shoulder and guided me toward the house while Kelvin reluctantly stayed behind to handle the dogs.

“You traitors,” Kelvin muttered dramatically to Maya and Alaric as they ignored him completely.

I laughed quietly.

The warmth inside the mansion wrapped around us the moment we entered..But halfway toward the dining room, Collins suddenly stopped walking.

I looked up in confusion.

His playful expression slowly faded as his eyes settled on my face properly for the first time.

His brows furrowed.

Without warning, he gently pulled me closer.

“Baby…” he said softly, crouching slightly to my height. “Why have you been crying?”

My heart skipped a beat. I instinctively looked away.

Had my swollen eyes really been that obvious?

Collins carefully brushed his thumb beneath my eye, his expression filled with concern.

“Did Sylvester do something?” he asked seriously.

Then, after a brief pause he continued.

“He’s older than me, but honestly? I can still beat him up for you.”

I couldn’t help laughing weakly through my embarrassment.

“It’s nothing,” I whispered. “I’m okay.”

He didn’t look convinced. But instead of pushing further, he simply patted my head gently.

“Alright then,” he sighed dramatically. “But if he bullies you, I’m stealing you away.”

I rolled my eyes while he grinned mischievously.

Together, we walked into the dining area. Sylvester was already seated at the table, scrolling through something on his phone. The moment his eyes landed on me, his expression softened instantly.

Without saying a word, he tapped the empty seat beside him.

My seat.

I walked over quietly and sat beside him while he naturally pulled my chair slightly closer to his own. As if he had done it a hundred times before. And strangely…It no longer felt strange.

—-----------

Days slowly turned into weeks. And before I realized it…Weeks turned into an entire month.

A whole month inside the Muskegons’ mansion. A whole month of warm meals, soft blankets, movie nights, cuddles, laughter, and endless pampering.

At some point, the mansion stopped feeling unfamiliar. It started feeling like home. I had completely adapted to their routine. Or more accurately, they had all adapted around me.

The brothers spoiled me shamelessly.

Not that I complained much.

Well… except for the ridiculous restrictions. 

Like bedtime.

Apparently, sleeping late was now considered a criminal offense in the mansion. 

And the cookie limitation? Absolutely evil.

Two cookies per day.

Two.

Meanwhile the jar sat there every single day looking delicious and untouched like a personal attack against me.

Still…I loved living with them. Far more than I would ever admit aloud. And somehow, they loved having me there too.

Every free moment they had somehow turned into spending time with me. Movie nights with Sylvester. Gaming with Kelvin. Cooking disasters with Chris. And random nonsense conversations with Collins. 

Then there were Maya and Alaric. The two giant dogs had become ridiculously attached to me. Oddly enough, they behaved better around me than around anyone else in the mansion.

Though I eventually noticed George,.their trainer, was no longer around. I never asked why. Something told me Sylvester had probably scared the poor man into another dimension.

But today?

Today wasn’t one of my good days.

The mansion felt unusually quiet. All the brothers had gone out for one of their “meetings.” At least that’s what they called it.

Personally, I was starting to suspect half their meetings involved threatening people with guns.

Collins was the only one home. And even he was locked inside his office working on one of his endless hacking missions. Which left me alone with my thoughts.

A dangerous thing.

I laid curled beneath the blankets in my room, staring blankly at the television while tears silently rolled down my cheeks. No matter how loved I felt here…It didn’t erase the truth.

I was still my mother’s rejected daughter.

That pain lingered quietly in places I couldn’t reach.

Eventually, Collins must have grown tired of staring at his computer screen because my bedroom door suddenly swung open.

I jumped violently.

“Jesus!” I gasped, clutching my chest.

Collins paused near the doorway. His expression immediately softened when he noticed my face.

“Hey, chum,” he said gently. “You okay?”

Another nickname. At this point I had lost count of how many they gave me daily.

I quickly wiped my cheeks and sat upright, pulling the blanket around myself protectively.

“Yeah,” I lied softly. “I’m okay.”

Collins leaned against the doorway for a second, clearly knowing I was lying.

“Wanna watch a movie?” he asked carefully.

I knew he was trying to cheer me up. And honestly…The effort alone made me feel guilty for rejecting him.

So I nodded slowly.

“Okay.”

His face brightened immediately. But instead of turning on a movie, Collins suddenly disappeared downstairs.

Two minutes later, he returned carrying a giant coloring book and an entire pack of coloring pencils.

I blinked for a couple of times, not understanding why Collins would bring such kids stuffs for me. It's not as if I wasn't used to the baby treatment, but this was just another level of baby treatment.

“Collins.”

“Hm?”

“What is that?”

He blinked innocently.

He believed it was not a problem. He just wanted us to be doing something else instead of me just laying on the bed all day.

“A coloring book.”

“I can see that.”

He smiled proudly like he had solved world hunger.

“Thought you’d like it. Look, wanna color a little?", He asked excitedly.

I stared at him harder.

“Collins…”

“Yes?”

“No!!!.” I huffed, crossing my hands as I turned away from him.

Collins didn't even feel bad at all, he just began to laugh even more harder. He thought I was the most cutest in the universe, and he found me really adorable when I was angry.

I turned back to him, and met his stare; his eyes gluing mine.

"I'm not Five", I said to him, looking away once again.

He gasped dramatically. The fake offense on his face was so ridiculous that I almost laughed.

“Well excuse me, your majesty,” he said while sitting cross-legged on the floor. “I’ll simply enjoy myself then.”

He placed the coloring book on the small table and began coloring seriously like a dedicated kindergarten student.

I frowned at him from the bed. He was genuinely coloring. And somehow…Badly. Very badly.

I tried ignoring him. But after several minutes, curiosity won.

I climbed down from the bed and slowly walked over. Collins pretended not to notice me sitting beside him on the floor.

Then I looked down at the page.

“Oh my God,” I muttered in horror.

“What?”

“You’re coloring outside the lines.”

He looked at me innocently.

“I’m expressing myself artistically.”

“That’s not artistic. That’s a crime.”

He burst out laughing.

I snatched the pink pencil from his hand immediately.

“Look,” I huffed dramatically. “This is how you do it.”

I leaned over the page carefully, coloring every section perfectly without leaving blank spaces.

Completely focused. And completely forgetting I was supposed to be sad.

Meanwhile, beside me, Collins watched me with the most satisfied expression imaginable.

The idiot had tricked me.

An hour later, we were both sprawled across the living room floor surrounded by coloring pencils while I laughed harder than I had all day.

“You manipulated me,” I accused between giggles.

Collins looked extremely proud of himself.

“And it worked.”

He eventually bribed me with extra cookie in exchange for one condition.

“Don’t tell Sylvester.”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

“You people treat him like a mafia boss and a strict father at the same time.”

“Because he’s both,” Collins answered instantly.

And honestly? I couldn’t even argue with that.