intrepidity

Aurora woke up feeling warm.

That was the first sign she was still at her brothers' house—that all of this wasn't just some cruel dream she'd wake from, back in the cold, empty world she came from.

No, this was real. The house was real, her bed was real, and her really cool (and surprisingly nice) brothers were very much real.

Untangling herself from the cocoon of blankets Elias had so lovingly tucked around her the night before, Aurora climbed out of bed with a tiny pout. She grabbed Thumper, tucking the plush bunny against her chest as she padded toward the bathroom.

The morning routine was simple but strangely comforting. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and smiled when she spotted a cute, cat-themed hairbrush sitting on the counter. She used it to tame her unruly brown curls, the soft bristles gliding through her hair with ease.

Feeling a little more put together, Aurora made her way to the door. She wanted to go downstairs, hoping to find one of her brothers. Maybe they'd already started their day, or maybe she could surprise them by making breakfast as a way to thank them for everything they'd done for her so far.

As she stepped into the hallway, Thumper still tucked under her arm, she stopped abruptly. A tall figure was approaching from the other end of the corridor.

Antonio.

He looked at her with raised brows, his expression unreadable and cool as always. Aurora froze under his sharp gaze, her cheeks heating up. She shifted awkwardly on her feet, unsure of what to say or do.

"Breakfast," he said simply, his deep voice monotone as he pointed toward the stairs.

Aurora blinked, her flush deepening at being caught so early in the morning, still clutching Thumper like a lifeline. Antonio didn't seem fazed, though his eyes lingered on her a moment longer before turning to walk away.

He was quiet, stern even, but Aurora thought he was nice in his own way. She glanced down at Thumper, who seemed to agree as his ears flopped downwards. 

With a small breath, she followed Antonio's lead, heading downstairs

The moment they entered the kitchen, the comforting scent of breakfast greeted them. Alec, who was standing at the stove frying eggs, turned to them with a bright smile.

"Hey, baby. How did you sleep?" he asked, his voice warm and inviting as his gaze landed on Aurora.

Aurora hesitated for only a second before mumbling, "It was good. Thank you." Her voice was soft, still finding its place among the lively energy of the house, but the slight smile on her face spoke volumes.

Elias, ever the gentleman, pulled out a chair for her, setting a plate of toast in front of her with a quiet, "Here you go, sweetheart."

Alec chuckled as he flipped the eggs. "God, you're so polite. I haven't heard a 'thank you' from any of them in years."

Aurora giggled quietly, her cheeks tinting pink at the playful comment. Alec's grin widened, clearly pleased to have drawn that sound from her.

At the other end of the table, Marcus was scrolling through his phone as he ate his eggs, barely looking up. His calm was disrupted when Atlas reached over, attempting to steal a piece of toast from his plate.

"Get your own," Marcus muttered, tightening his grip on his fork like a weapon. When Atlas persisted, Marcus smacked him on the head with the back of his phone, earning an exaggerated whine from his brother.

"Now, children," Roman scolded from his seat, his tone carrying the weight of an older sibling's authority. Still, the corners of his lips twitched upward as Atlas pouted dramatically, rubbing the spot where he'd been hit.