CHAPTER 73: 73-IS IT A PICNIC?

Iris:

"What the hell are you doing, Iris? You have one job, fucking focus on it," Luca barked, his tone harsh and full of frustration.

"I am! I’m trying my best!" I snapped back, the bitterness spilling out before I could stop it.

"Well, if you were doing a good job, we wouldn’t have lost," he hissed, and I sucked in a deep breath, refusing to argue in front of my kids.

But I noticed something, every time Kash walked past us, carrying more bags, he glanced our way.

Even when he was halfway between the car and his tent, his eyes would drift toward us, quietly observing.

My kids were playing with a ball nearby, laughing, while Lara was long gone inside the cabin, probably changing or just escaping the work.

And then, I saw Kash step out of his tent again and walk straight toward us.

I already knew he was coming to help.

He was wearing black pants and a black shirt, no coat this time, and the top few buttons were undone.

I didn’t know what he was planning to do, but with that look on his face, calm, certain, and just a little too composed, it felt like something dangerous was about to happen.

"Need help?"

As soon as Kash said that, I noticed Luca lift his head and look at him.

It seemed like he took it as a personal jab.

"Not really. I’ll be fine as long as this woman keeps her shits together," Luca commented.

Once again, I bit my tongue. I could have shown him what I was capable of by insulting him, but I refrained.

Kash walked over and took the pole out of my hand.

"Go ahead, Iris. Get freshened up," he said, not looking at me, but there was an authority in his voice that even made Luca glance up from the tent.

"It’s okay, we’ll do it," Luca muttered, gesturing for me to take the pole back.

"You don’t need to control her around, Luca. Just admit you’re unable to fix it and that your communication skills are poor," Kash commented.

The way he spoke made neither of us object. We just stood there, watching him take charge.

I started to step away slowly but didn’t leave completely. I still needed to load my bags.

Kash crouched beside the tent, examining the mess we had made.

"You attached the center pole to the wrong connector," he said simply to Luca, who gulped because his ego was stronger than his ability to admit he was wrong.

Kash reached forward and unhooked the misaligned section.

His fingers moved with such precision that I couldn’t look away. I watched as he slid the pole through the correct loop and locked it in place.

The fabric lifted instantly, taking on a smooth, solid shape.

"See, the tension needs to be balanced on both sides," Kash explained.

He avoided looking at Luca, focusing on me instead, almost in a teaching way. It reminded me of the past.

Flashback

"It’s okay, it’s not going to hurt you as long as you know how to hold it and how to control it. Remember, it’s in your hand, it’s your weapon," Kash said, making me hold the sword.

"But why is it so heavy?" I complained, and he chuckled softly, shaking his head.

All his young warriors were standing around us on the training ground, probably annoyed that he had brought me there to teach me when I clearly had no idea what I was doing.

I had never held a weapon before. I had never even killed a bug to save myself. So this was overwhelming.

"Remember how every time I come home and you have bruises from training? I decided this time I’ll train you myself. You don’t need to get bruises when you’re learning," Kash said, gesturing for me to hold the sword correctly and swing it.

It was too heavy for me.

"It’s okay, you can use both hands," he suggested, but my mind lingered on what he had just said.

It had been a lie I told him every time he returned from war.

Whenever he saw bruises on me, I would claim they were from training with Zoe and the warriors.

The truth was much darker. I worked hard to protect my abusers, even when they didn’t bother to hide their cruelty.

Kash stepped behind me, wrapped his arms around me, and guided my hands on the sword.

I remember how I blushed, trying to look away from the warriors who started to whisper and laugh quietly.

They had probably never seen their alpha king so gentle and playful with anyone.

Some even began taking pictures while Kash made me swing the sword a few times, still holding my hands.

End of flashback

"If one side is even slightly uneven, the canvas pulls and collapses. Here, hold this," Kash said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

He gestured for me to hold the rope, and I did exactly as he said.

His instructions were always clear and simple, easy for me to follow.

Within a few minutes, the tent began to take shape, no longer a mess of fabric but a strong and steady structure.

Luca had stepped back silently.

He no longer looked embarrassed. He looked furious.

Kash gave the final corner a quick tug, then looked up at me.

"Now it will stay steady. Even a stronger wind won’t be able to knock it down," he whispered, his eyes fixed on mine, stirring something deep inside me.

After that, Kash walked back to his tent, where I was sure Lara would go to be with him.

"Thank you," I called out, and he only raised his hand to show that it was okay.

I realized I had been missing teamwork.

I followed Kash with my eyes for a moment before noticing that I was still holding the rope, my knuckles were turning white from gripping it.

The tent stood tall now, the breeze brushing my face and silently absorbing the tears that started to form in my eyes.

What Kash and I had used to be so beautiful.

I just didn’t know what I lacked that he had gone and betrayed me like this.

"Next time, I’ll build the damn thing myself," Luca exhaled from beside me, muttering under his breath and breaking both the silence and my stare at Kash.

I almost forgot he existed.

"Sure you will," I said, rolling my eyes as I walked over to the car to grab my bags.