CHAPTER 306: RIDE HOME

Coco, Sinclair, and Alithe left the store, the sun slowly setting in the distance.

The sky was aflame with hues of orange and pink, the last rays of the sun casting long shadows on the ground— the atmosphere was quiet and tranquil, the streets were mostly deserted, save for a few strollers and the occasional horse-drawn carriage.

Alithe approached the carriage and opened the door, gesturing for Coco and Sinclair to enter first.

He held the door open and Coco stepped into the carriage, her feet briefly faltering with Sinclair following after her, his figure silhouetted against the evening sky as he sat down inside.

Alithe watched them settle in before getting in and closing the door with a soft click, sealing them inside.

The carriage began to move, the wheels creaking softly as the horses took their first steps, the vehicle lurching forward, the motion making the three inside the vehicle sway slightly.

The sound of the horses’ hooves hitting the cobblestones echoed through the carriage, the sound oddly soothing in the quiet space, making the ride surprisingly comfortable despite the uneven ground.

The entire carriage ride was filled with a comfortable silence, the three of them settling in for the journey home, the tension that had filled the air earlier had dissipated, replaced by silence.

Coco leaned back against the plush seats, her eyes drifting shut for a moment as she relaxed.

Sinclair sat next to her, his expression thoughtful as he looked out the window, taking in the scenery outside, and Alithe sat across from them, his gaze flickering between the two.

The carriage came to a stop, its wheels coming to a halt with a soft creak.

Coco looked out the window and recognized the surroundings, realizing that they were at the address of Zaque’s house.

The familiar sight of the building this morning brought a small smile to her face.

Alithe exited the carriage first, his movements quiet and careful— he stepped out onto the pavement, his feet hitting the ground with a soft thud.

He turned to face the carriage, his expression attentive and alert, and the open door framed him in a way that made him look like a guardian as he looked back inside and held out a hand, his gaze fixed on Coco.

"Thanks." Coco mumbled as she took Alithe’s hand, her grip firm, helping her out of the carriage.

Her feet landed on the ground with a soft thump, taking in her surroundings, and Sinclair followed quickly after, his taller frame towering over them as he stepped out of the carriage and into the warm night air.

He closed the door behind him, the sound of the heavy door closing echoing through the quiet night.

Alithe turned away from Coco and Sinclair, his attention shifting to the carriage driver.

The man had already begun pulling bags out of the carriage, his hands moving with a practiced ease as he piled the parcels on the ground.

Alithe nodded at the coachman, his expression a mix of gratitude and exhaustion as he carefully bent down and picked up one of the bags, the weight of it tugging at his muscles.

Coco noticed this and was about to pick up a few of the bags, but Sinclair paused, stopping her.

"We can do it." He said, a hint of a chuckle in his tone.

Alithe shot him a grateful look, his expression slightly annoyed causing Coco to hesitate for a moment, her hands still hovering over the bags, but she saw the stubbornness on Sinclair’s face and relented, nodding in agreement.

"Okay.." Coco mumbled, turning away.

Sinclair picked up some of the bags and gestured for Coco to lead the way, his hands occupied with the parcels.

Coco moved in front of him as she walked to the gate of the house, opening the latch and stepping inside, Sinclair following closely behind with the bags in his hands.

Coco walked up to the front door and was about to knock when the door suddenly slammed open.

Coco stumbled back, the sudden movement of the door taking her by surprise, and had not even had a chance to knock before the door had been wrenched open, revealing a harried-looking Zaque.

The worry in his eyes was evident as he stepped outside, his gaze immediately falling on Coco.

Zaque looked like he was about to say something, but was interrupted by Konoha, the white cat in her original size, who suddenly pounced on Coco.

Konoha slammed into Coco hard, knocking her over.

The cat’s expression read sheer excitement and happiness, but Coco, who wasn’t used to being tackled by her enlarged cat, was left a confused mess, her body sprawled on the ground with the cat on top of her.

Coco found herself staring up at the night sky, disorientation filling her, the sudden switch in perspective made everything turn upside down, and she felt a bit dizzy at the sight of Alithe and Sinclair walking around her upside-down self.

The hybrids walked into the house, their steps heavy with bags in their hands, and they carefully placed their bags down in the doorway, the parcels making a soft thud as they hit the flooring.

Coco laid on the ground, still pinned by Konoha, and could only watch as they entered the house.

She was too tired to try moving under Konoha, and the feline on top of her did not seem to be planning on budging anytime soon.

Zaque stood in the doorway, his gaze switching between the bags on the floor and the two men who had just entered.

A puzzled expression crossed his face while he questioned, looking at the bags, his curiosity and wariness growing as he eyed each bag. "What are these?"

Sinclair smiled at Zaque, his tone nonchalant.

"We went shopping for master’s clothes." The hybrid said, gesturing toward the bags on the floor, his words were short and straight to the point.

"We got some for you and the husbands, too."