Navy's Sons: Bullied by Quadruplet Stepbrothers novel Chapter 26

Navy’s Sons: Bullied by Quadruplet St…

23.Warm Up-1

Tabitha’s POV

The Aldair estate is a palace of luxury and boredom, that’s why I find myself sneaking out of the huge mansion once again- leaving my mom to talk with her wedding organizers-while I pedal my way around the island. The bike rumbles lightly beneath me as I coast down the paved hillside path, weaving past overgrown vines and palm-lined turns. I let the wind rush against my face, salty and clean, my legs working just enough to keep a steady glide going as I steer around the island roads heading westward.

The only things that I probably miss in this place is the delicious scent of salty water and the fresh air that circulates in every narrow corner. This is a far contrast to the car-smoked filled air back in the city. Only the city has better shopping corners. Though I have to appreciate that Kaelara island has also come a long way in terms of its bustling market. I passed by a couple of fancy stores the other day that didn’t use to be here five years ago. My mom’s going to love that..

I reach the Kaleigh Pier, where a cluster of stilted cottages lines the edge of the water. Their posts dig deep into the shoreline, weather-worn but sturdy, built to withstand salt and storm. These houses have always belonged to local fishermen, passed down through generations. Some are patched with metal sheets, duffers covered in flaking paint, but they all carry that same quiet charm of island life

I pedal past them, slowing as I near a familiar one-story cottage. Its once-faded gray exterior has been repainted to a soft cream with brick-brown trims. But the porch, the crooked fence, and the windows still look the same. Five years ago, we sold this place to a human family before Mom and I left the island. I stop by the gate and just sit there, staring. I remember the nights I used to sit on the steps, waiting for the smell of grilled fish or the sound of my father’s boots hitting the porch. It feels both distant and painfully close.

Kaelara island is big, but this is really the only part of the island that I’m most attached to, But now it is no longer mine. Ironically, I now live in a house where I will never feel at home.

let myself bask in the stream of memories as I quietly stare at our old house. Once I’m done drowning in the bitter nostalgia, I turn the bike around and head toward the dock. Kaleigh Pier is smaller than Hakai Pier, the main commercial port of the island where I met Arthur the other day. It’s quieter here, used mostly by locals who still mend their boats by hand and know everyone’s last name.

Near the end of the dock, I spot a group of middle-aged men scraping barnacles off the hull of a small trawler. One of them glances up and does a double take.

Dabitha?” he calls out.

I recognize him before he even straightens up. Mario. One of my father’s old friends. He’s still wearing the same worn-out cap, but his face looks more sunburnt, more lined. Time is catching up on him.

“Hey, Mario,” I say, hopping off the bike,

“Damn, kid. Look at you. Last time I saw you, you barely came up to my waist. What are you now, twenty?”

“Twenty-one,” I correct him with a small grin.

“You’re kidding. Your dad would’ve gone nuts seeing you like this. Can’t believe it’s been that long.”

I nod, unsure what to say. Mario’s the kind of man who always talks like he’s known you since birth, even if you’ve only met twice.

“So is it true?” he asks, lowering his voice a little as if we’re trading secrets.

“What is?” I raise my brow.

“I heard some rumors that your mom’s marrying Emery Aldair? Is that true? I mean, at first I thought it was just one of those crazy rumors. I didn’t even know you and your mom have come back to the island after you sold your house. But it’s practically the talk of the town lately. I just have to confirm it myself.”

Oh great. First the werewolves, now the humans too. My mom and I are practically gossip magnets.

“Yeah,” I rub my nape, feeling a bit awkward. “They’re engaged. They are set to get married soon.”

“Well I’ll be damned.” Mario huffs under his breath, stroking his thick beard in disbelief.

The other men glance over from the boat but keep working, listening quietly. The name Aldair isn’t something you toss around casually, even if you’re human and unaware of the existence of werewolves and other supernaturals. Emery’s reputation goes far beyond the werewolf world. He’s the commander of the island’s navy force, after all. The Aldairs also have a long-standing history of being the oldest and wealthiest family in the island.

Well slap me with a fish and toss me overboard.” He chuckles. “Your mom really reeled in the big one, huh? No offense, but your dad wasn’t exactly bringing in gold with that fishing boat of his.”

I offer him a tight smile. “None taken.”

It’s not a lie. He’s right in a way. My father’s job barely kept the lights on. But that doesn’t mean I want him spoken ab

like he

was just dead weight.

“I should head back,” I say, getting back on the bike.

“Yeah, yeah, don’t let an old man stop you. Just tell your mom I said congrats.”

I nod and ride off, keeping my expression neutral. I respect my mom’s choice to remarry, no matter how much that decision made my life complicated now. Mario was right. Alpha Emery is a big catch. He offers comfort, safety, wealth, maybe even love. But none of that gives anyone the right to dismiss my dad’s memory like it didn’t matter.

I spend the rest of the afternoon circling the backroads of the island, cruising past cane fields, low hills, and dirt paths that snake toward the beach. The wind starts to pick up and the clouds roll in darker and heavier. I glance up. It’s about to pour. Oh no.

I pedal faster, trying to beat the rain back to the estate. But the first drop hits my shoulder before I even make it halfway back. Within seconds, the sky opens up and blasts a heavy downpour of rain. The road turns slick and my tires skid slightly as I push forward.

23. Warm Up-2

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