The Omega Mated To The Four novel Chapter 143

After leaving the caves, we drove back down to town, the winding roads making our descent slow and careful. The farther we got from the mountain, the more the town came into view, its rustic charm highlighted by the golden hues of the setting sun. The warm glow bathed the stone and wood buildings, making them appear almost ethereal, like something out of an old storybook. Narrow cobblestone streets curved between charming little cafes, family–run bakeries, and souvenir shops selling handcrafted trinkets. The town was quiet but alive, a peaceful contrast to the cold, damp darkness of the caves we had just left behind.

I leaned my head against the window, watching the world outside bir past. Despite the picturesque scene, my mind was elsewhere, still inside the caves, wondering what we had missed. The riddle had led us there, but the tour itself had yielded nothing. No secret tunnels, no hidden symbols–nothing. It left a nagging feeling in my chest, like an unfinished sentence waiting to be completed.

“We should grab some food,” Elijah suggested as he pulled the car into a small parking lot near a restaurant.

Austin groaned from the backseat. “I still don’t get why we didn’t just break off from the tour and explore on our own. That was a waste of time.”

Isaiah shrugged, unbuckling his seatbelt. “We didn’t know if there was anything obvious we’d find. Better to start with the safe option before doing anything reckless.”

I stretched as I stepped out of the car, shaking the stiffness from my limbs. “Well, now we know there’s nothing obvious. So we’re going back tonight.”

Alex frowned, crossing his arms. “We are? What if we get lost?”

I smirked, patting his shoulder as I walked past him. “Then we’ll leave a trail of breadcrumbs for you, Alex.”

Austin snorted in amusement as we entered the restaurant. The inside was cozy, dimly lit with flickering candles on each table. The scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling meat filled the air, making my stomach growl in response. After placing our orders, we

settled into a booth by the window.

As we ate, the conversation shifted back to our failed mission.

“There were restricted areas,” I pointed out. “The tour guide mentioned them, which means there are places we weren’t allowed to see. We really didn’t get to look around properly.”

Elijah nodded. “That’s why tonight matters. We do it right this time.

After dinner, we stopped by a small grocery store to gather supplies. The place was dimly lit, the aisles narrow and packed with shelves stocked with local food and essentials. I ran my fingers over the rough paper of a baguette before moving along to grab a

bottle of water.

Elijah tossed a bundle of flashlights into the cart. “We’ll need these.

Austin, grinning, picked up a lighter and waggled his eyebrows. “Or, you know, we have our powers. I can light up the whole cave.” He flicked his fingers, and a small flame danced at his fingertips,

Isaiah rolled his eyes and swatted at Austin’s hand. “We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves, genius.”

Austin sighed dramatically but tossed the lighter into the cart anyway, extinguishing the flame with a flick of his wrist.

After checking out, we wandered through the streets, stopping at a small street vendor selling warm pastries. The scent of butter and sugar filled the air, and I couldn’t resist grabbing one. The first bite melted in my mouth, sweet and flaky, sending a warm comfort through me.

Alex, eating his own pastry, glanced at the town’s silhouette against the fading sunlight. “You know… we should come back here

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Chapter 137

after all of this is over.”

I looked at him in surprise. He wasn’t usually the sentimental type. You mean… just to visit?”

He nodded, his gaze lingering on the distant mountains. “Yeah. It’s beautiful here. Wouldn’t mind actually enjoying it without the whole ‘saving the world‘ thing.”

I smiled. “I’d like that too.”

Austin groaned. “Are we seriously romanticizing this place? We’re here on a mission, guys.”

Isaiah smirked. “You just don’t want to admit you’re actually having fun. But if you don’t wanna come, the rest of us can come with

Stormi.”

Austin rolled his eyes. “I have every right to go wherever my mate goes.”

We laughed, finishing our food before heading back to the hotel.

The hours passed slowly. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, restless. Something was waiting for us in those caves–I could feel it. The riddle hadn’t led us there for no reason. My fingers traced the stone fragment we had found in the Whispering Willows, the

rough edges pressing against my skin. What if the next piece was hidden somewhere deep inside those tunnels?

By midnight, I couldn’t wait any longer. I got up, grabbed my jacket, and stepped outside into the cool night air. The street was nearly empty, with only a few dim lanterns casting long shadows across the pavement. My mates were already there, waiting by the