Fated reborn - Chapter 261: Chapter 261

Luciano's Pov.
By the time we finally left the company, I could feel the exhaustion settling in. The drive home was quiet, with Victor occasionally checking his phone and Clara sighing every now and then, probably still recovering from the chaos her mother caused at work.
When we pulled into the driveway, I was relieved. The day had been long, and all I wanted was a warm meal, a hot shower, and some peace.
We stepped inside, greeted by the familiar warmth of the pack house. The scent of food filled the air, making my stomach grumble.
Victor stretched his arms above his head. “Finally. Feels like today lasted a whole week.”
Clara scoffed. “That’s because my mother drained all of us.”
I smirked. “She wasn’t that bad.”
She shot me a glare. “Don’t encourage her.”
Victor chuckled as he started walking toward the stairs. “I don’t know about you two, but I need a shower before dinner.”
“Same,” I said, heading toward my room.
The moment I stepped inside, I let out a breath. Everything felt quieter here, more settled. I loosened my tie, shrugged off my jacket, and walked straight to the bathroom.
The warm water hit my skin, easing the tension in my shoulders. It felt good to finally wash off the stress of the day. My mind wandered as I stood under the spray, thinking about everything that had happened.
The unexpected business meeting, the stubborn guest, the way Clara’s mother had just taken over as if she owned the place—it was amusing in hindsight.
Once I was done, I stepped out, grabbed a towel, and dried off. I changed into something comfortable, running a hand through my damp hair before heading back downstairs.
Victor was already at the dining table when I got there, scrolling through his phone with a lazy expression.
“You look half asleep,” I said as I sat down.
He smirked. “Feels like it too.”
Clara walked in a minute later, looking slightly more refreshed but still drained.
“If my mother ever shows up again, I’m taking the day off,” she muttered, taking a seat.
Victor chuckled. “Noted.”
The food was served, and as soon as I took my first bite, I felt my body relax. The meal was exactly what I needed—warm, hearty, and satisfying. The conversation was light, mostly filled with small talk about the day and a few jokes at Clara’s expense.
Halfway through, Victor leaned back in his chair, sighing. “We should probably start planning for the next meeting.”
I nodded. “Yeah. But not tonight. Tonight, we rest.”
Clara raised a brow. “You? Taking a break? That’s rare.”
I smirked. “Even I know when to slow down.”
Victor laughed. “Well, that makes one of us.”
After dinner, we all stayed at the table for a while, just talking. It was one of those rare moments where we weren’t buried in work or dealing with unexpected surprises.
Eventually, Clara excused herself first, heading upstairs to her room. Victor followed shortly after, leaving me alone in the quiet dining hall. I sat there for a moment, letting the silence settle around me.
Then, finally, I pushed my chair back and stood up, making my way to my room.
The exhaustion from the day was finally catching up to me. As soon as I lay down, I felt the tension melt away.
It didn’t take long for sleep to pull me under.
*Trini’s POV*
The night in our pack was peaceful, and I was exactly where I wanted to be—lying on Dorian’s chest as we talked about everything and nothing. His warmth, the steady rise and fall of his breathing, and the occasional sound of his heartbeat under my ear made me feel safe, comfortable.
His hand lazily traced small circles on my back as we lay there. “You know, I think I’ve finally mastered the art of doing absolutely nothing,” Dorian said with a playful smirk.
I chuckled, shifting slightly so I could look up at him. “You say that as if it’s something to be proud of.”
“It is,” he said, feigning seriousness. “Do you know how hard it is to just relax when you’re always expected to do something? This is a skill, Trini. An achievement.”
I rolled my eyes, laughing. “Fine, fine. You’re officially a master of laziness.”
He grinned. “Exactly.”
I shook my head, enjoying the playful banter. It wasn’t often that we got to just talk like this, without any responsibilities looming over us.
Dorian reached for his wine glass from the nightstand, took a sip, then set it back down. The glow of the fireplace in the room cast soft shadows around us, making everything feel even cozier.
A thought suddenly crossed my mind, and I found myself speaking before I could stop myself.
“Why don’t we go visit Luciano and Victor tomorrow?” I asked, tilting my head up to look at him.
Dorian raised an eyebrow. “Visit?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I mean, it’s been a while since we last saw them, and after everything with the business meeting, I think it’d be nice to check in.”
He seemed to consider it for a moment, his fingers still idly tracing along my back. “That’s not a bad idea.”
I smiled. “Then let’s do it.”
Dorian smirked. “You just want to see Luciano again, don’t you?”
I gasped dramatically. “Excuse me?”
He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me closer. “I’m just messing with you.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re the worst.”
“The best,” he corrected, pressing a light kiss to my forehead.
I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, I closed my eyes, listening to the quiet crackling of the fireplace, feeling his warmth surrounding me.
Tomorrow, we’d go visit Luciano and Victor. But for now, I was content right where I was.