Chapter 30 - C:32

As I finished my workout, stretching out my muscles and taking in the crisp morning air, I felt a set of eyes on me. Then, more than a few. I turned around to see my family gathering, each of them wearing sly, knowing smiles. The moment they spotted me—shirtless, sweat glistening on my skin, muscles taut from the exertion—there was no holding back. Their teasing began almost instantly, and I had no choice but to stand there and take it.

"Well, well, well," Aurora was the first to speak, walking up with her arms crossed over her chest, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Look at you, putting on a show so early in the morning. Trying to seduce someone, big brother?"

I smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Just working out. Not my fault if you all decide to stare."

Liora, standing beside Aurora, gave a playful hum, eyes dancing up and down my frame. "You're definitely giving us a lot to look at, that's for sure. Maybe you're trying to tempt one of us?"

"Oh, please," Elara chimed in, rolling her eyes but grinning. "With a body like that, he doesn't have to try. It's like he's asking for trouble, parading around half-naked with sweat dripping down that body."She licked her lips.

From behind them, Selene let out a soft laugh, her sharp eyes never leaving mine. "You do know you're in a house full of women, right? Exposing that delicious body might not be the safest idea. You never know what could happen."

I chuckled, wiping the sweat from my brow with a towel, but I couldn't deny the humor in their words. "Is that a warning or a promise?"

Elara tilted her head, her voice sweet but teasing. "Maybe both."

By now, even Rosalia had appeared, her lips curling into a smirk as she walked up to me. She took one look at me—tall, muscular, and radiating heat from the workout—and raised an eyebrow, her tone far too innocent for the glint in her eyes. "You know, darling, if you're going to tease us like this, it's only fair we get to touch."

Without waiting for my response, she reached out and playfully ran her fingers down my arm, feeling the hard, tense muscles beneath her touch. Her fingers lingered for a moment before pulling away, and she gave me a sly wink. "Smooth as always."

I grinned, catching her hand before she could pull it away completely. I leaned in, voice low and teasing. "And you know, Mom, all you had to do was ask."

"Oh, I think I'm getting more than I bargained for," she purred back, leaning into my side just enough to remind me she was there. "But who's complaining?"

The others giggled, each joining in with their playful remarks.

"I wonder how many sit-ups it takes to get abs like that?" Selene teased, circling around me, her eyes inspecting my form with exaggerated curiosity. "Should we all start a family workout session? Though, I'm not sure any of us could keep up."

Aurora laughed, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "Oh, I think we'd find some way to 'motivate' him. Maybe we'll just have to be his personal cheerleaders."

"And by cheerleaders, you mean sitting on the sidelines and ogling him, right?" Liora added with a grin.

Rosalia chuckled at that, shaking her head. "Oh no, I think we'd all be much more hands-on than that, wouldn't we darling ?"

I couldn't help but laugh along with them, though their teasing was relentless. "You know, I'm starting to think you all planned this."

Elara stepped forward with a smirk. "Planned? Us? Never."

Aurora grinned, crossing her arms. "But, I mean, we can't help but admire such hard work and dedication."

Hestia, who had quietly approached the group, finally spoke, her voice carrying that same teasing warmth as the others. "Perhaps we should all find an excuse to work out together next time. Although, with you around, I'm not sure any of us would be able to focus."

"Focus?" Eldara teased, appearing next to her with a smile that mirrored her sister's. "I think we'd be too distracted to even start."

Their words were playful, but there was no denying the lingering flirtation in the air. And though it was all in good fun, I could feel the heat rising in my own body, not just from the workout but from the way they were all so… close.

I smirked, wrapping the towel around my neck and leaning casually against the fencepost. "You're all welcome to join me for a workout next time, but don't say I didn't warn you if you can't keep up."

Liora raised an eyebrow, her smile wicked. "Oh, I think we'd all find a way to keep up. Besides, it's not our strength you should be worried about."

Rosalia's hand came to rest on my chest, her eyes filled with playful intensity. "No, I think it's more about how long you can last, darling."

I leaned in closer to her, whispering just loud enough for the others to hear. "You should know by now, Mom, I've got plenty of stamina ."

She laughed, withdrawing her hand, but the fire in her gaze told me the teasing wasn't over. "Is that so? We'll see about that when it's my turn ."

Aurora, watching our exchange, chimed in once more. "I think we'll have to start keeping track. Who knows, maybe we'll turn this into a competition. Best of luck, big brother."

I chuckled, shaking my head as the teasing continued. "If this is how you're all going to act every time I work out, maybe I should stop giving you a show."

"Oh, don't be like that," Elara said with a mock pout. "You know we love the view. Don't deprive us."

Eldara, leaning on Hestia's shoulder, grinned. "Besides, it's not like you're going to stop anytime soon. You love the attention."

I smirked, giving them a playful shrug. "Can't deny that."

They all burst into laughter, the flirtation and teasing settling into a comfortable, familiar rhythm. It was moments like this—surrounded by my family, their playful energy filling the air—that made everything feel so light. Despite the power and the responsibilities that came with it, these moments of lighthearted banter, where we could all just laugh and tease one another, grounded me in a way nothing else could.

As the laughter died down, Aurora finally stepped closer and playfully punched me on the arm. "Just don't start thinking you're too good for us, big brother. We'll always find a way to keep you in line."

I grinned down at her. "I'd like to see you try."

"Oh, we will," she said with a wink, turning on her heel and leading the others back toward the house. "We definitely will."

Watching them go, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. Teasing aside, I knew they all cared deeply for me. And though they'd never say it outright, they were proud of me, proud of how far I'd come. It was a bond that went beyond blood, something deeper, something unbreakable.

I took one last glance at my surroundings—the farm, the house, my family disappearing through the door—and smiled to myself. Another day, another round of playful teasing. But, truth be told, I wouldn't have it any other way.