Either way, Kael decided not to interrupt whatever weird thing his friend was up to.
With a quiet sigh, he turned away and picked up his pace, quickly catching up to Alaric. They walked together deeper into the heart of the village, where the stone-paved path led to the larger buildings reserved for meetings and official gatherings.
The town hall wasn't far now.
Just then, Kael's gaze shifted—and there she was. Aren's mother.
She looked slightly flustered, her head darting from side to side as if scanning the area for something.
Kael held back a chuckle.
Poor aunty, she must be searching for Aren, he thought with amusement.
He kept walking alongside Alaric, but it didn't take long before Tanya noticed them. Her face lit up with relief and she quickly made her way toward them.
"Alaric, you're here!" she said, her voice tinged with both familiarity and urgency. Then her eyes landed on Kael. "Kael, have you seen Aren? That rascal was just with me a moment ago—and then poof! He disappeared!"
Alaric laughed heartily. "Tanya, your boy's always causing trouble. Just like you used to."
Kael put on a convincing look of concern and glanced around briefly. "No, Aunty, I haven't seen him," he said, masking the truth behind a polite smile.
Tanya sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "That boy... Well, I'm sure he'll show up when he's hungry."
With that, the three began walking toward the town hall together. Alaric and Tanya engaged in conversation—talking, laughing, and reminiscing like old friends. Kael stayed a few steps behind them, giving them space.
They seem really close, Kael thought, watching their chemistry.
He recalled a conversation from long ago—something his father once said about how Tanya, Lyra, Alaric, the village head's son, and Aren's father were all part of the same group when they were younger. Adventurers, maybe. Or simply mischief-makers.
No wonder they're all still connected.
Kael smiled to himself, then glanced once more toward the shop Aren had been sneaking around. Whatever you're up to, buddy... just don't get caught.
As Kael followed slightly behind Alaric and Tanya, his eyes were drawn—almost involuntarily—to her figure.
He had always known she was beautiful, but now… now he saw her through awakened eyes. With lust energy coursing through him, every curve, every movement struck deeper. His senses were sharpened, his hunger awakened, and Tanya stood at the center of it like a sin daring him to touch.
Her long, brown hair fell in soft waves that curled near the ends, swaying seductively with each step. But it wasn't the hair that held his focus—it was her body. That tight little dress hugged her figure alluringly, and Kael's gaze roamed greedily over it.
Her ass moved with a hypnotic rhythm, the sway tantalizing enough to make his fingers twitch. And her boobs… fuck. The high neckline still couldn't hide the way her breasts rose with every breath, soft and perfectly shaped, begging for attention no matter how modest she tried to appear.
She wasn't some flirty girl with giggles.
She was a woman. Mature. Sensual. Her green eyes shimmered with confidence, carrying the weight of motherhood, yes—but also the raw, untamed magnetism of someone who knew exactly what her body could do to a man.
If not for his own mother, Lyra—who remained, without question, the most dangerously beautiful woman he had ever known—Tanya might have stolen that title then and there.
She's... fucking hot. Like—unfairly hot. Especially for a mom.
Kael swallowed hard, heat rising up his neck as his pants grew just a bit tighter. His thoughts were slipping in a forbidden fantasy.
No. Get a grip.She's Aren's mother. Off-limits. Family… kind of.
But his cock didn't care about family ties. It throbbed with every sway of her hips, every jiggle of her tits beneath the fabric. Her melodic laugh floated back to him like a tease, and he had to shove his hands deep into his pockets to resist the urge to adjust himself.
Goddamn…
Kael wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what was happening.
It was the path he had chosen.
The path of lust—and now, every beautiful woman was more than a glance. They were temptation. They were power. They were prey.