CHAPTER 206: LEAVING SILVER MOON (I)

Evaline:

The next week blurred by in snow-flecked mornings, packed halls, and more tests stacked like frosted cookies. Every afternoon felt like a sprint to Friday, and then suddenly the bell rang on the last class of the week... and with it, fifteen days of holiday freedom burst open like the academy gates themselves.

Almost all the students hurried out by Friday afternoon, not waiting for the official departure on Saturday. Instead of lingering by the oak benches to say goodbye, they dashed toward the Academy gates with their luggages.

My friends were no different. Most of them, especially Mallory and Ria, had their luggage packed the night before. Now, we all were gathered in our dorm’s common room to bid goodbyes to each other.

Ria was first to leave. She threw quick smiles and hugs before grabbing her suitcase. "Enjoy the break guys! And let’s stay in contact." And then she was gone.

Selene was the next to follow. She also gave us hugs and warm smiles. "Take care everyone and come back soon!" She then also grabbed her bag and exited the common room. Noah was right behind her once he too quickly bid us goodbyes.

With these three gone, only four of us were left in the dorm now - me, Mallory, Kyros, and Rowan. And no one was making any move to step out of the door next. They didn’t seem ready to disappear into their own holidays without me.

Mallory hovered like a bird on a wire, her voice soft but insistent, "Eva, you really should come home with me. My parents and my little siblings - they would adore having you. Christmas by the fireplace, snowball fights, home-cooked dinners..." Her eyes glowed with the dream of it.

I hesitated, the thought warming me, but... it didn’t feel right to spend the entire holiday at her place.

I gave her an apologetic look and she sighed. This wasn’t her first time trying to convince me to join her and her family for celebrations.

When she failed, Kyros chimed in to try his luck. "My pack will always welcome you. Come with me - light the holidays with firelight and family music. I would love your company."

Rowan was looking even more serious as he too shared his plan. "If you are staying for the holidays, at least let me stay with you in the dorm. You don’t have to be alone." His voice was quiet but determined.

They were spoiling me with offers, each more generous than the last. I pinched the corner of my sweater and breathed in the scent of pine-scented cleanliness. I was about to speak when a knock on the dorm door sliced through the softness.

Almost in unison, mine and Mallory’s head whipped toward the door, while Kyros moved to open it.

When the door opened, a figure stood in the threshold. His sweater’s hood was up, and his face was wrapped behind a scarf. We stared in confusion as they stepped inside.

"Who-?" Kyros began as he stood by the door, not sure whether to close it yet or not.

Surprisingly, it was Rowan who spoke first. "It’s alright. One of us."

My gaze darted from Rowan to that person when a familiar scent reached me. I found the stranger removing their scarf and when their face came into view, I found Draven standing there. His eyes found mine and a big smile immediately bloomed on his lips.

Mallory gasped. Kyros’ jaw dropped. But Rowan simply shrugged, looking calm as snow filtering through evergreen.

"You knew?" I hissed at him, my eyes wide from shock and confusion.

He shrugged again, lifting his eyebrows. "All I knew was that he’s coming here."

I turned my attention back to Draven and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Much to my mate’s credit, he looked unhappy. "What a cold way to greet your mate. Here, let me teach you the right way."

I watched in confusion as he stepped forward next, closing the distance between us, and pulled me into his arms. The next thing I knew, he was pressing a kiss to my cheek, long and deliberate. My heart stuttered while my friends glowed with shock and something close to amusement.

When he pulled back, he had a bright smile playing on his lips. He kept one of his arms wrapped around me as he turned to face my friends. "Sorry for my sudden appearance. If I have guessed it right, you all are worrying about leaving her behind alone at the Academy. You all don’t need to worry any longer about Eva’s holiday plans. She’s coming with me - to my family’s mansion. I want her Christmas."

He looked down at me as he spoke the last sentence. Though it was supposed to romantic, all I felt was shock.

This was nowhere in my plans - returning to the Rogue Alphas’ mansion and that too to spend my holidays there.

I wanted to question Draven but a light squeeze of his fingers on my waist stopped me. One look into his eyes and I understood. So instead, I turned my attention to my friends.

I saw Mallory’s lips parting like she wanted to ask something, but Draven raised a finger to hush her in a playful yet gentle action. "Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her. I promise."

This made my friend immediately nod her head in approval.

Rowan placed his hand on my arm softly, getting my attention. "If you need me - text, call, message. I’ll be there."

I nodded.

Kyros gave me a hug and a soft pat on my head. "Have fun with the Thornes. And don’t forget us."

Mallory’s hug lasted the longest as she had a lot to whisper in my ear. "Don’t let your mates make you forget about me, okay?" She squeezed me before stepping back with a teasing smile playing on her lips.

One by one, my friends melted out of the dorm in grins and waves. Their voices trailed faintly until silence took over.