CHAPTER 418: THE ANGRY TRIO (I)

Evaline:

The ride to Silver Moon felt shorter than it should have. Maybe it was because I spent most of it staring out the window, replaying memories of the past weeks over and over. The sound of the engine hummed softly beneath Draven’s steady driving, and for a long while, neither of us said a word.

When the car slowed, I blinked, realizing where we were. The familiar gates of the Academy came into view - tall, polished iron with the silver crest gleaming faintly under the evening sun. My heart squeezed painfully.

We were already here.

The car stopped just before the guards, and that simple sound - the faint click of the gear - tugged me back into reality. I swallowed hard, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach even though Lioren wasn’t there anymore.

Just the thought of my son made my throat tighten. Barely two months. That’s all he had been in this world. How was I supposed to stay away from him even for a few days, let alone weeks?

The car door opened with a low creak, and a rush of warm wind brushed against my face. I looked up to find Draven standing there, his hand extended toward me, that small smile curving his lips... the one that made my chest ache every time.

"Come on, little moon," he said softly. "We are here."

I placed my hand in his and stepped out. The moment my boots touched the ground, I could feel the weight of the Academy’s silence pressing down on us. It was Sunday evening, and most students were still away, but the stationed warriors by the gate straightened the second they noticed who had arrived.

A Rogue Alpha’s car. And a girl stepping out of it.

Their eyes widened slightly, but no one dared to say a word. The air between them carried quiet respect... and fear. Even if they wanted to gossip, they wouldn’t. No one in their right mind crossed paths with any of the four brothers, let alone any girls they were with.

Draven rounded the car, popping open the trunk. I could feel the warriors’ eyes flicking between us, but he paid them no mind. He grabbed my suitcase and shoulder bag with one hand and then, to my absolute horror, reached for my hand with the other.

"Draven..." I whispered, my cheeks burning. "You don’t have to-"

He glanced at me, eyes soft but firm. "I know I don’t have to," he said, lacing his fingers through mine. "But I want to."

My heart did a foolish little flip, and before I could protest again, he gave my hand a gentle squeeze and began walking toward the gate. The guards stepped aside without a word, bowing slightly as we passed.

I kept my chin up, pretending I didn’t notice the way one of them whispered something into his comm - no doubt alerting the entire gate security that one of the infamous Rogue alphas had just walked in holding a student’s hand.

We stepped through the archway into the courtyard. The air smelled faintly of pine and the recent rain, and the golden evening light scattered through the trees. Two third-year students walked past us on their way to the gate, chatting animatedly... until they noticed Draven.

Their words died instantly. Their gazes flicked to our joined hands, then back to my face.

I could already imagine how the whispers would spread by dinner - Did you hear? The rogue girl from Year One walked in holding hands with one of the Rogue alphas.

I wanted to sigh. A long, tired sigh. But I stopped myself. The last thing I wanted was for Draven to think I was embarrassed to be seen with him. Because I wasn’t. Not anymore.

I straightened my shoulders and kept walking. If people were going to talk, let them. I had spent too long hiding, too long trying to stay invisible in a world that always found a reason to stare anyway.

By the time we reached the dorm building, the sky was painted in hues of amber and rose. Draven pressed the elevator button and waited, still holding my hand, still looking impossibly calm despite the curious glances we had picked up along the way.

When the elevator arrived, we stepped inside. The mirrored walls reflected our joined hands, our quiet closeness, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.

"You are thinking too much," he murmured suddenly.

I blinked, turning toward him. "Am I that easy to read?"

"Only for me." His lips curved faintly. "You’ll be fine, Eva. And you know where to call if you are not."

The elevator dinged before I could reply. The doors slid open to the familiar corridor lined with identical doors and faintly glowing runes. My heart began to pound harder with every step toward my dorm.

It felt strange - coming back after three and a half months. The last time I had been here, everything had been different. I wasn’t a mother. I wasn’t marked. I wasn’t... me.

Now I was all of those things, and I wasn’t sure how the others would take it.

We stopped in front of the dorm. I swiped my card, and the door unlocked with a soft click.

The second I stepped inside, I froze.

Six people were waiting.

Ria, Mallory, Rowan, Noah, Selene, and Kyros. They all turned toward me at once.

And three of them in particular - Ria, Noah, and Selene - looked like I had just walked in covered in blood.

Selene’s mouth fell open. "Oh. My. Goddess."

I gave a small, awkward wave, my voice barely above a whisper. "Hi?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Then Selene’s eyes narrowed, her voice slicing through the air. "Where have you been, Eva?"

I blinked. "I-"

"You disappeared for three and a half months!" she cut in, stepping closer. "No calls, no messages, nothing! Do you have any idea what we thought?"

Ria folded her arms, her expression equally sharp. "You can’t just vanish and then waltz back in like nothing happened."

Noah didn’t say anything, but his gaze was cool... too controlled, like he was trying not to show how disappointed he really was.

Behind them, Mallory, Rowan, and Kyros exchanged uneasy glances. The air in the room was thick with tension.

And the very next second, Selene crossed her arms and said sharply, "Start talking, Evaline. Now."