Evaline:
The mont I woke up, my body reacted before my mind could fully catch up.
Kyros.
The thought hit like a jolt, sharp and imdiate. I needed to check on him, needed to see him, needed to make sure he was truly alright.
I pushed myself up slightly, already ready to slip out of bed and rush downstairs when sothing made pause. I wasn’t alone.
My gaze shifted and stopped on the three n who were still asleep.
Oscar’s arm was loosely wrapped around my waist, his hold possessive even in sleep. Kieran lay close on my other side, one hand resting near mine as if he had fallen asleep trying to make sure I was still there. And River... he was just inches away beside Oscar, his presence quieter but no less grounding.
For a mont, I just... looked at them. And everything from last night ca rushing back - not just what had happened with Kyros, but what had happened after.
I hadn’t fully noticed it downstairs since my attention had been completely on Kyros, on saving him, on holding everything together. But the mont we had co here and I had finally allowed myself to feel...
It had hit .
The fear, worry, and helplessness my mates experienced flooded our bond and nearly knocked the breath out of .
I rembered how I had instinctively opened the bond between us wider, just to understand what they were feeling and instantly regretted it because it was too much.
Oscar’s tension had been sharp, restless, like his wolf hadn’t stopped pacing even after everything ended.
Kieran’s worry had been quieter but deeper, wrapped tightly around like he was still afraid I would slip away if he let go.
And River...
River had been the hardest to take in. Because his feelings were still controlled and restrained, but underneath it all, there had been sothing raw and fierce... sothing that made it very clear just how close he had been to losing his composure.
And it was all because of . Because I had stepped into sothing dangerous.
Again.
A soft breath left as I looked at them now.
Last night, none of us had been able to just lie down and sleep. Not after feeling all of that.
So I had held them, pressed soft kisses to their skin, whispered reassurances, ran my fingers through their hair - anything to soothe them, to calm the storm inside them.
I had spoken softly, over and over again, reminding them that I was here. That I was safe. That I wasn’t going anywhere.
And slowly...
I had felt the tension ease, the bonds settle, and their hearts calming down.
It had taken nearly an hour. But eventually, sowhere around six in the morning, all four of us had drifted into sleep together.
My gaze softened as I watched them now.
I carefully turned my head toward the wall clock, and even in the dim light of the room, my enhanced eyesight noticed it was just a few minutes past eleven.
So it wasn’t even noon yet, but I was already wide awake.
A faint smile touched my lips as I looked back at my n. A part of wanted to stay, to curl back into their warmth and sleep just a little longer.
But I also needed to check on Kyros, Rowan, and Lioren.
So, slowly, and very carefully, I began to move.
I lifted Oscar’s arm just enough to slip out from beneath it without waking him. Kieran shifted slightly when I moved, but didn’t wake, and River remained still, his breathing even.
I paused for a second and waited to make sure none of them stirred. And when they didn’t, I quietly climbed out of bed.
Before stepping away, I made sure to keep our bonds fully open so when they woke up and didn’t find beside them, they wouldn’t panic.
Only then did I turn and make my way out of the bedroom and went straight to my room first.
A quick hot shower helped wash away the lingering exhaustion. I dressed in sothing warm and comfortable as the cold outside was unmistakable even from within the walls of the mansion.
It was snowing again.
Once I was ready, I stepped out and made my way downstairs. And that’s when I heard the soft, familiar giggling of my son.
A warmth imdiately spread through my chest at the sound.
Two more familiar voices followed soon - Rowan and Kyros - and my heart skipped. I froze for just a second on the stairs, and then quickly hurried down.
When I arrived at the entrance of the dining hall, I found all three of them there.
Lioren sat happily, his tiny hands waving in the air as he babbled in his own little language. Rowan was trying to feed him an apple, and Kyros... he seed to be holding a strawberry.
For a second, I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Relief hit so hard it almost made my knees weak.
Madam Elira and Vanessa stood nearby, overseeing the al, while a few mbers of the kitchen staff moved around, serving food.
Everything felt so... normal... as if last night hadn’t nearly broken us.
Then... they noticed and everything paused.
The staff straightened slightly, offering warm smiles and respectful greetings. "Good morning, my lady."
Rowan looked up at and waved. "Morning."
And Lioren, the mont his eyes landed on , his entire face lit up. He started waving his tiny hands excitedly while little sounds spilled from his lips as he leaned forward, clearly demanding to be picked up.
My heart lted instantly.
But before I could even take a step toward him, Kyros was already on his feet. He crossed the room and pulled into a tight hug rely seconds later.
It was sudden, strong, almost desperate. And I didn’t hesitate even for a mont. I hugged him back just as tightly.
My arms wrapped around him, holding on like I needed to reassure myself he was really here.
Really okay.
"You are okay," I whispered, my voice soft but thick with emotion.
"I should be saying that," he replied, his voice just as quiet.
We stayed like that. Neither of us let go, neither of us willing to break the mont.
Until Rowan’s light but warm voice broke through. "Well, this is getting emotional."
I felt him step closer before he gently joined us with Lioren in his arms.
And just like that, it turned into a group hug.
I laughed softly, pulling back just enough to take my son into my arms. And the mont I held him, everything else faded.
Lioren imdiately grabbed onto , his tiny fingers curling into my clothes as he babbled happily.
"I missed you too," I murmured, pressing a kiss to his soft silver hair.
All the stress, all the fear, all the exhaustion from last night... it felt like it dissolved right there in that mont and in this warmth.
Kyros pulled back slightly, looking at with sothing that was a mix of relief, gratitude... and sothing else.
Sothing I knew ant trouble.
Before I could ask, he grabbed my hand. "Alright," he said, already dragging toward the table.
"You two," he added, pointing at and Rowan as he pulled out a chair, "have a lot to explain."
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