Evaline:
Sleep had completely abandoned me.
I turned onto my side, then onto my back, or kept staring at the cracked ceiling of the chamber. The thin blanket was barely providing any warmth, but that's not what was keeping me up.
My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, filled with questions that had no answers. The Moon Goddess was finally presenting me with a chance, a real chance to change my miserable fate. And yet, I had no idea how I was supposed to do it.
I kept wondering about Silver Moon Academy.
Where was it located? Was it somewhere nearby, hidden deep within these mountains? Or was it in an entirely different place, far beyond my reach?
And even if I could find out where it was, how was I going to get an entrance form?
Could the Alphas have the forms in their rooms or the study? Should I try to sneak in and search for the form?
But even if I could find one, how in the world was I going to submit it when I couldn't step out of the mansion?
The endless questions were suffocating me. The opportunity was right in front of me, but I had no way to seize it.
Frustration coiled in my chest. I needed air.
With careful movements, I slipped out of bed and placed the pillow under the blanket to make it look like I was still sleeping there. Then, I padded silently to the door, making sure to not wake up the five other women who were fast asleep across the chamber.
Coincidentally, the back door of the chamber was right next to my cot, and it opened straight into the hallway leading to the side gardens.
After two weeks of living and working in this mansion, I had memorized the guards' rotations, just in case I ever found a chance to run. That knowledge came in handy now as I navigated the halls, avoiding the patrols with ease.
The moment I stepped outside, the cool night air wrapped around me, sending a shiver down my spine. I inhaled deeply, trying to steady my thoughts.
But the questions wouldn't stop.
Was I about to lose my only chance at freedom?
I walked toward the side garden, wrapping my arms around myself as if that could keep my mind from spiraling further. The moon was full tonight, casting a silver glow over the mansion's stone walls and the wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice the approaching figure until it was too late.
I collided with something solid.
A guard?
Panic shot through me as I stumbled back. My heart was slamming into my ribs as I braced for the worst. But when I lifted my gaze, my breath hitched for an entirely different reason.
The man standing in front of me was no guard, but Alpha Kieran.
He stood before me, tall and broad-shouldered, his striking features illuminated by the moonlight. His hair was pulled back in a manbun with lots of loose strands framing his face, and his usually sharp eyes appeared hazy.
He seemed... drunk.
As I allowed myself to inhale deeply as my lungs were protesting for oxygen, his scent wrapped around me. It was cedarwood mixed with a hint of spiced vanilla. It was oddly grounding, rich and steady like the warmth of a cabin in the middle of winter.
My stomach twisted as a strange heat spread through me. It was same with all four of them. Their presence was impossible to ignore.
But Kieran…
There was something different about him tonight.
His usual warmth, the quiet gentleness that set him apart from his brothers, was buried beneath something else. A sadness, maybe. A weight I didn't understand.
His eyes focused on me, and though his movements weren't as fluid as usual, he was still sharp enough to recognize me.
The moment he did, his expression changed. And for a second, he looked intrigued, or maybe amused. His lips twitched as if he was suppressing a smile.
I, on the other hand, was struggling to breathe. I needed an excuse, to find a reason for why I was sneaking around the garden in the middle of the night.
But my tongue refused to cooperate. I opened my mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. But nothing came out, not a single word.
This only made his amusement to deepen. His lips curved into a slow, lazy smile, and for some reason, the sight of it sent another wave of warmth through me.
I hadn't seen him ever since our first encounter in the side hall. And as I stood this close to him, I realized just how breathtaking he looked.
I hated myself for thinking it. I was supposed to despise them because of what they had done to me, and were still doing to me. But the Moon Goddess was cruel. She had made them irresistible.
And I couldn't help but notice it.
Before I could find a way to save myself from the awkwardness, he suddenly tilted his head and asked, "Do you know how to cook?"
I blinked, completely taken aback by his question that came out of nowhere.
"Uh…" I cleared my throat, trying to find my voice that had refused to cooperate. "Yes?"
The moment the answer left my lips, he moved.
I barely had time to react before his fingers wrapped around my wrist and he started pulling me in the direction of the kitchen.
"I'm hungry," he announced as if that explained everything. "Make me something."
I stumbled after him, too stunned to protest. "Wait... what?"
"I said, I'm hungry." He glanced over his shoulder, flashing me a lazy smile. "And you owe me a meal."
"Owe you?" I huffed, trying to keep up. "For what?"
"For sneaking around."
I stared at him in disbelief. "That doesn't even make sense."
But he ignored me, leading me straight to the kitchen like it was the most natural thing in the world.