Chapter 337

Evaline:
My breath came out in little clouds as I pulled the shawl tighter around me, my fingers clutching at the soft wool as though it could chase away the stubborn bite of evening air.
April had arrived with her promises of spring, and yet the chill lingered… like the shadow of winter reluctant to leave. At least the snow had stopped. For nearly two weeks now, the sun had dared to stay longer in the sky, its warmth fighting against the stubborn patches of ice that clung to the grounds of the estate.
I let my gaze wander across the expanse of the gardens that were once buried in white, but were now showing hints of green peeking through the melting slush.
The air smelled damp, tinged with the earthy freshness of thawing soil. Soon, flowers would bloom here again. Soon, there would be color everywhere instead of this endless gray and white.
My shawl slipped from one shoulder as I turned toward the mansion, deciding it was time to cut my walk short. A sigh escaped me, heavy and full of something I couldn’t quite name… loneliness, perhaps.
The weekdays were the hardest. Oscar and Draven were tied up at the Academy, while River was still at work, and I was left wandering this vast place with only the servants for company. They were kind and respectful now, of course, but it wasn’t the same.
I missed my mates.
By the time I reached the living room, the warmth of the house embraced me, but it didn’t reach the cold spot in my chest. I eased myself onto one of the couches, my back grateful for the support. My hands moved instinctively to my bump, my fingers caressing the firm roundness beneath the soft fabric of my dress.
Ten more days. Just ten.
The thought sent a thrill of nervous excitement racing through me. My baby. Our baby. It was almost surreal to think I had made it here, so close to the end of the journey.
I still remembered the day I first confirmed the doubt of my pregnancy, still remembered the mix of fear and joy and disbelief that had tangled inside me. Now months had passed in the blink of an eye. Every kick, every flutter, every change in my body… it all led to this moment. And very soon, I would hold my child in my arms.
I smiled softly, lost in my daydreams, when the sharp trill of my phone pulled me back. Reaching for it, I felt my lips curl into a wider smile when I saw Mallory’s name flash across the screen.
“Hey,” I greeted, only for her loud, comical wail to make me flinch and laugh at the same time.
“Evaaa, help me!” Mallory cried between sniffs, and I could practically imagine her pouting face scrunched up with mock misery.
“What happened?” I asked, chuckling despite myself.
“It’s Professor Kieran!” she groaned dramatically. “He tortured us with Herbs and Potions for half the day. Half the day, Eva! Who does that? My brain is fried, my notes look like chicken scratch, and I swear my hands will never recover from writing so much.”
The moment I heard her mention Kieran, my breath hitched.
But then her tone shifted slightly… softer, uncertain. “And… I don’t know. He’s… different. Ever since he came back from Midnight Wolf Academy last weekend, he’s not the same. He’s colder. Sharper. Like he left his heart behind there. It’s… it’s like he’s heartbroken.”
I stilled at her last word, gripping the phone tighter.
Heartbroken.
My chest tightened. I had known Kieran had returned as the brothers mentioned it during the weekend. But he hadn’t once come by the mansion. Not even for just an hour.
He was avoiding this place… avoiding me. And as much as I wanted to deny it, a part of me knew why.
The guilt sank deeper, sharp and relentless.
What made it worse was that I could feel my mates’ worry for their brother. They too had noticed the change in him – his absence, his distance – and though none of them said it outright, I could feel their confusion, their unspoken hurt.
And here was Mallory, unknowingly twisting the knife with her innocent observation.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat, forcing a calm tone. “Maybe he’s just… not feeling well. You know how he is. He’ll come around soon, I’m sure.”
Mallory sniffed but didn’t sound convinced. “I hope so. It’s weird. He used to be so… warm. Now he’s just… ice.” She sighed. “Anyway, I’ll let you rest. I just wanted to let out some of my grief. Early good night?”
“Early good night,” I echoed, trying to sound brighter than I was feeling.
When the call ended, the silence pressed in on me again, heavier this time. My chest ached, my emotions knotted together in ways I didn’t want to untangle. Kieran’s absence was a shadow I couldn’t ignore. Not anymore.
I pushed myself up from the couch, deciding I would better head upstairs before I drowned in thoughts I couldn’t fix. My body felt weary, the day pressing down on me, but I told myself a warm bath and some rest would help.
Unfortunately… I never made it that far.
I had just reached the staircase, my hand brushing along the polished wood of the banister, when the world tilted.
A wave of dizziness slammed into me so hard I couldn’t even gasp. The floor beneath me spun, blurring into a swirl of colors and shadows. My knees buckled, and I felt my body pitching forward before I could find balance.
There was no time to scream, no time to cry for help, but my mind still sent one desperate signal. The rıghtful source is (.)net
My arms wrapped tightly around my bump, cradling it even as the steps rushed up toward my face. The only thought in my mind, the only prayer, was that my baby stayed safe.
And then… I was falling.