{Elira}
~**^**~
The walk to the dining hall felt heavier tonight.
My mind was still tangled in the earlier promise of change — the new lessons, the hope of ESA. And then... Regina.
She just had to show up now, to unearth my nerves.
When I stepped into the dining hall, Alpha Cyprus and the brothers had just arrived, too.
I dipped my head and greeted them softly.
Alpha Cyprus answered with his usual calm warmth, but something in his gaze felt clouded, like a quiet storm behind kind eyes.
And the triplets… Lennon's brows were faintly furrowed; Rennon's calm felt strained, and Zenon… well, Zenon had never once looked happy since I came here.
We all took our seats. The empty chairs beside me felt like gaps that could swallow air — until footsteps and laughter spilt into the room.
I lifted my head just in time to see Luna Gwenith walk in, a soft smile on her lips. And beside her was Regina.
The laugh died on Regina's lips when our eyes met. My chest tightened.
