The office of the Commandant of Gravemont was exactly as one remembered.

Dark oak walls, with towering shelves filled with records and ancient texts. Multiple trophies sat in one corner of the rooms, and weapons were mounted across stone pillars from forgotten wars.

The massive windows behind the desk overlooked the academy grounds where hundreds of male wolves trained below like soldiers preparing for war.

Even from this height, the sound of combat echoed upward, and the stench of blood filled the air.

Gravemont resumed one week ago.

And already, students were bleeding.

As expected.

Commandant Draegor sat behind his desk, scanning through several files while the atmosphere in the room remained tense

Opposite him stood Sylas Veylor

Or rather, Zevon Pendragon.

Though within Gravemont, no one dared call him that openly. To them, Zevon was more a myth than a man.

Seeing another man’s face wearing Sylas Veylor’s had been difficult to take in. The world now knew the truth about everything, and they weren’t being peaceful about it.

Sylas stood near the large window with one hand tucked into his pocket while the other lazily flipped through a document Draegor had handed him earlier.

His expression remained calm as always, and unreadable.

But unfortunately these days, there were subtle hunts in his body language that gave him away.

The distant look in his eyes, and the slight tension in his shoulders.

Theo.

It had to be her. She was the only person that could shake up a man like him with just a thought of her.

"She’s not coming back on her own," Draegor finally said casually while signing another document.

Zevon’s gaze remained on the papers in his hand, "I’m not talking about that, with you,"

"Then who are you gonna talk about it to? You got someone?"

Sylas almost frowned.

"You think about her every five seconds."

"I think about many things."

"Mm." Draegor murmured.

Zevon slowly lifted his eyes toward him, and Draegor leaned back in his chair, "It’s not in my place to say anything, but seeing the most formidable man I’ve ever known look like a lost kitten all day just seems... weird and uncomfortable so I’m gonna say this. You should have dragged her back months ago. Staying away from one’s mate for this long when she’s not dead...i don’t know how you even do it,"

There was silence for a while, then Sylas replied, "She needed space. She needed someone who was willing to give her that, and I and Zeke were not the answer at that moment,"

"She lost her memories, not her identity."

"That is exactly why she needed space."

Draegor scoffed quietly, "You’re more patient than I would have been. Six months!" Draegor shook his head, "One day without my mate and the world would be burning by now,"

Zevon didn’t reply.

Of all the patience he thought he had in this world — the patience of building himself over his years, planning his revenge against his father, the patience of watching his brother at Gravemont and not being able to tell him who he was, the patience of watching the world crumble, and still not being powerful enough to go up against the evil, and the patience it took...to finally become that evil that crushed another evil.

Patience was one of his best weapons - that was what he always thought.

And now, that patience had wrapped around his neck and he was on the verge of death. Because everyday that he had gone without seeing Theodora, every second, every millisecond that passed tested his patience in ways he never thought possible.

Sylas knew where she lived.

If he closed his eyes, he could picture her with Ava. Sometimes he would have to curl his toes so hard till he heard the bones start to crack, just to keep himself from running straight to her.

Every instinct inside him wanted to go to her, and to remind her who she was to him.

But Theo’s soul had only just rebuilt itself after everything she went through, and pushing too hard could destroy her again. No matter how badly his heart longed for her, her health and peace would always remain his top priority and if staying away for now guaranteed that, then he would do just that no matter the cost.

So he endured it.

Barely.

Draegor tossed another file toward him, "The graduating second years will begin combat evaluations next month," He said instead, shifting back to business, "Half of them are nowhere near ready,"

"They do not need comfort," Zevon replied calmly as he scanned the document, "They need pressure."

"Spoken like a true tyrant."

"We pressure them even more, and if they die within these walls, then they were never meant to last a second outside these walls,"

Draegor sighed deeply, and glanced outside the window at the tall fence surrounding the school. Gravemont remained a neutral ground to all the territories, and the school had been rebuilt from its foundation after that explosion. With the better stronghold, it could withstand anything.

Plus with the security level, nothing could get inside the school.

"You banned noble privileges inside the academy." Draegor stated.

"And?"

"That tends to upset the rich Alphas."

Zevon finally looked mildly amused, "I do not care."

Before Draegor could respond, the office doors slammed open violently and Zeke stormed inside. He was wearing his black robes, looking even more furious than yesterday.

His red eyes were practically glowing, and he slammed both fists on the commandant’s desk, "Tell me why," He started immediately, pointing aggressively at Zevon, "You moved me to the Northern dormitories,"

Draegor sighed instantly.

Zeke ignored him completely, and continued to glare at Sylas.

"You broke three students’ ribs yesterday." Sylas replied, "And you twisted their spines. They would have been dead if not thanks to the doctors at the clinic and their regenerative abilities,"

"They insulted me,"

"You threw one of them out a window, and into the school’s fence. As for the second one, you threw him through five walls, destroying school property,"

"Hezekiah," Draegor spoke, his voice commanding, "You—"

"I’m talking to my brother," Zeke snapped sharply, glaring at Draegor, "So shut up."

Draegor slowly leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. Was there really a way to control someone devil-possessed? The way Zeke’s eyes glowed alone brought everyone chills.

"Apologise." Sylas said to Zeke.

Zeke looked offended and one eye twitched, "No. Who gave him the audacity to call my name?"

"Zeke."

"He started talking."

"You entered his office."

"And?"

Draegor muttered something under his breath about feral children.

"And why the hell am I banned from underground fight nights now? You implemented that when this school started to run again, and after a week, I’m not allowed anymore?!"

"Underground fights are specifically for the second years. And although we want you guys to tear each other apart as part of your extracurricular activities, we don’t want you beating a student so bad that you scare the rest away. You let your demonic side show too much! If we let you keep going berserk, we might end up with only one graduating student,"

"If they do not want to see the devil inside of me, they should stay out of my way. Plus, Derek made a snarky comment about Theo. I’m glad I shoved all his teeth back into him gum!"

"Snarky... comment?" Sylas gently grounded his teeth together, "About...Theo?" An eye twitched.

"No...no!" Draegor exclaimed, panic filling his eyes, "I’m sure Derek didn’t mean it. I cannot handle two demon wolves being angry in my office! Sylas, Calm your nerves!"

"I am calm," Sylas growled.

"No, you’re not,"

"Derek Winston. Alpha Winston’s second son. From the South. He is—"

That was it. Draegor pushed himself to his feet, "Kids are stupid these days. Come on, don’t do anything rash,"

"I’m perfectly calm,"

"You’re not!"

A loud bell echoed throughout the academy grounds outside, announcing that it was time for the morning assembly.

"Perfect timing," Draegor muttered dryly.

"I hate assemblies." Zeke groaned dramatically.

"Yes," Draegor replied. "Because they require silence, and calm!"

Zeke looked ready to insult him again.

Sylas was quiet. He was still boiling on the inside and muttered Derek’s name again.

Then suddenly, the office doors burst open again. This time, it flew open even harder than the time Zeke walked in.

All three men turned instantly.

And froze.

A figure stumbled into the room, holding a bottle of wine with the thick stench of silver bloom coming from the bottle.

Slim build. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Black cargo pants.

Dark oversized hoodie, and combat boots.

A boy.

That was the very first impression at first glance.

He had messy dark hair partially hidden beneath a cap, and his head was lowered slightly with one hand gripping the doorframe for balance.

And absolutely drunk out of their mind.

"...Oh no," The small figure muttered weakly, "This is definitely not the bathroom."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Theo blinked slowly and lifted her head properly for the first time, and the world seemed to stop.

Zeke forgot how to breathe.

Sylas’s heartbeat slammed violently against his ribs for the first time in months.

Mate.

Their mate.

Standing right there.

After six months.

Although she looked different with the black hair, a little taller than they remembered, and she even had green eyes and not amber. Even her facial structure looked different than the one she had on in her male form.

But they still recognised her instantly.

Their wolves reacted instantly, and the room practically vibrated with the force of it. Zeke’s eyes burned brighter red immediately, while Sylas’s shadows stirred violently beneath his feet.

Theo blinked drunkenly at the three men staring at her like she had descended from heaven itself.

"...Why are there so many tall people in here? I was told there would only be one," She said.

Nobody answered.

Nobody could.

Zeke’s chest physically hurt.

He had imagined this moment every single day for six months.

Every day, and every night.

And now she was suddenly here standing in front of him wearing a stupid oversized hoodie and smelling like alcohol.

He wanted to cross the room. They both wanted to cross the room, and grab her. They wanted to kiss her until neither of them could breathe, and bury their faces in her neck just to make sure she was real.

Their wolf was going insane inside them.

Mine.

Mine.

Mine.

Despite the intense drunkenness, her soul recognized them instantly. There was a slight pause in her breathing, and confusion crossed her face. There was also this unconscious way she took one small step closer instead of away.

Theo squinted at them, "...Do I know you?" Then she frowned "...Wait," Her brows pulled together, "Why do you both look like you’re about to cry?"

Zeke let out an actual broken laugh.

Draegor silently stood there watching the entire situation unfold like witnessing the beginning of a natural disaster.

Theo looked between all three men again, then pointed weakly at Zevon, "You,"

Zevon’s felt his heart skip ten times.

"You’re very pretty." She smiled.

Zeke almost lost his mind, and Draegor immediately turned away to hide his reaction.

Zevon’s shadows exploded across the floor briefly before retracting instantly.

Theo then pointed at Zeke, "And you look violent, I’m going to stay away from both of you. You’re too pretty and too dangerous, both of you," She started leaving the room, "I have to get to the commandant’s off—" Her head snapped up at the door, where it was clearly written that it was Commandant Draegor’s office.

"Oh!" She blinked, then staggered into the room, "Kinda feels like I’ve done this before," She added with a snicker, before taking a huge gulp of the wine again "This is really gooood!" She moaned, then stared at the three men again, "So, What did Ava say I was supposed to do again?"

"...Theo," Zeke finally managed hoarsely.

The way he said her name made something flicker across her expression, and then she shook her head, "No! I’m not Theo. I’m Thadeus...," She paused and muttered under her breath, "Thaddeus said not to use his identity this time...,"

They could all hear her.

"My name is Thomas...uhhh, Thomas...uhhh, what is my surname again? Whatever. I’m from the North and I’m just resuming! Remember one of the first years students that died from the explosion? I’m pretending to be him. Ava said it wasn’t a good idea, but who cares, right?"

Drunk Theo. Rambling Theo.

She was back.

And how the hell did she get her hands on Silverbloom wine?!

Just then, Theo pointed at Sylas and said, "Have we kissed before?"

Draegor choked violently.

Zeke looked moments away from combusting alive.

And Zevon actually smiled this time.

Dangerously soft.

Zeke finally moved. He stepped closer to her slowly and carefully like he was approaching something scared.

Theo watched him curiously as he stopped directly in front of her.

Close enough to touch.

Close enough to breathe her in properly.

His entire body shook slightly from restraint.

Theo looked up at him, "...Wow," She murmured softly.

Zeke’s voice came out rough, "What?"

Her drunken gaze moved slowly across his face, then sje grabbed both his cheeks and pulled with a silly grin, "Hehehe, you look so adorably sinful,"