<h4>Chapter 216: Tempting Her Mate</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    It was already my third night at the Thorne mansion. A full three days had passed since I stepped back into this ce that once felt like a gilded cage. And now... it was beginning to feel like something else entirely. Warm, weing, and strangely, a ce where I was able to fall asleep peacefully.


    Time was moving quicker than I thought it would. The dread I had anticipated on my first day never arrived, instead, it was reced by a slow, gentle rhythm of routine and moments that made me smile.


    I had expected to feel awkward here, guarded. But I wasn’t. And most of the credit went to my mates... and to Kieran and Lily.


    Oscar and Draven had mastered the art of sneaking around like lovesick teenagers - brushing their fingers against mine in the hallway when no one was watching, catching my hand just before I disappeared behind a door, leaning in for a quick, forbidden kiss in the privacy of my room when they dropped by "without Kieran" right before I went to sleep.


    Each kiss was different. Oscar’s were slow and lingering, like he wanted to memorize every second. Draven’s? Fast, heated, leaving my heart racing long after he pulled away. It was thrilling. Fun. New.


    And then there was Lily.


    Sweet, thoughtful Lily, with her messy curls and that infectious giggle. Earlier in the evening, she spent nearly two hours with me. She had been waiting for me the moment I returned from the Council headquarters an hour early.


    As soon as I stepped inside the mansion, she came barreling toward me like a little whirlwind and dragged me to the couches. We shared snacks and warm chocte milk, and I helped her with her homework - mostly a colorful mess of crayon and glitter.


    And then the board game began.


    We yed four rounds. And I lost all four.


    The little devil celebrated every win like it was a national holiday. I wasughing so much my cheeks started hurting. I didn’t realize how much I missed this kind of joy... how much I missed living.


    When Jasper and River arrived back at the mansion, Lily reluctantly ended our fun. River didn’t say a word, as usual, but his gaze lingered on me longer than I wasfortable with. I wasn’t sure if it was judgment, confusion, or just observation... but he watched. Quietly. Carefully. Then, Jasper thanked me for spending time with Lily and mentioned it was gettingte.


    River tried to convince Jasper to stay for dinner, buttter’s eyes flicked between me and his Alpha before he declined. "I have ns."


    One look into his eyes and I knew what kind of n he might be talking about.


    The moment I got back to my room, I flopped onto the bed and fished out my phone with a wicked grin. I tapped on Mallory’s contact and hit "call."


    She picked up on the second ring.


    "Well, well, well, look who decided to call me back," she teased.


    "You are going on a date with Jasper tonight, aren’t you?" I used, my tone yful and singsong.


    She groaned dramatically. "Are you spying on me now?"


    Iughed, "He came to pick up Lily just now. He left early and told River he had ns. I just knew it has to do something with you."


    "Okay, fine. Maybe I do have a date with my mate. But let’s talk about you, Eva, not me."


    "Me?"


    "You have been living under the same roof as your mates for three days now. Don’t try to tell me nothing has happened."


    "Nothing’s happened," I said, biting my lower lip even as my mind wandered to all the kisses and the touches and-


    Her gasp was loud enough to make me wince. "What?! Still?! Oh,e on! I expected better from Oscar and Draven. You have been in that big mansion, right in their very own territory, and not one of them has even tried to jump you yet?"


    "They have tried," I said,ughing. "Just... not all the way."


    She groaned again, muttering something about useless mates and wasted opportunities. We talked a bit longer before finally ending the call, her parting advice echoing in my ears - "Don’t overthink it. Let yourself be happy, Eva. You deserve it."


    Dinner was surprisingly peaceful. I didn’t talk much... only when one of the brothers made an effort to include me. Draven asked me about work once, but River shut him down with a stern reminder about the "no work talk at the table" rule. It was oddly charming... or perhaps just authoritative.


    Either way, I didn’t mind the silence.


    After dinner, I returned to my room and went straight for a hot shower. The warm water helped melt the tension from my muscles, and thevender shower gel I was growing fond oftely rxed me more than I expected. It was like washing away every bit of the day’s exhaustion.


    Wrapped in a thick robe, I stood in front of the mirror brushing my hair, already half-lost in thought, when the softest knock pulled me back.


    I didn’t have to ask who it was.


    My heart, or more like the mate bond, had already answered.


    Oscar.


    I padded across the room and opened the door, finding him standing there with that smile that always managed to melt my resolve. He slipped inside quickly, both of us grinning like teenagers sneaking around.


    "I’m starting to think you enjoy the risk," I teased, closing the door behind him and locking it.


    "I like the reward," he said, his voice low and smooth. "And anyway, I’m not worried about the servants catching me."


    "Maybe you should. You could get caught."


    "By the servants? No." He smirked. "They know better than toe near your wing at night."


    That made me pause. "Did you... do something?"


    Oscar shrugged, clearly unbothered. "Let’s just say... I have my ways."


    I narrowed my eyes. "So that’s why I haven’t seen anyone around here in days..."


    "They still clean your room," he pointed out, stepping closer. "They just do it when you are gone."


    He reached out and tucked a damp strand of hair behind my ear, fingers lingering against my cheek. The way he looked at me... like I was something fragile but precious... sent warmth spreading through my chest.


    "You smell likevender," he murmured, stepping even closer. "You always do after your showers."


    "Is that why you time your visits?"


    "No," he chuckled. "That’s just a bonus."


    Iughed softly, leaning into his touch. He pulled me closer until there was barely a whisper of space between us.


    Then, his lips brushed mine - soft at first, testing. Then firmer. Deeper. My hands found the fabric of his shirt, gripping lightly as he kissed me like he was tasting something he had missed for far too long.


    When we pulled apart, we were both breathing a little heavier.


    <fnc70c> The rightful source is f?ndnovel</fnc70c>


    "You make it very hard to leave," he said.


    "Then don’t," I whispered before I could stop myself.


    The words were soft, unsure... but real. And I didn’t regret speaking them out loud.


    He smiled again, this time slower, warmer. "Tempting," he said, resting his forehead against mine.