Time passed by slowly.

Theo ate some actual food for the first time in a while and gathered up his belongings.

Occasionally, he’d hear Lyra threatening Owen in another room, which was only met by his laughter.

Though it all felt very weird to him at first, the two genuinely seemed happy together.

’Who could’ve thought...’

Theo shook his head lightly, a slight smile on his face.

’That brute actually managed to find a girlfriend for himself.’

Only thirty minutes later, the group made their way downstairs together, each carrying a bag with their belongings.

Outside the hotel, a sleek black vehicle already waited for them by the entrance.

’’Look at that,’’ Owen grinned. ’’Now that’s a sweet car.’’

Click!

One of the back doors opened up.

Theo’s eyes widened slightly as a familiar figure stepped out.

Iris immediately made eye contact with him, very clearly furious. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

’’Oh,’’ Owen let out beside him.

Then he glanced over at Theo with a smug smile.

Pat! Pat!

’’Good luck buddy.’’

With that said, Owen quickly pulled Lyra after him to the other side of the car.

Theo’s eyelid twitched slightly.

’This guy...’

Meanwhile, Iris continued walking towards him.

Compared to before, the dark circles had lessened significantly, though it was very clear that she was still exhausted.

The moment she stopped in front of him, all Theo could do was awkwardly scratch his cheek.

’What did I even do?’ he couldn’t help but think.

For several seconds, neither of them said anything.

Then Iris glared into his eyes.

’’Why didn’t you tell me?’’ she asked, her voice low.

Theo froze in place, raising an eyebrow slightly.

’’Tell you... what exactly?’’

Iris’s expression became even colder.

’’You disappeared,’’ she said bluntly. ’’I sat by your side for three days and then you leave without even saying anything?!’’

Theo blinked several times.

Then realization slowly dawned upon him.

’Ah... right.’

For a moment, he genuinely didn’t know what to say.

’I’m such an asshole.’

While everything might’ve been hazy and all happening very quickly for him, for Iris, that wasn’t the case at all.

She’d cared for him for days, only for him to disappear after a short... talk and not even call her once.

Theo lowered his head slightly.

’’I’m sorry,’’ he said quietly.

For a moment, Iris just stared at him.

Then she let out a frustrated breath.

’’Do you have any idea how worried I was?’’ she asked. ’’You suddenly vanished right after waking up.’’

Theo clenched his jaw slightly.

Honestly... she had every right to be angry.

’I really handled that terribly,’ he thought bitterly.

Then Iris’ expression shifted slightly.

"...Where did you even go?" she finally asked.

Theo remained silent for a moment.

Memories flashed past his eyes of the day before.

For a moment, he genuinely didn’t know whether telling her or anyone else was the right thing.

Finally, he let out a quiet breath.

’’I went to visit someone’s family.’’

Iris raised an eyebrow, then her expression softened immediately.

Theo pressed his lips together before continuing.

’’I had to inform them about what happened,’’ he said, his voice low. ’’After that... I just went back to sleep.’’

Silence fell between them for a moment.

Then Iris’s lips slowly parted.

’’Oh...’’

Her expression grew saddened and apologetic immediately.

’’I’m sorry,’’ she said, lowering her head. ’’I didn’t think—’’

Theo looked up again, a small smile on his face.

’’No, it’s fine,’’ he said, raising his hand.

He gently patted her head before pulling his hand back again.

’’I should’ve at least informed you,’’ he continued, smiling. ’’Because this wasn’t fair at all.’’

For a moment, Iris just stood there.

Click!

A door opened again.

’’Hey!’’ Owen’s head poked out just above the car. ’’You two lovebirds getting in or what?!’’

As his head lowered again, his hands remained above the car while tapping his wrist like it had a watch on it.

Theo’s eyelid twitched immediately.

Meanwhile, Iris’s face flushed slightly red.

"Shut up!" she shouted back instantly.

Owen’s laughter echoed out of the car before slowly turning into yelps of pain.

’’Can you stop yelling for once!’’ Lyra’s voice echoed out quietly.

Finally, Theo couldn’t help but shake his head.

’’We should probably get in,’’ he said lightly. ’’Lest we actually miss our flight.’’

Iris immediately nodded.

With that, the two walked to the vehicle together.

The moment they stepped closer, the driver got out and opened the door for them respectfully.

Without wasting any more time, Theo and Iris climbed into the back area.

As the doors shut behind them, the sleek black vehicle slowly pulled away from the hotel and headed toward the airport.

Inside, Theo couldn’t help but stare at Lyra and Iris in confusion.

’’Hold on,’’ he said slowly. ’’Why are both of you heading with us?’’

From what he knew, only he and Owen went to Westridge... which was where their flight was taking them.

Owen’s face immediately lit up.

He raised a finger and opened his mouth wide.

But before he could utter a sound, Lyra shot him a sharp glance.

’’Keep it down,’’ she said through gritted teeth.

Owen swallowed hard and nodded slightly.

Then he turned to Theo with a simple smile, like nothing had happened.

’’Remember that surprise I told you about?’’ he asked, his voice quieter than usual. ’’This is it!’’

’’Lyra accepted Westridge’s invitation while Iris transferred there!’’

Theo raised an eyebrow.

’’The what now?’’

His gaze immediately shifted to Iris.

’’You transferred?’’

Iris nodded once, a sweet smile on her face.

’’Due to some... issues, the school won’t be taking any students for a long time.’’

Theo frowned slightly.

He clearly understood what issues she was referring to. It couldn’t be anything other than the beast tides.

Before he got pulled into sad memories again, a small smile appeared on his face.

’’So we’ll all be together now,’’ he said, nodding slowly. ’’Sounds good!’’

Owen leaned back, a massive grin appearing on his face.

’’Yes,’’ he said, raising a thumb. ’’And you don’t know how happy I am about that.’’

He paused for a moment.

’’I finally won’t be the only one going on your suicidal hunter missions!’’

The conversation inside the vehicle continued for a while longer as Owen loudly complained about the past.

Theo only smiled faintly as he leaned back in his seat and quietly listened to the voices around him.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the atmosphere no longer felt nearly as heavy as before.

Outside, the city slowly passed by through the tinted windows as the vehicle headed toward the airport.

And it didn’t take long before each of them found themselves inside a plane to New York.