Sold To The Alphas I Hate-Chapter 352: Note From Eira’s Boyfriend

Eira’s POV

Later, we headed toward our rooms. As usual, Kael stayed by my side without hesitation. The boundaries between us had vanished completely since the night we shared in his study. A passionate night, I had to admit.

It had become almost a routine. They preferred to kiss me goodnight before leaving. Not everyone, though. Rafe and Jason simply offered a customary goodnight instead.

Roman was gentle, while Lucian kissed me as if he did not want to let go. Thankfully, he eventually did.

Now that we were back in the room, it was Kael’s turn. I found myself wondering whether he truly did not mind that his two brothers had just kissed me moments earlier and he was going to kiss that same mouth.

From his actions, it did not seem like he minded at all. Kael’s kiss fell somewhere between Roman’s and Lucian’s. Gentle at the start, warm and steady like Roman, yet ending with a quiet intensity that reminded me of Lucian. Perfectly balanced.

"Good night," I murmured, catching my breath.

I truly needed sleep after wandering around the entire day. My baby needed rest too.

Kael gathered me into his arms and settled beside me, holding me close. His face rested against the back of my head as he inhaled my scent slowly, like it grounded him.

I knew this was his favorite way of sleeping, keeping me close, using me like his own comfort pillow.

The next morning, when I woke up and went downstairs, I greeted everyone as usual.

"Caldwell, there’s something for you," Rafe said, gesturing toward the center table.

A gift lay there.

"For me?" I asked, just to be sure.

"I think I said it loud and clear a moment ago, didn’t I?" the bastard replied with his usual sarcasm.

"Who is it from?" I asked.

"Not sure. It was just there," Rafe answered with a careless shrug. "Open it or throw it away. That flowery wrapping is hurting my eyes."

What was wrong with this bastard so early in the morning?

I rolled my eyes at him, took a seat, and began opening the gift. Beneath the flower printed wrapping sat a familiar box.

Not just any box.

My box.

My treasure box. The one I had searched for in my old room yesterday.

"This is mine... Who got it?" I asked, looking around at everyone. They were busy with their morning routines, acting as though nothing unusual had happened.

No one answered.

"What does it matter who got it," Rafe said again. "If it’s useful to you, keep it. If not, throw it away."

"What’s wrong with you, being this bitter so early in the morning?" I snapped, my voice rising. "Can’t I ask a simple question?"

"And can’t you see that no one is answering?" he countered coolly.

I glanced around once more. The others behaved as if they knew nothing. Kael was occupied with Raven, while the remaining three were busy in the kitchen.

Never mind.

First, I needed to check my belongings. I only hoped whoever retrieved it had not tampered with anything inside.

A small sticky note rested on the side of the box. It had a message.

[The box has never been opened.]

Oh. So he had the decency not to open it. Then why take it in the first place? It was not some priceless treasure.

It had not been in my old house, which meant someone had kept it for six years.

Annoyance bubbled inside me. What was wrong with them? Why not simply step forward and tell me who had brought it back? I would have thanked him sincerely.

At least those who had not brought the box could have said they didn’t bring it. That way I would have known exactly who did it.

Wait.

That was exactly why no one was answering. They were all protecting the one who had this box by staying silent, even if they didn’t know who among them had done it.

Damn them and their brotherhood. Too much for unspoken loyalty. I wished I could kick every one of them right now. Especially the one who was keeping this box, and had returned it this way.

"I wish the person had the decency to leave the key here as well," I muttered, loud enough for them to hear.

"Want my help?" Rafe asked casually.

"Do you have the key? Are you the one who brought this box?" I demanded. "Given how you used to sneak around my house, I wouldn’t be surprised."

"You are free to believe whatever you want," he replied lazily. "Now tell me, do you want to lock it again or keep it open?"

"It’s private," I said sharply. "I’m not putting my things on display."

"Well then..." He stepped forward and took the box from my hands.

"Hey..."

"Keep quiet," he warned lightly, pulling a hairpin from my hair. The next moment, the lock clicked open. He gave me a bored look and handed the box back.

I understood the meaning. If I had said I didn’t want to lock the box, he would have simply broken that tiny lock.

I did not thank him. I simply settled into my seat, my heart racing as I prepared to look into the pieces of my past.

Slowly, I opened the box.

Everything inside was exactly the way I had left it.

"What is this?" a voice came, and before I could react, a hand reached into my box and pulled something out.

"Rafe..." I shouted, startled.

Out of everything he could have chosen, he had to grab that.

The moon shaped pendant hung from a delicate chain, wrapped around a folded note.

My throat tightened. I still remembered every word written on that note, the message he had left for me before leaving my room that morning.

Before I could snatch it back, he had already read it aloud for everyone to hear.

"This was the best night I have ever lived through, because the girl I love was with me."

For a moment, it felt as if the ground shifted beneath my feet. Nervousness rushed through me, sharp and sudden. My gaze lifted toward him, only to find him already looking at me. I quickly looked away before anyone noticed.

"Give it back," I said, my voice rising as I grabbed it from his hand.

"You spent a night with your boyfriend? Weren’t you a minor?" Rafe asked bluntly. "And here you blame me for wandering below your window once in a while."

I felt completely caught off guard. Felt exposed all of a sudden.

I did not dare look at anyone. I did not want to know what they might be thinking.

"It’s not what you think," I said quickly, stuffing the pendant and the note back into the box in a hurry before turning away. "Don’t ever ask me about it again."

"Don’t worry. I won’t," he replied from behind me. "Must be a worthless bastard to spend a night with a minor. If I ever see him, I might kill him."

I did not look back as I climbed the stairs.

That so called worthless bastard was standing right there. But he had not been worthless back then. He was the most precious person to me.

I refused to look down on myself or treat those memories as something dirty.

At that time, it had been the best thing that happened to me, and I would leave it where it belonged, as a part of my past when I was truly happy.

Kill him? No, you would not. And I would never allow it.

Because it happened with my consent. Because it made me feel loved in a way I had never known before.

I loved him.

And I never regretted those moments, even if there was a time I hated him.