Chapter 51: Kieran’s greenhouse
Yuki felt a surge of unease the moment she realised they were heading to Kieran’s private quarters. Ever since her return to Ravencourt, she had barely spoken to him. Her thoughts twisted into a complicated mess. How exactly did one face a former crush, someone she probably still harboured lingering feelings for, when he clearly hated her and viewed her sister as the vixen who had destroyed his parents’ marriage? In his eyes, she must be nothing more than a supporting character in the villain’s story. The guilt sat heavy in her chest.
Olivine stepped into the elevator and turned, her brows furrowing slightly when she noticed Yuki still standing outside. "Aren’t you coming in?" she asked. "The doors will close soon."
Yuki forced a smile and stepped inside quickly. The elevator doors slid shut with a soft chime. "What are the chances of running into Kieran?" she asked as the elevator began its smooth ascent.
Olivine’s silver eyes widened in understanding. Everyone knew how Eloise had been targeting Yuki, so it was natural for her to want to avoid the brothers. But avoiding them entirely was nearly impossible when Alexander had made it no secret that he planned to adopt her. How can she avoid her brothers who lived under the same roof as her?
"Relax," Olivine said, offering a reassuring smile. "He will not be there. They are currently busy welcoming guests, and if they have any free time at all, they will probably be comforting their sweet Eloise before her first shift tonight."
Yuki almost laughed at the obvious sarcasm dripping from Olivine’s tone. Sweet and Eloise in the same sentence was diabolical.
"Why does it sound like you do not like Eloise?" she teased lightly.
Olivine’s face went pale for a second. "How dare I have thoughts of that nature towards the future Luna?" she gasped dramatically, then leaned in and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "But between us, Yuki, you can afford to offend the triplets and they might forgive you. Offend Eloise? Do not even think about it." A chill ran down Yuki’s spine.
As soon as she finished speaking, the elevator doors slid open onto a long, elegant corridor. Tall windows framed by expensive curtains sewn with delicate gold threads lined one side, offering a clear view of the busy front entrance below where dignitaries continued to arrive. Sunlight streamed through, casting warm golden patterns across the polished obsidian floors.
Olivine led the way confidently until they reached a set of grand double doors. Strangely, there were no guards visible outside, yet Yuki could sense this was still one of the most heavily secured places in all of Ravencourt.
The door swung open, and they stepped into a breathtaking greenhouse. Warm, humid air wrapped around Yuki like a gentle embrace, rich with the earthy scent of fertile soil, blooming flowers, and rare medicinal herbs. Sunlight poured through a magnificent glass dome ceiling, illuminating rows upon rows of priceless plants. Some grew in carefully tended beds, their leaves shimmering like emeralds. Others were kept in controlled glass containment units.
Delicate flowers she had only ever seen in textbooks, species native to the southern hemisphere that would never survive the harsh northern climate without such protection, thrived inside. The air hummed with life, and the faint glow of certain magical plants added an almost ethereal beauty to the space.
"Drop those boxes on the table," Olivine instructed. "I will attend to them once I finish with these ones."
Yuki nodded, still in awe. She placed her box down carefully and decided to explore a little. "Can I look around?" she asked.
Olivine was already organising the new supplies, completely focused on her task. She did not even look up. "You can, just do not touch anything," she replied. "Most of the plants here are more expensive than my entire family." She joked, but Yuki knew it was the truth.
Yuki nodded and continued deeper into the greenhouse. As a medical student, she had taken classes on traditional medicine in her first year and recognised many of the plants. Kieran, during his postgraduate programme, had studied medicinal plants with magical properties, if she remembered correctly. She recalled running into him multiple times at the faculty greenhouse, carefully tending to the plants. That was how she had slowly fallen for him. Unfortunately, Yuki did not possess the healing magic that true healers had, so she had never really had much to talk about with the star student of the faculty.
Kieran was praised as exceptionally talented in magic. It was unfair to have both talent, striking looks, and immense power. Looking back, she should have suspected he was no ordinary Alpha, but a Ravencourt heir.
Then she heard soft, steady breathing that caught her attention. She slowly turned and spotted a figure resting his head on a wooden desk nestled among the plants. It was Kieran, fast asleep.
Her breath stalled. He was truly breathtaking. His usually perfectly combed hair was now dishevelled, strands falling messily across his forehead and brushing against his lips. A few delicate pink flower petals had landed in his dark hair, standing out vividly. He looked more approachable like this, softer, almost vulnerable. For a fleeting moment, he even reminded her of Kaden.
Her legs moved on their own, carrying her closer. She hesitated, then reached out slowly, scared to wake him. Her fingertips hovered near one of the petals.
"You look so much alike, but you are polar opposites," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible.
Her gaze lingered on his face with quiet curiosity. Her eyes drifted to his lips which had a petal quietly lying on them, and an unexpected urge rose within her.
She couldn’t stop herself from picking it, that petal looked out of place on his lips. She reached to pick it and her fingers accidentally brushed his lips.
The moment her fingertips brushed lightly against them, a sharp jolt shot through her like electricity. She flinched and pulled her hand back quickly, her heart racing wildly as she stared at him in confusion.
"Yuki, where are you?" Olivine called out.
Yuki turned around frantically and signalled for her to lower her voice. "Kieran is asleep here," she whispered.
Olivine caught the words with her sharp werewolf hearing and immediately clamped a hand over her mouth.
Yuki remained completely oblivious to the pair of sapphire eyes now watching her with mild confusion from behind. Kieran had sensed their presence the moment they had stepped into the greenhouse. He had felt that gentle jolt of contact.
Something deeper than interest flickered in his eyes.
