Kael and his father sat across from one another in the Alpha's study, the scent of parchment, ink, and aged oak filling the room.
They discussed border patrol rotations. Rogue interrogations. Trade disputes.
Typical pack politics.
Kael leaned back, running a hand through his hair, when the door suddenly flew open.
"Kael."
He didn't even have to look.
Only one person in the entire world stormed into a room like that with zero fear or filter.
His mother.
Mirena strode in like a queen in her own palace, kissed her mate on the cheek—who gave her a fond eye-roll—and then rounded on Kael.
"You didn't tell me she was that beautiful."
Kael didn't even blink. "Who?"
She gasped, full of dramatic flair. "Don't you who me! Asha, obviously!"
Kael smirked faintly but said nothing. Still, his wolf definitely perked up inside him.
Mirena was already pacing.
"You know, I asked her if she'd found her mate."
Kael's fingers twitched slightly.
Still silent. Still playing it cool.
"She said she hasn't," his mother continued, eyes sparkling. "Oh my goddess, Kael, I nearly squealed. I may have told her you haven't found yours either—"
His head snapped up. "Mother."
"And guess what?" she said, ignoring him. "She blushed. Blushed, Kael. Bright pink! I swear, even her ears turned red!"
His father coughed into his fist, probably trying not to laugh.
Kael stood abruptly.
"Adios," he muttered, already walking out the door with an exhausted chuckle.
Behind him, he heard his father say dryly,
"Mirena, the pressure you're putting on this boy is dangerous."
He didn't need to turn around to know she was pouting.
But her voice still floated through the doorway, half-whining, half-teasing:
"He doesn't understand! She's a germ, Lior. In the best way. A rare species! If he loses her, I'll disown him!"
Then came a final giggle.
"Besides, in age… she's still a baby."
Kael groaned and closed the door behind him—half-wishing the ground would just open up and swallow him whole.
He barely made it ten steps down the hallway before someone smacked him lightly on the back of the head.
"You sneaky bastard."
Kael turned to see his Beta—and best friend since cubhood—grinning like a wolf with a secret.
"So I heard you brought the healer back," he said, raising a brow. "You know—the same one who patched you up and then disappeared like a ghost a few years ago?"
Kael smirked. "News travels fast."
"Oh, so now you want to play modest? You couldn't send a heads-up? A raven? A howl? Smoke signals? Something?"
Kael chuckled.
Everyone in the damn pack wanted to see Asha. Half of them probably wanted to poke her. The other half probably wanted to marry her.
His Beta—Luca, the ever-nosy one—kept walking beside him, shoulder to shoulder.
"And let's talk about your little entrance. You, Alpha of the Eastern Moon, riding into the territory with a goddess on your back like some fated love song?"
Kael actually laughed. A full, deep one.
Luca wasn't done.
"I thought you didn't like drama, Kael. But that stunt? That wasn't just extra, that was a whole festival parade."
Kael just shook his head, still chuckling.
"Was that your way of telling the rest of the unmated males to back off?" Luca smirked. "Markless, but still claimed?"
Kael didn't answer.
Didn't nod. Didn't deny.
He just kept walking, the smile slowly fading into something more thoughtful.
Because deep down…
Luca wasn't wrong.