The mansion sat in a rare kind of silence. The kind that came after too much had been said—or not said at all.
Lucien stood in the arched hallway just beyond the glass-paned doors of the study. His knuckles brushed the cool marble wall, heart clenched tight beneath his shirt. He could hear Kai's laughter faintly from the inner courtyard, where Caelan was showing him how to awaken tiny will-o'-wisps from the garden stones. The sound of their ease—it twisted something hot and uncertain in Lucien's chest.
He knew the feeling. Jealousy. But it wasn't just that. It was fear. It was the fear of being replaced, the fear of Kai slipping further from him just when they'd started to truly belong to each other. Caelan had only been here a week. But his presence was loud in every room. The younger alpha was charming, effortless, playful. Too familiar. Too close. And Lucien couldn't shake the ache that came every time he caught Kai smiling too long at Caelan's jokes or leaning too comfortably into his side.
Tonight, Lucien would speak.
He couldn't carry this silence anymore.
❖❖❖
The moonlight slipped through the arched windows as Lucien entered the smaller sunroom at the rear of the house. Caelan was there alone, barefoot, curled on the couch reading an ancient tome with glowing green script. His hair fell into his eyes, and he looked up with a grin when he saw Lucien approach.
"You look like you're about to interrogate me," Caelan said, tone light. Lucien didn't smile. "I want to talk." Caelan's smile faded. He sat up straighter. "About Kai?" Lucien nodded slowly. "Yes. About Kai. And about you." The room shifted, tension falling into place like a drawn bow. Caelan shut the book and placed it on the table. "Alright," he said quietly. "I figured this was coming."
Lucien moved to stand a few paces away, too restless to sit. "I've seen the way you look at him," he began. "And I know I've no right to tell Kai who to care about, but—"
"I'm not in love with him," Caelan said gently, interrupting. Lucien blinked. "What?" "I'm not," Caelan said again. "I understand why it looks that way. I've always been touchy. I grew up around wolves who showed affection with hands and closeness and teasing. But what I feel for Kai isn't… that."
Lucien folded his arms, jaw tight. "Then what is it?" Caelan looked away, his voice softer now. "He reminds me of someone I loved more than anything. My father. My real father—he died young. And Kai… he has the same softness. The same kindness. I think… my heart just recognized it."
Lucien frowned, caught off guard by the honesty.
Caelan went on. "I wanted to protect him the moment I saw him. But not the way you think. I never saw him as a mate or a romantic partner. I just wanted to be near someone who made me feel safe again. Like family." Lucien lowered his head for a moment, fingers flexing at his sides. "That's what he's become to me," Caelan said. "Family."
Suddenly, the entire mansion seemed to ripple. A pulse of warm golden light flashed through the walls like a heartbeat. It came from the courtyard. Lucien and Caelan froze—then bolted. They found Kai collapsed to his knees by the tree, hands pressed to his chest, breathing hard. Will-o'-wisps floated nervously around him, their lights flickering like candle flames in the wind.
Rhydian had already reached him, crouched beside him protectively, a fierce glow in his eyes. "I'm okay," Kai gasped. "I just— It happened again. I think… my power reacted." "To what?" Lucien asked quickly, dropping beside him, hands on Kai's shoulders.
Kai looked between them, chest rising and falling. "I was thinking about everything. All of you. How much I don't want to lose this." He touched the space between his ribs. "And my heart just… pushed it out." Rhydian's expression softened. "You triggered a resonance."
Caelan knelt behind him. "He shared his truth with all of us." Lucien felt it now—faint and lingering in the air. Kai had bared his soul. His fear of being a burden. His deep love for Lucien. His comfort in Rhydian's presence. And… his innocent trust in Caelan. There was no romantic longing. Only warmth. Respect. And a desire to keep Caelan close like a younger brother might keep a kind uncle or older sibling nearby.
Lucien looked over at Caelan—and for the first time, really saw him.
Not a rival.
A protector. Like Rhydian. Like himself.
They carried Kai inside, wrapped him in a warm blanket, and settled him in the sitting room with soft firelight crackling low. Rhydian stayed beside him, ever-watchful, arms crossed but eyes gentler than usual.
Caelan rose, but paused. "Rhydian," he said softly. The larger alpha turned to him with that usual sharp, unreadable stare. "I know you don't trust me," Caelan said. "And that's fair. You love Kai deeply. I do too. But not like that. Never like that."
Rhydian didn't respond immediately. So Caelan added, "He saved me from a very dark place—just by being who he is. I want to stay near him not to win his heart, but because I found something I'd lost: a sense of home."
Lucien watched Rhydian's fingers tighten—then loosen.
Rhydian finally nodded, once.
That was enough.
------------
Later that night, the mansion felt warmer.
Kai had fallen asleep against Lucien's side on the velvet sofa, breathing steady, body calm. Rhydian sat in the armchair, finally relaxed, a book resting on his lap. Caelan had taken the floor, sprawled out with one leg propped on a pillow, sketching lazy sigils in the air for fun.
For the first time in weeks, the house felt like a home.
Not a battlefield of feelings. Not a storm waiting to break.
Just four people—found, wounded, healing—choosing peace, side by side.
**********************
Morning arrived slowly, the soft grey of dawn melting over the city skyline beyond the tall windows. In the stillness, the mansion felt like it was breathing—settling deeper into a calm it hadn't known for weeks.
Kai woke first, tucked against Lucien's side beneath a thick knitted blanket. The fire had long since died out, but the warmth remained. Lucien stirred beside him, eyes fluttering open as Kai shifted. For a moment, neither spoke. They just looked at each other, and something deep and silent passed between them.
"I didn't mean to send that pulse last night," Kai whispered. "I know," Lucien replied softly. "But I'm glad you did." Kai looked down. "Did it… scare you?" Lucien reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. "No. It made things clearer. For all of us."
They stayed like that—close, but quiet—as light slowly painted the ceiling gold.
Elsewhere in the house, Rhydian stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled to his elbows, preparing breakfast. His motions were sharp, efficient, but slower than usual. He didn't slam the cabinet door or grumble under his breath. In fact, when Caelan padded in barefoot, hair a mess, Rhydian only raised an eyebrow.
"You cook?" Caelan said, surprised. "Someone has to," Rhydian muttered. "Lucien's too picky. Kai forgets. You look like you live on sugar." Caelan snorted. "Fair." There was a pause. The silence between them was heavier than yesterday, but not hostile anymore. Rhydian cracked an egg into the pan. "You really see him as family?"
"I do," Caelan said, voice quieter. "Not the way you think. I never even imagined something romantic. I just wanted to be part of something good again." Rhydian turned, studying him. Caelan met his gaze. "You and Lucien love him. That's obvious. You protect him like he's your entire world. And I get it. But I'm not here to get in the way of that. I'm here because he makes me feel like I belong somewhere again."
Rhydian studied him for a long moment. Then gave a low grunt.
"Help me slice the bread."
That was his way of saying we're okay.
Caelan smiled and grabbed the knife.
By the time Kai and Lucien entered the kitchen, the smell of fresh eggs and baked herbs greeted them. Kai's eyes widened at the spread—toast, jam, scrambled eggs, sliced fruit, and even tea steeping in little enchanted cups.
"You cooked all this?" he asked Rhydian. Caelan raised his hand. "I sliced the bread!" Lucien quirked a smile as he tugged Kai gently toward the table. The four of them sat together around the long dining table for the first time in ages.
No tension. No sideways glances.
Just passing plates, quiet chatter, and the hum of something finally settled.
After breakfast, Lucien took Kai's hand and led him up to the library balcony, where the golden sun flooded through stained glass. They sat in one of the deep couches overlooking the city.
Lucien leaned close, forehead to Kai's. "I'm sorry for letting my feelings turn into suspicion," he said. "I should have asked. I should've trusted you." Kai smiled faintly. "You were protecting us. That's what you always do." "And I'll keep doing it," Lucien said. "But I'll do it better now."
In the garden, Caelan stood beside Rhydian, helping him reset magical wards around the mansion walls. Rhydian showed him the old sigils carved into the stone columns. They glowed softly as Caelan ran his fingers across them, murmuring his own magic to reinforce them.
"You're not bad with enchantments," Rhydian said after a long silence. Caelan grinned. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me." Rhydian rolled his eyes. "Don't get used to it."
But Caelan saw the corner of his mouth twitch upward.
By midday, the mansion was buzzing again—gently, this time.
Lucien and Kai rearranged the library. Caelan helped Rhydian with repairs in the guest wing. At one point, all four met in the garden where Kai was trying to coax a young silverleaf tree to bloom with magic. It only worked when Lucien touched his hand. The petals opened slowly.
Not because of magic alone, but because they were together.
✦✦✦✦
That evening, they lit candles in the courtyard and shared warm drinks beneath a blanket of stars. Lucien held Kai close. Rhydian sat to Kai's left, ever-watchful. Caelan rested on the stone bench, humming softly to himself.
There was laughter.
There were soft stories and memories.
There were no secrets left between them.
And finally, there was peace.
Found, fought for, fragile—but real.
Kai looked up at the stars and whispered, "Thank you for staying."
Lucien kissed the top of his head. "Always."