The rain hit the windows softly. Lev stirred sugar into tea, not drinking it-just watching it swirl. Matev was in the living room, drawing dinosaurs in a crayon, humming some song he'd learned at preschool.
And Dimitri was pacing. Not fast. Not loud. But enough for Lev feel it. The tension. The way his steps were heavier than usual. The way is jaw ticked every time Lev laughed with Matev.
He hadn't said anything cruel. Not yet. But Lev could feel something shifting.
''Is something wrong?'' Lev asked quietly, not turning around.
Dimitri stopped behind him. Long silence.
Then ''No.'' But it was too late. Lev turned around, leaning on the kitchen counter, arms crossed. ''You have been acting strange for days.''
Dimitri meet his eyes. For a moment, he said nothing. Then he locked away. ''You're imagining things.''
Lev huffed a breath. ''I'm not stupid, Dimitri.''
The made the Alpha freeze. Lev took a step forward. ''You don't yell. You don't push. But sometimes you look at me like you're angry. Or confused. Or like you're holding something in.''
Dimitri's throat moved like he was swallowing words he didn't want to say. And Lev..wasn't true he wanted to hear them. Dimitri stepped closer, but his voice was low. ''Do you ever plan on telling me?''
Lev's heart stopped. ''....What?''
''You know what.''
The words fell like a weight in the room. Lev stiffened. ''I don't-------------''
''Matev,'' Dimitri said quietly. ''The way he looks. The way he laughs. His eyes. His smile.''
Lev backed up slightly. ''He's just a child----''
''He's my child, isn't he?''
Silence......................
Lev's breathing turned shaky. ''I don't------'' he tired again, but Dimitri cut him off. ''You should have told me.''
''I was going to,'' Lev whispered. ''I tried.'' Dimitri's hands were clenched at his sides, his voice tight. ''When?''
Lev lowered his gaze. ''That day...at the classroom. I came to tell you. But you were someone else.'' Dimitri's face darkened. His voice lowered. ''You saw that?''
Lev nodded. And for a moment, Dimitri said nothing. Hs jaw moved, his eyes burned, but he didn't speak. Then------softly, like he was holding back a storm---he whispered, ''I would've changed everything if I'd known.''
Dimitri stepped forward again, voice sharp now, emotional. ''You think I wouldn't have stepped up? That I would've rejected him? Or you?''
Lev finally looked up. ''I didn't know what you'd do, Dimitri. You're not exactly predictable.'' Dimitri exhaled hard. ''He's mine.''
It wasn't a question. It was a fact. Lev didn't fight it anymore. He just nodded once. Dimitri's eyes closed for a second. When they opened, they were wet. And something in his shoulders....broke.
He didn't yell. He didn't explode. He just moved past Lev, gently, and walked into the living room. Matev looked up from his crayons, smiling wide. ''Dima!''
Dimitri crouched beside him, brushing a hand through his dark hair. Say once more, Matev smiling and softly say ''Dima''
Lev stood frozen in the kitchen, watching Dimitri and Matev laughed and talking.