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Kota squirmedout of Christophe’s arms and shifted. He dropped to the ground in his wolf pup form and sprinted back towards thegardens.

“Hey!”Christophe called after him. “Don’t get too worked up, Kota. You’ve got a Teller ceremony to attend to,remember?”

The little boydidn’t seem to hear him, and bounced around in the grass and bushes, snapping at leaves with hisjaws.

“Come on,Arthur. Isn’t it time you met someone? Settleddown?”

“Imeet plenty,”I said, smiling. “I haven’t got any interest in settling down. What’s the point? It’s not for me, and I don’t have any obligation to. The Luna brothers who need to settle are settled, and Mom and Dad arehappy.”

“Oh,I think they’d be a little happier to know all of their sons were mated,” hesaid.

Ilaughed.“Is this what the head of the clan wants me todo?”

“No,”he shrugged. “Just a brother looking out for his younger brother’shappiness.”

“Christophe.You don’t think I’m happy? I’m living exactly the way I want to. You should knowthat.”

“Feelings change.I mean look atme. A father, mated to the love of my life, and never been happier. You’re telling me you don’t want the family life? You could have this.” He gestured over to where his boy was playing, and his expression changed as Kota did a circle around one of the rose bushes, lifted his hind leg, and peed. “KOTA!” Christopheshouted.

“I’m weeing, Dad!”Kota yelledback.

“I’m good,”I told my brother, and patted him on the shoulder. “I’m going inside to grab somebreakfast.”

“The others should be here soon,”hesaid.

“The Luna clan, all together again!”

With all ofmy brothers mated and living their own lives raising children, it’d become rare for us to all come together. In fact, it’d been a year since the last time the entire family had gathered. That time had been for Kota too, his first shift ceremony. Today we were taking him for his Teller ceremony, a tradition for a five-year-old where he would be blessed and have his future read by the clan shaman, or “Teller”. I went back inside. Stephen was waiting at the entrance to the dining room, and he pulled open the door for me as I approached. Mom and Dad were seated at the long table, chatting over plates ofbreakfast.

“Good morning,”I announced before diverting my attention to the buffet table. After filling my plate with a healthy portion of food I took a seat. My parents stopped their conversation and turned tome.

“Didyou have someone over last night, Arthur?” Momasked.

Ilooked up in surprise,swallowing down my mouthful of porkchop.

“Idid,”Isaid.

“And?”shesaid.

“And…?”I repeated. I wasn’t used to having my parents, much less my mom, ask about the women I brought over. It wasn’t exactly proper of me to be sleeping around so much, but given I did it discreetly and within the confines of the Luna estate, there’d always just been an unspokenunderstanding.

“How did it go?”

“It went fine, Mom,”I said. “Everything’s working as it should, thank you forasking.”

“Anyone notable?”she asked. “The potential of somethingmore?”

Dad lookedat me with interest, waiting for my answer. I looked back and forth between them, feeling slightly perturbed by the sudden and unusual probing into my bed life. I cleared my throat. “No.”

“You won’tat least tell us who itwas?”

“Out of respectfor her privacy, no. Mom, you and I both know you can’t keep anything toyourself.”

“Oh,”she said, “So, she’s highborn,then?”

Isighed.“Yes. And nothing is gonna come of it. I’m not interested in a serious relationship, you should know that bynow.”

“It’s going to become a problem,”Dad said. “Bringing so many different women home, it’s going to affect your reputation eventually. As prodigious as you are.” Hewinked.