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“I…” The word stuck in my throat.

“No pressure,” Ryker cut in, shooting Archer a look. “But you’re always welcome.”

“Come on, big brother. We’ve got a thrilling meeting about territory markers to attend.” Archer’s silver eyes sparkled with mischief. “Unless you want to help me barricade the door with bookshelves?”

“Archer.”

“Fine, fine.” He winked at me. “Think about dinner, little bat. The family misses you.”

As they left—Archer dramatically dragging his feet while Ryker herded him forward—I sank into a nearby armchair. Family dinners. Council meetings. Casual conversations with brothers who looked like they stepped out of a romance novel.

What else had Luca been hiding from?

Chapter 4

WHITLOCK BROTHERS

Zane pinched the bridge of his nose as he ended the call. Three hours of negotiations with the Hawkins Clan about oil pipeline permissions, and all he had to show for it was a migraine and the sudden urge to ban the phrase “but that’s how we’ve always done it” from New Vale’s vocabulary.

His fingers unconsciously traced the already-healed marks on his neck. Even hours later, he could still feel the phantom sensation of Luca’s fangs, still smell his transformed scent—cherry blossoms and moonlight where once there was only subtle vanilla and old books.

Bears. Always so damn stubborn. Though right now, even Colt Hawkins’ drawling demands couldn’t distract him from the memory of this morning.

“With all due respect, Alpha Whitlock,” Colt had drawled, “these pipelines have run through pack territory since my granddaddy’s granddaddy’s time.”

Yes, and your granddaddy’s granddaddy probably thought indoor plumbing was witchcraft, Zane had wanted to say. Instead, he’d maintained his perfect alpha composure andexplained—for the fifth time—why modern environmental regulations required rerouting certain sections.

His wolf, usually so focused during clan business, kept circling restlessly, replaying the morning’s… incident. One moment he’d been reviewing quarterly reports in his garden sanctuary, catching an unfamiliar scent that made his beast purr with contentment. The next, a vampire prince had landed in his lap like some kind of adorable assassin. Luca—his Luca—who’d spent years hiding behind doors and columns, who flinched from physical contact, who’d never shown the slightest interest…

He’d felt impossibly small in his arms, warm and soft andright. His wolf had practically howled with satisfaction when those fangs pierced his skin. The beast that had slumbered contentedly for years suddenly wanted to wrap around him, protect him,claimhim…

He’s your brother, he reminded himself sternly.Adopted, but still…

His office in Whitlock Tower—all glass, steel, and spectacular views of New Vale’s skyline—felt suddenly confining. The council meeting would start in an hour, where he’d have to face not just the bears, but eleven other clan heads, each with their own agendas and millennia-old grudges.

And all he could think about was the way Luca had looked at him afterward, those lavender eyes wide with confusion and something else, something that made his wolf want to…

Focus.

He reached for his phone. “Ryker. Find our baby brother before he tries to convince the library carpet to adopt him. Again.”

“Already done,” Ryker’s dry voice came through. “He was using that invisibility charm the Satos gave us for Christmas.”

“The one we were supposed to use forclan security?”

“That’s the one. Though watching him try to explain to Lady Sato why he used ancient fox magic to hide from a budget meeting last month was… entertaining. Especially when she threatened to turn him into an actual fox for disrespecting ancestral magic.”

“The Bentley,” Zane decided, pushing away thoughts of lavender eyes and delicate fangs. “We’ll take the Bentley to Council Hall.”

“Not the Rolls? The Kingston Clan just unveiled their new Phantom. Isaiah Kingston will be insufferable if we show up in anything less. Still preening about his new record label’s collaboration with the Parks.”

“The Bentley has better leg room for when we have to drag Archer out from whatever hiding spot he finds. Last time?—”

“The Ming vase incident,” they said in unison.

“Which is why the Chengs now have force fields around their antiques.” Zane allowed himself a small smirk. “Though watching their young duke try to explain to his grandmother why her priceless dynasty relic was full of wolf shifter was almost worth the diplomatic incident. Especially when she started throwing fireballs and cursing in ancient Mandarin.”

A muffled “I heard that!” came through the phone, presumably from Archer. “That vase was asking for it! Do you know how many council meetings I’ve had to sit through where old Lady Wei Cheng brags about her ancestor’s pottery collection? Besides, have youseentoday’s agenda? The Bellini Clan wants to expand their beach resort into Kingston territory—again. Something aboutpremium sunset viewsbeing wasted on music studios.”