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Ryker didn’t bother denying it. The connection between the three brothers had kept their pack strong for generations—there was no point hiding anything. “There’s something about him,”he admitted. “Since he came out of isolation… it’s like my wolf can’t think straight around Luca.”

“It’s more than that.” Zane’s voice was rough. “You know it is. What we’re feeling—what our wolves are feeling—it’s not normal attraction.”

Centuries of sharing triumph, pain, and power through their unique bond had taught them to read each other perfectly. But this… this burning need for Luca was something entirely new.

“He’s family,” Ryker said, but his wolf growled at the word. “We’re supposed to protect the prince, not…”

“Want him?” Zane finished, his own wolf clearly visible in his silver eyes. “Tell that to our wolves. Mine hasn’t stopped howling since yesterday.”

The wisteria blooms trembled above them, their sweet scent mixing with the lingering traces of Luca’s presence. Ryker absently touched the marks on his throat, still tingling with that strange heat.

“Did you feel it?” Ryker asked finally. “That fire in the blood? It was different from a normal feeding.”

Zane’s expression tightened. Through their connection, Ryker felt his brother’s wolf stir restlessly. “Yesterday, when he bit me… it was like being struck by lightning. Like something ancient waking up.”

They sat in silence for a moment, both processing what this might mean. As pack leaders, they’d grown up learning about every supernatural bond possible—pack bonds, mating bonds, even the rare blood bonds. But this felt different. Stronger.

“We need to talk to Great Uncle Johnathan,” Zane said finally. “If anyone knows what this is…”

“And tell him what?” Ryker’s laugh held no humor. “That we’re experiencing something stronger than a normal mating bond? That this feels different from anything we learned about in?—”

WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL WAS THAT?Archer’s mental voice crashed through their pack bond like a wrecking ball, making both brothers wince.Why do I suddenly feel like I got hit by supernatural lightning and why do I want to hunt down Luca and?—

“Don’t finish that thought,” Zane growled, just as Archer burst into the garden, nearly tripping over a potted plant in his haste.

“Okay,” Archer demanded, dramatically dropping into a chair and pointing accusingly at both brothers. “Which one of you want to explain why my wolf just went from ‘checking marketing reports’ to ‘must find Luca’ in two seconds flat? And why do I smell his blood? And why does my wolf suddenly want?—”

“We know,” Ryker cut him off, rubbing his temples. “We’re feeling it too.”

“Oh, thank God.” Archer slumped in relief. “I thought I was going crazy. One minute I’m working, the next my wolf is howling about Luca and I’m getting these… these…”

“Overwhelming urges?” Zane supplied dryly.

“Exactly! Like, way beyond normal attraction. More like?—”

“Like your blood’s on fire?” Ryker touched the marks on his throat.

“Like you’d tear apart anyone who tried to keep him from you?” Zane added.

“YES!” Archer sat up straight. “Wait.” His eyes narrowed at Ryker’s throat. “Did you just?—”

“Luca knocked over his blood.”

“I moved it closer so he would.”

Both brothers spoke at once, their pack bond humming with shared emotions.

“Sneaky.” Archer grinned, then immediately sobered. “But seriously, what is this? Because it feels stronger than any mating bond I’ve ever heard of.”

“This isn’t just attraction,” Zane said slowly. “It’s not even like a normal mating bond. When the boy is near, it’s like…”

“Like fate itself is trying to push us together,” Ryker finished.

“Like every cell in your body recognizes him,” Archer added quietly, all his usual humor gone. “But he’s our brother.”

The pack bond thrummed with shared guilt and confusion. Decades of protecting Luca, of being his family, warred against this new, primal pull.

“Adopted brother,” Ryker corrected automatically, then grimaced. “Not that it makes this any better.”