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WHITLOCK brOTHERS

R yker pinched the bridge of his nose, staring at the stack of quarterly funding proposals covering his desk.

The Beyond Beauty launch was demanding another fifty million for their marketing rollout, Crystal Heights development needed additional capital for their supernatural-safe security systems, and the R&D department’s blood substitute research was burning through money faster than expected.

But his wolf couldn’t focus. Not after this morning.

Luca’s scent lingered on his shirt—cherry blossoms and midnight rain, with an underlying sweetness that made his mouth water.

The way he’d felt in his arms, all delicate strength and soft warmth…

His wolf purred at the memory of Luca pressed against him, his musical voice spinning adorably flustered explanations about gravity and trees.

That voice. After years of barely hearing Luca speak, of watching the boy flee at the mere sight of them, hearing him babble nervously had been…

enchanting. Like discovering a shy songbird had actually been a siren all along.

His wolf had practically melted at the sound, wanting to draw out more of those sweet, rambling confessions.

The financial projections blurred as he remembered how perfectly Luca had fitted against him, those slender legs wrapped around his waist. His wolf had nearly howled with triumph when Luca had drifted closer to his throat, his tiny fangs grazing his skin.

It had felt right —offering his neck to him, feeling his sweet breath against his pulse point.

His wolf had practically purred with anticipation, already imagining the sharp pleasure of his bite…

Then Zane had interrupted.

A low growl rumbled in his chest at the memory. His wolf was still bristling about that, pacing restlessly beneath his skin. They’d been so close. He’d been about to mark him, to take what he’d so willingly offered…

The pen in his hand snapped, ink staining the proposal from Moonlight Pharmaceuticals.

He cursed, tossing the broken pieces aside.

He needed to focus. The Whitlock financial empire wouldn’t run itself.

Sterling Shield Securities was pushing for aggressive expansion, Crescent Properties wanted to acquire three new downtown locations, and Nova Tech’s new security system needed immediate funding.

But all he could think about was Luca’s eyes bright with hunger, his witty comments about “Vampire Yelp” and “militant limbs” that showed glimpses of a personality they’d never been allowed to see before.

This wasn’t the silent, withdrawn Luca who’d hidden away for years.

This Luca was vibrant, alive, absolutely adorable in his flustered state…

“Mr. Whitlock?” His assistant’s voice crackled through the intercom. “Beyond Beauty’s financial team needs your approval on their quarterly budget allocation.”

Ryker glanced at the proposal again, but the numbers swam before his eyes. All he could see was Luca pressed against him in those thin sleep clothes, the delicate fabric leaving little to the imagination…

His wolf stirred restlessly at the memory. He’d caught glimpses of him in similar attire before, during his swift retreats to his room over the years. But those fleeting sightings had never affected him like this. He’d been their shy little brother then, someone to protect, to worry about.

Now though… Now the sight of him in that whisper-thin fabric had his wolf practically purring.

The way the morning light had played across the material, highlighting every line, every delicate curve of his body.

The soft gasp he’d made when he caught him, the way his legs had wrapped around his waist…

When did everything change? he wondered. When did our little brother become…

His wolf finished the thought: Ours .

“Sir?” His assistant again. “About the Beyond Beauty budget?”

“Tell them I’ll review it this afternoon,” he managed, loosening his tie. The office suddenly felt too warm, too confined. “I need to… check some things first.”

Like why Luca’s scent is suddenly the most intoxicating thing I’ve ever encountered , he thought wryly. Or why my wolf wants to bare our throat to our vampire prince .

The morning dragged on. He reviewed acquisition proposals for Crescent Properties, approved security upgrades for the Crystal Heights project, and somehow managed to sign off on Sterling Shield Securities’ expansion plans.

But every signature, every decision, was accompanied by flashes of lavender eyes and the phantom sensation of tiny fangs against his throat.

By lunch, even his wolf’s legendary patience had frayed. The morning’s stack of proposals remained largely untouched, his usual methodical approach to clan finances scattered by memories of Luca’s witty banter.

“Cancel my afternoon meetings,” he told his assistant, already standing. “I need to…” See him. Hold him. Offer my neck again. “…clear my head.”

His wolf scoffed at the weak excuse.

The elevator ride to the penthouse felt endless. Each floor brought him closer to his scent, that intoxicating mix of cherry blossoms and midnight rain. His wolf paced beneath his skin, remembering how close they’d been to feeling his bite. If Zane hadn’t interrupted…

A growl rumbled in his chest. His brother’s timing had been impeccable, as always. Too impeccable. The way Zane had looked at them, that flash of… something in his eyes. His wolf bristled at the memory.

For decades, they’d watched Luca from a distance, respecting his need for space.

He’d been content with that role—the quiet, protective older brother.

Even when he’d dart past him in those thin sleep clothes, even when he caught glimpses of him curled up in the library with his manga, he’d felt nothing but fraternal affection.

But this morning… This morning had changed everything.

This new Luca, with his adorable babbling and quick wit… He wasn’t just their shy little brother anymore. He was something else. Something that made his wolf restless and hungry in ways he’d never experienced.

The elevator dinged, doors opening to the penthouse foyer. His scent hit him immediately—cherry blossoms and midnight rain, drawing him like a beacon. His wolf perked up, following the trail to the family sitting room.

Ryker stopped in the doorway, breath catching at the sight before him.

Luca was curled up on the massive window-side couch, afternoon light playing across the young man’s delicate features. Two tablets balanced precariously on Luca’s lap as he worked, his slender fingers moving between them with surprising confidence.

Ryker’s wolf purred at how… right the prince looked there. No more hiding in his room, no more fleeing at the sight of them. This Luca was settled, present, absolutely captivating as he worried his lower lip with one tiny fang.

“No, no, that won’t work,” Luca muttered to himself, completely unaware of Ryker’s presence.

“The lighting concept is beautiful but the models look too… We need to show the supernatural essence more…” The boy made a quick note on one tablet.

“Maybe if we caught that moment when a vampire’s skin first catches starlight… ”

Ryker leaned against the doorframe, content just to watch the young vampire work. Every few moments Luca would scrunch his nose in thought or tilt his head. Ryker’s wolf memorized each little gesture, treasuring these unguarded moments.

“Crystal formations would be pretty,” Luca continued his quiet monologue, “but we need something more… alive? More magical?” Another note, another adorable fang-bite to his lip. “What about that luminescent effect Sylvie mentioned…”

The prince looked so natural there, so perfectly at home, that Ryker’s wolf ached with it.

A small gasp pulled Ryker from his thoughts. Luca had finally noticed him, the young man’s lavender eyes wide with surprise, tablets nearly sliding off his lap.

“How… how long have you been standing there?” A lovely blush colored Luca’s cheeks as he scrambled to catch his work materials.

“Long enough to hear about crystal formations and luminescent effects,” Ryker said, unable to hide his smile as Luca turned an even deeper shade of pink. “Sounds more interesting than my morning of financial reports.”

“Oh God,” Luca groaned, burying his face in his hands. “You heard my weird marketing mumbling. I swear I’m not usually this… vocal about my thoughts. Well, apparently I am now, which is new and mortifying and I should probably stop talking…”

Ryker’s wolf preened at the prince’s adorable flustering. “I like hearing your thoughts,” Ryker said softly, moving into the room. “After decades of silence, your ‘weird marketing mumbling’ is… refreshing.”

Luca peeked at him through his fingers. “Refreshing like a cool breeze, or refreshing like watching a train wreck in slow motion?”

The laugh escaped before Ryker could stop it. “Definitely the first one.” He nodded toward the tablets. “Show me what you’re working on?”

“Oh! Um…” Luca glanced between his tablets and Ryker, clearly debating. “It’s just some ideas for Archer’s team. Probably silly ones. I mean, I don’t really know anything about supernatural marketing…”

“And yet you managed to hold an entire conversation with yourself about vampire luminescence,” Ryker teased, settling beside the prince on the couch. His wolf hummed with satisfaction at Luca’s lack of retreat. “Come on, sugar fang. Dazzle me with your crystal formations.”

Luca wrinkled his nose at him—an expression so unexpectedly cute Ryker’s wolf nearly whimpered. “You’re making fun of me.”

“I would never.” Ryker pressed a hand to his chest in mock offense. “I am a very serious financial officer who takes all proposals with utmost gravity.”

“Says the man who just used ‘dazzle me’ unironically.” But Luca was fighting a smile now, his shoulders relaxing. “Fine. But remember, you asked for this.”