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“Delicate?” Archer’s laugh held no humor. “Like how delicately his hand is reaching for our Luca’s waist?”

“Our Luca?” Gabriel Lionheart’s celestial light flickered with sudden understanding. “That’s quite… possessive for adopted brothers.”

The showcase moved to the main ballroom, a masterpiece of crystal architecture designed specifically for supernatural performances. ECLIPSE took their positions onstage while the VIP section reformed in the upper gallery, offering a perfect view of both the performance and the audience below.

“Three songs tonight,” Kai mentioned as they settled into their new positions. “Starting with ‘Moonlight Dance’—their signature supernatural showcase.”

The first notes filled the air as Jia’s foxfire created ethereal patterns that matched the melody. Luca’s genuine delight at the display made Zane’s wolf stir restlessly. When the prince started swaying gently to the music, all three brothers found themselves tracking his every movement.

“Your prince has rhythm,” Jin noted with a grin. “Unlike some wolves I could mention.”

“Remember that diplomatic ball?” Lei snickered. “When Archer tried to?—”

“I thought we agreed never to speak of that,” Archer groaned, though his eyes never left Luca.

Below, the boy was completely absorbed in the performance, his natural grace making even simple movements look enchanting.

Beside him, Sylvie was barely containing her excitement, mouthing along to every word.

The second song, “Crystal Heart,” began with Aria’s vampire powers creating actual crystal formations in the air. The dramatic key change had both Luca and Sylvie raising their hands with the rest of the audience, their joy infectious. Even some of the commanders found themselves nodding along.

“Sweet chaos,” Archer muttered, watching Luca sway to the rhythm. “Is he trying to kill us?”

“Your brother,” Edmund observed dryly, “is enjoying a pop concert. Rather innocently, I might add. Your reactions, however…”

“Speaking of reactions,” Dante Bellini cut in, his leopard spots shimmering as he tensed. “Percy’s group is using the music as cover. They’re closing in.”

Indeed, as ECLIPSE launched into their final song, “Supernatural Love,” the young nobles had managed to position themselves in a loose circle around Luca and Sylvie.

The cousins were too engrossed in the performance to notice, both of them singing along with the chorus as Nina’s transformation sequence created constellation patterns in the air.

“Percy on the left,” Enzo murmured. “Three of Sebastian’s fledglings trying to look casual by the crystal pillars.”

“Two of Isaiah’s cubs near the refreshments,” Cameron added with quiet disapproval. “And those fox kits from the Sato compound by the eastern exit.”

The song built toward its bridge, Mika’s spirit lights creating a dazzling display that had the audience captivated.

Luca’s genuine joy at the performance made him practically glow, the royal purple coat catching the light with every movement, completely unaware of how Percy had managed to slide closer under the cover of the music.

“That little leech actually thinks—” Archer started, his usual playfulness vanishing as Percy signaled to his friends.

As the final chorus began, the young nobles moved. Two vampires blocked the main exit while others casually positioned themselves to cut off escape routes. Luca, still swaying to the music with Sylvie, remained blissfully unaware of the trap closing around him.

The brothers exploded into motion, supernatural speed carrying them from the VIP gallery. They hit the stairs at the exact moment Percy’s fingers closed around Luca’s wrist. The prince turned, fixing Percy with an annoyed glare at daring to interrupt his enjoyment of ECLIPSE’s performance.

Three devastating things happened simultaneously.

Zane’s power exploded through the room like a tidal wave of pure dominance. Ryker’s storm actually materialized, indoor lightning crackling against crystal walls. Archer’s playful mask shattered completely, revealing the lethal predator beneath.

“Well…” Sebastian’s eyes held knowing amusement. “This should be entertaining.”

“More entertaining,” Azrael Shadowmere added softly, darkness curling around his smile, “will be watching them try to explain why their response to their brother being touched feels exactly like…”

“Mate claim,” Kai finished, his golden eyes gleaming with understanding.

The temperature in the ballroom plummeted as three alphas converged on Percy’s position, their combined power making lesser supernaturals stumble back.

Around them, champagne glasses shattered.

Vampires centuries old found themselves backing away.

Even ECLIPSE’s final note faltered as primal instincts screamed danger .

Zane reached them first, his arctic power rolling through the room like a tidal wave. Young vampires dropped to their knees. Werewolves bared their throats instinctively. The crystal chandeliers vibrated with the sheer force of an apex predator’s rage.

“Your hand,” Zane’s voice promised violence, “is on something that doesn’t belong to you.”

Percy’s arrogant smile cracked. His crew, all young noble sons who’d never faced true alpha power, started trembling.

One of them actually whimpered when Ryker materialized on their left, bringing winter storms indoors.

Static electricity crackled across the marble floors, lightning dancing between the middle brother’s fingers.

“I-I was merely—” Percy’s voice broke as his survival instincts finally kicked in. The entitled young noble had never felt power like this—three alphas projecting pure lethal intent.

“Merely what?” Archer completed their triangle formation around Luca. “Testing if the Whitlock Clan’s protection marks are optional?”

Luca’s soft gasp of relief when Percy released his wrist nearly shattered their control. The young vampire stumbled back, his designer suit soaked with fear-sweat. Around him, his friends were practically crawling away, their bodies instinctively responding to apex predator fury.

“This… this is a social event,” Percy tried, though his voice shook. Two of his vampire friends had already fled, actually blurring in their haste to escape. “I was simply introducing myself to the prince?—”

“You were hunting,” Zane’s power spiked again, making even older vampires press against the walls. The alpha’s wolf bled gold into his eyes, turning his voice into a primal growl that resonated through supernatural bones. “In neutral territory. At the Park Clan’s event.”

“Which makes your stupidity even more impressive.” Ryker’s storm energy made the crystal fixtures hum.

Static electricity crackled through the air, raising every hair in the ballroom.

The marble floor actually scorched where his power touched it.

“Coordinating a hunt during a showcase meant to strengthen clan alliances.”

One of Percy’s werewolf friends tried to slink away.

Archer’s power caught him mid-step, freezing him in place.

The youngest Whitlock’s usual sunshine had turned solar, burning away any trace of the playful brother.

Around them, supernatural beings pressed themselves against the walls, trying to escape the suffocating waves of alpha dominance.

“Seven vampires.” Archer’s voice carried deadly precision. “Five wolves. Three foxes. All positioned to trap one prince.” His laugh held no warmth. “Did you really think we wouldn’t notice?”

Percy’s legs finally gave out. He dropped to his knees, his aristocratic bearing crumbling under the weight of three alphas’ fury. The remaining members of his crew were already on the ground, some of them actually crying as their bodies processed the overwhelming threat.

“I… we didn’t…” Percy’s perfect accent cracked. “The protection marks… we thought…”

“You thought?” Lightning actually struck the floor beside Ryker’s feet. “Or you didn’t think at all?”

Archer moved with lethal grace, one moment radiating deadly intent, the next simply there—gathering Luca into his side while simultaneously pulling Sylvie behind him.

The motion was pure alpha protection, as smooth and natural as breathing.

Luca didn’t resist, though the prince’s annoyed huff against Archer’s chest suggested he was more irritated by Percy’s audacity than frightened.

The crystal fixtures rattled dangerously as Zane’s power surged at the sight of Luca’s irritation.

Around them, young nobles pressed themselves further into the walls, some actually sliding to the floor as three alphas’ fury filled the room.

The Whitlock cousins, however, remained perfectly comfortable in the storm of their power—if anything, Luca looked more relaxed now that he was surrounded by the familiar scents of his adopted brothers.

“Sylvie! Luca!” Aunt Senna burst through the ballroom doors with other pack mothers, their maternal instincts driving them toward their young.

The sound of running heels echoed across marble as more clan mothers arrived—drawn by both the explosion of alpha power and the need to protect their children.

The pack mothers formed a protective circle, their presence only highlighting how badly Percy’s crew had miscalculated. They hadn’t just threatened a Whitlock prince—they’d risked the peace between clans at a showcase meant to strengthen alliances.

Zane’s growl deepened. Frost actually formed where his power touched the floor, spreading in delicate, deadly patterns around Percy’s kneeling form.

Sebastian’s arrival changed the very air of the ballroom.

Darkness rippled as the vampire lord descended the stairs, his ancient power rolling through the room like black silk.

Lesser vampires gasped as their clan head’s true nature manifested—this wasn’t the elegant aristocrat who hosted blood galas, but the apex predator who’d survived centuries of supernatural politics.