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Zane gestured to the observation window. The moment the Blackthorn elders laid eyes on Luca, both went completely still. Lady Helena’s breath caught audibly while Lord Richard’s eyes widened with something between wonder and dismay.

“By the ancient ones,” Lady Helena whispered, pressing one pale hand against the glass. “It’s actually happening.”

“You know what this is?” Archer demanded, moving closer.

The Blackthorn archivists were already setting up their materials on a nearby table, ancient pages crackling with preserved magic as they searched through texts.

“We have… theories,” Lord Richard said carefully. “Based on texts so old even we struggle to translate them fully. They speak of signs?—”

“Could this be related to the tomb’s awakening?” Great Uncle Johnathan asked thoughtfully, making everyone turn. “The council has been monitoring the signs…”

Sebastian’s expression sharpened. “The ancient tomb beneath the council chamber. Its magic has been growing stronger these past weeks.”

“The progression makes sense,” Lady Helena murmured, her pale fingers tracing lines in one of her ancient tomes.

“First the tomb awakens, then the disturbances the council reported, and now…” She gestured at Luca’s glowing form.

“The texts speak of a sequence of events, of ancient magic building to something.”

Lord Richard moved closer to the glass, his eyes studying Luca’s feverish form. “This could be a power manifestation. Some vampires, when they come of age…”

Through the observation window, Luca’s back arched off the bed, his skin glowing brighter than ever.

One by one, the monitors went dark as his power overwhelmed them, until only a single screen remained functioning—stubbornly displaying his climbing temperature.

All three brothers pressed closer to the glass, their wolves surging forward with protective urgency.

“Something’s wrong,” Zane growled, his frost spreading despite his attempts at control. “His scent… it’s changing.”

The wave of heated sweetness that pulsed from Luca’s room made everyone pause. Cherry blossoms and moonlight twisted with something none of them quite understood, but it made their wolves pace with increasing agitation.

“This is… unusual,” Lady Helena said carefully, exchanging looks with Lord Richard. “Even for a vampire coming into their power.”

“We need to consult the older texts,” Lord Richard decided. “And contact the other elders. This requires more research.”

But the brothers barely heard them, too focused on Luca’s distress, on the maddening new notes in his scent, on their wolves’ growing urgency to protect, to claim, to…

They pushed that last thought away, hard. He was their brother. These instincts… they had to be something else. Had to be.

Dr. Xu’s frustration grew. “Nothing we’re giving him is having any effect.”

“Could it be blood-related?” Dr. Stevens mused, his centuries of vampire medical experience showing in his furrowed brow. “But he’s been receiving the highest grade medical blood we have…”

Through the glass, Luca’s skin pulsed with another wave of light. The sight made all three brothers flinch, their wolves howling in shared distress.

“We need to do something,” Archer growled, his hands leaving dents in the window frame where he gripped it.

Ryker’s lightning had progressed from sparks to constant arcs of electricity, making the hospital equipment malfunction even worse. His legendary control was slipping. “There has to be a way to help him.”

Zane remained silent, but his frost had covered half the observation room despite the warming charms. His wolf was going mad with the need to protect, to fix this, to make their little bat stop hurting.

Dr. Xu turned to the Blackthorn elders. “Lord Richard, Lady Helena… in your experience…”

The ancient vampires exchanged looks. “There might be…” Lady Helena began carefully.

“What?” Zane’s voice carried an alpha’s command, making several people step back. “Whatever it is, do it.”

“Ancient vampire blood,” Lord Richard explained, his eyes never leaving Luca’s glowing form. “Not the medical grade we use today. Blood that carries centuries of power, of history.”

“The older the blood, the more potent its stabilizing effects,” Lady Helena added. “For young vampires experiencing power manifestations, it can act as an anchor.”

“Fine,” Archer snapped, already rolling up his sleeve. “Take mine.”

“Not that kind of ancient,” Lord Richard said, though his expression softened at the young alpha’s instinctive need to help. “We’re talking about preserved blood from centuries ago, carrying the accumulated power of multiple generations.”

Lady Helena was already reaching into her robes. “I carry a small vial of our clan’s preserved blood. It’s over three millennia old, blessed by a hundred generations of Blackthorn elders. From the time of our first ancestors.”

“You just… carry that around?” Hunter whispered, but Sylvie shushed him.

“One vial, always,” Lady Helena said softly. “For emergencies.”

Sebastian nodded. “We can arrange for more. The security protocols will take time, but?—”

“Whatever you need,” Zane cut in, his wolf still pacing with anxiety. “Any resources, any security measures.”

“This isn’t about resources, Zane,” Lord Richard said gravely. “Blood this old… it’s beyond precious. The fact that we’re even considering using it…” He exchanged meaningful looks with Lady Helena. “Well, that should tell you how serious this situation might be.”

Lady Helena held the ancient vial up to the light. The blood within seemed to shimmer with its own inner glow, not unlike the ethereal light pulsing beneath Luca’s skin. “There’s another concern,” she said carefully. “Blood this powerful… it’s not just about age. The magic it contains…”

“What she means,” Sebastian explained, seeing the brothers’ growing impatience, “is that there could be complications.”

“The question is,” Lord Richard said gravely, “will he accept it? Some vampires, especially during… unusual manifestations… can be very particular about blood.”

Dr. Xu and Dr. Stevens consulted quietly, discussing dosage and administration. The brothers watched through the glass, their wolves pacing with agitation as Luca’s fever climbed higher.

“We need to try,” Dr. Stevens finally decided. “His temperature is reaching critical levels.”

The next few minutes were torturous. They watched as Dr. Xu carefully added the ancient blood to Luca’s IV, drop by precious drop. The brothers pressed against the glass, their wolves straining toward Luca, ready to intervene at the first sign of distress.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then…

“His temperature,” Dr. Stevens reported, eyes fixed on the one monitor that still worked. “It’s starting to drop.”

The ethereal glow beneath Luca’s skin dimmed to a soft shimmer.

His restless movements calmed, the pained expression on his face easing into something more peaceful.

The collective relief in the room was palpable—Aunt Senna sagged against Great Uncle Johnathan, the twins clutched each other’s hands, and the brothers felt their wolves’ desperate tension ease slightly as Luca’s scent lost that edge of distress, though their powers still manifested in small ways—occasional frost, sporadic sparks, restless energy.

“This will help,” Lady Helena said, but her expression remained serious. “But it’s temporary. We need to understand what’s really happening here.”

“He’ll need more,” Lord Richard said, watching Luca’s now-peaceful form. “The ancient blood seems to stabilize his condition, but a single dose won’t be enough.”

Lady Helena nodded. “We can arrange daily deliveries from our clan’s reserves. Though…” She exchanged concerned looks with Sebastian. “Even our stores of ancient blood are finite.”

“Whatever it takes,” Zane said immediately. His wolf still paced with residual anxiety despite Luca’s improvement. “Name your price.”

Sebastian waved off the offer. “This isn’t about clan politics or debts, Zane. If this is what we suspect…” He glanced at the elders. “We need to research similar cases in our archives.”

“The council should be informed as well,” Lord Richard added gravely. “Johnathan?”

Great Uncle Johnathan nodded. “I’ll accompany you. The other elders need to know about this development.”

Dr. Xu finished adjusting Luca’s IV. “We’ll monitor him closely. The private wing’s security has been doubled, and I’ve assigned our most experienced vampire nurses to his care.”

“And the brothers?” Aunt Senna asked quietly, noting how all three alphas still hovered by the observation window.

Lady Helena’s expression was sympathetic but firm. “It’s best if they remain out here. His condition is… delicate. Any strong supernatural presence might interfere with his stabilization.”

Zane looked ready to argue, his frost creeping across the window again, but Aunt Senna stepped in.

“You three look terrible,” she said bluntly. “When was the last time you ate? Slept?” When none of them answered, she nodded. “Exactly. Go home. Clean up. Rest. I’ll stay with Luca.”

“But—” Archer started.

“I’ll call the moment anything changes,” Aunt Senna promised. “Take the twins home too. They shouldn’t spend the night in a hospital waiting room.”

Hunter and Sylvie looked ready to protest, but even they could see the sense in it. They’d been here for hours, and exhaustion was setting in.

“The ancient blood will keep him stable through the night,” Lady Helena assured them. “We’ll have fresh supplies delivered first thing tomorrow morning.”

Sebastian gathered his archivists. “We’ll start researching immediately. Every relevant text, every historical record.”

“And I’ll convene an emergency council session,” Great Uncle Johnathan said. “The elders need to witness this development firsthand.”

The brothers remained reluctant, their wolves fighting the idea of leaving Luca. But even they had to admit Aunt Senna was right—they were running on fumes, their power control slipping dangerously.

“The moment anything changes,” Zane told Aunt Senna, his voice carrying an alpha’s authority despite his exhaustion.

“The very moment,” she promised. “Now go. All of you.”

They left in stages—first the Blackthorn delegation with their ancient tomes, then Great Uncle Johnathan and Lord Richard heading for the council, and finally the brothers herding two very tired teenagers toward the parking garage.

The drive home was unusually quiet. Even Archer didn’t attempt his usual jokes. Hunter and Sylvie dozed in the back seat while Ryker drove, his lightning now reduced to occasional sparks that matched their collective anxiety.

Zane stared out the window, his wolf still fighting the decision to leave Luca. The memory of his feverish glow, the strange compelling notes in his scent, the way their wolves had reacted… None of it made sense, and the not knowing was driving them all mad.

When they reached the penthouse, Harrison had already set out a light meal none of them would probably eat.

“Try to rest,” Ryker told Hunter and Sylvie, his usual calm voice strained with exhaustion. “We’ll head back first thing tomorrow.”

The teenagers nodded, too tired to argue, and shuffled off to their rooms.

“He’ll be okay,” Archer said finally, but his voice lacked its usual confidence. “The ancient blood helped. He’s stable.”

“For now,” Zane replied, his frost creeping across the nearest window.

None of them mentioned how wrong it felt to be here while Luca wasn’t. How their wolves kept trying to turn back toward the hospital. How his strange new scent lingered in their memories, calling to something they didn’t quite understand.

“We should…” Ryker gestured vaguely toward their separate wings, but none of them moved.

Finally, Zane’s phone buzzed with a message from Aunt Senna. He’s sleeping peacefully. Temperature normal. Go to bed.

Some of the tension eased from their shoulders. Their wolves settled slightly, though the urge to return to Luca remained.

“Tomorrow,” Zane said, and it was both a promise and a command. “First light.”

His brothers nodded, and they finally separated to their private wings, though none of them expected to sleep. Not with their little bat in the hospital, not with their wolves still on edge, not with so many questions unanswered.

The last thing Zane saw before heading to his wing was a lavender sweater draped over a chair, Luca’s sweet cherry blossom scent still clinging to the fabric. His wolf whined, and he quickly turned on his heel before he could do something stupid like bury his face in it.

Tomorrow. They’d figure this out tomorrow.