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WHITLOCK brOTHERS

L uca hung suspended in his corona of power, a fallen star held between earth and sky.

The light pulsing from the prince’s small form turned the night into false dawn, casting harsh shadows across the faces of those gathered below.

The very air crackled with ancient magic, making every supernatural being’s power surge in response.

Through their pack bond, the brothers felt Luca’s life force flickering dangerously—burning too bright, too fast, like a star consuming itself.

The low hum of powerful engines filled the air as council vehicles emerged from the ETS’ exit points.

Sleek black cars with crystalline enhancement runes carved into their chassis came to an abrupt stop, their drivers too stunned by the sight above to maintain protocol.

The vehicles’ protective wards flickered and sparked, reacting to the waves of pure power radiating from Luca’s suspended form.

Sebastian emerged first, his aristocratic composure slipping as he stared upward.

Edmund and James flanked Sebastian immediately, their synchronized movements faltering as Luca’s power washed over them.

Edmund’s black fire flickered erratically around his hands, while James grabbed the car door to steady himself, overwhelmed by the pure energy saturating the air.

The council vehicles’ doors opened in perfect unison as the elders stepped out.

Lady Victoria’s celestial light reached toward Luca like a mother’s desperate embrace, creating ribbons of pure radiance that danced through the night air.

Lady Wei’s dragon scales shimmered with reflected starlight, each one catching Luca’s glow like thousands of precious gems. Lord Thanatos’ shadows writhed as if in pain, coiling around him protectively against the onslaught of pure light.

Lord Johnathan emerged from his own vehicle, immediately taking command of the Whitlock forces.

Owen’s elite security teams moved with military precision, spreading out in strategic formations around the clearing.

Years of training under the former military commander showed in their coordinated movements as they established defensive positions.

Around them, elite guards from both sides stood frozen, weapons forgotten as they stared upward.

Dark Haven’s professional soldiers, chosen for their discipline and power, swayed on their feet as Luca’s energy pulsed through the clearing.

New Vale’s own forces weren’t faring much better, their various supernatural abilities flickering and surging in response to the prince’s presence.

Through the chaos, Alan’s crystal tablet recorded everything, his hands shaking with academic excitement even as Edmund tried to pull him to safety.

“The resonance patterns!” Alan gasped, dodging Sebastian’s annoyed glare as he zoomed in on Luca’s floating form.

“We must document this for posterity!” Behind him, Dr. Stevens and Dr. Xu were already setting up emergency medical arrays, their professional focus unwavering.

Lady Helena clutched a case of ancient blood to her chest, her usual enthusiasm replaced by grim determination. “A fated one cannot die!”

From the far side of the clearing, watching Luca’s suspended form, Zane’s massive silver-white wolf prowled with deadly grace. Zane’s frost-touched fur bristled as he watched their mate burning up his own life force above them.

Luca, Zane’s inner voice broke on the prince’s name, centuries of control shattering like ice in spring. Zane’s wolf clawed at his chest, desperate to reach Luca, to claim him, to save him. No more denying what Luca meant to them. No more hiding behind duty and protection. He’s ours.

Always has been, Ryker growled, lightning crackling around the middle brother in violent arcs that scorched the ground at his feet.

Ryker’s storm-gray eyes never left Luca’s suspended form.

They’d wasted so much time fighting their feelings, pretending Luca was just their brother to protect.

The air around Ryker grew thick with ozone as his power responded to his anguish.

And we’re about to lose him before— Archer’s thought choked off through their bond, the pain of it making all three brothers flinch.

Before they could show Luca how deeply he was loved.

Before they could worship the prince the way he deserved.

Before Luca knew he belonged to them as much as they belonged to him.

Then, like a candle guttering in wind, Luca’s light began to fade.

The prince’s small form started to fall, dark hair streaming like ink against the star-filled sky.

The brothers felt Luca’s consciousness slipping away through their bond—a sensation that made their wolves howl in despair, the sound echoing across the clearing with such anguish that even Dark Haven’s elite guards flinched.

Dominic’s wings unfurled with a sound like tearing silk, each massive span casting shadows that seemed to devour the remaining light.

Darkness streamed behind Dominic as he launched himself upward, moving with the lethal grace that made him one of Dark Haven’s most feared lords.

Dominic’s fangs extended, reaching for what was THEIRS, gleaming like black diamonds in the fading radiance of Luca’s power.

Archer! Zane’s command carried an alpha’s power and a mate’s desperation, frost spreading from his feet in killing waves that crystallized the very air. Get him!

Three massive wolves launched themselves from the ground in perfect synchronization—Zane’s silver-white form wreathed in killing frost, Ryker’s dark-blond fur crackling with storm energy, and Archer’s golden coat blazing with solar light.

As they reached the apex of their leap, Archer shifted in a blur of golden power, his human form continuing upward as his brothers provided covering fire from below.

Archer’s arms caught Luca just as the prince’s unconscious form began to fall, cradling Luca against his chest with desperate gentleness.

Luca’s nightshirt billowed around them like broken wings as gravity tried to reclaim them both.

Through their bond, Luca’s weakening heartbeat felt like physical pain, each fading pulse making their wolves howl in shared agony.

Zane and Ryker’s combined attack—arctic frost and chain lightning—slammed into Dominic’s darkness with apocalyptic force.

Reality itself seemed to scream as their powers collided, the very ground beneath them buckling.

Ancient trees groaned as waves of conflicting magic tore through their roots, frost and lightning and darkness fighting for dominance.

But the momentary distraction cost them.

Dominic’s darkness lashed out like solid shadow, wrapping around Archer as he held Luca protectively against his chest. Archer twisted midair, using his body to shield the prince as writhing tendrils of pure darkness tried to tear Luca from his arms. Luca’s skin burned fever-hot where it pressed against Archer, the prince’s power flickering erratically between them like a dying star.

“You can’t have him,” Archer snarled, solar light blazing from his skin as he tightened his hold on Luca’s small form. Below, his brothers’ wolves circled with lethal grace, their power creating a defensive barrier of frost and lightning around their fallen mate and brother.

“You can’t even protect him properly,” Dominic sneered, his wings spreading wider until they blocked out the stars themselves. Dominic’s voice carried centuries of aristocratic contempt as he added, “Too consumed by your own forbidden desires. I can smell the shame on you.”

“No more shame.” Zane’s frost exploded outward with the force of an arctic blast, catching Dominic’s left wing.

Ice crackled up the dark appendage with a sound like breaking glass, freezing it solid.

Zane’s voice carried the weight of an alpha’s declaration as he added, “No more hiding what he means to us.”

“He’s ours.” Ryker’s lightning shattered the frozen wing, the crack of thunder drawing a howl of rage from Dominic that shook the clearing. Storm clouds gathered overhead, responding to Ryker’s fury as he stated with deadly calm, “And we’re done pretending otherwise.”

More Dark Haven vampires poured through the weakened barrier, their combined darkness filling the clearing like oil on water.

Thirty elite guards moved with lethal grace, spreading out in combat formations that spoke of centuries of military training.

The air grew thick with forbidden magic as they began a blood ritual that had been banned since the First Wars, their synchronized movements creating patterns of dark energy that made the ground beneath them bleed.

Near the barrier’s edge, Percy and his friends tried to flee the chaos, their boots slipping on frost-covered ground.

Sebastian’s lip curled in disgust as he watched his former noble scramble away like common prey.

“You dare betray your own kind?” Black fire erupted from Sebastian’s hands, the flames so dark they seemed to consume the night itself. “For this?”

Dark Haven’s forces surged forward with military precision, caring nothing for the traitors in their path.

Burt’s scream cut off as corrupted magic tore through him, his body twisting grotesquely before dissolving into ash that scattered on the wind.

Clive made it three steps before Sebastian’s black fire caught him, the flames erasing his betrayal from existence with methodical fury.

Percy’s own cry of terror turned to agony as he was caught between Sebastian’s judgment and Dark Haven’s dark magic, Percy’s body crumpling, then dissolving—a fitting end for one who’d forgotten the meaning of honor.