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“Say it again,” Zane’s voice promised death, frost spreading from his feet in killing waves. Zane’s wolf was fully present in his eyes now, turning them to molten silver. “Dare to claim what’s ours one more time.”

The brothers’ combined howl shook the clearing, carrying a clear message that made even the elders step back: touch Luca again, and there would be nothing left of Dark Haven to retreat.

The sound echoed across the battlefield like a supernatural warning bell, making the remaining Dark Haven forces quicken their retreat.

The brothers gathered around Luca’s unconscious form. The prince’s power had settled to a gentle pulse, like starlight under his skin, responding to their proximity. Through their bond, they felt Luca’s heartbeat strengthen, each beat more steady than the last.

“We’re here, precious,” Archer whispered, cradling Luca closer. Archer’s solar magic wrapped around the prince protectively, golden light mixing with Luca’s own radiance. Dried blood stained Luca’s white nightshirt where Dominic’s darkness had touched him, making Archer’s power flare possessively.

“Move, move!” Lady Helena rushed forward, clutching her case of ancient blood.

“He needs this immediately!” Her usual academic enthusiasm was replaced by urgent professionalism as she knelt beside Luca.

Dr. Stevens and Dr. Xu flanked Lady Helena, their medical arrays already scanning Luca’s weakened form.

“His power levels are critically low,” Dr. Xu reported, crystal readings flashing urgent warnings. “The darkness has contaminated his energy pathways.”

“The ancient blood should counteract that,” Dr. Stevens added, helping Lady Helena prepare the ornate goblet. “But we must act quickly.”

Alan hovered nearby, his tablet recording everything despite his obvious struggle to remain upright in Luca’s presence. “The resonance patterns between their magics are extraordinary,” Alan whispered reverently. “The way their powers are supporting his life force…”

Zane growled softly, frost spreading beneath his feet, but allowed Lady Helena close enough to press the goblet to Luca’s lips.

Zane’s frost-touched fingers traced Luca’s cheek with infinite gentleness.

“No more running from what we feel.” Zane’s wolf remained present in his eyes, watching their mate with desperate intensity.

“The ancient blood is responding to him,” Lady Helena breathed, watching the liquid shimmer with unusual patterns. “Just like in the texts about fated ones…”

“No more pretending,” Ryker added, his hand finding Luca’s free one. Small sparks danced between their joined fingers, Ryker’s storm magic recognizing its mate even in Luca’s unconscious state. The medical arrays chimed in response to their connected power.

“He needs to be moved to the hospital immediately,” Dr. Xu announced, her medical arrays flashing urgent data. “The ancient blood is helping, but he requires full medical support.”

The evening settled into an uneasy quiet, broken only by the sound of council forces securing the area.

Lady Victoria’s light systematically purified the corrupted ground, each pulse of celestial power erasing Dark Haven’s taint.

Lord Thanatos moved through the shadows, ensuring no trace of dark magic remained while Sebastian’s commanders disposed of the shattered crystals, their black fire reducing the corrupted shards to ash.

But the brothers paid no attention to the cleanup.

Their entire world had narrowed to Luca’s small form and the steady strengthening of his presence in their bond.

They’d almost lost him before they could tell him the truth.

They wouldn’t waste another moment hiding their feelings.

Luca was theirs. And when he woke, they’d make sure he knew exactly what that meant.

“The medical transport is ready,” Dr. Stevens said, already programming the vehicle’s enhancement runes for emergency power levels.

“Your wolves are showing, nephews.” Lord Johnathan’s dry voice cut through their protective haze. Despite the battle’s chaos, not a hair was out of place in Lord Johnathan’s perfect appearance. “Perhaps we should get our precious fated one somewhere safe before you three start marking territory?”

The brothers exchanged glances. They’d arrived in wolf form, which meant…

“We’ll escort the transport,” Zane declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. Frost spread beneath his feet as he watched Lady Helena’s team prepare to move Luca.

“Edmund, James,” Sebastian called to his commanders. “Take point position. Full protective formation around that transport.”

Archer gathered Luca closer, careful not to disturb the medical equipment Dr. Xu had attached. Archer’s golden light wrapped around Luca protectively as they moved toward the waiting transport.

Inside the medical vehicle, Luca remained cradled in Archer’s arms while Lady Helena and her team continued their treatment.

Ryker sat beside them, monitoring Luca’s every breath through their strengthening bond.

Zane took position near Luca’s head, his frost-touched fingers never leaving the prince’s skin.

Alan stumbled into the transport after them, still recording despite swaying on his feet. “The resonance patterns during transport will be fascinating! The way their powers are interacting with the medical equipment…”

“Perhaps,” Sebastian suggested dryly from outside, “someone should ensure our enthusiastic researcher doesn’t faint onto our patient?”

The medical transport moved swiftly through New Vale’s emergency lanes, its enhanced engines humming with spelled power.

Council vehicles flanked them in protective formation, their crystalline warning lights cutting through the late evening.

Inside, the brothers’ power created a protective cocoon around Luca’s unconscious form, their magic twining with his in ways that made Alan’s recording crystals chime with excitement.

“His readings are stabilizing,” Dr. Xu reported, studying the hovering medical arrays. “The ancient blood is counteracting the darkness.”

“Though these power surges are extraordinary,” Dr. Stevens added, adjusting another set of readings.

“Focus on the patient, not the research opportunity,” Lady Helena chided, though her own eyes sparkled as she watched the brothers’ magic dance with Luca’s pure light. “Though I must say, the resonance patterns are exactly as described in the ancient texts about fated bonds…”

Three pairs of glowing eyes fixed on Lady Helena, making the temperature in the transport fluctuate wildly between frost and lightning-charged heat.

“The hospital entrance has been cleared,” Lord Johnathan’s voice came through the transport’s communication crystal, providing a timely interruption.

“Good,” Zane growled. Zane’s wolf remained close to the surface, tracking Luca’s every breath through their strengthening bond.

Archer’s arms tightened protectively around Luca as the transport slowed.

Lightning crackled softly around Ryker’s hands as he prepared to move. “Anyone who interferes…”

“Yes, yes.” Lady Helena waved off the implied threat. “Terrible death, eternal suffering, frozen lightning under a golden sun. Now, shall we get our patient inside?”

The Whitlock Memorial Hospital’s private emergency entrance was eerily quiet, the usual bustle of supernatural activity silenced by Lord Johnathan’s evacuation order. Only essential medical staff remained, their movements careful and precise as the transport doors opened.

Alan stumbled out first, somehow still recording. “The power readings during transport were extraordinary! The way their magics created a protective matrix around—” Alan swayed dangerously, caught by James before he could face-plant into the pavement.

“Perhaps,” Edmund suggested dryly, “we should focus on getting Prince Luca settled before our enthusiastic researcher requires medical attention himself?”

The brothers moved as one unit, Archer carrying Luca while Zane and Ryker flanked them protectively. Their combined power made the hospital’s spelled lights flicker wildly—frost creeping along walls, lightning dancing across security wards, and golden light making shadows retreat.

Other supernatural beings pressed themselves against corridor walls as the group passed, many dropping into instinctive bows. Luca’s power, even unconscious, called to their most ancient instincts, while the brothers’ protective fury made their wolves visible in their eyes.

“The private suite is ready,” Dr. Stevens announced, hurrying ahead to prepare the medical equipment. “We’ve enhanced the wards specifically for—” He paused as three pairs of glowing eyes fixed on him. “Right. This way.”

The private suite took up an entire corner of the supernatural wing, its walls covered in protective runes that hummed with power.

Dr. Xu’s medical arrays were already floating in precise formation, while ancient artifacts from Lady Helena’s personal collection hovered, ready to monitor Luca’s condition.

“Place him here.” Lady Helena gestured to a bed covered in spelled silk. “Carefully now.”

Archer lowered Luca onto the bed with infinite gentleness but didn’t step back. None of the brothers did. Their power continued to wrap around Luca protectively, making it impossible for anyone else to approach.

“Boys.” Lady Helena’s voice carried centuries of authority. “I cannot treat him if you’re snarling at everyone who comes near.”

“We’re not—” Archer began, then noticed the frost spreading across the floor from Zane’s feet, the lightning dancing along Ryker’s arms, and his own golden light making shadows retreat. “Oh.”

“The council will need a full report,” Sebastian observed from the doorway, his aristocratic features carefully neutral. “And we should discuss security arrangements regarding Dark Haven’s actions.”

The brothers growled in perfect harmony, making several pieces of medical equipment short out.

“Or,” Lord Johnathan cut in smoothly from where he’d materialized by the window, “you could let these fine medical professionals do their jobs while maintaining guard from a slightly less… intimidating distance? One that doesn’t involve freezing vital equipment?”

“Three feet,” Zane growled, frost still creeping along the baseboards. “No more.”

“And we stay in the room,” Ryker added, lightning crackling softly around his clenched fists.

“And if anyone even thinks about taking blood samples without our permission…” Archer’s golden light pulsed with clear warning.

“Yes, yes.” Lady Helena waved off their threats with the confidence of someone who’d been handling supernatural alphas for centuries. “You’ll tear the hospital apart and possibly start a war with Dark Haven. Now, let the doctors see the patient.”

Dr. Xu approached cautiously with her medical arrays, while Dr. Stevens prepared more ancient blood under Lady Helena’s supervision. Alan, who had somehow slipped back into the room, swayed dangerously as he tried to record everything.

“Perhaps,” Sebastian suggested from his position by the door, “we should limit the research team to those who can remain conscious in his presence?”

The brothers reluctantly stepped back the agreed-upon three feet, their power still creating a protective barrier around Luca’s bed. Medical staff moved cautiously around them, like prey animals trying not to startle apex predators.

“His power levels are stabilizing,” Dr. Xu reported, her medical arrays displaying complex patterns of light. “The ancient blood is successfully purging the darkness from his system.”

“These readings are extraordinary,” Dr. Stevens added, helping Lady Helena prepare another dose. “The way their magics are supporting his life force…”

Alan stumbled closer to get a better angle. “The resonance patterns between their powers are exactly like the ancient texts described! Though significantly more intense with three—” Alan swayed dramatically as Luca’s power pulsed gently.

James caught Alan before he could collapse onto the medical equipment. “Perhaps we should document from a safer distance?”

“But the readings—” Alan protested weakly as Edmund helped James guide him toward the door.

“Can be recorded without you fainting onto the patient,” Sebastian finished dryly.

Luca’s power suddenly flared, pure light reaching instinctively for the brothers.

Medical equipment sparked and shorted out as their magics responded instantly, rushing to meet Luca’s.

Frost, lightning, and solar light merged with Luca’s radiance, creating patterns in the air that made Lady Helena’s artifacts chime with recognition.

“Extraordinary,” Lady Helena breathed, watching the magic dance. “The resonance patterns are exactly as the ancient texts described for a true fated bond but amplified by—” She caught herself as three pairs of glowing eyes fixed on her. “Perhaps we should focus on immediate treatment plans?”

“Little bat?” Zane was beside Luca instantly, three-foot rule forgotten. Frost spread across the silk sheets as Zane took Luca’s small hand in his. Through their bond, they felt Luca’s consciousness stirring, reaching for them with increasing urgency.

“We’re here, precious.” Archer’s voice cracked as he moved to Luca’s other side, golden light wrapping around the prince protectively. Archer’s usual playful smile was nowhere to be seen as he watched Luca’s face for any sign of distress.

Ryker completed their protective circle, lightning dancing between his fingers as he touched Luca’s cheek with infinite gentleness. “You’re safe now,” Ryker promised softly, storm clouds gathering outside the hospital windows in response to his emotions.

Luca’s power pulsed stronger, making every supernatural being in the room catch their breath. Lady Helena’s artifacts spun faster, recording data with increasing urgency as the magic in the air grew thick enough to taste.

“The readings are off the charts,” Lady Helena whispered, her professional detachment cracking as she watched pure light wrap around the brothers like a lover’s caress. “The resonance patterns suggest?—”

Luca’s eyes flew open, glowing with pure power that turned the hospital suite into midday. The prince’s first whispered word made the brothers’ wolves howl with desperate joy.

“Mine.”

Alan, who had somehow snuck back into the room, whispered reverently to his tablet, “And thus concludes the most extraordinary supernatural event ever recorded in New Vale’s history.

” Alan swayed slightly, overwhelmed by the combined power in the room.

“Though perhaps we should edit out the part where I fainted. Three times.”