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A knock at the door saved Alan from further awkward explanations. Archer’s golden head poked in, his signature sunny smile lighting up the room. “There’s my favorite patient! Ready to break out of this fancy prison, precious?”

The way he said ‘precious’ made my toes curl. The brothers had been using that endearment all week, along with ‘little bat’ and other pet names that definitely didn’t sound brotherly anymore. Not that I was complaining.

“Yes!” I practically bounced off the bed. “Get me out of here before Alan tries to explain more ‘power resonance patterns’ or Dr. Stevens finds another ancient blood test to run.”

“Aww, but I thought you loved our daily science chats,” Archer teased, strolling in with a garment bag that probably contained another designer outfit Sylvie had picked out.

His golden light filled the room, making Alan’s research crystals chime excitedly.

“Though I see our favorite researcher is still recording every breath you take.”

Alan clutched his tablet protectively. “The resonance patterns are fascinating! The way his power interfaces with?—”

“And that’s our cue to leave,” I announced, grabbing the garment bag from Archer. “Before you start drawing diagrams again.”

Archer’s laugh was pure sunshine. “Go change, precious. Zane’s already terrorizing the discharge nurse with paperwork, and Ryker’s programming the car’s protection wards to ridiculous levels.”

I rolled my eyes. “They do know I’m fine now, right?”

“Try telling that to their wolves.” Archer’s smile softened into something that made my heart flutter. “We almost lost you, little bat. Give us some time to be a bit… overprotective.”

Something in his voice made me pause on my way to the bathroom. The playfulness had slipped just enough to reveal an edge of… what? Fear? Possession? Before I could analyze it further, his sunny smile was back.

“Though if you take too long getting ready, Zane might actually freeze the entire hospital wing. He’s been extra frosty since you said the nurses’ uniforms were cute.”

I stuck my tongue out at him. “I said their stethoscopes were cute. They had little bat wings!”

“Tell that to his wolf.” Archer sprawled elegantly in the visitor’s chair, somehow making hospital furniture look like a throne. “Now go change before Ryker adds a seventh layer of lightning wards to the car.”

In the bathroom, I found yet another perfectly coordinated outfit that screamed vampire prince —a lavender sweater, paired with designer black jeans that would make any anime hero jealous.

A note in Sylvie’s elegant handwriting fell out.

Because hospital gowns are SO last season.

Also, the boots are spelled against floating accidents. You’re welcome! ? Sylvie.

I couldn’t help smiling. Trust fashion-conscious Sylvie to think of practical magic while still maintaining the aesthetic.

When I emerged, Archer was entertaining himself by making Alan’s research crystals play what sounded suspiciously like K-pop.

“How did you—” Alan spluttered, frantically tapping his tablet.

“Hunter might have mentioned your musical preferences.” Archer winked at me. “Ready to go, precious? Before my brothers decide to?—”

A knock interrupted him.

“Too late.” I sighed. “They’re here.”

The door swung open to reveal Zane and Ryker, both looking unfairly gorgeous in suits.

“The discharge papers are done,” Zane announced, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “Though the doctors insisted on weekly checkups.”

“Daily,” Ryker corrected, moving to take my overnight bag. “Lady Helena was quite specific about monitoring your… recovery.”

The way he hesitated on that last word made me narrow my eyes. “My recovery from what, exactly? Since no one will tell me what actually happened that night.”

All three brothers suddenly found different corners of the room fascinating. Even Alan’s tablet seemed to droop guiltily.

“Look at the time!” Archer broke the awkward silence with forced cheer. “We should get going before the paparazzi realize you’re being discharged. Unless you want to star in more viral videos?”

“Oh, you mean like the ones where you three went all alpha warrior on those Dark Haven vampires?” I couldn’t resist teasing. “The comments section is very… appreciative of your fighting skills.”

Three pairs of eyes fixed on me with an intensity that definitely wasn’t brotherly.

“You’ve been watching those videos?” Ryker’s voice dropped an octave.

“Reading the comments too?” Zane stepped closer, his expression darkening.

“Did you have a favorite part?” Archer’s usual playful tone had turned predatory.

Oh, for the love of all things nocturnal. Maybe teasing three alpha wolves wasn’t my best idea.

“Would you look at that!” I grabbed my bag from Ryker. “Time to go home! Alan, it’s been fun. Try not to faint into any more ancient artifacts!”

The drive through New Vale was… interesting.

Every electronic billboard seemed to be playing clips from that evening, most edited to look like superhero movie trailers.

One particularly dramatic version had “ALPHA ZANE WHITLOCK” flash across the screen in ice-crystal letters as he commanded frost storms, followed by “ALPHA RYKER WHITLOCK” in crackling lightning font during his attack sequence.

“Oh look, they even added special effects to Archer’s solar blast,” I pointed out, trying not to laugh at Archer’s pained expression beside me. His arm was draped casually over my shoulders, and he’d somehow managed to take up most of the back seat despite it being just the two of us back here.

“Please don’t encourage them,” Archer groaned, his fingers absently playing with a strand of my hair. “The fan crowds outside Whitlock Tower are bad enough. We’ve had to use the Satos’ invisibility charms just to get in and out.”

“The same ones you use to skip meetings?” Zane’s dry voice came from the front passenger seat.

“That was ONE time!”

“This week,” Ryker added from behind the wheel.

Another billboard showed Sebastian and his commanders in action, black fire cutting through darkness while their names flashed in gothic script.

Even the Council Elders got the superhero treatment—Lady Victoria’s celestial light and Lord Thanatos’ death magic looking particularly impressive with added visual effects.

“At least they edited out the part where Alan fainted,” I offered helpfully, trying to ignore how Archer’s warmth seemed to seep through my entire side.

“Three times.” Archer snickered against my ear. “Though the fan blogs are already writing fictional versions of what happened. My favorite is the one where I supposedly caught you while doing a triple backflip.”

“Better than the one claiming Ryker summoned an actual thunder god,” Zane muttered.

“I liked that one.” Ryker smirked, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. “Very creative.”

As we approached Whitlock Tower, I understood why they needed those invisibility charms. The entire block was packed with supernatural beings of every species.

Wolf shifters held up signs declaring their undying love for Zane’s frost powers.

Vampire nobles swooned over Sebastian’s dark fire sequences.

There was even a group of kitsune doing a choreographed dance to what appeared to be a fan-made music video of the fight.

“Is that… K-pop?” I squinted at a massive screen where someone had set the fight footage to a catchy beat.

“Hunter’s work.” Archer sighed. “He’s very proud of it. Hit a million views in two hours.”

Ryker activated the Sato charm as we turned into the private entrance.

The air shimmered around our car like heat waves, making the enthusiastic crowd’s eyes slide right past us.

A group of young vampires nearly pressed against our window without seeing us, all wearing t-shirts with “WHITLOCK ALPHAS PROTECTION SQUAD” printed in glittering frost patterns.

“The merchandise is new,” Zane noted dryly. “Though I suppose it’s better than the body pillows.”

“The what?” I choked.

“Don’t ask,” all three brothers said in unison.

The private garage was blessedly quiet after the chaos outside. But as soon as we stepped into the elevator, I caught the unmistakable scent of Aunt Senna’s cupcakes.

“They’re throwing a party, aren’t they?”

Archer’s sunny smile returned. “Would you expect anything less?”

The elevator doors opened to an explosion of blue and silver decorations.

A “Welcome Home Luca” banner floated near the ceiling.

Hunter had apparently rigged every screen in the penthouse to play his K-pop fight video on loop.

And in the center of it all stood my entire family, plus what seemed like half the supernatural elite of New Vale.

“WELCOME HOME!” The chorus of voices was almost deafening.

Aunt Senna rushed forward first, a crystal glass of something that smelled divine in her hands. “Blood-infused champagne, sweetheart. And I made sure all the drinks have those little lavender heart straws you love.”

I took a sip—it tasted like starlight and bubbles, with just a hint of O negative. Perfect.

The twins bounded over next. Sylvie was practically vibrating with excitement. “Do you like the decorations?”

“And wait till you see the drink menu,” Hunter added proudly. “We have every blood type mixed with everything from coffee to bubble tea. Even got those blood-pop candies you can dissolve in drinks!”

Alpha Blackthorn and his commanders had claimed one corner, their aristocratic bearing slightly undermined by the fact that Alpha Edmund was clutching what appeared to be a blood smoothie with two lavender straws.

Even Lady Helena was here, though she kept trying to sneak readings with a crystal when she thought no one was looking.

Great Uncle Johnathan stood by the window, watching the celebration with fond amusement. When our eyes met, his smile carried centuries of affection. “Welcome home, little bat.”

The brothers stayed close as I made my rounds, a protective triangle that somehow managed to be both reassuring and slightly intimidating.

Every time someone got too close, one of them would casually shift position until they were between me and the potential threat—which apparently included the potted plants Archer claimed were “looking suspicious.”

“They do realize I’m not made of glass, right?” I whispered to Sylvie after Zane actually growled at a floating decoration that drifted too near my head.

Sylvie’s eyes sparkled with something that looked suspiciously like knowledge. “Oh, they realize a lot of things now…”

Lord Richard Blackthorn materialized near the drink station, looking as perfectly composed as ever despite the chaos of the party. “The ancient blood seems to have done its work,” he observed, watching me sip my champagne. “Though my dear Helena insists on continued monitoring.”

Speaking of Lady Helena, she was currently arguing with Lady Victoria Lionheart and Lord Thanatos Shadowmere about proper observation protocols. “The resonance patterns are crucial to understanding—” she insisted, while both elders looked like they’d rather be anywhere else.

“Aunt Helena,” Alpha Blackthorn said, “perhaps we could discuss research methods at a more appropriate time?”

“But the power readings?—”

“Are stable,” Uncle Owen cut in smoothly, appearing with more blood-infused drinks. His military training showed in the way he’d positioned himself between me and the enthusiastic researcher. “As confirmed by multiple tests.”

The party continued in a whirl of familiar faces and fancy blood cocktails. The brothers remained my constant shadows, their presence both thrilling and comforting. When the constant attention and Hunter’s K-pop fight video marathon finally became overwhelming, I slipped out to the rooftop garden.

The night air was crisp, carrying the scents of the city below.

From up here, I could see the crowds still gathered around Whitlock Tower, their excitement a tangible energy.

Electronic billboards continued to play clips from that night, turning New Vale’s skyline into a highlight reel of supernatural power.

But none of that mattered as much as the three presences that joined me, their familiar scents wrapping around me like the world’s most possessive security blanket.

“Needed some air, precious?” Archer’s breath ghosted across my neck, making me shiver.

“The view helps,” I managed, hyperaware of Ryker’s heat against my back, his fingers tracing idle patterns on my hip that sent electricity through my veins.

Zane stepped in front of me, and my fangs ached at his proximity. His scent—midnight and starlight—wrapped around me, making my head spin. When his thumb brushed my bottom lip, my whole body trembled.

I didn’t think. Couldn’t think. I just rose on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his. His sharp intake of breath was my only warning before his hand tangled in my hair, tilting my head back. The kiss tasted like frost and need, making me whimper.

Ryker’s grip tightened on my hip, spinning me around. His kiss was different—all lightning and storm winds that left me gasping. Then Archer’s hands caught my waist, his mouth claiming mine with playful heat that made my knees weak.

My body hummed with an energy I didn’t understand. Every place they touched felt like sparks against my skin. The word ‘mine’ pounded through my blood like a drum, primitive and demanding, though I couldn’t understand why.

What was this pull? Why did it feel like they belonged to me when we hadn’t even talked about what we were to each other?

Below us, New Vale sparkled like a jewel box of supernatural life. In the penthouse, family and friends celebrated my return. But here, surrounded by three alphas who made my blood sing with something ancient and unknowable, I felt the beginning of something both thrilling and terrifying.

The questions swirled like snow in a storm, but for now, I let myself sink into their embrace. Tomorrow I’d worry about what this meant—these feelings that felt bigger than attraction, this possessiveness I couldn’t explain.

Tonight, I just wanted to stay in this moment, even if I didn’t understand why it felt like destiny.