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Knock, knock.

"Come in," Zara’s voice called from inside.

Alaric Storm turned the knob and stepped in.

It wasn’t hard to spot Zara Storm. She was seated by the window, a cigarette in hand, deep in conversation with someone on the other end of her call.

Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she smiled, quickly stubbing out the cigarette and pulling the phone away from her mouth to whisper, "Just a minute. I’ll be done soon, son. "

Alaric knew how that went. A minute would probably turn into an hour. He didn’t bother waiting. Instead, he left to look for his father.

He glanced around the room his parents had been given for their brief stay today, and it had been completely transformed. What was supposed to be a guest room looked more like a home office. Scratch that. Their "real" home, which was basically their office. If you knew his parents, you’d get it.

Papers and documents were strewn everywhere. Prototypes and design sheets cluttered every surface. Alaric’s frown deepened. They brought work to Parents’ Week?

He shouldn’t have been surprised. This was who they were. He’d always known that. And yet, for some reason, today it pissed him off. Was it too much to ask for one day? One day when they put everything else aside and focused on him? Wasn’t he worth that?

Maybe it was his own fault. He’d set them up in a fully functional room, complete with all the equipment they needed to keep working. Deep down, he’d always known this was exactly how it would turn out, even if he hadn’t wanted to admit it.

It didn’t take long to find Alpha Caspian. His father was in the adjoining room, a phone wedged between his ear and his shoulder, holding a report up to the light as he scrutinized it.

"Alaric! You’re here!" Caspian called out happily, moving to hug him only to realize both his hands were full.

"Oops, sorry about that," he apologized awkwardly, fumbling to set something down but hesitating, clearly torn between the phone and the report in his hands.

He chose the report, but since he was still on the call, he got distracted and started stuttering his replies.

The report must have been important too, because he hesitated, glancing around, clearly unsure where to put it.

Alaric didn’t bother responding. He just shook his head in exasperation, his eyes scanning the room and noticing all the new setups that hadn’t been there before.

"You shouldn’t have bothered coming if you were this busy," he said bitterly.

Caspian immediately picked up on the sharp edge in his tone and the way Alaric’s eyes lingered on the work-filled room. He ended the call at once.

Caspian approached him tentatively. "The match isn’t happening until this evening, and your mother and I thought we’d get a little work done in the meantime," he explained, sounding guilty.

"Yeah. Obviously." Alaric’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

Caspian blinked, caught off guard by the anger simmering in his son’s tone. "Alaric, what’s wrong? Do you want to talk? I swear, just say the word and your mother will drop everything and give you her full attention."

Alaric wanted to snap—grudgingly—that it wasn’t worth bothering, but then Violet was important. This was a conversation he actually needed to have, and for once, he wanted his parents to know about her. So, with clear reluctance, he gave in.

"Yes. We need to talk."

Caspian’s nod was tight, his whole posture shifting. Nothing terrified him more than when Alaric said he "needed to talk." He stiffened, then lifted his head and bellowed toward the other room, "Honey, it’s code red!"

"Oh God," Alaric groaned, dragging a hand down his face as the familiar dread hit him. They still used that ridiculous system to classify his problems. What was he? Ten?

"What? Code red?" Zara shouted from the other room, her hurried footsteps echoing as she rushed over. "Dear God. Who did he nearly electrocute to death this time?"

Alaric glared at her as she arrived. "I didn’t electrocute anybody, okay? I just want to talk with my parents..." He sighed heavily. "...Like normal people do."

Caspian and Zara exchanged a long, pointed look.

"This is serious," Zara said, her voice taking on that mock-gravity tone.

She eased herself onto the elevated stool and gestured. "Alright, honey, talk. We are all ears."

"Yes, talk. We are here for you," Caspian added, smiling dotingly at his wife, one hand massaging her back as he stood beside her.

"Thank God," Alaric muttered, genuinely relieved. He took a deep breath and started, "It’s about Elsie. The thing is—"

His mother’s phone rang, cutting him off.

Zara immediately declined the call. "Don’t worry. Go on. This is a me-and-you moment. Nothing’s coming between us."

To be fair, Alaric’s heart fluttered a little. For once, his mother was putting him first, above work.

He opened his mouth again. "Elsie and I are no longer—"

The phone rang again.

"Holy shit!" Zara jumped to her feet, only to quickly apologize. "Fuck! Sorry for the language, but it’s the president!" She gave him a helpless look. "Alaric, darling, I love you, but I have to take this."

He shouldn’t have rejoiced so soon.

Alaric sighed. "Fine. Go."

"Thank you, sweetheart." Zara blew him an air kiss as she answered, already walking away. "Hello, Mr. President..."

And then it was just Alaric and Caspian. The silence between them felt... awkward, to say the least.

"I might not be as good at offering solutions as your mother," Caspian said, puffing out his chest a little, "but you can talk to me, son."

Right on cue, his phone started ringing.

"Ah, shit, it’s your brother, Ace. God knows what mess he’s in now." Caspian glanced up at Alaric, as if asking permission.

He didn’t need to ask. Alaric just waved him off with a resigned look.

"You’re the best son," Caspian said quickly, picking up the call. His next words were already spirited and animated as he dove into whatever new drama Ace had stirred up.

It wasn’t long before Zara came running back into the room, shouting, "Alaric, darling!"

Before Alaric could ask what was going on, she had already launched herself into his arms, pressing a long, smacking kiss on his cheek that left him completely flustered.

She said excitedly, "Remember that Thermal Cloak Suit you came up with? The one that completely masks the wearer’s scent and body heat, making them nearly invisible to a werewolf’s senses?

The president loved the prototype we sent.

He’s already asking us to start full development!

You are a genius!" She kissed him again, practically glowing.

"Oh." That was all Alaric managed, overwhelmed by both the news and his mother’s sudden outburst of affection.

"That’s good news I guess," Alaric added, torn between feeling proud and frustrated. He had no idea whether to stay mad at them for not listening earlier or just be happy for their success. This clearly seemed more important than his love life.

"Yes!" Caspian chimed in, beaming. "Did you hear that, Ace? The gods blessed your brother with both your mother’s and my brains."

Alaric frowned. He hated when his father made those comparisons. It only fueled the rivalry between him and Ace.

Then, as if suddenly remembering her son actually had concerns, Zara said quickly, "Ah, right! You were talking about something—Elsie, wasn’t it?

Don’t worry about that girl. You’ve got brains and money.

Who in their right mind wouldn’t want my boy?

" She rubbed her forehead affectionately against his, full of motherly pride.

She straightened and added confidently, "Elsie Lancaster is our kin and a pureblooded she-wolf. She knows what’s right and won’t forget her duties.

As for the match with your father, well, you know it’s just a drill.

Don’t stress. He’ll go easy on you." She patted his chest like she was wrapping things up. "That’s all."

She stepped back and smiled. "Now, your father and I have work to finish before the match starts. Unless, of course, you don’t mind helping out?"

"I’ll pass," Alaric muttered.