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T hat was the absolute last thing I expected to leave her mouth, but also, now everything makes sense. “Is this what the fuck's been wrong with you two lately?” I ask, turning to the twins. The twins who don't look as happy as they should about having found their fated mate.

Dolos nods, but Eris looks to draw even deeper within himself.

We're all just standing here, but no one is saying anything.

“What the hell is going on? What's wrong with you?” I nearly roar, my irritation at their strange behavior peaking.

“Nothing,” is all Eris grunts, and Dolos just shakes his head at him.

I point my finger at him. “Listen here, I don’t know what crawled up your ass, or what your problem is, but you better figure it out,” I bark.

“I can go,” Runa says lightly with Leera by her side.

“You've done nothing wrong. Do you know why they're acting like this?” I ask her, trying to remember not to growl at her for something that isn’t her fault.

Eris rises and begins to stomp out of the room, causing me to bark at him, “Sit your lousy-attitude-ass down,” and he does.

Runa nods but continues, “They've apparently got some personal stuff they need to work through, and so do I…” she trails off, but I can hear the pain of rejection in her voice.

So help me Goddess, if my own men put my sister through that kind of pain, I will maul them myself. I know they always joked about never wanting a mate, but no one ever thought they were serious. “If that's how you two are going to be, then you don't deserve—"

“It's not like that,” Dolos interrupts, now rising to his feet.

“Well, it's obviously like something, isn't it?” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Until I'm sure you can appreciate her and treat her the way she deserves, Runa is off limits—"

“Roman!” Leera and my sister shout in unison, both planting their hands on their hips. It surprises them, and they stop and turn to look at each other before smiling, in turn making me smile.

Leera approaches me. “Roman, honey, don't you think we should stay out of their business?” She looks around to our family.

I tilt my head to the side in mock contemplation before smiling at her and replying, “Nope,” making sure to pop the “P" for a dramatic effect. “If they're going to treat their mate this way, who happens to be my little sister, then no. When they've buttoned up whatever their problem is, I'll consider it.”

Leera shakes her head at me but doesn't push it further.

“You really don't have to do that. I can handle myself just fine. I have been for almost seven hundred years,” Runa scolds me, also crossing her arms over her chest.

Again, I tilt my head back and forth as if weighing my thoughts. “While that may be the case, it never would have happened. I would have taken care of you, and that's what I'm going to do now. Those idiots will figure it out. They always do. But I'm not letting you deal with their bullshit in the meantime.”

At that, Eris does stomp out of the room, grumbling all the way. Dolos is hot on his heels but does stop to look me in the eye. “He's got some shit he needs to work through,” he vaguely explains before turning to Runa. “Roman's not wrong, you deserve the world, and I'll make sure you get it.” He takes her hand and plants a soft kiss on her knuckles before taking off after his brother.

“Well…this is fun!” Khaos says to everyone and no one in particular.

“Has anyone else found their mate that I should know about?” I ask in jest as I scrub my hand down my face.

Benny approaches and wraps his arms around my shoulder, “Nah, Boss, I'm still all yours,” and we all break into laughter, even Runa.

“Hey, are you okay?” Leera asks her, and my sister nods. “Yeah, it's…it's just been a lot.”

Leera soothes her and begins to lead her towards our room. “I can only imagine. Did you know that I didn't even know I was a werewolf…”

I can hear their voices trailing off, and I hope those two become friends. It would seem that was everyone's cue that we’ve discussed everything we needed to for the time being. Everyone rises and heads in different directions, leaving Khaos and me in the living room.

Thankful that Matilda left it out, I make my way to the whiskey for a much larger glass.

“Don't you have practice later?” he laughs.

I hold the decanter in the air towards him, silently asking if he'd like some himself, and he nods.

I fill the glasses and return with them and plop back down onto the couch after handing Khaos his. “Yeah, I do, but I'll never get through it if I put everyone through a wall,” I grumble, taking a generous gulp of the smooth Zabellan whiskey.

Khaos does the same and shakes his head. “Everything went from routine to complicated real fucking quick, didn't it?”

I don't even answer him. He knows. I raise my glass, and he brings his to meet mine, clinking them together.