Lukas P.O.V
We finally returned home to the Baldwin Estate.
Leo had stayed behind, wrapped up in business as usual. He'd taken a liking to explaining his empire to me lately—saying that once Zois is named our father's successor, I'd still need to have something solid of my own. A foundation. A legacy.
I appreciated the thought… even if I wasn't entirely convinced. Business had never felt like my true path.
I managed to excuse myself from today's meeting with the HowlMoon Pack. They were coming to discuss a trade deal, but to me, they were just a noisy bunch with too many opinions and too little substance. Besides, I had more important things on my mind. Like Eila.
We arrived home just in time for the onslaught.
As soon as we stepped through the door, our mother—our regal Luna—descended on us like a hawk. Silver eyes sharp, arms crossed, posture graceful as always, but that maternal spark in her gaze gave her away. She wasn't Luna Priscilla in that moment. She was just Mom, waiting for her sons.
"Where have you two been? Don't tell me you've been hiding from me again," she said, eyeing us both suspiciously.
Zois sighed. I rubbed the back of my neck. We had long accepted that dodging her questions was a battle we'd never win.
"We weren't hiding," I said with my best innocent smile. "We were learning. Leo's been showing us the ropes of pack politics… and business, of course."
"Mmm-hmm," she replied, clearly unconvinced but amused nonetheless. "And what exactly did you learn today?"
We slid into our roles with practiced ease—the dutiful Baldwin heirs. We regaled her with tales of budgets and supply chains, of trade routes and territory negotiations. Technically all true.
Just not all of it.
What we didn't tell her was that we'd spent most of our day with Eila. That we'd stood beside her as she revealed a prophecy capable of breaking the world. That we'd promised her our loyalty, not as Baldwin heirs, but as her mates.
Instead, we focused on the meal laid out before us. Steak—perfectly seared. Garlic potatoes. Priscilla had gone all out, probably anticipating our return. She always did enjoy feeding us when she was in a good mood… or when she wanted something.
As I cut into my steak, Zois sent a silent message through our personal mind-link—the one only we could access. A gift from the Moon Goddess, we'd had it since birth. A bond no one, not even our father, could breach.
"Don't let her get suspicious," Zois warned.
"Not about Eila."
I didn't answer immediately. I chewed slowly, letting the flavors distract me from the fire that rose in my chest.
I wasn't going to let our mother suspect Eila.
But more importantly—I wasn't going to let her judge her again, either.
Whether our parents liked it or not, Eila Johnson wasn't going anywhere.
She would be our mate. Our Luna. Our wife. No amount of politics or old grudges would change that.
After dessert and tea, we stood to excuse ourselves. Father stopped us on our way out of the dining hall.
"The HowlMoon delegation arrives early tomorrow," he said with his usual clipped tone. "You two will be present."
"Yes, Father," we replied in unison.
"Learn everything you can. Time is slipping. Your responsibilities will soon become real."
I nodded, even if my heart wasn't in it. I knew Zois would take the reins one day. He was made for leadership. I… wasn't sure what I was made for. But I'd play along—for now.
Later that night, after a much-needed bath, I knocked on Zois's door.
"No need to knock. I'm coming over," he said through the mind-link.
A moment later, he was seated across from me in my room, freshly showered and already eyeing the bottle of wine I'd uncorked.
I handed him a glass. We sat in silence for a while, the fire in the hearth flickering quietly.
And then I said the words that had been circling in both our minds for days:
"I think we should mark her."
Zois didn't speak right away. But I saw the same storm in his eyes—the same tension pulling at his shoulders.
We both knew what it meant.
To mark Eila was to claim her publicly.
To tie her soul to ours in a way no prophecy, no Alpha, no curse could undo.
It was reckless.
It was bold.
But maybe… it was exactly what she needed to feel safe.
And exactly what we needed to finally breathe.