"You refused to go with Ronan on that short vacation," Lucien said, his voice low, almost gentle, as he leaned against the doorframe of her room. His dark eyes studied her face, not accusing, just searching. "And now, out of nowhere, you’re heading out on a date with Kieran today. I’m not against it, Leia. I just... want to understand what shifted."

"Umm... nothing really changed," she started, her cheeks warming a little. "The vacation thing... That would’ve taken me away from the pack for days. I’m not ready to be that far from everyone, from you guys, from Dad and Renzo. It felt wrong. But a date? That’s just a few hours. I’ll still be close."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, glancing down again. "Kieran asked me this morning, kind of out of the blue, if I’d like to go out with him today. Just us. And I said yes." A shy smile tugged at her lips. "Honestly... I’ve been the one holding back with him for a while. With you and Ronan, it’s different. I’m more open, I even look forward to where it’s going. It feels... natural."

She paused, biting her lip. "But with Kieran, it started as friendship. He’s always been so careful with me, so gentle. Sometimes I feel like he’s holding back because he doesn’t want to scare me off. And lately... I’ve realized he’s carrying a lot too. Especially with everything Grandma’s going through right now. He worries about her constantly, but he never complains. I just... I thought maybe he needs this as much as I do. A day where it’s just us, where he doesn’t have to be the strong one for everyone else."

She finally met Lucien’s eyes again, softer now. "So yeah. I want to go. For him. And... Maybe a little for me too."

"I’m glad you’re starting to let us in... slowly, like this," Lucien said, his voice quieter than usual, a small warmth in his eyes that he didn’t bother hiding.

Leia’s cheeks flushed just a little. She met his gaze, steady and sincere. "Well... you three are my family now," she said simply, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Then she glanced down, lifting her wrist to check the time. "Oh—no, I’m gonna be late. I should go."

She spun toward the door, but halfway there her feet slowed. She turned back, biting her lip. "Lucien... I’ll be home before dinner, okay?"

He gave a low hum, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Hmm. Go have fun."

Leia smiled and then she was gone, her light footsteps fading down the hall.

Lucien stood there a moment longer, running a hand through his already messy hair with a quiet exhale. Family. The word still felt new, fragile, but good.

He headed to the bathroom, splashed cold water on his face, threw on a dark shirt and jeans. No time for breakfast. There was something more urgent waiting.

The prison was a cold, gray building on the edge of pack lands. Lucien strode through the reinforced doors without breaking pace, the guards snapping to attention as he passed.

Caleb was already there, leaning against the wall near the cells. He straightened the moment he saw Lucien. "Alpha," he greeted with a nod. "Aaron’s been asking for you and Grayson. I was just about to call."

Lucien didn’t slow down. "So he’s finally ready to talk?"

"Looks like it," Caleb said, falling into step beside him.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. "Anything strange from Delia last night?"

"Nothing," Caleb answered right away.

"Good. Keep eyes on her anyway," Lucien said, voice hard. "I gave her a little mercy, but that doesn’t mean I trust her."

They stopped outside Aaron’s cell. The guards bowed low and stepped aside.

Inside, Aaron was slumped against the far wall, silver-laced shackles biting into his wrists. His lips were cracked, and his eyes looked blood red. He’d been rasping for water, exactly as Lucien had ordered.

Aaron lifted his head as Lucien stepped in, chains rattling with the effort.

"Lucien... you’re here, huh?" Aaron rasped, his voice cracked and dry as sandpaper. His head lolled forward, eyes half-lidded, sweat beading on his forehead even in the cold cell. "Just... water. Please. I can’t take it anymore. My throat’s on fire."

Lucien didn’t answer right away. He just lifted one hand, a small, almost lazy gesture toward the guard in the corner. The man stepped forward quickly, uncorking a metal canteen and pressing it to Aaron’s cracked lips. Aaron drank greedily, water spilling down his chin, coughing once but gulping it down like it was the only thing keeping him alive.

When the guard pulled it away, Aaron sagged against his chains, breathing hard, a little color creeping back into his face.

Lucien arched a brow, voice calm and cold. "Feeling better? Good. Now let’s get to it."

Aaron wiped his mouth against his shoulder, eyes narrowing. "She’s the daughter of my enemy," he spat. "Leia... she’s Grayson Zirren’s girl. That’s why I went after her. I wanted to drag him out of whatever hole he was hiding in. I knew he wasn’t dead. A wolf like Grayson doesn’t just die."

His teeth ground together, chains clinking as his fists clenched. "And why the hell are you here alone, Lucien? Go get him. Bring Grayson down here. He slaughtered my family, my entire coven. He deserves to face me."

Lucien didn’t move, didn’t even blink. His stare was steady, almost bored, but something dangerous flickered behind it.

"You’re in no position to make demands, Aaron," he said. "You made the stupidest mistake you could, coming after my pack. My mate."

Aaron laughed that turned into a snarl. "Didn’t you do the exact same thing?" he shot back, jerking against the shackles hard enough to make the metal bite into his skin. "When your parents were taken and murdered, you hunted witches. Killed them without mercy. I was just trying to do the same damn thing! Grayson wiped out my family, my people, everyone I had. And you wolves sit there preaching about justice? Is that the justice you’re so proud of?"

His voice cracked on the last word as he glared up at Lucien, waiting for an answer that could give him peace.