2. MATEO

2

MATEO

I stare at the staircase where Nepheline and Maverick disappeared moments ago, my hands clenched at my sides. The scent of her panic and Maverick’s blood still lingers in the air. She practically dragged him up those stairs, refusing to let anyone else near him, like holding him was the only way to convince herself he was still breathing.

Maverick swore he was fine. Said it with that steady calm of his that’s supposed to make us all believe him. But Nepheline wasn’t having it. She’s like that—stubborn as hell when it comes to protecting what’s hers. And Maverick? He’s hers. We all are.

Darius followed them, of course. He’s the perfect Beta, sliding into a role that none of us can. It’s not just that he’s good at handling her moods, her tempers, her storms. It’s that he doesn’t flinch when the weight of everything threatens to crush her. He’s steady, reliable, unshakable. And for that, I’m glad she has him.

Still, my jaw tightens as I think about Maverick. His visions are bad enough, draining him in ways none of us can really understand. But now? Now there’s this new power surging through him, raw and untested. It’s too much for one person to handle and I’d bet anything that he’s not telling us the full story.

“Did anyone else see it?” Remi’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

I glance over at him. He’s standing by the sink, sleeves rolled up as he scrubs a pan. His voice is soft, but there’s a firmness to it that makes it clear he’s not just making conversation.

“See what?” I ask, even though I already know.

Remi glances over his shoulder, his eyes locking with mine. “Her touch. The way it healed him.”

River lets out a heavy sigh but doesn’t look up from the dish he’s drying. “We all saw it, Remi. Her magic is getting stronger. Her wolf is getting stronger. Our Omega has always been strong and unwavering in her path but I think these past few days have really jumpstarted whatever is returning to the packlands.” There’s a twinge of fear in his voice as if he isn’t sure that’s a good thing.

Asani, sitting at the counter, is quiet, his fingers tapping against the edge of the granite. He doesn’t say anything, but I can tell he’s thinking, dissecting every detail like the doctor he is. It feels surreal standing in my kitchen with men I never thought would be part of my own pack. Sure, Remi and River were mine, even before Nepheline but there was a time I believed she wouldn’t want them. And Asani, I never in a million years thought this Alpha would submit to my rule, especially after finding out the pack he was from.

I let out a deep breath, falling into the seat beside Asani. “Yeah, the magic is growing,” I finally say, pressing my arms against the counter, unsure of where to go next.

The kitchen falls silent again, the only sound the clink of dishes and the hum of the refrigerator. Remi finishes with the pan and moves on to the next dish, his movements slower, more deliberate. River stands next to him, his silence saying more than words ever could.

Asani clears his throat, drawing all of our attention. He leans forward, resting his elbows on the counter as he looks directly at me. “So, what’s next, pack Alpha?” he asks, raising an eyebrow, his question laced with amusement.

A few weeks ago, I would have assumed that Asani was mocking my status but this informal meeting means so much more to me than the Mateo from a few weeks ago could have ever appreciated. My wolf isn’t raging. My mind is mostly clear from the chaotic thoughts. And all of my mates are in this house, coexisting.

If my fathers weren’t proud of me before, they are now.

“I’m not sure,” I push out, trying to be truthful. I could lie, pretend that I have everything planned but every man in this room would see through that shit. I also don’t need to do all this on my own, not like Calista tried to. “Figuring out the magic I think is one of the biggest priorities. I know we’ve all felt it and the Sapphire wolves have been talking about it but we have no idea what it means, what prophecies it’s tied to. And how we’re supposed to protect her from it.”

“Protect her?” Asani scoffs, silently demanding an answer. “Or protect ourselves?”

My teeth clench, but I don’t respond. He’s not wrong. Whatever’s happening to Nepheline, whatever power is waking up inside her, it’s as dangerous as it is incredible. We all saw it—the way her touch pulled Maverick back from the edge. It wasn’t just healing. It was something more. Something primal. I’ve felt the same as she pulled me away from my wolf, pulled me away from the edge of darkness.

And I fear that it might be chipping away at her own soul just as much as it might be healing ours.

I drag a hand down my face, letting my shoulders fall as I meet Asani’s gaze. “She’s been through so fucking much. I don’t want her to hurt, not like we have and because we don’t understand the magic, I’m scared of what it could do if we keep leaning on her. Before any of you say anything, I’m not saying she’s weak but I also don’t want to blindly trust something I don’t understand. Not at the expense of our Omega, our heart, the very soul of our pack.”

Remi hums as he steps away from the sink, moving to stand behind me. He strings his arms around my shoulders before placing a delicate kiss to my temple. “She needs us to be smart, not just reactive.”

River approaches as well, standing beside Asani. “And that means we have to find ways to let her flourish while protecting her from the danger that’s no doubt going to find her. So, knowing that, what’s the plan?”

None of them are judging me. They are waiting for me to lead. The truth is, I don’t have a plan. Not yet. But I’ll be damned if I let any of this spiral out of control.

“We keep her safe,” I finally say, my voice steady. “No matter what.”

My gaze drifts to the clean dishes drying by the sink, the sense of normalcy that comes despite everything that’s happened weighing in on me. The council has fallen apart, Locke is alive, and our troubles are only just beginning. As much as I want to focus on Nepheline, there are other priorities as well. And for once, I don’t know what the hell to do.

I tug on Remi’s arms, raising one of his hands to my lips as I kiss his knuckles. “There’s never enough time in the world. I have to appoint new council members. That has to be one of the first things. Once the council has been repaired, we can focus on everything else. And the elders,” I continue. “They’ll have to be replaced. We can’t keep running blind, not with everything that’s happening.”

Remi releases me, stepping to my side so I can see the concern in his expression. “You thinking of reaching out to the Sapphire wolves?”

I nod. “If we’re serious about bringing the packs together, they have to be part of it. They’ve already shown they can bridge the gap between the old and the new. If this is about unity, we don’t have a choice.”

Asani, sitting at the counter, raises an eyebrow. “And Nepheline? Where does she fit into all of this?”

I glare at him, the sharpness of his tone hitting a nerve. “She’s the Luna. Where do you think she fits?”

He doesn’t flinch, just tilts his head slightly. “Her healing magic… Did you notice it wasn’t just Maverick?”

“What do you mean?” I ask, though the edge in my voice says I already know.

“Darius,” Asani says simply. “When we first brought him back, her need to be beside him. There’s no way he should have healed that fast, even being a shifter. She’s stronger than we think, yes.” Asani glares at River before he says something. “However, Mateo is right. We have no idea the long-term effects on her. And without the serum, her body isn’t built to handle this kind of stress—magical, emotional, or physical. She’s defying the limits of what’s possible, but even she has limits.”

I hate that he’s right. I hate the truth in his words and the way they stab at my pride, my instincts. Nepheline is strong. She’s the strongest person I know. But she’s still one person.

“That’s handled,” I mutter, glancing at the staircase again. Nepheline’s sweet scent is tumbling down the stairs and I can only imagine the relief she feels having Maverick close. It’s also only a matter of time before Maverick starts claiming more of her and I can’t wait to see that side of him. My attention turns back to Asani, the flicker of something I can’t describe moving through his expression. “Spill it, Asani.”

He hasn’t said much about Locke and the report that proves he’s alive but I don’t expect him to. There isn’t much to go on, other than the fact that Locke was one of the many wolves Enzo experimented on. Until we find more documents or information, there are no leads.

Asani hesitates, his eyes darting between me and the others. There’s a tightness in his jaw, a hesitation that’s unusual for him. But when I level him with a look, he finally sighs and straightens, meeting my gaze head-on. “There are still wolves from the pack of the Forbidden. Wolves that no longer have a home. They would answer to you—not me. Even though I should have been their Alpha, I’m not. Not anymore. If they’re going to find a home here, it has to be under your leadership.”

“Is that a good idea?” River asks, turning to face me. His arms are folded across his chest as he stares at me, searching my expression.

I had expected some pushback but not every one of those wolves was there by choice.

“Mateo, think about it. Darius was one of those wolves. He had been brainwashed into thinking he had grown up there. I know that we didn’t destroy every last one of them and I know that they may show up at some point seeking refuge.”

I look to Remi and River, realizing they aren’t quite on board with Asani’s suggestion. Their doubts are valid—I’d be a fool to think otherwise—but if we’re going to move forward, if we’re going to build something that lasts, we have to be willing to take risks.

“If this is going to work,” I say, “we have to be open to things that make us uncomfortable. Darius mentioned that not everyone in the pack of the Forbidden agreed with how it was run under Silas. Some of them just need a chance to break free.”

Asani’s eyes narrow, but there’s something else there now—hope. “You’d welcome them?”

I nod slowly, meeting his gaze. “If they can get through the veil, yes.”

The room goes still, the weight of my words sinking in.

Asani frowns, his brows furrowing. “The veil is still up?”

River nods, his tone even as he speaks. “We went for a run before we came home. It’s still there. A thin film of magic around the packlands, like a barrier.”

Asani’s shoulders relax slightly, though his confusion lingers. “Then how do we know they’ll even make it through?”

“That’s the point,” I say simply. “If they’re meant to be here, they’ll find a way.”

He’s silent for a moment, processing my words. Then, slowly, he nods. “Then I guess it’s up to fate to bring them to us.”

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I reach toward Asani, my hand sliding behind his neck to drag him into a wolf’s kiss, our foreheads pressed against each other. Calista told me that Asani would betray me and now he’s become one of my best Alphas. “We’ll welcome them home,” I begin, magic surging through my words. “Anyone who comes to these packlands without malice will find shelter.”

Asani exhales softly, his tension easing as he closes his eyes. For a moment, the chaos fades, replaced by the quiet understanding between Alphas.

It’s not perfect. Hell, it’s barely a plan. But it’s a start.