Finn nodded and fell into step behind him, following as Lucian made his way through the Blackwood estate toward the main administrative building.
The walk gave Lucian ti to process. His mind was racing with possibilities. Why would Nicholas call both of them? What could be so important that it required an imdiate summons during training?
Unless it was about the plan. About Shadowre. About her.
The thought made Zev surge inside him, eager and focused.
Lucian forced the wolf back down. Control. They needed control. They’d spent two weeks practicing control, refining their ability to maintain human composure while the wolves scread for action.
By the ti he reached Nicholas’s office, his expression was composed, his body language controlled.
He pushed open the office door.
Sebastian was already there, seated in his usual chair near the window. He was fully clothed but there was a rawness to his energy that suggested he’d also co straight from training or so other physical activity. His dark eyes looked up as Lucian entered.
Nicholas was behind his desk, looking exactly as he always did...posed, controlled, alpha in every sense of the word. But there was an undercurrent of intensity to him that suggested he’d been waiting for this mont.
"Lucian," Nicholas said, acknowledging his youngest brother’s arrival.
"Nicholas. Sebastian." Lucian nodded to both of them, then waited.
Nicholas stood from behind his desk and moved to the front of it, leaning back against the polished mahogany. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp.
"We leave for Shadowre in three days," Nicholas said simply. "I hope you’re both ready."
Sebastian raised his head and looked at his eldest brother, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
"What sort of question is that?" Sebastian asked, his voice carrying an edge of possession. "You know we’ve been ready since the day she left the estate."
There was raw hunger in his tone. Not just physical, though that was certainly present, but deeper. Recognition of what was about to happen. Of the fact that they were finally going to see their mate. Finally going to be in the sa space with her.
Lucian nodded in agreent, his gold eyes flickering with Zev’s agreent. The wolf was vibrating inside him, excited and focused on the coming journey.
Sebastian turned to look at Lucian directly.
"Hope you’ve gotten your wolf under control," Sebastian said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "I don’t want us appearing feral in front of Shadowre when we get there. We need to look like we’re there for the Summit, not like three desperate alphas hunting our mate."
It was a valid concern. The three of them together, consud by the bond, desperate to claim Lilith, if they appeared unstable or uncontrolled, it would raise imdiate suspicion. Garrett would know sothing was wrong. The other alphas attending the Summit would sense the desperation.
They needed to appear normal. Composed and In control.
"Zev is focused," Lucian said quietly. "The knowledge that we’re going to her has given him purpose. He’s not feral anymore. Just... focused."
"Rhen is the sa," Sebastian added. "Two weeks of control has paid off. I can maintain human form without struggle now. The physical response to her is involuntary, but I can control my actions."
Nicholas looked between both of his brothers, assessing. His own wolf, Kael, was close to the surface in his eyes....silver flickering at the edges of his irises.
"Good," Nicholas said finally. "Control is essential. We can’t afford to show weakness or desperation to Shadowre. We need to appear as we always do...powerful, composed, completely in command."
He moved back to his desk and sat down, the alpha authority settling over him like a mantle.
"All we need to do now is prepare for the trip," Nicholas continued. "We’re going with Finn and Callum. Eli will stay behind to handle pack activities while we’re gone. The journey to Shadowre will take four hours by car. We’ll arrive the day before the Summit officially opens, giving us ti to settle into the guest quarters and assess the situation."
"That works fine," Sebastian said. He stood from his chair, moving with the fluid grace of an alpha at peak condition. He adjusted his belt, a casual movent that should have been insignificant.
But it wasn’t.
Because as he adjusted his belt, he looked down at the obvious swell in his pants. The physical response his body was having to the conversation about Lilith. His arousal was visible, undeniable, aggressive in its intensity.
"Fuck," Sebastian said, his voice sharp with frustration and need.
Lucian felt the corner of his mouth twitch. He understood completely. His own body was responding the sa way, the conversation about going to her, about seeing her, about finally having the opportunity to claim what was theirs....it was triggering the physical response that had plagued all three of them for two weeks.
"At least we’re going to get that fixed soon," Lucian said, his voice carrying dark promise. There was hunger in the statent. Anticipation. The knowledge that in three days, they would be where she was, and this aching need would finally have an outlet.
Sebastian’s eyes flashed completely gold. His wolf was showing through, responding to Lucian’s statent with approval.
"I’m not leaving Shadowre without her," Sebastian said, his voice dropping to sothing dangerous and final. It wasn’t a statent of intent, it was a vow. An absolute commitnt that transcended strategy or politics. Whatever it took, they were getting their mate back. They were bringing her ho. They were completing the bond that had been incomplete for weeks.
He walked toward the office door, then paused at the threshold.
"Three days," he said, looking back at his brothers.
Then he left the office, closing the door behind him.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Lucian remained standing near the entrance, his gold eyes still flickering with Zev’s presence. Nicholas was seated behind his desk, his expression unreadable but his eyes betraying the intensity of his emotions.
"Sit," Nicholas said quietly.
Lucian moved to the chair Sebastian had vacated and sat down.
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