And at the front, standing beneath the arch, was Axel.
He wore a black shirt stretched across his shoulders, black jeans, his cut pristine and perfect. His short hair was ruffled into a wild yet neat look, his jaw showcasing a perfectly trimmed edge stubble, and when his eyes found mine across the room, the look on his face made my knees weak. Love. Pride. Want. Everything I felt, reflected back at me.
"Breathe," Tyler murmured beside me. "One foot in front of the other."
Right. Breathing. I could do that.
We walked together down the aisle that had been cleared between the chairs. Faces turned to watch us pass—Irish grinning, Blade nodding solemnly, Tank's expression unreadable but his eyes suspiciously bright. Ghost was there too, still healing but standing tall in his new cut, looking at me with something like awe.
The walk felt endless. The walk felt like seconds. And then I was there, standing in front of Axel, close enough to touch.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hey yourself."
"You look incredible."
"You're not so bad yourself."
His smile was sunrise breaking through clouds. Hawk stepped forward, and the room fell silent.
"We gather today to witness a claiming," he announced, voice carrying to every corner. "A tradition older than our charter, older than most of us. A declaration that this man—" He nodded to me. "—belongs to this family, under the protection of the Steel Phoenixes, bound to one of our own."
He turned to Tyler. "Who speaks for Kai Nakamura?"
Tyler stepped forward, shoulders squared, voice steady.
"I do." He faced the assembly, and I saw him transform—the nervous brother becoming something else. Someone certain. "My name is Tyler Park. Kai is my brother—not by blood, but bysomething stronger. We grew up together in a system that tried to break us both. He was the reason I survived it."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Tyler continued. "Two weeks ago, Kai stumbled into your world by accident. A stranger bleeding in a parking lot, and he stopped to help. That's who he is—someone who runs toward danger, toward pain, toward people who need him." His voice strengthened. "Since then, I've watched him earn your respect. He's stitched your wounds and guarded your backs. He's killed to protect this family and nearly died doing it. He's loved one of your own with everything he has."
Tyler turned to face me, and I saw his eyes glistening.
"I've spent my whole life trying to protect you," he said, quieter now. "But you don't need my protection anymore. You've found your own strength, your own family, your own home." He smiled. "I'm proud of you, Kai. Your real parents, and your dear obaachan—wherever they are—they'd be proud too."
The tears I'd been fighting spilled over. I didn't bother wiping them away.
"I vouch for Kai Nakamura," Tyler finished, turning back to Hawk. "He's worthy of this family. He's worthy of Axel. And I'd trust him with my life—because I already have."
Silence. Then Hawk nodded. "The sponsor has spoken." He turned to Axel. "Axel Morrison. Do you claim this man as your own?"
Axel's eyes never left mine. "I do."
"Do you swear to protect him, provide for him, and honor him as your partner in all things?"
"I swear."
"Do you bind yourself to him before your brothers, accepting responsibility for his place in this family?"
"I bind myself." Axel's voice was rough, thick with emotion. "Willingly. Completely. For as long as I breathe."
Hawk turned to me. "Kai Nakamura. Do you accept this claim?"
"I do."
"Do you swear loyalty to the Steel Phoenixes, to uphold our code and protect our secrets?"
"I swear."
