Professor Tomlinson sat in the armchair by the fireplace, a glass of wine in hand, looking nothing like the stern academic who assigned twelve-page papers. Out of the classroom, with his tie loosened and his sleeves rolled up, he almost looked approachable.
On the couch, Silas was deep in conversation with Rae. His silver-streaked hair caught the lamplight as he gestured, making some point I couldn't hear. He looked up when I entered, and his expression shifted — that familiar assessing gaze he always turned on me, like he was reading something written on my skin.
"Lumi." He rose, crossed to me with the fluid grace that always seemed at odds with his scholarly demeanor. "I was hoping you'd come."
"Rae didn't give me much choice."
"She rarely does." His smile was warm but his eyes stayed watchful. "We should talk, you and I. Soon. About your visions."
Before I could respond, the front door burst open behind me.
"We're back!"
Two identical voices, two identical grins. Kade and Kane walked in and Alexandra immediately ran to them.
I stood in the middle of the room, watching Rae's pack move around each other with the easy familiarity of people who had been doing this for years. Kade stealing a piece of cheese from Kane's plate. Silas pouring wine for Tomlinson. Ash emerging from the kitchen with a platter of bread, ducking to kiss Rae as he passed her.
This was what pack looked like. What family felt like.
The ache in my chest caught me off guard.
"Hey." Rae appeared at my elbow, her voice soft. "You okay?"
"Yeah." I blinked hard. "Yeah, I just— I forgot what this felt like."
"Noisy? Chaotic? Slightly overwhelming?"
"Full." I looked at her. "It feels full."
Rae's expression softened. She wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulled me against her side.
"You've been running on empty for weeks," she said quietly. "Taking care of everyone except yourself. That's not sustainable, Lumi. Even for someone as stubborn as you."
"I know."
"Do you?" She turned me to face her, her dark eyes serious. "Because from where I'm standing, you're about three days from collapse. And the ferals need you healthy.Weneed you healthy."
"Rae—"
"Dinner first." She squeezed my shoulder. "Serious conversation later. Tonight, you eat. You laugh. You let Alexandra force you to play wolves after dessert."
I wanted to argue. Wanted to explain that I couldn't stop, couldn't slow down, couldn't take a night off when Stone was finally starting to trust me and the council was still threatening to take them all away.
But Alexandra was tugging on my hand, demanding that I come see the picture she'd drawn. And somewhere in the kitchen, something smelled incredible.
"Okay," I said. "Tonight, I eat."
Rae smiled. "That's my girl."
Dinner was loud and warm and exactly what I hadn't known I needed.
The lamb was as good as Ash had promised. The twins told increasingly improbable stories about their trip to Europe — a Council mission they couldn't discuss, apparently, though they hinted at diplomatic meetings and old archives and something about a vampire coven that may or may not have been a joke.
"We're heading back out in a few days," Kane said, reaching for another piece of bread. "Council wants us to follow up on some leads."
"What kind of leads?" I asked.
Kade and Kane exchanged a look. That twin thing they did, communicating in glances.
