Caspian holds for another heartbeat, then releases Julian and steps back. His chest is heaving, a low resonance in it that I feel in my sternum before I hear it.
"You want me to be okay with this?" He gestures between me and Julian. "With you and him?"
"I'm not asking you to be okay with it. I'm telling you how it is." I stand my ground. "I want all four of you. But I won't be fought over like territory. Won't be a prize you compete for. This is a pack. We figure out how to exist together. Or I walk away from all of you."
"You're serious."
"Completely."
He stares at me, then at Julian, then at Knox and Nico watching from the sides. "This is insane."
"Probably." I don't back down. "But it's what I am. What we are. And you need to decide if you can handle it."
Long silence. Caspian's hands clench and unclench at his sides. Finally he looks at Julian.
"I don't have to like you," he says.
"No," Julian agrees. "You don't."
"But I respect what you are to her." The words sound like they're being dragged out of him. "And I won't challenge that. As long as you extend the same courtesy."
"Mutual respect. Nothing more." Julian pauses. "And I need your word you won't tell the Academy. Or the Council. My relationship with Nova could get me expelled. Or worse."
Caspian's jaw works and I see the conflict in his eyes. He could use this against Julian, could report him and eliminate the competition. But finally he nods. "You have my word. What happens between you and her stays between the pack. No one else needs to know."
"Agreed."
They're not friends. Will never be friends. But the promise hangs between them - mutual respect and mutual secrecy.
I look at Knox. "And you?"
"I already told you. The bond wants to form. I'm not fighting it anymore." He shrugs. "This works for me. As long as everyone stays in their lane."
I take a breath. Three males. Three bonds at different stages. I don't mention the fourth - Nico's broken bond that I'm not ready to address, that might never be fixable.
"I'm not asking permission," I say, looking at each of them in turn. "I'm telling you how this could work, though I don't have all the answers yet. I don't know how to balance all of this or if it's even possible. What I do know is that I feel the pull toward each of you and I can't ignore it." I look at Julian. "You're my mate." To Caspian: "The bond between us is forming whether we're ready or not." To Knox: "And you will be, if you let it complete. This isn't a competition. I won't be fought over liketerritory or treated like a prize. If we're doing this, we figure out how to exist together. Or..." I hesitate because I don't actually know what the alternative is.
Caspian speaks first. "We figure it out."
Julian nods. "Agreed."
Knox after a pause. "Works for me."
Three males. Three different bonds at different stages. Three pieces of something that might become a pack if we can make it work.
They're all looking at each other now. Not comfortable, not easy. Caspian's jaw is still tight and his eyes keep flicking to Julian with barely restrained territorial fury. Julian's expression is guarded but wary, aware of the risk he's taking. Knox stands apart, lone wolf agreeing to connection for the first time.
But they're all here.
"This doesn't solve everything," I say. "The Council is still hunting me. Chase is building his case. And there are complications I haven't even thought of yet. But at least now we're not hiding from each other."
"No more secrets," Caspian says, looking at Julian when he says it. "Between us, at least."
"Agreed," Julian confirms.
Knox just nods.
Fragile. Uncertain. Incomplete without the fourth bond I'm not ready to address.
