The night deepened around them, the air carrying a crisp, earthy scent as the remnants of their lavish dinner settled between them. A velvety silence stretched across the dining hall, broken only by the soft clink of silver spoons against delicate porcelain as they finished their black tea.
The meal had been far from what Leonard had envisioned. He had wanted Eila to himself tonight. A quiet, intimate evening to ease her into his world, to enjoy her presence without interruptions.
But now, Zois had other plans.
"There's something we wish to discuss," Zois said suddenly, his voice deceptively casual. "With both you and Eila."
Leonard's jaw tightened. He had already been counting the seconds until they left. He had no interest in prolonging their stay. But as their mentor, or rather, their honorary older brother, he had no choice but to listen.
He gave a reluctant nod. "Speak."
Zois smiled. "A walk in the garden would be more fitting."
Leonard sighed inwardly. Of course, it would.
Despite himself, he led them outside.
The moonlight garden was a breathtaking sight, bathed in the soft glow of the full moon. The carefully tended paths wound through hedges of lavender and wild roses, their fragrance intertwining with the cool night breeze.
But for Eila, nothing in this moment was calming. Her heart drummed uneasily. Something felt off.
They walked in pairs, Leonard at her side, the twins just behind them. The only sound was the quiet crunch of gravel beneath their boots, a haunting rhythm under the night sky.
Leonard's patience was razor-thin. "Well?" His voice cut through the silence. "What was so urgent that it couldn't wait?"
A beat of hesitation.
Then, a shift.
Eila felt it before she saw it.
A ripple in the air. A sudden, quiet intake of breath—not from her, not from Leonard.
Her body went rigid as she turned her head, only to find Zois and Lukas standing unnaturally still, their eyes darkened with something unrecognizable.
It was Lukas who had done it.
He had inhaled deeply—too deeply. As if he were memorizing her scent.
Leonard froze.
A low, dangerous growl rumbled from his chest, sharp and commanding. The sound slithered through the air like a warning, a territorial claim, an unspoken threat.
Eila's breath hitched.
She had never heard him snarl like that before.
The power in his voice sent a shiver down her spine, but the twins remained unfazed.
Because they were still in a trance-like state.
And suddenly, it all clicked into place.
Their silver eyes were hazy, distant as if they weren't quite there. As if something was pulling them in.
Their behavior.
The mate-finding ceremony.
The way their intensity mirrored Leonard's reaction when he had first laid eyes on her.
No.
It couldn't be.
Her pulse spiked as she took a trembling step back, her gaze darting between them. The way they looked at her now—it was not the look of mere curiosity.
It was recognition.
And worst of all.
Leonard saw it too.