PROJECT: CAYRO

Star Zaraki:

October 20, 2025

00:07 EST

Skycar-00

30,000 feet over NC

The pitch-black void outside the windshield seemed endless. My eyes lazily scanned the dark horizon while the soft rumbling of Cayro’s snoring filled the cockpit. How did he manage to sleep so easily? Was this his secret power? Like some kind of human sleep mode he could flip on whenever? Lucky bastard…

“Scuzball?” I whispered into the silence.

“Yes, Star?” came the response, calm and omnipresent as always.

“Can you access my music library from my laptop aboard the Autumn?”

“I would, if it hadn’t been absolutely pulverized in the crash landing,” Scuzball replied, sounding almost offended by the question.

Right. The Autumn’s grand nosedive. My poor laptop was probably bouncing around my old cabin, now reduced to a brick with broken keys. I groaned inwardly. The Autumn was more than just a ship—it was home. Now it was a busted heap on the ground in Australia, along with everything else I hadn’t strapped down. If that wasn’t a metaphor for how things were going, I didn’t know what was.

Leaning back in my seat, I considered my options. Cayro was dead to the world, Scuzball was flying the skycar, and I sure as hell didn’t want to play cards after kicking both their asses earlier. I needed something to distract me from the slow, creeping frustration—something to take me out of this damn headspace.

Out of nowhere, music began playing through the speakers, startling me.

“Scuzball, what the hell is that?” I asked, eyes darting around the cockpit.

“You wanted your music, and I just so happen to know that you saved it to your OneDrive. You’re welcome, by the way,” Scuzball answered, his voice as smug as a digital cat lounging on a firewall.

“Well damn, Scuzball, that’s brilliant!” I said, genuinely impressed.

“I mean, it’s about time someone recognized my epic level of awesomeness,” he quipped, dripping with sarcasm.

“Not very humble, are you?”

“Humility’s for the less gifted, darling. Now, what would you like to listen to?”

I huffed. Typical Scuzball. I ran through my mental playlists, trying to match the weird mood I was in. Something reflective, something that cut deep and left a scar.

“Play My Love Will Never Die by Claire Wyndham,” I requested softly.

The first haunting notes filled the cockpit, and I closed my eyes, letting the music wash over me. I began humming along to the melody, then let my voice join in with the lyrics, low and full of emotion. My voice wove into the music like it belonged there, as if I was meant to sing this song in the silence of the sky.

By the time the song ended, I was feeling raw, exposed even. It wasn’t enough—I needed something that matched the storm brewing inside me.

“Scuzball, play Every Time the Rain Comes Down by Anna Blue.”

The moment the song started, I couldn’t help but sing again, my voice stronger, carrying the weight of every lyric.

“If you just hold me, we will surviiiive… Every time the rain comes down! I’m the one who’ll be around…” I sang, my voice echoing in the skycar.

It wasn’t just music anymore. These lyrics reflected everything I felt for Cayro. We were each other’s anchor in the middle of this chaotic storm we called life. Without him… no, I didn’t even want to finish that thought.

When the last note faded, I leaned back, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. This was the only way I knew to process everything—through music. Through the weight of every note and word.

“Scuzball, can you pick the next one?” I asked quietly, feeling drained but wanting more.

“I believe I’ve got just the thing. Your heart rate suggests you’re in need of something a bit more... emotional.” His voice was far too smug for an AI.

A song I hadn’t listened to in what felt like years started playing. The first few notes of Fear Not This Night filled the cabin, sending shivers down my spine. It was like coming home. I started singing, my voice blending with the song, tears trailing down my cheeks as memories of my mother surfaced. She used to hum this song to me whenever I felt scared or lost when I was a child. The memory tore through me as it replayed in my mind.

“Holy hell, babe… I didn’t know you could sing.”

The sudden voice made me jump so hard that I yelped, the harness keeping me in place as I whipped around to see Cayro, now wide awake, smirking like he’d just caught me doing something embarrassing.

“You ass!” I squeaked, my face going bright red. I had forgotten he was there, completely lost in my own world. Of course he had to wake up now. Of course. I rarely ever sang in front of people, and here I was giving him a personal concert at 30,000 feet.

He chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction, his eyes half-lidded with sleep but shining with something else—a mix of affection and amusement.

My cheeks flamed while I bit my lower lip and looked off to the side, too embarrassed to even glance at him. I couldn't believe I'd just let him hear me sing. He adjusted his seat and reached for my hand, but I tried to pull away, hiding my face behind my hair like a shy schoolgirl.

"Why are you blushing?" Cayro asked softly, but I could hear the amusement in his tone.

"Why do you think?" I mumbled, my voice muffled by my embarrassment.

"I don't know," he teased, dragging it out. "Are you... embarrassed?"

A growl escaped my throat before I could stop it.

"Wow..." he laughed, eyes gleaming. "You are embarrassed. It's kinda cute."

Cute?! He thought this was cute? I wasn’t cute—I was lethal, powerful, and a force to be reckoned with. With a flash of irritation, I spun in my seat, trying to lunge at him—but my harness jerked me back like a stubborn leash. His laughter exploded through the skycar, shaking the whole cockpit.

Jamming my finger into the harness release, I practically pounced on him, pinning his arms above his head as I straddled him, glaring down into his surprised eyes. "My singing is not funny!" I growled, the threat clear in my tone.

He swallowed, eyes wide, but then... then came that grin. That damned devious, infuriating, I-dare-you-to-try grin. I narrowed my eyes, challenging him silently.

"Why are you grinning?" I demanded, my voice a dangerous growl.

"Because..." he chuckled, "you think I'm laughing at your singing." His grin only widened. "I'm laughing because the moment you tried to lunge at me, your face went from furious to ‘oh shit’ when the harness stopped you."

I blinked, my expression faltering as I hovered over him. He wasn’t mocking my singing—he was laughing at my failed attack. Huh. I leered at him before swiftly leaning down and biting his lower lip, hard enough to make him hiss in pain. His growl vibrated through me as I smirked and locked eyes with him. His gaze burned with green fire, hooded with desire, and oh-so-intense.

I spun around and snuggled back against him, smug in my victory.

“What did I say about knocking boots in my skycar?” Scuzball’s voice interrupted, appearing on the console like the digital third wheel he was.

“We aren’t knocking boots…” Cayro grumbled, though his voice was thick with the possibility.

“Good, ‘cause I don’t have hands to clean up after you two," Scuzball grumbled.

“Keep whining, and we’ll do it on purpose,” I teased, throwing a cheeky grin his way.

“You wouldn’t dare…” Scuzball balked, his little pixelated face twisted into exaggerated disbelief.

“Babe, would I dare?” I asked, glancing back at Cayro.

“Oh, most definitely,” he replied without hesitation.

Scuzball huffed, thoroughly exasperated with us. I doubted he could actually see what was happening, but it was hilarious watching him act like he could. Leaning back against Cayro, I felt his arms wrap tighter around my waist, the warmth of his presence so comforting, I could practically melt into him.

An idea popped into my head. “What kind of music do you listen to?” I asked, curious about his tastes.

“Hmm, a bit of everything,” he mused. “It depends on my mood.”

“Pick a song,” I prodded playfully.

“How about Valhalla Calling by Miracle of Sound?” he suggested, his eyes lighting up.

“Not a problem,” Scuzball chimed. "Accessing it now."

The song began to play through the speakers, and I could see Cayro nodding along to the beat. He was completely lost in the rhythm, his foot tapping slightly. When it ended, I turned to him, grinning like a cat with a plan.

“Sing it this time,” I commanded, my tone leaving no room for argument.

“What?” Cayro blinked in confusion, clearly caught off guard.

“I want you to sing it this time. You heard me sing, so now it’s your turn,” I insisted, fixing him with a challenging stare.

“I... uh...” he stammered, his face flushing slightly.

“Pleeease?” I pouted, my voice honey-sweet, knowing full well he couldn’t resist that.

With a sigh, he nodded and I slid back into my seat. I asked Scuzball to play the song again, and this time, Cayro began to sing. His voice was... holy hell, his voice was beautiful. He hit every note perfectly, the richness of his tone sending shivers down my spine. Goosebumps prickled my skin, and I could feel the heat pooling in my stomach. Damn, I didn’t know Cayro could do that.

When the song ended, I blinked, completely mesmerized, my mouth hanging open in shock. After a moment, I snapped my mouth shut and smiled. “Pick another song.”

He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck, but eventually suggested Zombie by Bad Wolves. We rocked out to that one, and before I knew it, I was singing along with him. By the end, we were both laughing, the energy between us electric.

“Pick another!” I giggled, unable to stop smiling.

He grinned back. “Alright, how about... Blow Me Away by Breaking Benjamin?”

“Ooooh! Yes! That’s a good one!” I squealed, practically bouncing in my seat.

Cayro smirked, already getting into the spirit of this impromptu concert. As the opening chords of Blow Me Away kicked in, I knew this night had just turned into something unforgettable.

We sang our hearts out together. It was glorious and powerful, the two of us trading songs and harmonizing in ways that made the night fly by. Song after song, we either sang together or took turns, enjoying every moment. But just as we were halfway through the last song, Scuzball dimmed the volume and interrupted us.

“We are preparing to land,” he announced abruptly.

“I didn’t hear you talk to flight control?” Cayro asked, frowning slightly.

“Because I didn’t. We aren’t landing at an airport,” Scuzball explained, sounding almost smug.

“Oh,” Cayro replied, a bit confused. “Then where are we landing?”

“Lycotonu Manor,” Scuzball answered, his cool voice cutting through the air.

It was nearly three in the morning, and I silently hoped that Cayro’s friend, Zak, wouldn’t be too pissed about us showing up at this ungodly hour. Whether we were arriving super early or ridiculously late was all a matter of perspective, but either way, this was going to be awkward.

Scuzball expertly banked the skycar between some tall trees before hovering over a large, grassy field about fifty feet from the ground. Off to the north side, a quaint cottage-style house was lit up, casting a warm glow on the otherwise dark field. As soon as we touched down and the engines throttled back, I spotted a female silhouette stepping out of the back door and walking towards us.

“Who’s that?” I asked, pointing at the figure moving across the field. Cayro spun around in his seat, and to my surprise, his face lit up like a little kid at Christmas.

“It’s Aura!” he exclaimed, practically buzzing with excitement.

A sharp pain lanced through my chest. Aura? Who the hell was Aura? Why was Cayro so excited to see this woman—this woman he never mentioned to me before? My stomach churned, and my body tensed with a mix of suspicion and jealousy. Narrowing my eyes, I watched as Cayro leaped out of the skycar and ran straight toward her, arms wide like he was going to—

Oh hell no. Without even thinking, a snarl ripped from my throat, my draconian form pushing forward in response. He was mine, and no one else had the right to hug him like that. The fury bubbling in my chest almost made me dizzy. My claws extended as I felt myself transform, my body bristling with rage. I stalked toward them, ready to rip this mystery woman apart, but Cayro quickly spun around, dashed back, and grabbed my arm, dragging me toward her like I was some pet he had to show off.

“Cayro!” I squeaked, trying to pull back, but he was stronger than usual, determined.

“Star, come on! I want you to meet Aura!” he said in that boyish, over-enthusiastic way that made me want to punch him and kiss him at the same time. He tugged me along, despite my protests, until we reached her.

I stared daggers at this raven-haired emo rock chick standing in front of me. She looked like she just walked out of some rebellious high school clique: black hoodie with “Not Goth, Bitches!” emblazoned across the front, pink and black striped leggings, and black-and-white Converse. A piercing in her right eyebrow, several more up her left ear, and her whole aesthetic screamed edgy. I didn’t care. She was still getting size-checked by me.

I narrowed my eyes, sizing her up. We were about the same height, but I could take her, no problem. I mean, I took down a werewolf. What could she do? She arched an eyebrow at me, clearly giving me the same once-over, and I curled my lip into a snarl in response.

She leaned toward Cayro, eyeing me warily. “Who’s this?” she asked, her voice cool and questioning.

“Aura, meet Star Zaraki... my, um...” Cayro stammered, suddenly blushing like a teenager caught doing something embarrassing.

My what? I thought furiously. Spit it out!

“His wife,” I growled, my talon-tipped finger pointed right at her as my voice dripped with possessiveness.

Aura’s eyes went wide as saucers, her mouth falling open in shock. She turned back to Cayro, grabbed his shoulders, and started shaking him like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Your wife?!” she exclaimed loudly. “You two are mated?!”

Cayro nodded, his face now a deep shade of crimson, obviously not prepared for how quickly things had escalated. I stood with my hands on my hips, glaring at the both of them, narrowing my eyes. Alright, enough with the pleasantries.

“Alright, who is she?” I demanded, my voice sharp as I jabbed my finger in her direction again. “Explain. Now.”

Cayro gulped, clearly feeling the heat, and took a step back from her. “Star, this is Aura Copeland. She’s, um, one of my closest friends.”

Friends, huh? I wasn’t buying it.

“Actually, it’s Aura Lycotonu now,” Aura corrected, casually brushing some hair from her face.

“Wait... What?” Cayro blurted out, his voice filled with shock. “You and Zak?”

“Yep,” Aura said with a satisfied nod. “Now, if only my husband would stop taking his sweet time and get his ass out here.”

I blinked, feeling my body deflate as the tension drained from me. She was married? To Zak? Oh. Ohhhh. I glanced down at her left hand as she lifted her sleeve, revealing a wedding ring on her finger. Letting out a huff, I relaxed. She was married. Right. Nothing to worry about.

I eyed her again, a little embarrassed at how ready I’d been to eviscerate her. Aura, to her credit, gave me another once-over, her eyebrow raised, as if she understood the possessive instinct that had just taken hold of me. This woman was something, but I could see now—there was no threat here.

“Awesome look, girl!” Aura said cheerfully, stepping forward and pulling me into a hug.

I stood there, completely dumbfounded. She hadn’t screamed, grimaced, or even flinched at the sight of my shifted form—she’d complimented it. Talk about whiplash. Who was this girl? Why wasn’t she bombarding me with questions? I had no idea how to respond, and the confusion must have been written all over my face.

Aura stepped back, noticing my reaction. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Star. That performance you did at SkyTeam? Totally inspiring,” she said with a grin.

I blinked, trying to process her words. Which part of the performance? I began to open my mouth to ask when a deep voice boomed from behind her.

“There you are, babe!” A six-foot-tall man dressed head-to-toe in black strode out from the back door. His equally black hair draped over his shoulders, while several stainless-steel chains hung across his left hip, swaying with each step. His tight-fitting jeans and a Sabaton t-shirt completed the look. Like Aura, he had an eyebrow piercing, though his was on the opposite side, and a bar pierced through his right ear.

As I looked into his hazel, nearly yellow eyes, I froze. It felt like I was staring at a younger version of Director Staroko. The resemblance was uncanny, too strong to ignore. Pointing my talon at him, I struggled to get the words out.

“Director… Sta…” I stammered, trying to make the connection.

His eyebrows flattened, and he pursed his lips. “Yes, I’m his son,” he said flatly, as though he was tired of explaining this fact.

“That means…” I began, the realization slowly dawning on me.

“That he was once the King of the Wolves. Yes.” Zak finished my sentence with a sigh.

“I knew it!” Cayro exclaimed, snapping his fingers like he’d just solved a riddle.

“Uh-huh,” Zak grumbled, clearly not amused. “I’m still aggravated with him. Aura wants to straight-up kill him.”

“I don’t want to kill him,” Aura corrected, crossing her arms with a smirk. “I want to strangle him.”

Zak rolled his eyes before turning toward Cayro. The two of them grasped each other just above the elbow, pulling into a tight, brotherly hug, clapping each other’s backs with force. They locked eyes for a moment, a silent exchange passing between them, before both of them crouched into fighting stances.

Without warning, Zak dropped down, spinning on his right foot, sweeping his left leg toward Cayro’s ankles in a well-practiced motion. But Cayro, quick as a cat, leaped straight up, dodging the sweep before springing at Zak. He barreled into him, and the two tumbled to the ground, wrestling like a couple of overgrown pups.

Zak flipped Cayro over his back with a grunt, sending him sprawling onto the grass with a wheeze. I just stood there, wide-eyed, watching Cayro in a way I’d never seen him before—play-fighting with Zak like a pair of rambunctious teenagers. It was playful, almost innocent, in a way that seemed completely out of character for the Cayro I knew.

“Oh for fuck’s sake! Will the two of you quit!” Aura barked, crossing her arms as she stared them down.

I arched an eyebrow at her. She had literally barked at them like this was something she’d dealt with many times before.

“You should’ve seen what they did to my dad’s living room six months ago,” Aura explained, rolling her eyes. “No thanks to my dad, of course. He egged them on.”

“This is normal between them?” I asked, incredulously.

“Yep. They’re like two pups.” She grumbled, shaking her head in exasperation.

“I was just thinking that,” I said with a laugh.

“That’s because he’s my brother,” Zak announced from where he lay sprawled on the grass.

“From another mother!” Cayro added proudly, still on his back, grinning from ear to ear.

I gave Cayro a flat stare and shook my head. That joke was as old as dirt, but what really surprised me was the look on both Zak and Aura’s faces. They weren’t laughing—they were dead serious. The weight of their expressions stopped me cold. Something wasn’t adding up. That joke, which I thought was just silly banter, suddenly felt like it held a deeper meaning.

Zak stood up, brushing the grass from his clothes. “I think it’s time we go inside and talk. There’s a lot we need to catch up on, Cayro,” he said, his tone serious now.

Cayro nodded, pulling himself to his feet. He walked over to me, a spark of joy still lighting his eyes despite the shift in the conversation. I reached up and brushed some of the grass from his hair, feeling the happiness radiating from him through our bond. Seeing his best friend meant the world to him, and I couldn’t help but smile softly as I saw the excitement mingled with that boyish glee.

But that lingering seriousness in Zak’s voice, the look in both his and Aura’s eyes—it sent a chill down my spine. Whatever this conversation was going to be, it wasn’t just a friendly catch-up.

Taking his hand, we followed Zak and Aura into their cottage. It was cozy, small but filled with personality—definitely theirs. The living room and kitchen shared an open layout, with two bedrooms and a single bathroom off to the side. The walls were lined with framed and signed metal and rock band posters, each proudly displayed like trophies. Two skyboards leaned casually against the arm of the couch—one royal blue and littered with band stickers, the other black and dark purple, also covered with an assortment of stickers.

There was no television in sight, just a massive sound system that dominated the space where a TV would normally be. Next to it sat two electric guitars in their racks, polished and ready. Above the sound system, several posters of Team SAF hung, and I spotted myself front and center on one of them, holding my banner in my usual outfit. At the bottom of the poster, I noticed the Captain’s signature scrawled across my board.

“Wow, you guys didn’t waste any time settling in,” Cayro said with a small grin.

“Aura’s dad helped us out. He was more than ready to kick us out,” Zak replied with a smirk, earning a playful punch in the shoulder from Aura.

“Dad didn’t want us to leave, and you know it,” she retorted with a teasing snap.

“The apartment just wasn’t big enough for the three of us. Plus, we needed our own space. You couldn’t sneeze without everyone hearing it,” Aura explained, her tone more serious now.

“And we had to move here anyway, now that we’re running the North American Wolf Council,” Zak added, his voice taking on a note of responsibility.

Aura waved us over to the small four-person table, and we sat down as Zak busied himself in the kitchen, pulling out four mugs—all branded with metal or rock band logos. As I sat next to Aura, something caught my attention, and before I realized it, she had reached over and touched one of my horns, her fingers brushing against it curiously.

“Hey!” I yelped, my hand flying up to cover my horns. “What the hell?”

“Babe! She has horns!” Aura exclaimed excitedly, like she had just discovered the most amazing thing.

“I noticed, honey,” Zak said in a flat, unenthused tone as he poured hot water into the mugs. Clearly, this was not the first time they’d had this conversation.

I narrowed my eyes and shifted my chair closer to Cayro, my body tensing. “Don’t touch me,” I growled, baring my teeth slightly. She’s lucky I didn’t have my wrench.

“Aura, we’ve talked about this. Ask before you touch,” Zak said calmly but firmly, glancing over his shoulder at her. She dropped her gaze to her hands, clearly chastened, before looking back at me.

“I’m sorry, Star. I just got excited. I’m overjoyed that Cayro finally has someone.” She offered a heartfelt apology, her tone sincere.

“Sorry about that. Aura can be a bit… handsy when she’s comfortable and trusts someone,” Cayro explained, trying to smooth things over.

Zak, carrying the mugs to the table, chimed in as he sat down next to his wife. “She didn’t mean any harm. Aura tends to be tactile, but she means well. We’re both used to her quirks.”

“Just set some boundaries with her,” Cayro added with a small smile.

I nodded slowly, taking the hot mug Zak handed me. Wrapping my hands around it, I peered down at the creamy brown liquid inside. Small white marshmallows bobbed up and down as the drink swirled.

“Hot chocolate?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“Yeah, Aura’s dad made it,” Zak replied, sipping from his own mug, which sported a Slipknot logo.

I looked over at Aura, who was sipping her Metallica-branded mug with a sweet, innocent smile. “Try it,” she encouraged with a grin.

Bringing the mug to my lips, I took a tentative sip. The warm, sweet liquid washed over my tongue, bringing with it memories of long, cold winter nights spent with my mother and Mrs. Bracton. We’d sit outside, wrapped in blankets, watching the snow fall. Tears welled up in my eyes as the memories flooded back.

“What’s the occasion?” Cayro asked, though my thoughts still consumed me. “You only break out the hot chocolate for special occasions or when there’s something serious you need to talk about.”

“Actually, it’s both this time,” Zak said quietly, his tone shifting to something more solemn.

“Oh? What’s up?” Cayro asked, now fully alert.

“First, the special occasion is that my brother is here, visiting. The second… we need to have a serious discussion,” Zak explained, setting his mug down with a heavy sigh.

“Star?” Aura’s voice cut through the swirl of emotions and memories in my mind. I blinked, focusing back on the present, and looked over at her, waiting for her to continue.

Looking over at her, I could see that she had a worried expression on her face. I set my mug down, feeling the tears roll down my cheeks. Aura put her mug aside and reached toward me with her sleeved hand. I immediately bared my teeth, leaning away, but she kept coming.

"Star, what’s wrong?" Cayro asked gently.

“I... I… my memories are coming back,” I stuttered. Panic tightened my chest as the old memories pushed to the surface. I instinctively reached for Aura's hands, but Cayro quickly grabbed mine, stopping me. Aura, undeterred, used her sleeves to gently wipe the tears from my cheeks. I glared at her the whole time, but she seemed unfazed.

“Don’t be upset with her,” Cayro said softly. “She’s just trying to comfort you.”

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier,” Aura said, her expression sincere and worried. “But you’re crying now, and I don’t know why.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” I said coldly, trying to shove the emotions back down.

“I might if you explained it,” she said, looking genuinely hurt.

“Star had a problem remembering things before she was eleven,” Cayro explained for me. “Ever since we bonded, those memories have been coming back to her.”

“Oh…” Aura said quietly, casting her gaze down at her mug, the hurt look still lingering on her face.

The air was thick with tension until Zak cut in. “Speaking of which, what kind of bond do the two of you have?”

“Um… what do you mean?” Cayro asked, his brow furrowed.

Zak clarified, “I mean, what is the nature of your bond?”

“We can share each other’s emotions, thoughts, and memories,” I answered softly, unsure where this was going.

Zak and Aura exchanged concerned glances, as though they were having their own silent conversation. Their expressions made my skin prickle with unease. Linking with Cayro, I could feel his confusion and weariness. What were they not saying?

“Sooo, this leads me to the serious discussion I mentioned earlier,” Zak finally said, breaking the silence that had fallen between us.

“Alright,” Cayro said calmly, his hand finding mine.

Zak took a deep breath before speaking. “The two of you are technically my siblings.”

“Well, duh. I’ve always seen you as a brother,” Cayro said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.

“That’s not what he means, Cayro,” Aura interjected, her tone far more serious.

“What do you mean, then?” I asked, growing more anxious.

Zak’s expression darkened as he explained. “My father filled me in on what you’ve both been through. The fact that you carry Lycan DNA within you.”

“Yeah, but we don’t know whose DNA it is,” I said, feeling a strange knot tighten in my stomach. “Supposedly, it’s royal DNA.”

“Correct. It’s the same DNA that runs through my body,” Zak confirmed.

The knot in my stomach twisted even tighter as realization dawned. “What are you saying, Zak?” Cayro asked cautiously, his voice tightening.

“The donor for the project you two went through… was my father,” Zak said, dropping the bombshell.

I felt Cayro’s grip on my hand tighten as we both absorbed the weight of Zak’s words. Director Staroko—Zak’s father—had been the one responsible for supplying the DNA for our transformation, our lives being altered so dramatically. But why didn’t he tell us? Why had Zak known before we did?

Cayro's voice was low, barely concealing his frustration. “Are you saying that you’ve known all these years we’ve been friends, and you’re just now telling me this?”

“I didn’t officially know until a few weeks ago, but I’ve always felt a connection to you, Cayro—like you were family,” Zak explained, his eyes searching for understanding.

“Oh…” Cayro mumbled, still processing everything.

“For the longest time, I thought you were an undiscovered werewolf,” Zak continued, his tone somber. “You smelled like one and showed wolfish traits, but nothing solid.”

“Then why didn’t you ever tell me you were a werewolf?” Cayro asked, his voice sharper now.

Zak sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Because how do you explain to your best friend that you’re a monster, especially when he’s never shown any ability to shift or when his grandparents clearly had no idea?”

“Fair point,” Cayro muttered, though he still sounded bitter.

Zak wasn’t done. “Besides, we can’t reveal our true nature to just anyone. We have to know if the other person is supernatural. It’s… complicated.”

Cayro glanced over at Aura. “But Aura knew what you were before I did.”

“That’s because he revealed himself the night I was nearly raped,” Aura interjected quietly.

I shot her a concerned look, my own frustration forgotten for the moment. She was nearly raped? The thought hit me hard. Without thinking, I reached out and gently grabbed her hand. She gave me a soft, appreciative smile and squeezed it, her gratitude clear.

“Oh, right,” Cayro said softly, as if remembering.

“Yeah… that was a bad night,” Zak said, his voice low, almost haunted. “We don’t talk about it much. But you never showed signs of being like me, so I kept my secret.”

“And now that you know we’re more than human?” I asked, trying to piece it all together.

“Now that you’re one of us, we can share our secrets with you,” Aura said, sipping her hot chocolate with a small sigh of relief.

The weight of what they were telling us settled heavily over me. Everything was starting to make sense, but it also felt like the beginning of a new kind of chaos.

I pushed my mug away carefully. I wasn’t prepared to live through any more memories right now. The reason they were telling us all this was clear: we were one of them.

“Now that you're here, Aura and I have to introduce you to the council,” Zak said, his tone serious.

“You know that won’t go well, love,” Aura replied, her voice tinged with concern.

“They’ll find out eventually. The two of them smell too much like us not to be related,” Zak refuted calmly.

I frowned, unsure what that meant for us. “What does that mean for us?” I asked, my voice quiet but firm.

“In the past it would mean that they would have to pick sides and follow who they think would be a good leader. However, you aren’t full werewolves. They will want me to challenge Cayro to the death so that I can’t be challenged,” Zak explained nonchalantly.

I felt the air shift. Cayro paled, and anger began bubbling inside me. But before I could say a word, Zak raised a hand to stop me.

“Before you try to argue, it won’t come to that,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “The council is already on shaky ground with me. I had to kill a third of them before I took the throne.”

Cayro's eyes widened in disbelief. “You killed a third of your council?” he exclaimed.

“Yes,” Zak responded bluntly, his tone devoid of emotion. “It’s a long story, and not one I’m eager to revisit.”

Cayro simply nodded, processing the weight of Zak’s words.

“Tomorrow morning, I’m holding our weekly meeting. All four of us will be attending,” Zak continued, his voice leaving no room for debate.

Aura groaned dramatically. “Do I have to go?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Zak sighed.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at their dynamic. “Why do you make it sound like it’s a bad thing she’s going with you?” I asked, amused.

“The last time she attended, she nearly strangled the lead council member to death with his own tie,” Zak answered bluntly.

I raised an eyebrow at Aura, now fully impressed. Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to underestimate her.

Aura rolled her eyes. “What? He was a pompous, misogynistic asshole. He called me a weak, incompetent mate in front of several pack members.”

Zak let out a snort. “You did provoke him…”

Aura huffed, crossing her arms. “He was trying to undermine your authority.”

Zak smiled slightly. “True, but tomorrow will be a long day. We need to get some sleep. We’ve prepared the spare bedroom for you two.”

Standing up, Zak guided Aura to her feet and gestured for us to follow. He led us down the hall, pointing out where the bathroom was and where to find towels for showers. Finally, we reached their spare bedroom. Aura flicked on the light.

The room was simple, almost untouched—like it was rarely used. A full-size bed sat in the corner near a window. Across from it stood a six-drawer dresser, an old, ugly lamp perched on top, looking like it had been in a fight with something far too hard. Next to the bed, a small nightstand completed the barren room. It was almost a jarring contrast to the alternative emo vibes of the rest of the house.

After wishing us goodnight, Zak and Aura headed to their room. Once the door clicked shut, I turned and saw Cayro already halfway through stripping off his clothes. His boots and socks were tossed into the corner, and his shirt and pants were neatly folded on the nightstand. He left his boxers on and slid under the blankets without a word.

I followed suit, pulling off my own clothes, and then walked over to turn off the light before crawling into bed beside him. Without saying anything, Cayro wrapped his arms around me, his embrace warm and protective. I placed my hand on his cheek, and he nuzzled into it, his warmth seeping into me. I was still in my draconian form, but he didn’t care. In his arms, it didn’t matter what form I was in.

Burying my face into his neck, I let my human form wash over me, feeling the shift. Before long, we drifted off, and in our dreams, we walked side by side, united in everything.