Chapter 2 - Tomas

“Nate, man. Let’s go for a run. You’ve been cooped up in this library for a week. Your wolf has to be going crazy. Let’s go for a run. Maybe a shower and a meal that isn’t brought to you in a bag,” I say to my best friend.

He’s been searching for a way to get into any of the three possible places where Nyx could be—without someone like Hermes, who can jump realms—since we got back two damn months ago.

He only comes out when Dev or Arya drag him to training, or when Slade or Naomi hit him with the alpha or luna tone.

It was rough going at first. We didn’t realize he wasn’t doing... any of the things. You know—bathing. Eating regularly. Sleeping. Leaving the damn library.

I mean, I’ve been a little distracted. The whole mating frenzy with Zoe and Kaia hit hard. We didn’t get much downtime after the battle at the gates of Valhalla, so I missed checking in on my bestie.

Naomi and Slade didn’t catch it either—they came home to chaos. Ryder, their youngest, has been going off the rails at school. Kid’s only thirteen. His wolf isn’t supposed to show up for another three years, but it’s already here.

And it’s powerful. This massive, black, brown, and white brindled beast with jaws like a fucking bear trap. The aura coming off him is wild—stronger than most alphas and creeping up on Rowen and Alexander’s levels.

Here’s the problem: there’s a reason wolves don’t surface until sixteen. By then, you’ve had years of emotional regulation training. Because emotions? They trigger shifts. And the first few shifts are hard enough with control.

Ryder? Six months of training. He can’t even handle puberty mood swings, let alone a dominant wolf. It’s been rough. Rowen and Alexander have had their hands full.

Selene’s not around to ask what the hell is going on—she’s been in Valhalla working strategy with the gods.

Point is, Naomi and Slade have been busy. They didn’t notice Nate slipping.

It was his siblings, Ethan and Gray, who sounded the alarm. They’ve been worried about him since Nyx disappeared—and scared shitless of Ryder.

So they focused on Nate.

They couldn’t get him out of the library, but they got him to eat and sleep. Barely. Dev went in twice when Nate skipped training and dragged him out to shower and crash. He slept for twenty-four hours both times.

The second I stepped out of the house I share with Zoe and Kaia, Ethan and Gray were on me like white on rice. I made them go tell their parents—Ryder chaos or not.

We needed to get our shit together for Nate. Not just for him, which is reason enough. But because of Nyx. They're mated—even if it’s not complete, the bond’s still there. They were getting close before she was taken. Him taking care of himself helps her, too.

Getting him out of that damn library has been hell. A fight every single time. But it has to happen.

Nate’s my best friend. I’ll do whatever it takes.

So when I suggested a run? It wasn’t for fun. He needs to shift. He hasn’t shifted once since we got back. An alpha wolf under your skin for that long without release? It’s a ticking time bomb.

Instead, he mumbles, “I’m fine, Tomas. I don’t need to go on a run.”

“That’s bullshit, Nate. You haven’t shifted since we got home. We can tell—by how irritable you are, how much you’re eating, how you keep throwing shit. You need to get out. You need to shift, shower, eat, and sleep,” I say, moving a stack of books out of his reach.

He growls at me. Growls.

I just raise an eyebrow. “Still think you don’t need to shift?”

“What I need is my mate!” he roars, voice layered with his wolf’s.

And I’ve had enough.

My own wolf surges forward as I growl back, “And you won’t fucking find her if your wolf tears this place apart!”

Okay, bad idea. Me, challenging an alpha? I’m strong, but I’m not that strong. Especially if I don’t want to wreck this damn library.

Thank fuck Alexander walks in right then.

“Hey, guys... what’s going on?” he asks, voice tight with that classic someone’s about to die and I walked in at the wrong time energy.

“I’m trying to get my stubborn asshole of a best friend to come for a run, before he shifts out of desperation like his thirteen-year-old brother!” Why the hell am I yelling? Not smart—especially when Nate is barely hanging on.

But I’m done coddling him. Done coaxing and pleading while he spirals. I get that he misses her. I get that he’s desperate. But if he doesn’t pull himself together, Nyx won’t get a mate back—just a feral wolf chained by his own rage.

Alexander steps in, calm as ever. “Okay, yes, you have a point, Mas. But growling and pushing him into a fight won’t get him out the door. Why don’t you step outside? Let me handle it. I’ll get him out—with the rest of the Elite.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I mutter, turning on my heel. “Fucking asshole,” I add under my breath.

“Fuck off!” Nate snaps back as I flip him off behind my back.

I stomp out of the library, jumping off the steps just to feel the jolt through my muscles. My anger’s boiling. I either need to punch something—preferably Nate’s smug face—or let my wolf out.

Outside, the whole Elite is waiting: Dev, Arya, Rowen, Jared, Summer, Micah, and my two mates.

Zoe and Kaia are on me in a flash, wrapping themselves around me, grounding me. They press against every inch of exposed skin they can find. The sparks of our matebond calm my wolf instantly.

“It’s okay, baby. Alexander will get him out. Though... it looks like it might take force,” Zoe says, brushing a hand down my cheek.

“Luckily, he’s the strongest wolf here,” Kaia murmurs, her lips brushing my other cheek.

Fuck.

“If you two keep that up, I’m gonna be releasing my frustration with Nathan by fucking the hell out of you instead of going for a run,” I murmur against Kaia’s mouth before kissing her.

Zoe laughs. “You say that like it’d be a bad thing.”

Shit. I’m supposed to be here for Nate. He needs support. But he’s also got a damn army out here ready to back him up. Me disappearing to blow off steam inside my mates? Tempting.

But then Alexander pushes through the doors—carrying Nate.

Nate’s flailing, cursing, throwing elbows. Alexander doesn’t blink. Just dumps him to the ground like a sack of flour.

Before Nate can react, Dev uses his alpha tone. “Shift!”

Guess we didn’t make it out before the run started.