🌖~ Moonlit Obsidian ~ 🌔 [with M-jow]

[mik3la]

Quote

“Come on,” he said gently. “It’s about an hour’s drive. You should pack a small bag with cloth, just in case.”

“Alright” he said taking a deep breath and sighing as he moved to his room and packed a few things in his bag, like shirts and pants and whatever one needed for when travelling and not long after he finished they were on the road to Asher’s pack.

 

 

The moment they arrived and the gates closed behind them, Kaito felt it. It pressed in from every direction, a low hum under his skin, like standing in the middle of a deep forest where something ancient was watched but didn't threaten. Wolves. Dozens of them. Maybe more. He couldn't see most of them, but he felt them, threads of awareness brushing against him as the car rolled forward.

His fingers curled slowly against his thigh and for a heartbeat, the old instinct flared. I don't belong here. Mage. Outsiders. Problem. Then the other presence inside him lifted his head.

(Easy.)

The wolf in him stirred with curious. Its awareness stretched outward, brushing the edges of the pack's collective presence like a cautious paw testing water.

(They are many.)

Kaito swallowed. Can you feel them?

A low, thoughtful hum answered him.

(Pack.)

Something warm and unfamiliar twisted in his chest at the sound of that word but didn’t move or said anything.

As they passed houses and lights and people, Kaito kept his gaze outward, taking everything in. Wolves walking openly. Laughing. Talking. Living. The air itself felt different—thicker, charged with scent and sound and something like belonging.

The deeper they drove in, the more Kaito felt their attention brushing past him in faint threads, curious and assessing. He kept his posture still, controlled, the way years of surviving among people had taught him.

Don't draw attention. Don't look like prey.

But as they passed houses and people, Kaito kept his gaze outward, taking everything in. Wolves walking openly. Laughing. Talking. Living. The air itself felt different, thicker, charged with scent and sound and something like belonging.

His wolf nudged him gently.

(They smell us.)
(And him.)

Asher.

Kaito glanced at him, at the steady line of his profile, the way he drove like this place already knew him down to the bone. Alpha. Home.

Mate.

The thought still made his stomach twist and he didn’t know how to understand the feeling.

When the pack house finally came into view, Kaito forgot to breathe.

It wasn't just big … it was alive . Not in the magical sense, but in the way old places held memory. The stone. The timber. The symbols worn smoothly by time and touch. This wasn't a fortress meant to keep people out. It was something that had grown, layer by layer, around those who lived inside it.

The car rolled to a stop at the base of the steps, and Kaito realized his breath had gone shallow. His heart wasn't racing but it wasn't calm either.

Before he could ground himself further, the front doors opened and a man stepped out, already smiling.

“Asher,” he called, warmth unmistakable in his voice. “Took  you long enough.”

He wasn't as tall as Asher, leaner, compact, but there was strength in the way he moved. Muscles earned through training rather than intimidation. His presence carried authority, but it wasn't heavy-handed.

This was Logan. Alpha brother.

Logan came down the steps without hesitation, clearly expecting Asher and clearly relieved to see him. He clapped a hand on Asher's shoulder in a quick, familiar gesture.

“Garret is inside and losing his mind,” he said with a grin. "We got something. A lead. You're gonna want to hear—" Then his gaze shifted and landed on Kaito.

The smile didn't disappear but it paused.

Kaito felt it instantly. The scent check.

Logan’s brows wrinkle slightly as a concern flickered through his expression.

Mage.

Kaito's stomach dropped.

Of course he smells it.

Logan straightened subtly, attention sharpening as he took a step closer—not hostile, but alert. His gaze flicked back to Asher, then returned to Kaito.

“Who … Asher, do you have anything to tell me? …” Logan started, clearly choosing his words.

Then he took a step closer and froze instantly as the air shifted. Logan’s eyes widened and frowned at the same time as confusion rolled off him in a controlled wave as he leaned in slightly, scenting again like he couldn't believe what he was registering.

“That's not possible,” Logan muttered under his breath blinking a few times then turning to Asher for some explanation.

Kaito lifted his chin before he could stop himself.

Logan's gaze snapped fully to his face now, recognition dawning almost.

“…You,” he said slowly. “You're the one from Noah's place.” The words landed like a blow. The memory surged, blood, magic, darkness, waking disoriented and terrified.

Logan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

“We found you unconscious,” he continued, eyes searching Kaito's face. "Mage signature all over the scene. We thought…." He stopped, shook his head. “We never caught this part.”

He looked back at Asher, confusing giving way to something more serious.

"Asher," Logan said quietly, "he smells like magic. And wolf. I've never—"

“I know,” Asher replied simply.

Logan stared at them both for a long second, then his posture shifted, not relaxing entirely.

“Well,” he said finally, voice careful not unkind, “that explains a hell of a lot” he sigh and then awkward silence fell upon them three for a few seconds.

It wasn't hostile but it was heavy, the kind of silence that carried a thousand unspoken calculations. He stayed still, shoulders squared, hands loose at his sides. Years of surviving as a mage had taught him how to stand when judgment hovered nearby.

Asher stood just half a step closer than before. A presence Kaito could feel like gravity at his back.

Logan’s gaze drifted from Kaito to Asher again, slower now. Studying. Measuring. The shock had faded, replaced by something sharper, responsibility.

Kaito could practically hear the thoughts turning behind Logan’s eyes.

Magic and wolf in one body.
A hybrid.
A walking complication.

Logan inhaled deeply, scenting again, not because he doubted his senses, but because he needed to understand them. His jaw tightened.

“This changes things,” Logan said quietly, more to Asher than to Kaito.

Kaito's stomach sank. He'd expected that.

Logan wasn't glaring at him. He wasn't angry. That somehow made it worse. This wasn't a personal reaction. It was a pack reaction

Kaito's wolf stirred, attentive.

(Alpha mind.)
(Protect pack.)

Logan’s gaze flicked briefly toward the pack house, toward the unseen wolves inside. Kaito followed the look instinctively, suddenly aware again of how many ears, how many instincts, were within those walls.

Some would accept this without question. Some wouldn't. Packs were built on tradition. On bloodlines. On instinct. Even the most progressive packs carried old scars, and mages were etched into werewolf history with fire and loss.

Kaito knew that history. He studied it ever since he discovered what he was and he lived in its shadow.

Logan rubbed the back of his neck slowly, a gesture that betrayed more unease than his steady posture. “You know how this will sound to some of them,” he said under his breath to Asher. "A mage walking into the pack house? With that scent?"

His eyes flicked back to Kaito cautiously.

“And if they caught the wolf part too…” He exhaled. "Some of the older wolves won't react well. Especially not Father." His tone softened, just slightly.

“I know you didn't bring him here without a reason, but still …” Logan said sighing again knowing what this might cause.

Kaito's breath caught.

Please let it be a good one, he thought, guilt curling in his chest. Please don't let this tear your pack apart.

He shifted his weight, finally speaking as the silence was becoming unbearable.

"If this causes problems," Kaito said quietly, eyes steady despite the knot in his stomach, "I can leave. I don't want to put your pack at risk." The words tasted bitter, but honest.

His wolf growled softly at the thought.

(No.)

Logan looked at him again, really looked this time. Not just the scent. Not the anomaly. The person.

“That,” he said slowly, “isn’t a decision you get to make alone.” Then he turned back to Asher, waiting. Waiting for his brother to explain why he'd brought a mage—no, a hybrid —into the heart of the pack ands why he should allow it.

[M-jow]

Asher was honestly glad to be back home. He had missed the feeling of his pack—missed the clean, sharp mountain air and the warm, welcoming sense of safety that only home could offer. Even if it was just for a moment, he let himself be carried by that feeling. He pretended he was just a normal man driving home, about to introduce his parents and family to the person he planned to spend the rest of his life with.

For a little while, he could even pretend there weren’t any psycho mages hunting them.

Asher had never brought a lover home to the pack before, so this was entirely new territory. Even the great Alpha felt a knot of nerves twist in his chest, though he hid it well. Years of leadership had taught him how to keep his emotions locked behind a calm, steady exterior.

When the car engine finally died, the front door of the main house opened. Asher smiled as Logan stepped outside.

It was good to see that his brother still looked the same as ever. Of course, Logan was mated now, which meant he had a partner who made sure he actually rested, ate, and slept—rather than working himself into the ground behind his desk. Honestly, Logan was just as much of a workaholic as Asher. The only difference was that Logan wore suits and managed to look more put together, even with the dark circles etched beneath his eyes.

The brothers greeted each other warmly.

Logan’s gaze shifted past Asher, confusion flashing across his face.

 

[“Who… Asher, do you have anything to tell me? That’s not—”]

 

“Logan, not out here,” Asher cut in sharply.

He tensed, his alpha wolf rising inside him, making itself known—bigger and heavier, a silent warning. He was no less an Alpha than his brother, and he would not tolerate anyone threatening his guest.

Logan wasn’t showing Kaito any outright hostility, but the uncertainty was clear. He looked nervous, cautious. It almost made Asher laugh. Did Logan honestly think he would bring someone dangerous into their home? Someone who meant them harm? If that was the case, Asher might have to knock some sense into his brother later.

He could feel Kaito’s unease beside him. Kaito had been wary ever since they’d left the city apartment, and this tense welcome wasn’t helping at all.

 

Asher felt the shift the moment Kaito spoke about leaving.

He moved without thinking, hand catching Kaito’s wrist before the space between them could widen. He didn’t look at him long enough to turn it into a conversation, only enough to make the intent clear.

“No,” Asher said quietly. Final. “You being here isn’t a problem. You made me promise not to turn away, so you can't run off either."

Then he turned back to Logan.

If Logan expected defiance or some dramatic declaration, he didn’t get it. Asher didn’t bare his throat, and he didn’t puff his chest either. He stood exactly as he always did, tall and stady like a rock.

“Kaito is my guest,” Asher said evenly. “He came here under my protection. That’s it. Full stop.”

Logan’s brows drew together. “Asher—”

“He’s not here to hurt anyone,” Asher continued, cutting in calmly. “Not the pack. Not you. No one. Whatever you’re scenting doesn’t change that.” His voice carried authority. “If you want to talk, we can. But we’re not doing it out here.”

He gestured broadly to the open space, the house looming around them, the unseen wolves ears very much listening in.

“This isn’t a tribunal,” Asher said dryly. “And I’m not putting him on display like we’re rehearsing a school play.”

The corner of Logan’s mouth twitched despite himself, irritation easing just a fraction.

Asher took a step closer to his brother, lowering his voice. “You know me. If I thought he was a danger, I wouldn’t have brought him past the gates.”

Logan studied him for a long moment, eyes sharp, searching for cracks. He didn’t find any.

Asher felt Kaito shift again beside him—felt the tension spike, the instinct to retreat—and this time he turned his head slightly, speaking without opening the floor for argument.

“My brother isn’t as bad as he sounds right now,” Asher said quietly, steady as stone. “He’s just doing what he belives is best.” Then, turned back to Logan and firmly said: “And so am I.”

Logan exhaled through his nose, scrubbing a hand over his face. “You really know how to drop complications in my lap.”

Asher shrugged faintly. “It’s a gift.”

 

Another beat of silence passed.

Logan finally stepped back, angling toward the house. “Fine,” he said. “Inside. Before everyone decides this is more dramatic than it needs to be.”

The front doors opened wider, warm light spilling out along with the unmistakable press of pack awareness and curiosity.

Asher kept his hand on Kaito wrist for a second longer, as a way of reassuring him it was okay. Before releasing him.

“Stay with me,” he said, already leading them toward the steps.

 

Asher felt it the moment they crossed the threshold.

The pack house closed around them—stone, timber, warmth, dozens of familiar presences—but two very important people were missing. The absence tugged at him like a loose thread.

He frowned slightly, reaching outward along the subtle pull of the pack bond.

“…Where is Mom and Dad?” he asked as they moved through the entry hall. “I can’t feel them.”

Logan glanced over his shoulder while leading the way down a side corridor. “You wouldn’t. They’re out. Small gathering with some old friends from the northern packs.” His tone softened a fraction. “They’ll be back tomorrow.”

Asher nodded, relief and tension tangled together in his chest. Relief for the breathing room. Tension because that conversation was only delayed, not avoided.

They didn’t head toward the main living areas. Instead, Logan turned down a narrower hallway and stopped before a heavy oak door reinforced with old iron bands.

“My office,” Logan said, already pushing it open. “Soundproofed. No accidental audience.”

Asher already knew that but still appreciated he said that for Kaito to hear.

Inside, the room was practical rather than ornate—large desk, reinforced windows, shelves filled with maps, reports, and old pack records. The wards hummed softly under the floor, sealing them off from the rest of the house.

Logan gestured for them to sit, then leaned back against the desk, arms crossing. “Alright,” he said. “Start from the beginning. Properly.”

Asher didn’t rush it.

He turned slightly, positioning himself so Kaito was clearly included but not put on display. Then he looked back at Logan.

“This is Kaito,” Asher said evenly, reintroducing him not as a problem, but as a presence. “He didn’t lie to us when we found him. We just didn’t have the full picture yet.”

Logan nodded once, gaze attentive now rather than suspicious.

“His wolf only woke this morning,” Asher continued. “Completely dormant until now. That’s why none of us caught it before. The magic masked it.”

Logan’s brows shot up. “This morning?”

“Yes.”

That got Logan’s full attention.

“And the mages?” Logan asked quietly. “The ones from Noah’s place?”

Asher’s jaw tightened. “They weren’t just passing through. They were hunting.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “Kaito wasn’t a bystander. He was the target.”

Logan straightened, all levity gone. “You’re sure.”

Asher nodded. “Certain. Whatever they want—whatever they did—it’s tied to him. Noah got in the way.” His voice dipped, grim. “But that group knows Kaito survived.”

A heavy silence filled the office.

 

Logan dragged a hand down his face. “So let me get this straight. A newly awakened hybrid, a hostile mage group, and you brought him straight into the heart of the pack.”

“I brought him somewhere he could be protected,” Asher corrected calmly.

Logan studied him, frustration flickering through concern. “I want to help,” he said honestly. “You know I do. But you’re asking a lot, Asher. Of the pack. Of us.”

“I know.”

“And I don’t understand,” Logan added, voice lowering. “Why you’re putting this much on the line for someone you met—what, a week ago?”

That was it.

Asher felt his pulse kick, his wolf pressing hard against his ribs, restless and insistent. He’d known this moment was coming, but that didn’t make it easier.

He didn’t look at Kaito. If he did, he might lose his nerves.

Instead, Asher met his brother’s eyes and held them.

“I didn’t plan to,” he said quietly. “It just… happened.”

Logan frowned. “Asher—”

“He’s my fated mate.”

The words left him softer than he expected, but they landed like thunder.

Logan froze.

For a heartbeat, the room felt too small to contain the truth of it. Then Logan inhaled sharply, eyes widening before narrowing again, disbelief and dawning understanding colliding.

“…You’re serious,” he said.

Asher nodded once.

Logan let out a low, stunned laugh and then stopped himself, scrubbing his hands over his face. “Of course he is,” he muttered. “Of course.”

He looked up again, gaze sharper now, measuring everything through a new lens.

“That explains a lot,” Logan said slowly. “Your behavior. The unnecessary risk. The stubbornness.”

Asher’s mouth twitched despite the tension. “I’m always stubborn.”

“Yes,” Logan agreed dryly. “But this is next level.”

Silence settled again, different this time. More heavy

Logan straightened, expression shifting into something resolute. Alpha resolve, no judgment.

“…Alright,” he said. “If he’s your mate, then this isn’t just your problem. It’s ours.”

Asher felt something in his chest loosen, just a fraction.

“We’ll need to be careful,” Logan continued. “Strategic. Some of the elders won’t take this easily. But you are already used to that.” He met Asher’s gaze squarely. “But of course I'll help you"

Those words mattered more to Asher than Logan probably realized.

“Thank you,” Asher said quietly.

Logan sighed and looked between the two before him. “Well either way, family helps family. Atleast not mom wouldn’t set you up on those blinddates anymore”

Asher allowed himself a small, tired smile.

Then Logan talk just to Kaito. "My brother might have quiet a few flawes and a stubborn streak. And honestly I can list up more thing about him I find annoying as hell. But when it all comes down to it, he is a great man. And if the moon goddess pared you with him, then I can’t belive you'll have even one evil bone in your body. I am sorry for the way I reacted before. It is real nice too meet you Kaito" Logan smile warmly at Kaito, like he was already family and held his arm out for a handshake.