The den was quiet for exactly three seconds after Theron stepped into the main room.
Then chaos resumed.
Ryn ran straight to him and grabbed his leg.
"Food!"
Kael climbed onto the chair again, trying to see what Theron was doing on the table.
Lior continued banging his spoon proudly against the floor.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Theron looked at them.
Three small wolves stared back.
Three empty stomachs.
Three very loud toddlers.
He had faced wars.
Battles.
Rival alphas.
None of those had prepared him for this.
"…Sit."
The word carried quiet authority.
The pups immediately froze.
Wolf instinct.
Kael slowly sat on the chair.
Ryn plopped down beside him.
Lior looked around in confusion… then sat where he already was.
Theron nodded once.
"Good."
That was the easy part.
The difficult part was the food.
He opened a cupboard.
Flour.
Another cupboard.
Dried herbs.
A third.
Bowls.
Theron stared into the shelves like they might reveal secrets.
In the bedroom, Aiden was still asleep.
Completely useless.
Behind him, a quiet voice whispered.
"Papa?"
Theron looked down.
Ryn pointed toward the counter.
"Milk."
Theron followed the tiny finger.
There was, in fact, a jug of milk.
"…Good."
He poured three small cups.
Immediately, three tiny hands reached out.
Ryn grabbed his and drank half of it in one go.
Kael held his carefully with both hands.
Lior sniffed his.
Then dipped his finger inside.
Then licked it.
Theron watched them.
"…Acceptable."
But milk alone was not breakfast.
Theron glanced back toward the cupboards.
He remembered watching Aiden cook.
Many times.
How difficult could it be?
He found bread.
Cut it.
Added honey.
Placed three small pieces on the table.
Instant silence.
Three toddlers stared at the food like it was the greatest treasure in the world.
Ryn grabbed his immediately.
Kael took a careful bite.
Lior tried to eat the honey first.
Within seconds, honey was everywhere.
On the table.
On Lior's hands.
On his cheek.
Theron stared at him.
"…You are covered."
Lior blinked.
Then smiled.
His small tail wagged.
Behind them, the bedroom door creaked open.
Aiden appeared in the doorway.
Hair messy.
Eyes half closed.
Blanket still wrapped around his shoulders.
He looked like someone who had absolutely no intention of being awake.
Until he saw the table.
Honey everywhere.
Lior sticky.
Ryn chewing loudly.
Kael sitting proudly like a very responsible older brother.
And Theron standing in the middle of it all like a confused king.
Aiden blinked slowly.
"…You're cooking."
Theron looked at him.
"I made breakfast."
Aiden shuffled closer.
He looked at the bread.
The milk.
The honey disaster.
Then at Lior.
Then back at Theron.
"…I leave you alone for ten minutes."
Theron frowned slightly.
"They are eating."
"They are sticky."
"That seems unrelated."
Aiden rubbed his face, trying not to laugh.
Lior suddenly spotted him.
"Mama!"
Immediately, the little pup raised both arms.
Honey hands included.
Aiden stepped back instantly.
"No."
Lior wobbled toward him anyway.
"Up!"
Aiden pointed at the table.
"Wash first."
Lior looked confused.
Theron calmly lifted the pup and carried him to the basin.
Lior continued holding the spoon proudly.
Even while Theron washed his hands.
Aiden leaned against the table.
"…You look very domestic this morning."
Theron dried Lior's hands.
"I was performing my duty."
Aiden smirked slightly.
"As Alpha King?"
Theron glanced at the pups.
Then back at Aiden.
"…As breakfast provider."
Ryn suddenly raised his cup dramatically.
"More!"
Kael nodded in agreement.
"More!"
Theron looked at Aiden.
Aiden immediately raised both hands.
"Nope."
Theron stared at him.
"You are awake now."
"Yes."
"You can assist."
Aiden walked over and kissed his cheek quickly.
"You're doing great."
Then he stepped away again.
Theron watched him retreat toward the fire.
"…That was not assistance."
Aiden sat down comfortably.
"Emotional support counts."
Theron sighed quietly.
Behind him, three small tails wagged at the table.