The den was no longer quiet.
Not even close.
"Kael—NO!"
Aiden lunged forward just in time to grab his eldest before he launched himself off the back of a chair. Kael twisted in his arms, laughing, small wolf ears flicking wildly as his tail wagged like he had never been sick a day in his life.
"I fly!"
"You do not fly," Aiden said, breathless, pulling him back. "You fall. Very fast."
Kael grinned.
Ryn howled in agreement from the floor.
Lior clapped.
Chaos.
Pure chaos.
After days of sickness, silence, and fear, the den had flipped completely the other way—and Aiden didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"…they're worse," he muttered.
"They're recovering," Eirik corrected calmly from the side, though there was a softness in his voice as he watched them.
Kael wriggled out of Aiden's arms and immediately dropped to all fours.
Half-shifted.
Tiny claws clicking against the stone floor.
"Oh no—no, no, no—Kael!"
Too late.
Kael bolted.
Ryn followed instantly.
Lior, determined not to be left behind, stumbled after them with a small growl that sounded more like a squeak.
Aiden groaned.
"They're going to break something."
"They already did," Eirik said mildly.
Aiden froze.
"…what?"
Eirik pointed.
A small wooden bowl lay shattered near the wall.
Aiden stared.
Then looked back at the three tiny chaos wolves currently chasing each other in circles.
"…I just cleaned."
"You did," Eirik said.
"Why do I even try?"
Eirik almost smiled.
Almost.
For a moment, everything felt… normal.
Too normal.
Aiden finally managed to scoop Lior up before he face-planted into the wall. Ryn crashed into Aiden's leg. Kael ran straight into Eirik, bouncing off him and laughing like it was the best thing in the world.
Eirik steadied him automatically, hands firm but gentle.
"Careful."
Kael just grinned up at him, tail wagging.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Trust.
Eirik's chest tightened.
Just for a second.
Then Aiden spoke again, pulling him back.
"…Eirik."
There was something different in his tone.
Quieter.
More serious.
Eirik looked up.
Aiden shifted Lior on his hip, absentmindedly running a hand over his back while watching Kael and Ryn tumble together.
"…about what I said earlier."
Eirik went still.
"About… telling Theron," Aiden added.
Right.
That.
Eirik forced his expression to stay neutral.
"Have you decided?"
Aiden hesitated.
His hand—without thinking—drifted briefly to his stomach.
Just for a second.
Then back to Lior.
"…I don't know how to say it," he admitted. "Last time was… chaos. This time…"
He trailed off.
Eirik watched him carefully.
"You're afraid of his reaction."
Aiden huffed softly.
"I'm afraid of overreaction."
That was honest.
Too honest.
Eirik almost looked away.
"He'll be happy," he said.
The words came easily.
Too easily.
Aiden gave him a look.
"You've seen him with the pups. Now imagine that… times four."
Eirik's chest tightened again.
Four.
Not three.
Four.
He forced a small smile.
"…he'll manage."
Aiden snorted.
"Barely."
A pause.
Then, softer—
"I just… want to tell him right."
Eirik's gaze lingered on him.
On the way Aiden stood.
Strong.
Tired.
Alive.
Carrying something new without even realizing how much it would change everything.
Something twisted inside Eirik.
Sharp.
Painful.
That should have been mine.
The thought came fast.
Unwanted.
But it didn't leave.
Instead, it grew.
Quiet.
Ugly.
He pushed it down immediately.
"…then don't make it complicated," Eirik said, voice steady. "Just tell him."
Aiden frowned slightly.
"That's it?"
"That's enough."
Aiden studied him for a moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"…yeah. Maybe."
Behind them—
"PAPA!"
All three pups shouted it at once.
The door had opened.
Theron stood there, snow still clinging to his shoulders, amber eyes immediately locking onto the scene.
Three half-shifted pups.
Aiden in the middle of it.
Eirik beside him.
Alive.
Loud.
Safe.
For a moment—
Everything felt… right.
Aiden smiled.
"Perfect timing," he said casually.
Eirik's gaze flicked to Theron.
Then back to Aiden.
Something unreadable passed through his eyes.
"…yeah," he said quietly.
"Perfect."
But deep down—
He already knew.
Nothing about this was going to stay perfect for long.