The Engima's Luna

Chapter Six : Just One Wall Away

Azael carried Seraphina all the way back to the Ravencroft residence.

He didn't complain once.

Neither did Kaelen or Rhydian.

They simply walked beside him, their attention constantly shifting between Seraphina and the surrounding forest.

By the time they reached the house, the entire Ravencroft family was waiting.

Elara was the first to step forward.

"Is she hurt?"

"She's exhausted," Azael answered.

Elara immediately touched her daughter's forehead.

Seraphina stirred slightly but didn't wake.

"She needs rest."

Cassian's eyes moved to Azael.

"And you?"

Azael looked at him calmly.

"I'm fine."

Cassian's expression suggested that wasn't what he had meant.

Kael stepped forward.

"Give her to us."

Azael's arms tightened instinctively.

"No."

The single word made everyone pause.

Rhydian cleared his throat.

"He's been carrying her for a while."

"I noticed," Kael muttered.

Dorian crossed his arms.

"That doesn't mean he gets to keep holding her."

Kaelen looked at him.

"She is unconscious."

"Exactly."

"Then why are you arguing?"

"Because you're standing in my sister's house holding her like you've known her for years."

Kaelen opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

Because, annoyingly, Dorian had a point.

Azael carefully carried Seraphina inside.

The family followed.

When they reached her bedroom, Azael finally lowered her onto the bed.

For a moment, none of the three men moved.

Seraphina looked so peaceful.

Her hair spread across the pillow, her breathing slow and even.

Rhydian's expression softened.

"She looks completely different when she's asleep."

Kaelen nodded.

"She finally looks calm."

Azael stood beside the bed.

His gaze remained on her.

He didn't want to leave.

He knew he should.

This was her home.

Her family.

Her room.

But something inside him resisted the thought of walking away.

Kaelen seemed to feel it too.

"So," Rhydian murmured, "we're leaving?"

Neither brother answered.

Dorian immediately pointed toward the door.

"Yes."

Rhydian looked at him.

"You sound very happy about that."

"I am."

Kael stepped beside Dorian.

"She's our sister."

"And?"

"And we're not ready to hand her over to three strangers."

Kaelen's brows lifted.

"Strangers?"

"You've known her for a few hours."

"Technically, yes."

"Then we're not wrong."

Rhydian sighed.

"We understand."

That surprised them.

Kael looked at him.

"You do?"

Rhydian's smile disappeared.

"We found our mate tonight."

His voice was quieter now.

"Do you really think leaving her is easy for us?"

The room fell silent.

Even Dorian didn't have an immediate answer.

Azael finally spoke.

"We aren't asking you to stop being her family."

His gaze moved toward the Ravencrofts.

"We know what she means to you."

Cassian studied him carefully.

"And what does she mean to you?"

Azael looked back at Seraphina.

"Everything I don't understand yet."

The answer was quiet.

But somehow, it carried more weight than a declaration could have.

Alaric had been watching from the doorway.

He exchanged a glance with Evelina.

Then he spoke.

"You three don't want to leave."

Rhydian looked slightly embarrassed.

"No."

Kaelen gave his brother a sideways glance.

"We could leave."

"You won't."

Azael said nothing.

Alaric's mouth curved slightly.

"Then stay."

Everyone turned toward him.

Kael immediately objected.

"Grandfather—"

"One night."

"But—"

"They found her tonight."

Alaric's gaze softened.

"They're not asking to take her away."

Evelina nodded.

"Let them stay under our roof."

Dorian shook his head.

"This is how it starts."

Lyra raised an eyebrow.

"How what starts?"

"We lose her."

The words came out more honestly than Dorian intended.

Everyone went quiet.

Rowan, standing nearby, looked toward Seraphina.

"I don't want her to leave either."

Kael put a hand on his shoulder.

"None of us do."

Azael looked at the family.

"We won't take her anywhere tonight."

Kaelen nodded.

"She should wake up surrounded by the people she knows."

Rhydian added softly,

"And we'll be close."

Alaric smiled.

"Then it's settled."

Dorian groaned.

"It really isn't."

"It is."

Dorian looked toward Lyra.

"You're okay with this?"

Lyra glanced at the three men.

Then at Seraphina.

"They're her mates."

She sighed.

"I don't like it either."

Rhydian smiled faintly.

"That's comforting."

Lyra pointed at him.

"Don't get comfortable."

For the first time that night, Rhydian laughed.

---

A few hours later, the house had finally gone quiet.

Seraphina remained asleep.

The three brothers had been given a guest room directly across the hall from hers.

Only one wall separated them.

Kaelen stood beside the window.

Rhydian was sitting on the edge of the bed.

Azael hadn't even removed his jacket.

He stood silently, staring toward the wall.

Rhydian noticed.

"You've been looking at that wall for five minutes."

Azael didn't answer.

Kaelen turned around.

"We can all feel her."

That was the problem.

Even through the wall, the bond was there.

Faint.

But unmistakable.

Seraphina's presence pulled at them.

Their wolves were restless.

They wanted to be closer.

They wanted to know she was safe.

They wanted to hold her.

Rhydian leaned back.

"I really don't think I'm going to sleep."

Kaelen exhaled.

"Neither am I."

Azael finally spoke.

"She's too close."

Rhydian gave him a look.

"She's literally in the room across the hall."

"I know."

"That's the problem?"

Azael's eyes darkened.

"Yes."

Kaelen looked toward the wall.

He could feel her too.

That soft, steady heartbeat.

The faint scent of her.

The bond tugging quietly inside his chest.

"I want to check on her."

Rhydian nodded.

"So do I."

Azael's jaw tightened.

"We shouldn't."

Silence.

They all knew why.

Because if they entered her room now, they weren't sure they would have the strength to simply look at her and walk away.

Rhydian finally whispered,

"I want to hold her."

Kaelen looked at him.

"You're not the only one."

Azael closed his eyes.

His wolf stirred.

Closer.

Protect her.

Hold her.

Keep her safe.

He opened his eyes again.

"Tomorrow."

Rhydian smiled.

"You're saying that like you believe we'll actually wait."

Kaelen almost laughed.

"We'll try."

Across the wall, Seraphina shifted in her sleep.

All three men immediately went still.

Her heartbeat changed.

Then settled again.

Three wolves listened.

Three men breathed easier.

And none of them moved.

Not tonight.

But the distance between them was only one wall.

And somehow, that wall already felt far too thick.