The war room was too quiet.
A silence that wasn't submission—but something close to it.
F4's leaders sat across from Sky and his inner circle. The lines had already been drawn.
Stormveil had moved before F4 even arrived.
Bases raided. Hostages secured.
Blackridge had started this war—but Sky had already made them bleed.
Now, the real battle began.
And F4?
They weren't negotiating from power.
They were negotiating because they had no other choice.
----
Sky knew the second Nani entered the room.
He didn't have to look. Didn't have to breathe.
His wolf knew first.
A sharp, immediate pull—one he was getting better at ignoring. But only just.
The scent hit him harder than it should have. Warm. Familiar. Dangerous.
He clenched his jaw. Controlled the shift under his skin.
Not now.
Across the room, Nani had gone still.
Not visibly. Not to anyone else.
But Sky felt it.
The way his muscles had locked up for a fraction of a second. The way his breathing slowed, as if restraining something deep inside.
Their wolves were reacting.
And it took everything to keep them leashed.
Not now. Not here.
But the bond was there.
Even if they didn't name it.
Even if they both fought it.
It was there.
And it was getting harder to ignore.
---
Stormveil's Terms
Sky leaned back, calm, unreadable. His wolf was still now—for now.
"You built an empire," Sky said, his voice smooth, measured. "One with wealth, power, influence."
He let the words settle before continuing.
"But you built it in the human world."
A pause.
"That won't save you now."
Nani's father, Warut Hirunkit, held his gaze. Expression unreadable—but his silence spoke volumes.
Sky's tone remained neutral, almost indifferent.
"Stormveil is handling your war. That means you answer to me until it's over."
The shift in the room was immediate.
Pond's father, Prayuth Naravit, stiffened. "You're asking us to submit."
Sky didn't flinch.
"I'm telling you," he corrected. "That's already what's happening."
A slow, suffocating realization spread through the room.
F4 was powerful. But here? In this war?
Stormveil was absolute.
---
The Second Demand
Sky's gaze flicked to Nani, Pond, Dew, and Win before settling back on their fathers.
"For their safety," he said smoothly, "your heirs and their best warriors will train under Stormveil. On our ground."
Another shift.
Not in the air—but in Nani.
His shoulders straightened just slightly.
Not enough for anyone else to see.
But Sky saw. Felt.
Because his wolf was watching him.
Waiting.
And Nani's?
Pacing. Fighting.
Their wolves knew what this meant.
This wasn't about safety.
It was about claiming.
Nani exhaled slowly, as if controlling something deep inside.
Sky didn't break his focus.
But his wolf?
His wolf wanted to tear through the room.
Wanted to reach across the space between them—wanted to pull Nani closer. Hold. Keep. Mark.
Sky's fingers twitched once.
Then he forced his wolf back down.
Nani's eyes flickered slightly.
A warning.
Sky almost smirked.
At least he wasn't the only one struggling.
But in the eyes of the others,
This wasn't about safety.
It was about ownership.
Stormveil wouldn't just be protecting them.
They would be shaping them.
Molding F4's future under their rule.
And that was a demand far heavier than the first.
Warut's jaw clenched. "We have trained warriors."
Sky didn't blink. "Not for this war."
A heavy pause.
"You can't protect them," Sky continued. "Not from this."
The words weren't cruel.
They were just true.
---
Sarut Jirawat, Dew's father, finally spoke.
"We have resources and finance. We can give you full access to our network—anything you need."
A strong counteroffer.
But Sky wasn't negotiating for supplies.
He tilted his head slightly, almost amused.
"You think we lack resources?"
Sarut didn't answer.
Because they had seen it.
The war machines. The supernatural army. The alliances stretching far beyond the werewolf world. Stormveil didn't need money.
They were beyond it.
Sky leaned forward slightly, voice dropping lower.
"You can keep your businesses."
A pause.
"But in this war, when I give an order—you follow it. No debates. No delays. No politics."
A final beat.
"And your heirs—including Nani—train with me."
---
The meeting was over.
F4 would leave at dawn.
And yet—Nani lingered.
Nani exhaled sharply, forcing himself to ignore the weight settling in his chest.
Stormveil wasn't just powerful.
It was absolute.
And now, F4—the pack that built its own empire—was walking into its shadow.
The realization left a bitter taste in his mouth.
This wasn't submission, not exactly. But it wasn't far from it either.
And the worst part?
Sky Wongravee wore it effortlessly.
His presence. His control. His undeniable power.
Nani had already seen it before. At the university. At the ballroom. But this—this was different. This was Sky in his element, ruling without ever needing to demand.
And for some reason—that unsettled him more than anything.
He turned to leave, needing space to breathe.
Then—warmth.
A hand settling against the small of his back.
Firm. Solid. Unshakable.
Nani stiffened.
The touch wasn't forceful, but it wasn't light either.
Sky was grounding him.
Like he could sense the storm brewing in Nani's head.
"Walk with me," Sky murmured, voice low, steady.
Not a request.
Not an order.
Something in between.
Nani hesitated—but his feet moved anyway.
They stepped away from the others, the cool night air brushing against his skin.
Sky kept his hand there, just enough to remind Nani he was close.
It was maddening.
"You're overthinking again," Sky said after a beat, glancing at him.
Nani scoffed. "And you would know?"
Sky hummed, something dangerously close to amused.
"I know you more than you think, Nani."
The way he said his name—smooth, familiar, like he had every right to say it that way.
Nani's breath hitched. He hated that it sounded nice.
But it made Nani's chest tighten.
His jaw clenched. "If you're expecting me to just—accept all of this without question, you're mistaken."
Sky stopped, turning to face him fully. The moonlight cut across his sharp features, but his eyes held something deeper. Steady. Certain.
"I don't expect you to accept it," Sky said. "I expect you to let me handle it."
Nani narrowed his eyes. "Handle what?"
"Everything."
The way Sky said it—calm, absolute—sent a shiver down Nani's spine.
"The war. The attacks. The omegas that were taken. I will bring them back."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
No arrogance.
Just certainty.
Nani's breath caught.
"You think it's that easy?" he challenged.
Sky didn't flinch. "I never said it was easy. But I will do it."
Nani's throat felt tight. "And what about us?"
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
A muscle in Sky's jaw twitched. He took a step closer.
"Us?" Sky repeated, his voice lower now.
Nani forced himself to meet his gaze. "You act like you have control over everything, Sky. Over the war. Over my pack. Over me."
Sky didn't blink. "I don't control you, Nani." His voice was quieter now. Sharper. "But you are mine to protect."
Nani hated the way his heart stumbled.
Sky leaned in slightly, voice dropping even lower. "You don't have to think about this."
Nani wanted to argue. Wanted to fight it.
But the words caught in his throat.
Sky studied him for a moment longer, then—slowly, deliberately—his fingers brushed against Nani's hand.
A silent promise.
A warning.
A claim.
"Get some rest," he murmured. "It's a long trip back."
Nani wanted to move.
But his skin still burned where Sky had touched him.
And his heart was a traitor.
----
Nani barely heard the conversation around him as he rejoined his pack. Pond shot him a look, but Nani ignored it. His father said something about the next steps, but the words barely registered.
His wrist still felt warm.
Damn Sky.
Damn the way his words settled into Nani's chest, heavy and unshakable.
Damn the way it wasn't just fear or frustration twisting in his stomach anymore.
He clenched his fists and exhaled slowly.
This wasn't over.