Hamlin glanced over at Rufus as they unloaded the grocery bags from the car, breaking the silence that had settled between them. "So, how was shopping?" he asked, trying to read the younger boy's expression. Lucky had darted off to his room, seeking the sanctuary he cherished. Rufus didn't mind; he understood the allure of solitude all too well.
"Good," Rufus replied, aware that the word felt insufficient to encompass his experiences. It wasn't exactly a lie; he had cherished his time with Lucky, even if they'd spent much of it in unspoken tension. As he caught his father's knowing gaze, he couldn't help but smile, if only to shield the threads of vulnerability threatening to unravel.
"What's got you smiling like that?" Hamlin teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Nothing, Dad," Rufus retorted, an amused lilt to his voice as he caught Hamlin's raised eyebrow.
"Your scent tells a different story," Hamlin said, donning a smirk that only deepened Rufus's blush.
"I masked it like Mom taught," Rufus replied, his voice dropping a notch, shadowed with disappointment. "He didn't smell it."
With a gentle squeeze of Rufus's shoulder, his father took a deep breath, the weight of what he wanted to say hanging heavily in the air. "I know how you feel, but he's the Alpha's son," he began, his voice tinged with concern. "I can't help but worry about your future..."
"Trust me, Dad, I'm fine," Rufus replied with a sad smile, trying to brush off his father's concerns, but the weight of his worries pressed heavily on his shoulders—wearing him down both physically and mentally. Deep down, he knew he wasn't fine, but he was fighting hard to convince himself otherwise.
Hamlin sighed, the lines on his face deepening with concern. "I can't help but worry. You two are sixteen now. Lucky's first mate will inevitably show up soon. What if it's not you, son? What if you get hurt? I don't want to see you go through that." His voice cracked slightly, revealing the vulnerability behind his protective demeanor.
"I'll be okay, Dad. Lucky is so antisocial, and if his mate isn't me, maybe I'll have won his heart by then!" Rufus responded, though the optimism felt fragile, like glass ready to shatter. He knew the odds were slim, but he was determined to try.
As they stepped inside the house, Rufus shifted gears. "I have basketball tryouts later at the estate field, Pops." It was easier to focus on the game than confront the ache lingering in his heart. His "love life" was a battlefield he didn't want to revisit.
"Try to bring Lucky with you," Aisha suggested, taking a few heavy bags from Rufus's arms.
"I'll try," he said, placing the rest of the bags on the kitchen island. "But I can't make any promises," he added with a sigh, noticing Araminta messing up her sandwich with little care.
"Just give it a shot. Trying is a good thing!" Hamlin encouraged, cracking open a can of Coke.
"Hey, we got you Red Bull! You should save our Coke for us!" Rufus exclaimed, teasing his father.
"Not in the mood for Red Bull," Hamlin replied with a playful huff, rolling his eyes.
"Daddy, is it true that Red Bull gives you wings?" Araminta chimed in, her innocent inquiry causing everyone to look at her in shock. Their attention quickly shifted as they heard Lucky laughing upstairs.
"Sweetie—" Hamlin began, but Araminta interrupted.
"Lucky will marry me when I grow up, right, Daddy?" She asked, her big innocent eyes twinkling with expectation.
Hamlin and Aisha exchanged nervous glances, unease creeping into their hearts. Aisha slid closer to her daughter, attempting to shield her from the unspoken tension swirling in the air regarding her brother and Lucky.
Rufus felt a rush of confusion. Could Lucky have found his mate in his little sister? He brushed the thought aside—after all, Lucky's Phoenix wasn't active yet. How could he have found his intended? Rufus had always envisioned being the one to awaken Lucky's Phoenix, to be marked by him, to be called his.
"Sweetheart, where did you get that idea?" Aisha asked gently, trying to remain calm.
"He told me I was smart after I passed my test yesterday!" Araminta responded gleefully.
"It was just a compliment, honey," Aisha clarified, choosing her words carefully to protect her daughter's feelings.
"But Lucky doesn't compliment just anyone," Araminta protested, her loyalty unyielding. "Anyway, I like Sylvan better. His skin is so fair, and his honey-brown eyes are beautiful. And he's tall!" She sighed dreamily.
"Who's Sylvan?" Rufus asked, relief washing over him. He hadn't realized how tense he was until now.
"Sylvan is in my class, and he smells great—being around him feels nice," Araminta said shyly, her cheeks turning pink. Aisha and Hamlin exchanged glances once more, worry etched on their faces.
Rufus felt a mix of emotions. His younger sister had already found someone, while he was still yearning for a love he couldn't have.
"Sweetie," Aisha said, her voice a bit strained, "Go play; we'll talk about this later."
Araminta slipped off her chair, scampering to her room without a second thought.
"What was that about?" Rufus asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Your Lucky is indeed lucky, and your sister seems to be in love…" Aisha replied, a hint of amusement in her tone.
"My Lucky? I'm really lucky!" Rufus teased, leaving the kitchen with a playful grin to mask his unease.
"I really wonder who that kid is," Hamlin said, taking a sip from his Coke.
"Relax; I'm sure he's not that bad," Aisha replied, attempting to quell her husband's worries.
"I can already see heartbreak approaching for Rufus. I don't need that for our youngest as well. It pains me," Hamlin admitted, his voice tight with emotion.
"Who says Rufus will be heartbroken?" Aisha countered sharply, a touch of frustration in her tone.
"He doesn't have a jade, Aisha! He won't have a mate. Now he's pining over Lucky, who's completely oblivious to how he feels. I can almost taste his pain, and it breaks my heart," Hamlin said, raising his voice, a wave of despair crashing over him.
"I know, Hamlin. Trust me, I know—but what can we do? It's a part of who he is. There's nothing that can be done!" Aisha's voice wavered, tears threatening to spill. This topic always sparked heated arguments, amplifying the pain they were all desperately trying to avoid.
Rufus had grown weary of his parents' arguments. They didn't happen every day, but each time they did, he felt the sting of guilt—he was the reason for their distress. He could hear their hushed voices and feel the tension in the air. He was a burden.
He knew the whispered conversations all too well—the shame, the sadness swirling around him like a tempest. They loved him, he was sure of that, but each moment they glanced at him was a reminder of the flaws he carried—flaws he wished would vanish.
For Rufus, it didn't matter that his parents accepted him as he was; he couldn't shake the feeling that he brought them pain. There was a secret he felt he couldn't share, not with Lucky, not with anyone. After all, how could he explain his heartache—the longing to be loved and accepted in a world that, at times, felt so isolating?
As he turned to leave the mansion, he collided with something solid—a firm and unexpected barrier. He stumbled back, startled.
"What's the hurry?" Plutonic asked, looking down at Rufus, the boy's sadness palpable in the air.
"Uh, sorry, Alpha. I was just heading out… for my game!" Rufus stammered, nerves creeping into his voice.
Plutonic nodded, his jaw tightening as he resisted the urge to delve deeper into the boy's troubled heart. "Next time, watch where you're going," he said before moving past him.
Even as he walked away, Plutonic's mind raced. He sensed there was something deeper at play behind Rufus's sadness—a shadow lurking beneath the surface that needed addressing.
With a determined stride, he made his way to his son's room, knocking once before entering without waiting for a response. Lucky looked up from his comic book, surprise flickering across his face.
"It's urgent," Plutonic said breathlessly, his eyes glowing with intensity before settling back to their normal hue. Lucky, catching the gravity of the moment, nodded and whispered a spell, casting a magical barrier around his room, ensuring their conversation remained private.
"Let's have it," Lucky urged, his interest piqued.
"I'll buy you that condo villa or whatever it was you wanted," Plutonic started, gauging the growing smile on his son's face.
Lucky raised an eyebrow, excitement lighting up his features. "Now we're getting somewhere! What's the catch?"
As they prepared to delve into the conversation, Plutonic felt, deep in his heart, that it was time to address Rufus's turmoil—and perhaps enlist Lucky's help in discovering the truth.