Page 11 of Bite for Sore Eyes

Her intelligent eyes flicked between them, and Torren could practically see her analytical mind processing their reaction. "I suppose you're right. I should have a guide until I get comfortable here."

"Yes, that would be for the best," Torren confirmed, relief flooding through him.

"Why don't you get settled in, and we'll meet you back here in an hour?" Rath suggested. "Does that sound good?"

"That sounds perfect," Lana agreed.

Rath stepped out into the hallway, and Torren followed, pulling the door closed behind them with infinite care.

The moment Lana's door clicked shut, Torren felt his control fracture like glass under pressure. His bear prowled restlessly beneath his skin, demanding he return to their mate immediately, and the rational Alpha who'd spent fifteen years managing diplomatic crises found himself struggling against the most primitive urges he'd ever experienced.

Rath ran both hands through his dark hair, his massive frame radiating tension as he stared at the closed door. When he finally spoke, his voice carried the weight of a man confronting an impossible reality.

"This is harder than I imagined."

Torren's chest tightened with relief at hearing his own struggle reflected in his co-Alpha's admission.

"Yes, it is," Torren agreed, his voice rough. "Is your bear finding this difficult to navigate too? Because my bear doesn't seem to understand the sharing concept."

Rath's green eyes flashed with frustration. "My bear doesn't seem to know what the word 'share' is either."

The honesty between them felt like stepping onto solid ground after hours of swimming in turbulent water. Torren had spent the last ten minutes wrestling with emotions he'd never experienced—jealousy when Lana smiled at Rath, possessiveness when she'd responded to the other Alpha's touch, and an overwhelming urge to establish dominance that went against everything their partnership represented.

But beneath those primitive reactions, something deeper stirred. A recognition that this challenge might actually strengthen rather than destroy what they'd built together.

"Well, I know this is already proving to be more challenging than we both thought, but we have to learn to reason with our bears," Torren said, his strategic mind engaging despite his bear's restless pacing. "Tell our bears that sharing Lana doesn't mean we are any less to her, and that we each bring our own strengths to the relationship."

Rath's posture shifted as understanding flickered across his features. The rigid tension in his shoulders eased slightly, and Torren could see his co-Alpha's analytical mind processing the concept.

"So maybe I can give her certain things, and you can give her certain things, and that's not a bad thing," Rath said slowly. "That makes her get to experience more."

The pieces clicked into place in Torren's mind with startling clarity. Their leadership worked because they complemented each other—Rath's strategic control balanced by his diplomatic flexibility, his emotional intelligence tempering Rath's protective intensity. There was no reason their relationship with Lana couldn't follow the same successful pattern.

"Exactly," Torren said, excitement building in his chest. "We just work together and complement each other. No one outshines the other."

Rath nodded, his expression growing more confident as the framework took shape. "Then let's agree to this. We pay attention to each other, we use our bear link whenever we need to, and we make space for one another. If we're going to make a triad work, we have to do it together."

The weight of what they were attempting settled over Torren. Fifteen years of friendship and partnership had prepared them for many challenges, but sharing a fated mate would test their brotherhood in ways he couldn't even imagine yet. Still, if anyone could navigate such unprecedented territory, it was them.

"Okay, I agree," Torren said firmly. "When we are with Lana, we read her cues too, and if we sense the other can help in a certain way that we can't, we let the other lead and help her in that moment. This is going to be about balance and trust."

"I agree," Rath said without hesitation. "And I won't keep anything from you. If something is bothering me about this triad relationship, I will communicate it immediately."

Torren felt a surge of gratitude for his co-Alpha's directness. The foundation of their partnership had always been brutal honesty, even when the truth proved uncomfortable. That wouldn't change now.

"So, is there anything you would like to air out before we meet with Lana again?" Torren asked.

Rath's jaw tightened, and he glanced toward Lana's door with barely controlled longing. "Yes, but can we move this conversation to the back gardens? Her scent is driving me mad right now, and all I want to do is go back inside her guest room."

Relief flooded through Torren at the admission. Lana's wildflower and citrus scent had been wreaking havoc on his self-control, and standing outside her bedroom was pure torture. His bear wanted nothing more than to return to her side and never leave again.

"Yes, I could use some fresh air."

They moved down the corridor with purposeful strides, their boots echoing against the ancient stone floors, and Torren's bear settled slightly as they put distance between themselves and Lana's intoxicating presence. Seconds later, they descended the grand staircase in comfortable silence and began navigating through the main corridor on the castle's lower level toward the back terrace. The familiar route grounded Torren in their shared history—countless conversations, strategic planning sessions, and quiet moments of friendship that had shaped both their leadership and their brotherhood.

The back terrace soon opened before them, bathed in the golden light of the twin suns, and the fresh air carried the scent of the purple trees and the distant pink ocean. His bear's restless energy finally began to calm as they stepped onto the stone pathway leading into the sprawling castle gardens.

Rath led them deeper into the gardens, past carefully tended beds of native flowers and beneath the shade of towering trees that had witnessed generations of Varkesh leadership. When they finally reached the ornate fountains at the garden's heart, Rath stopped and turned to face him.