Aldric found them at dawn.
Kael was on the beach, watching the tide recede. Lyra had gone inside to sleep—real sleep, not the stillness of vampires, but the exhaustion of someone who'd finally let herself rest.
His father walked down the cliff path slowly. The mist clung to his gray hair.
"You love her," Aldric said. It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
"She's a vampire."
"I know."
"She's the daughter of a man I spent two centuries hating."
"I know that too."
Aldric was quiet for a long moment. The waves rolled in and out.
"Your mother was human," he said finally. "Did I ever tell you how we met?"
Kael shook his head.
"She was a teacher. In a village near our territory. I was hunting—wolf form—and she saw me shift back. Most humans would have screamed. Run. Called for help. She just stood there, watching. When I was human again, she said, 'You look cold. Do you want a blanket?'"
Kael stared at his father. "You never told me."
"I didn't know how. She was human. She was supposed to be prey, or at best, something to be avoided. But she wasn't. She was just... her. And I loved her. The pack didn't understand. Some of them never accepted it. But I didn't care."
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because you're my son. And you've found someone who sees you—really sees you—the way your mother saw me. I won't pretend to understand what you and Lyra have. I won't pretend it's not dangerous. But I won't stand in your way either."
Kael's throat was tight. "Dad—"
"You have my blessing. Whatever that's worth. Whatever comes next, you have it."
They stood together on the bea
ch, father and son, watching the tide.