The three days of Brycen’s leave have passed by much too quickly, a blur of quiet moments by the hearth, visits to town to trade, shared meals, and the warmth of Kaylin’s presence. It’s the only leave Brycen has ever taken, and he finds himself wishing for more time- just a few more days to spend here, tucked away in the quiet sanctuary of the cottage, where the outside world feels like a distant memory.

But duty calls, as it always does. The morning of his departure comes, and the heavy weight of responsibility settles back over him like an unwelcome cloak. He packs up his belongings, strapping them to Shadow’s saddle, and every action feels heavier, slower, like his body is fighting against the inevitability of leaving.

Kaylin stands at the doorway, watching him pack. It's different than the last time, though. Now, with their mask off, Brycen can see the sadness on their face. There’s no longer the guarded wall of mystery between them, no hidden expressions- just raw, unfiltered emotion that tugs at his heart. Kaylin doesn’t say much as Brycen goes through the motions of preparing to leave, but the weight of their silence speaks volumes.

When he finishes packing Shadow, Brycen turns to Kaylin, their eyes meeting in the cool morning air. His heart aches at the sight of their downcast gaze, and for a moment, he wonders if it would be selfish to ask for more time- to delay his departure just a little longer.

But he knows he can’t. The Paladins in Duskbrook are waiting for him. Aaron is waiting for him. He can’t abandon his duties, no matter how much he wants to stay.  Plus he knows Aaron would come track him down, and he's not ready to have that particular encounter yet.  They both agreed that it is too soon to let anybody know about their budding courtship.

“I wish I didn’t have to go,” Brycen admits softly, stepping closer to Kaylin. His voice feels thick in his throat, weighed down by the emotions he can’t quite put into words.

Kaylin smiles faintly, but it doesn’t reach their eyes. “You have your responsibilities,” they say quietly, their voice steady despite the sadness that lingers beneath it. “I understand.”

Brycen reaches out, taking Kaylin’s hand in his, their fingers intertwining. “I’ll come back,” he promises, his grip tightening slightly as if to ground them both. “I’ll always come back.”

Kaylin squeezes his hand in return, their eyes meeting his with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. “I know,” they whisper, though the words feel fragile, like they’re balancing on the edge of something unspoken. There’s so much between them now- spoken and unspoken feelings, shared moments, the quiet understanding that their connection runs deeper than either of them had planned for.

“I’m going to miss you,” Brycen says softly, brushing his thumb over Kaylin’s knuckles. It feels like such a simple thing to say, but it holds so much more than the words themselves.

Kaylin looks away for a moment, their expression flickering with something that Brycen can’t quite read. “I’ll miss you too,” they admit, their voice barely above a whisper.

The weight of the moment presses down on them, and for a heartbeat, Brycen is tempted to forget his duties altogether, to stay here in this quiet little world they’ve built together. But he knows he can’t.

“I’ll write to you,” Brycen says, offering a small smile, though his heart feels heavy. “Every chance I get.”

Kaylin looks back at him, their lips curving into a faint smile. “I’ll be waiting,” they reply, their voice soft but sincere.

For a long moment, they just stand there, hands entwined, neither of them wanting to let go. Brycen leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to Kaylin’s forehead, the gesture filled with more tenderness than he could ever put into words.

Then, with a deep breath, he steps back, reluctantly releasing Kaylin’s hand. His heart feels like it’s being pulled in two directions- one toward duty, and the other toward the person standing in front of him.

“I’ll see you soon,” Brycen says, his voice steady but filled with emotion.

Kaylin nods, their eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Safe travels, Bry,” they whisper.

Brycen mounts Shadow, feeling the weight of his decision settle over him. As he looks back at the cottage one last time, he sees Kaylin standing in the doorway, watching him with a mix of longing and sadness. It’s a sight that will stay with him for the rest of the ride.

With a final nod, Brycen urges Shadow forward, the sound of hooves echoing in the quiet morning air. As the cottage disappears from view, the ache in his chest deepens, but there’s a flicker of warmth too—a promise, a connection, something worth fighting for.

And with every step Shadow takes, Brycen knows one thing for certain: he will come back. No matter what it takes.

---

Brycen barely has a moment to take in the familiar sights of the town before Aaron appears in front of him, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, eyes narrowed with barely contained anger and suspicion. The sun is low in the sky, casting sharp shadows across the ground, but the heat of Aaron's gaze feels more intense than the late afternoon light.

"Since when does it take a full three days to return a horse?" Aaron spits, his voice laced with accusation. "Kaylin's cottage is only a half day's ride from here."

Brycen keeps a tight hold on Shadow’s reins, the stallion stamping his feet impatiently as if sensing the tension in the air. His heart sinks, realizing that this confrontation had been inevitable. Of course Aaron had noticed the extended absence. Of course he is upset.  Nothing could just be easy.

"I didn’t just return the horse, Aaron," Brycen said as calmly as he could, though he feels his own irritation rising. "I stayed to help Kaylin with a few things. They've been living out there alone, and—"

"Help them?!" Aaron interrupts, stepping closer, his eyes flashing with a mixture of disbelief and anger. "Help them how? What, by playing house? By making them think this- whatever it is you’re doing- is anything more than some passing distraction for you?"

Brycen’s jaw clenches, and he forces himself to stay calm. He knows Aaron is protective of Kaylin, and he can't fault him for that. He feels protective of the omega as well.  But the insinuation- that is what makes his blood boil.

"That's not what this is, Aaron," Brycen says firmly, his voice low. "I care about your sibling. And I helped them with a few things around the village before I came back."  Not a total lie.

Aaron scoffs, shaking his head, a bitter laugh escaping him. "Care? Is that what you call it? You think just because you’re a Paladin, you can swoop in and play the hero? You think a few kind words and some charm are enough to-"

"Aaron, stop." Brycen's voice is steady but sharp, cutting through the heated words. His hands tighten on Shadow’s reins, willing himself to stay composed. "This isn’t about playing the hero. And it's not a ‘few kind words.’ I genuinely care about Kaylin. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt them. Ever."

Aaron’s eyes flash, and for a moment, Brycen thinks he might take a swing at him. But instead, Aaron takes a step back, glaring at him with barely restrained fury.

"Kaylin’s been through enough," Aaron hisses, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and something else- fear, maybe. "I won’t let you be another person who hurts them. You don’t know what you’re getting into."

Brycen feels the sting of Aaron’s words, but he refuses to back down. He stands his ground, meeting Aaron’s glare with equal determination.

"You’re right," Brycen said, his voice quieter now but no less firm. "I don’t know everything. I know there are things in Kaylin’s past that I haven’t heard yet. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to walk away. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to be there for them. To protect them."

"Protect them?" Aaron repeats, his voice quieter now, almost incredulous. "You’re talking about protecting them?"

"Yes," Brycen says simply. "I am."

Aaron stares at him for a long moment, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. For the first time, Brycen sees something besides anger in Aaron’s eyes- something that looked almost like uncertainty. Like he isn’t sure what to believe anymore.

After what feels like an eternity, Aaron looked away, his shoulders tense, his voice rough. "Kaylin doesn't need you to protect them, not when he has me."

For the first time, Brycen sees the older man as a scared younger brother.  Not wanting to be replaced from the role he's filled in his older sibling's life for years.  He feels a pang of sympathy for him, but he won't back down.

Brycen doesn’t hesitate. "Kaylin doesn't need either of us to protect them, they're strong enough to stand on their own.  That doesn't mean that they don't still have the both of us to lean on when they need."

Aaron gives him one last look, his eyes searching Brycen’s face for any hint of deception. When he doesn’t find any, he lets out a long breath, his anger still simmering but no longer as volatile.

"I’m watching you," Aaron mutters before turning on his heel and walking away.

Brycen sits there for a moment, the tension slowly easing from his body. He knows this isn’t the end of Aaron’s suspicions, that eventually they'll have to tell them about their relationship, but it is a step. A small step in the right direction.

With a sigh, Brycen gives Shadow a gentle pat on the neck, leading him toward the stables. He has faced worse battles before, but this... this feels personal. And he isn’t going to lose. Not when it comes to Kaylin. Not when it comes to what matters most.

Brycen let out a long breath, still feeling the weight of the confrontation with Aaron settling over him like a storm cloud that hadn't quite passed. His heart was still racing, the echoes of Aaron's words lingering in his mind. Just as he was about to lead Shadow into the stable, Soren’s voice cut through the tension.

"Hey, that looked tense. You okay?"

Soren's sudden appearance makes Brycen jump slightly, but he quickly recovers. Of course Soren had seen the whole thing. He has a knack for showing up at the exact moment Brycen needs him- or in this case, at the exact moment he wishes he hadn’t been seen.

Brycen forces a small smile, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just... Aaron being Aaron."

Soren tilts his head, his gaze flicking between Brycen and the direction Aaron had stormed off in. There is a knowing glint in his eyes, one that Brycen has seen too many times to count. "You sure? Because that didn’t look like your average Commander chat.  You came back before our leave is over, what's his issue?"

Brycen chuckles, though it is more out of nerves than anything else. He guides Shadow into the stall and tries to avoid the inevitable questions by distracting himself taking the tack off of his horse and beginning to clean him. "I just- well, let’s say Aaron’s not exactly thrilled with how close I’ve gotten to Kaylin."

Soren crosses his arms, leaning casually against one of the stable posts, but his expression was anything but casual. He glances over his shoulder, where a few other Paladins linger just outside the stables, obviously curious about the heated exchange that had just taken place.

"Well, that’s an understatement," Soren says with a smirk. "Looked like he was about two seconds from either punching you or challenging you to a duel."

Brycen winces at the thought. "Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to fend off an angry alpha."

Soren’s smirk fades into something more serious as he steps closer, his voice lowering so only Brycen can hear. "So what’s the deal, Bry? You and this Kaylin... this serious?"

Brycen pauses, his hand resting on Shadow's neck as he considers his words. He doesn’t want to talk about his feelings in front of the other Paladins, doesn't want to immediately break the agreement between he and Kaylin that they wouldn't discuss it yet, and he especially doesn’t want to give Soren more reason to tease him. But he also knows Soren isn’t asking just for fun. His friend cares, and this is Soren’s way of checking in.

"It’s serious," Brycen admits quietly, glancing over at Soren. "I asked Kaylin if I could court them."

Soren’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, but there is no mocking or teasing in his expression now. If anything, he looks impressed. "Wow. That’s... big. You’re not wasting any time, huh?"

"I couldn’t wait anymore," Brycen says, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know how else to explain it, Soren. It just feels... right. Every time I’m with Kaylin, everything else makes sense."

Soren is quiet for a moment, his usual teasing grin replaced by something more thoughtful. "You really like them, huh?"

Brycen nods, the weight of the confession settling over him like a warm blanket. "Yeah. I do."

Soren studies him for a beat longer, then nods, clapping Brycen on the shoulder. "Well, I’m happy for you, man. Just... don’t let Aaron catch you saying that. He might not let you walk out of town alive.  I don't want to see two Alphas fighting over the same woman."

Brycen chuckles, feeling some of the tension ease from his chest. "Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind."

Soren gives him one last grin before nodding toward the Paladins still watching from a distance. "Better get back to the others before they start gossiping. You know how they are."

Brycen nods, grateful for the moment of levity. As Soren turns to head back toward the rest of the group, Brycen can’t help but glance over his shoulder, back in the direction Aaron had gone.

It isn’t going to be easy to win over Aaron’s trust, but Brycen is willing to fight for it. For Kaylin. For their future.

With that thought in mind, he squares his shoulders and followed Soren back to the others, ready to face whatever comes next.