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Everyone knew it. Everyone was aware. For the Kanes, the pack wasn’t just family, it was law. Ancient rules that had to be followed to the letter. Alphas led, fought, protected... and of course, never learned to cook, clean, or do anything that required more than brute strength. Their job was to be sharp, clever, and lethally efficient.
Harry knew that very well. In his house, it was almost a family joke that his mom had never touched a broom; she cooked by divine miracle, but everything else... a total disaster.
That’s how Alphas had always been: useless at everyday life, excellent at giving orders. Which is exactly why Harry never liked them much. Even so, he loved his mother. He only thanked the universe that out of all the children she had, the only Alpha had turned out to be his womanizer older brother, Mason.
Harry was proud not to be an Alpha.
He had no responsibilities or questionable decisions to carry... decisions he knew too well because he could see, front row, how Mason committed stupidity after stupidity as if it were an extreme sport.
In fact, Harry swore he kept a list. A detailed list.
He thought life would stay the same forever, until their mom announced they were moving. Harry felt his world collapse: he’d lose friends, places, routines.
Liam cried like a baby once he realized he’d lose the friends he could blackmail with embarrassing videos on his phone. Lily fell into a depression because she wouldn’t be able to show off her new outfits to her classmates. Mason... well, Mason was angry, sure, but not because he had to break up with girlfriend number 20. No, that part didn’t seem to matter much.
Harry wasn’t impressed. He was just sad. He’d leave his friends behind and even the park where he liked to wander off. But no one questioned an Alpha, and even though Mason was one, not even he could go against Mom.
He knew it. So he accepted it.
He thought the change would bring something new. And it did… just not the way he expected.
They arrived at their new home... and the problem wasn’t just that they now had vampires for neighbors. The real problem was that everything stayed exactly the same:
Liam was still annoying. Lily was still Lily. Dad Roger slept whenever he could. Mom Chancy kept her classic commanding tone. And Mason... well, Mason didn’t even last a few days before finding a new girlfriend.
Some girl named Marcella.
Harry immediately nicknamed her Number 21.
She was harmless, but way too vibrant. And Harry knew Mason wasn’t taking the relationship seriously, the look in his eyes gave it away. So he had no reason to get attached to the girl... or accept her... or anything at all. He was certain she’d end up heartbroken.
He even made a bet with Liam.
—I bet he’ll dump her—
Harry said without an ounce of emotion.
—Ooh… harsh. Deal! How much?—
Liam replied.
Harry won, of course. Mason broke up with Marcella, and Liam ended up paying a few dollars. Harry felt a little bad for the girl... very little. He was already used to seeing a parade of crying girls thanks to his idiot brother.
But he didn’t know that this was the beginning of something much bigger.
Harry loved his siblings. Lily was his favorite, obviously. But he also loved Liam and Mason... just that, if he had to save one first, it’d be Lily. Even so, he did worry about Mason when he got attacked by a vampire.
That damn Cedric.
That day he discovered several things: his brother was dating a vampire... a man... and on top of that, they were starring in the drama series of the year. The overprotective brother wanting to kill Mason because apparently he was “corrupting his innocent little vampire brother,” who actually had more self control than all of them combined.
Harry summed it up pretty well when he saw the scene:
—They should’ve hit you harder. Honestly, you deserved it.—
Mason looked at him with betrayal written all over his face while Kieran, the vampire in question and now Mason’s boyfriend, held an ice pack to his face. Cedric had knocked him out after catching them kissing.
Hours unconscious. Harry regretted not bringing popcorn.
—Correction: they should’ve hit you with a silver stick—
He added dryly.
—Harry!—
Mason protested, both offended and in pain.
And that was only the first slap life gave them.
Years passed. And change finally came… late, but it came.
Liam and Lily didn’t spend much time at home anymore. Dad and Mom were still around, but always busy. And Mason had built his own life. He lived nearby, yes, but he wasn’t at home anymore.
For the first time, the Kane house felt strangely quiet.
Harry, young and with not many obligations yet, let his feet carry him into the forest. He didn’t feel like going back just yet. Sometimes he missed the noise, the fights, the pranks, the chaos.
He wandered without thinking until he ended up in front of a cabin. One that hadn’t looked like this before, one that was now a home.
It smelled... like food.
Food?
In an Alpha’s house?
He jumped when he heard shouting from inside. He got closer, knocked, and the internal chaos stopped immediately.
The door opened... and there was Mason. Holding a broom.
—Harry?—
He asked, stunned.
—I have never seen you this humiliated in my life—
Harry said with a huge smile, walking in uninvited.
The inside was almost surreal: Kieran had his back turned, labeling jars of spices like he was cataloging rare specimens. Mason looked like he’d lost a fight against dust.
—Are you done?—
Kieran asked without looking away, hyper focused.
—Not yet—
Mason replied, nervous.
—You clean up that mess in an hour or I’ll grab the broom myself and hit you with it. Your choice.—
Kieran warned.
—That’s domestic violence!—
Mason wailed.
—Says the person who brought his friends over, they made a mess and left. I had already cleaned that place; your friends ruined it, so... you clean it or you sleep outside!—
Kieran shot back, finally turning around.
When he saw Harry, he smiled.
—Oh, hey Harry. Want to sit and watch your brother suffer? Liam likes it. He comes whenever he can.—
Harry sat down like it was a movie. As Mason began cleaning, or tried to, whining dramatically, Harry smiled in satisfaction.
Never in his life had he seen an Alpha face a broom.
He wasn’t going to miss this show for anything.
And, to be honest... he had no plans to let Mason forget this moment.
Ever.