The meet-and-greet lounge backstage at TD Garden had been transformed into a temple of controlled chaos. Velvet ropes curved around fan photo zones, signed vinyl was stacked on a merch table, and the scent of fresh pretzels and cheap champagne mingled in the air.

Fans had been cycled through in groups of ten. Some cried. Some brought hand-drawn art. One kid proposed to Jonah with a ring pop. Cassie fist-bumped three generations of a family in matching “FERAL MOM / FERAL DAD / FERAL KID” tees. Gabriel was glowing — hugging, laughing, radiating warmth like a wildfire that loved too hard to burn.

That’s when the next “VIP group” arrived.

Gabriel’s mother walked in first, immediately looking annoyed that the room wasn’t more glamorous. His grandparents followed, wide-eyed but smiling. Gabriel’s father beamed and opened his arms for a hug, which Gabriel gave without hesitation.

And then Nathan swaggered in.

Still wearing those mirrored sunglasses and filthy crocs. Still looking like someone doing a very poor impression of someone famous.

Gabriel stepped back and said, politely, “Glad you came.”

Nathan smirked. “Nice of you to finally play a real venue.”

Cassie turned her head. Rico narrowed his eyes.

“Oh?” Gabriel said, trying to keep the peace. “Well, it’s kind of a dream come true —”

Nathan cut him off. “Yeah, and you’re just lucky the whole werewolf gimmick blew up. You weren’t half this good when you lived at home.”

The silence hit like a dropped amp.

Gabriel froze, ears flicking back.

Thane stood slowly from where he’d been chatting with Mark — the full Alpha rise to his full height, muscles shifting under his black polo, claws catching the light just enough to say: don’t.

He walked straight toward Nathan.

The room went dead silent.

Even the venue staff stopped moving.

Thane didn’t growl. He didn’t snarl. He didn’t bare his teeth.

He just got very, very close.

“You ever say something like that to him again,” he said, voice low and terrifyingly calm, “and I’ll take you on a walk down memory lane — to every moment he kept you fed, covered your mess, and paid for things you couldn’t be bothered to earn.”

Nathan blinked, suddenly aware of just how tall Thane was. “Look, I didn’t mean—”

“You meant every word,” Thane said, stepping in another inch. “But here’s what you don’t mean anymore: anything.”

Thane tilted his head just slightly, eyes glowing ice blue now, the wolf in him present — not growling, just there.

Nathan flinched. He looked down.

“That’s what I thought,” Thane murmured. “Now stand there, shut your mouth, and enjoy the fact that you’re only in this room because of him.”

Gabriel was staring — wide-eyed, lips parted. And for the first time in maybe forever, his mother didn’t say a word.

Then came a small voice from the crowd — a teenage fan, holding a phone.

“I got that on video.”

The room erupted in whispers. Cameras lifted. Jonah full-on howled.

Within minutes, the clip was everywhere.

@EclipseForever: “Thane just disassembled Gabriel’s trash brother without even blinking. I need this man to run my life.”
#AlphaEnergy
#ProtectGabrielAtAllCosts
#NathanGotHowledOn

Gabriel pulled Thane aside after.

“You didn’t have to…”

Thane leaned in, gently brushing their foreheads together.

“Yes, I did.”

Gabriel laughed softly — just a little.

“Then next time, let me film it too.”