Chapter 264: Impressed

Atlas’s POV

The walk back to the cottage carried a different kind of silence than before. It wasn’t tense. Not uneasy. Just… full.

Full of everything we had all just witnessed. The kind of silence that doesn’t need to be filled because every single one of us is replaying the same moment over and over again. The control. The power. The restraint.

Ryder. And Brianna right beside him through it all.

Leaves crunched softly beneath our boots, and every now and then I caught the faint shift of warriors moving along the outer perimeter. They were already adjusting, already protecting. I glanced over my shoulder once, just to be sure.

Ryder walked at Brianna’s side, close enough that their shoulders brushed every few steps. His posture stayed relaxed, but I didn’t miss the way his attention flickered outward every few seconds. Watching everything around him.

Cassian walked on my other side, quiet for once, which alone told me his head was loud right now. Elara stayed just ahead of us, her presence steady as always, though I knew she was just as tired as the rest of us.

We reached the cottage without any trouble.

Still, I didn’t relax. Not fully.

Not tonight.

Once inside, the warmth hit first. Firelight danced across the walls, soft shadows flickering in a way that almost made everything feel normal again.

We all took seats in the main room, forming a loose circle.

I leaned forward slightly, resting my forearms on my knees, my gaze locking onto Ryder. “I want to start first,” I said, my voice even but firm. “That was impressive tonight.”

Ryder met my eyes and gave a single nod.

“I mean it,” I added, tilting my head slightly. “That level of control? Both of you?” My gaze flicked briefly to Brianna before returning to him. “That wasn’t just good. That was next level. Especially considering, Ryder, you didn’t even know this was coming until last night.”

I let the words settle.

Cassian shifted beside me before jumping in, his tone less measured but just as sincere. “I want to apologize,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “I know it wasn’t entirely in my control, but still… we should’ve been better prepared for something like that.”

Ryder gave another nod.

No resentment. No attitude.

Just acceptance. Which somehow made it worse.

Elara leaned forward slightly, her curiosity winning out over everything else. “How did you do it?” she asked, her eyes sharp with interest. “It took me months just to hold an ounce of control like that.”

There it was. The real question.

Ryder leaned back slightly, his gaze flickering between us before settling on Brianna. The corner of his mouth lifted just a fraction, something softer slipping through the edges of his usual restraint.

“Well…” he started. He explained what Brianna had overheard Coban say earlier. Broke it down without dramatics. Straight to the point. Then he told us how Brianna had shown him what Elara and Trixie had been teaching her.

I exhaled slowly, shaking my head as the pieces clicked together. “Damn,” I muttered. “So you picked that up that fast?”

Ryder’s lips twitched slightly. “I’m a fast learner.”

Something in his tone changed just enough that I didn’t miss it.

Not arrogance. It was history.

“Growing up with Clarence as a father…” he continued, his jaw tightening just a bit. “You learn quick. Or you don’t learn at all.”

Silence followed.

I leaned back slightly, studying him for a moment longer than I meant to.

Yeah. He’d had it rough. I didn’t need details to know that much. Didn’t need to ask either. Instead, I let out a quiet breath and tilted my head. “Well, I’ll tell you this,” I said, my tone shifting deliberately lighter. “You mess up here? It’s fine.”

Ryder’s eyes flicked to mine.

“No consequences,” I added.

Another pause.

Then he nodded.

Cassian leaned back in his chair with a grin. “Unless you burn the palace down.”

I snorted. “Well, that’s definitely a possibility,” I said dryly.

Elara rolled her eyes, though the smile tugging at her lips gave her away. “Let’s try not to encourage that.”

“No promises,” Cassian shot back.

Brianna let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. That sound alone eased something in my chest.

Elara shifted her attention back to Ryder, her expression sharpening again. “He showed signs of earth and fire last night.” she said.

I blinked. Then sat up straighter. “Wait. Both?” I asked.

She nodded once. “Yeah. Both.”

I let out a low whistle, dragging a hand down my face. “Damn,” I muttered again, though this time it carried more weight. “So he’s already more advanced than most elemental lycans ever were.”

Elara let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head slightly. “He is. Not all elements like Brianna…” Her gaze flicked to her briefly, pride softening her expression. “But two? That’s rare.”

Rare didn’t even begin to cover it.

I leaned back again, crossing one ankle over my knee as I studied Ryder like I was trying to memorize him.

Because, honestly? I kind of was.

“You realize,” I said slowly, “you’re going to be a problem, right?”

Ryder raised a brow.

“Good problem,” I clarified, holding up a hand. “But still a problem.”

Cassian chuckled. “Yeah, people aren’t going to like you much.”

Ryder’s expression stayed calm. “I’m not here to be liked.”

That earned a smirk from me. “Perfect,” I said. “You’ll fit right in.”

Brianna bumped her shoulder lightly into his, and that small interaction didn’t go unnoticed by anyone in the room.

I pushed off my chair and stood, stretching my arms slightly before walking toward the window. I glanced outside, scanning the tree line. Shadows moved where they were supposed to.

Before we had even made it back here to the cottage, I had already issued orders.

Twenty-five warriors I had handpicked and  positioned in a wide perimeter around the cottage. Layered coverage. Rotating watch points. No blind spots. If anything even breathed wrong out there tonight, we’d know.

Behind me, I heard movement as Brianna stood as well. “I’ll stay here,” she said.

I glanced over my shoulder. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were alert. “If anything happens, I’ll mindlink immediately.”

I nodded once.

Cassian stood next, cracking his neck slightly. “I’ll rotate the outer ring in a bit. Make sure nobody gets too comfortable.”

“Try not to scare them off,” Elara added dryly.

“No promises,” he shot back.

I smirked faintly before turning back toward the window, my gaze sweeping the dark one more time.

Then I spoke without looking at them. “Tonight proved something,” I said.

The room quieted again. “We’re not dealing with what we thought we were.”

I turned back slowly, my eyes landing first on Brianna.

Then Ryder.

“Which means,” I continued, my tone steady, “we adjust. Fast.”

Cassian crossed his arms. “We always do.”