*Hours Later – Outside the Castle Gates*
Bags were packed. Cars — actual cars from the human world — were idling on the gravel drive past the gates. The contrast was jarring: castle walls and vampire guards behind them, black SUVs and phones buzzing in front of them.
Everyone was gathered in the courtyard. Alpha Boys with duffels slung over shoulders. Idols checking their phones for the first time in weeks. Han stood between Taejoon and Alexander, looking out at the tree line. He was steady on his feet now. No wobbling. No hands reaching to catch him. But Taejoon was still close. Always close.
Alexander was the only one not ready. He stood in front of them, arms crossed, and his face was doing something complicated. His jaw was tight. His eyes were suspiciously shiny.
"Alright," Harrison said, breaking the quiet. "This is it. Back to reality."
"Back to schedules," Jace groaned. Kai was already on a call, muttering "yes, we're alive" to what was definitely their manager.
Alexander didn't say anything. Then, all at once, his composure cracked.
"You're all leaving," he said, and his voice wavered. "The castle's going to be empty. No yelling in the halls. No Ace trying to film everything. No Caleb building pillow forts. No—" He stopped and rubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand. "I'm going to be alone."
For a second, nobody knew what to do. Alexander? Crying?
Then Lorenzo lost it. "Oh my god, he's actually—"
"Don't," Alexander snapped, watery. "Don't you dare laugh."
But they were already laughing. Not mean. Just fond, and relieved, and a little choked up themselves. Even Hudson was hiding a smile.
"You're not alone," Caleb said, immediate and earnest. He stepped forward and threw his arms around Alexander's waist in a hug that was all elbows. "You've got all the guards. And the staff. And—"
"The guards don't steal my food," Alexander mumbled into Caleb's hair. "Or call me old man."
"I'll call you old man," Ace offered. "We can set up weekly video calls. For your emotional support."
Han snorted. "He's gonna hate video calls."
"I will," Alexander agreed, but he was hugging Caleb back now. One by one, the rest piled in. Not a full group hug — Alexander would've actually died — but hands on shoulders, quick embraces, Jace squeezing his arm.
"You visit," Han said, quiet but firm. "You promised. Backstage passes. Remember?"
"And we'll come back," Taejoon added. He wasn't touching Alexander, but his voice was solid. "It's not goodbye. Just… see you later."
Alexander pulled back from Caleb and looked at all of them. Really looked. His eyes landed on Taejoon and Han last, and something in his face eased. "Family," he said, like he was testing the word again. "You're all my family. Don't forget that when you're back out there."
"We won't," Kai said. "You're stuck with us."
"Unfortunately," Harrison muttered, but he was smiling.
Alexander exhaled, wiped his eyes one last time, and straightened his shoulders. The moment passed. He was Alexander again — composed, commanding. But his eyes were still soft.
"Go," he said, waving them off. "Before I change my mind and lock the gates. You've got planes to catch. Songs to record. Dates to plan."
His eyes flicked to Taejoon on that last one. Taejoon went red instantly. Han looked between them, confused.
"Right," Lorenzo said, dragging out the word. "Dates. Plural. Many dates. Nothing specific."
"Shut up," Taejoon hissed.
Everyone laughed again, and just like that the heaviness broke. They started moving toward the cars. Goodbyes turned into "text me" and "don't die without me" and Ace yelling "no filming the proposal without my permission!"
Taejoon hung back for half a second. He looked at Alexander. Alexander looked back and gave him the smallest nod. _Do it right._
Taejoon nodded back. Then he turned and followed Han to the cars, his hand brushing Han's once, casual, before they split into separate SUVs.
Alexander stood at the gates long after the cars pulled away. The vampire and werewolf guards were silent behind him. The courtyard was empty now.
He didn't feel alone though. Not really.