Cane23

Alexander’s words - “Let go” and later, “Thank you for letting me do this to you” - are crucial moment in the chapter we could see as epic battle of two wills - or, maybe, two control freaks 😉. The first is permission. It’s soft, even intimate, but also underlines that Alexander is the one dictating pace. He tells Lyn when it’s okay to surrender. The second is gratitude, but it lands ambiguously... is Alexander thanking Lyn because he knows how rare Lyn’s vulnerability is? Or is it condescending, a little like a surgeon thanking a patient for trusting his hands? Either way, Alexander frames the act as his doing. Lyn is cast in the passive role - even after the fact. Lyn’s thought... “Lyn would have to get his revenge, and soon” is the real cliffhanger. On one hand, it’s humorous and fits his competitive streak with Alexander. On the other, it’s telling - Lyn can’t just enjoy the intimacy; he needs to restore the power balance. This keeps their relationship charged with rivalry. Sex doesn’t neutralize their tension - it deepens it, making future encounters even more dangerous because now it’s a psychological chess match wrapped in eroticism. Lyn is caught in double trap. One is his own - he insists on control as part of his identity. By teasing Alexander (“aren’t you all about control?”) and by positioning himself as the one who decides when to stop or push forward, he sets a standard he cannot uphold once the intimacy overwhelms him. If he lets go, he feels he’s betraying that self-image. If he resists, he risks looking ridiculous, like he’s “cowardly” in the face of desire. Either way, he can’t win on his own terms. The second is Alexander's trap. Alexander allows Lyn to think he has control, but he is subtly dismantling it. In the sex scene, Alexander weaponizes patience, focus, and sensual detail. He doesn’t take control overtly - he lures Lyn into surrendering it. “Do as you wish.” Lyn hated those words. They made him feel at a loss, like he didn’t even deserve to be told what to do. They meant dismissal, in his book. In Alexander’s, he wasn’t so sure, but his first instinct was the same, to react as if— “I do have a strong wish to taste your cooking,” Alexander added, stopping Lyn from spiraling in self-doubt. This is so beautiful, almost touchy little moment. Alexander is, as so many times in this story, sending Lyn a rescue-belt. He is both teasing and grounding him, preventing Lyn from drowning in his own self-doubt. And what’s touching is that he does it without confrontation, he doesn’t say “Don’t think like that,” he just redirects Lyn toward something safe, intimate, and affirming. This is one of those moments that shows the emotional intelligence Alexander has when it comes to Lyn. Even in a story full of battles for dominance and control, these tiny rescues prove that what binds them isn’t just rivalry or attraction - it’s the unspoken care that keeps slipping through. “I know,” Alexander replied. “That’s what makes things so damn difficult.” This line is deceptively simple, but it’s one of the clearest insights into why intimacy with Lyn requires so much care - it’s not just emotional; it’s methodical, deliberate, and precise, almost clinical in its approach. Lyn is wired to maintain control - emotionally, physically, even socially. He masks vulnerability behind competence, sarcasm, and teasing. Alexander recognizes this, which is why intimacy with Lyn cannot be rushed. It’s not just about getting consent or compliance... it’s about getting Lyn to let go of a lifelong habit of self-protection. Alexander has to proceed step by step, like a surgeon. He can’t brute-force closeness - he has to test, gauge, and intervene at the right moments.

Absolutely...and much more. I believe that line marks the crucial turning point of the story. If we take Matteo and Jace’s history into account, it almost feels as if that fateful night was inevitable. And yet, there was still a possible path where things could have unfolded differently: guilt could have driven the lovers apart, Noah might have eventually discovered the truth but forgiven it as a “moment of weakness.” Unfortunately, after the line you quoted, nothing was ever the same. That moment was the trigger -afterward, Matteo slipped into obsession, and eventually madness. He had been ready to move on, still weighed down by guilt… but once Jace claimed him with those possessive words, all moral and ethical boundaries collapsed. For that reason, whatever evil Matteo does later is not because he is evil in essence (as some of your other characters are), but because he is mad - his actions no longer rational. Jace did this to him. He hurt Matteo as deeply as he hurt Noah. He gave promises...symbolized even by the necklace, a chain binding them -that were double-edged signs. Jace believed he could have it all: love and passion, lover and husband, perhaps even two parallel families and children. He never intended to leave Noah, but he didn’t want to let go of Matteo either. That’s why I feel the least sympathy for Jace (unlike my friend @Seraph28 ). He created this mess, and now he doesn’t know how to deal with it.

Well, there were definitely signs that Vince wasn’t just an ordinary human - signs that now seem clear to Danny too. First, he wasn’t even shocked by the existence of shifters. Then there’s his courage - going after Theo... Always in the middle of the action, always taking the initiative. Ah, you’ve hidden his true identity well @Laura S. Fox!

Was it really just about one night? That night may have been a mistake, yes - and if everything had stopped there, the damage might have been much smaller (even though Chris warned him about the guilt). But let’s not forget - it wasn’t Matteo who reignited the affair. It was Jace who, after seeing Matteo on a date, made a jealous scene and chose to start things up again. And this time, it wasn't just an affair. It became a parallel life- three months of sneaking around, while Jace had a husband and a child at home. They were planning to have another child, for God’s sake. That’s not “just” an affair- that’s a betrayal on multiple levels. Yes, Matteo may have gone too far now, but Jace is not some passive victim in this. Like it or not, he’s an accomplice.

In this chapter, we witness Noah completely losing control over his own life. Whether through manipulation or so-called "good intentions," his agency has been stripped away. His son, Rain, resorts to emotional blackmail, trying to force his parents back together. Jace is playing house - pretending to be the perfect father and devoted husband, while Noah's parents, although finally showing support, overstep by making decisions for him. They suggest he go on vacation with Jace and Rain to "fix" the marriage, when what Noah truly needs is time alone to reflect and gather himself. And then there's Matteo, with his bizarre scheme involving the surrogate mother of Jace’s child - how far is he willing to go?

That’s because you’re a goddamn great western writer! I’m not the biggest fan of the genre myself, so I’m definitely rooting for something contemporary. That said, whatever you deliver, I’m sure it’ll be a masterpiece. Now, I’m off to reread some of your classic evergreens!

I’d love to read a new story from you - something contemporary this time, rather than Wild West, with your amazing characters.

I was hoping for a new chapter of Futile Devices… but it’s wonderful to see you back @CasualWanderer82! We spend so much time fearing broken hearts… but perhaps it’s the broken necks we should fear more - love may wound, but life itself can unseat us in an instant.

I understand why you see Jace sympathetically, but here’s how I see it. Noah needs a man, not a Peter Pan - by that I mean, not a boy who refuses to grow up. Jace has spent too long running from responsibility, clinging to old wounds and bad choices instead of facing them. That doesn’t make him the villain of the story - he isn’t. He’s simply weak, flawed, and still unfinished as a person. But he has to put his life in order without Noah being the one trapped in that prison with him. Yes, they had good years together, but those don’t erase the bad, and all the signs suggest Jace could easily slip again.

Very insightful comment @Seraph28...well, who's Maestro now?! You’re right - Jace carries the weight of his cowardice, self-delusion, and indecisiveness. The act of cheating is undeniable, but in this chapter, it becomes clear that Matteo’s manipulation is a driving force behind the spiral. What makes it tragic is that Jace’s entire identity is bound up in control - control of himself, control of the image he projects, control of the dynamics around him. And yet, here he loses all of it: he can neither resist Matteo’s obsessive pulls nor contain Noah’s anger and disappointment. That loss of control shocks him into paralysis, leaving him frozen, almost a spectator to his own downfall. It’s a cruel irony - his obsession with control is exactly what he cannot hold onto when it matters most. Matteo confuses love with obsession. Love is built on sacrifice, care, and recognition of the other’s freedom, while obsession is only about possession. Matteo convinces himself that Noah has “taken” something that was rightfully his, when in truth, Jace was never his to claim. Jace’s own obsession comes from a different place: the belief that he “renounced” his youth and freedom in order to marry Noah. Matteo, then, arrives in Jace’s life like a symbol of the unchained existence he thinks he gave up - a temptation dressed as liberation. But it’s an illusion. The tragic irony is that through this collapse, Jace will be forced to confront what real love actually means, beyond delusion and control. Watching Noah, whether with Chris or someone else, build a genuine family life will eventually become the mirror in which Jace sees both his losses and the truth he’s been running from. That painful clarity may be the very thing that pushes him toward growth.

I believe cheating isn’t something that’s “inherited” in the literal sense. It’s not passed down like eye color. But it can be a learned behavior - children grow up watching their parents and sometimes repeat the same patterns if they don’t consciously break away from them. Sadly, that cycle can be very hard to escape.

I think @LeeSA is referring to Brad's girlfriend from college: “Sel left me.” “Who the hell is Sel?” Lyn asked, without hiding his irritation. “Carolina.”

The question is - how many second chances does someone truly deserve? And what happens when the one receiving those chances begins to see them not as generosity, but as weakness?

Chris already warned Jace, and I think their friendship will fall apart long before anything happens between Chris and Noah. Chris won’t tolerate being used as a cover or staying silent in front of Noah while knowing the truth. He’ll cut ties with Jace because he’s a liar, a cheater, and deceitful. Only after that might Chris begin to console Noah - and from that place of support and understanding, love could grow. That’s how I see it: Chris will stand by Noah’s side long before there’s any romance between them.

I might believe in second chances if there weren’t a history of neglect, humiliation, and hurt from the very start of their marriage. As much as I dislike Elijah, he predicted this from the beginning - he sensed it, because Jace is essentially a mirror of his type (or the type he was): “I don’t hate Jace,” he said, his tone quiet. “But I know men like him. Men who pretend to love when it's convenient, then forget when it's not. Men who need to control in order to feel needed. I was him, Noah. Once.” If it had been just a one-night stand with Matteo, I could imagine a repentant Jace earning another chance. But this isn’t that - it’s a parallel relationship, and it won’t stop. Not only because Matteo won’t let go, but because Jace isn’t strong enough to resist. He’s selfish - he wants it all: the obedient househusband, the family, and the lover. Even if Jace were to decide to stay loyal to his husband, what would be the point if his heart is elsewhere, if he keeps wondering what he lost and what he might still have? Who would want a frustrated, bitter husband by their side? I don’t care about Jace, but Noah certainly doesn’t deserve to live like that. So why do I believe Chris could be the one? Because he’s the only one who has shown genuine decency and care. And the fact that he’s Jace’s best friend would make it a kind of cosmic justice - a turning of the tables. Yes, it would hurt Jace to see Chris with the family he lost, but it should hurt. He brought that pain on himself.

This line brought tears to my eyes - heartbreaking and emotional, yet so honest, and somehow still touched with a hint of optimism.

1) The stage is Anger (and understandably so). 2) Dad was right all along - well, takes one to know one. 3) Dad is going to kill Jace (assuming his mother doesn’t get to him first). 4) Jace and Matteo deserve each other - though I doubt they’ll ever be happy together. Love and obsession aren’t the same, and two selfish men can hardly coexist without destroying one another. 5) Most importantly, Noah deserves someone who can love him fully and unconditionally. Jace was never “the one,” not even before Matteo came into the picture. 6) The real question is - who might be Noah’s ‘prince charming’? And why do I have a feeling it could be Chris?

Instead of manning up, Jace tries to smother us with the phrase "my love" - classic deflection. Cheaters get off too easy, which is exactly why he’ll do it again. Rather than leaving with dignity, Noah turns into some dark "avenger," desperately trying to preserve a dead marriage. And Matteo? He’s become a selfish beast, chasing what he wants at any cost.

I believe her sons' lives are her red line. If she ever decides to "keep it in the family," there's a good chance she'll take the law into her own hands and serve her husband his "last supper." However, the time she spent with the people from Lincoln Academy has taught her what truly matters in life. She’s realized she’s not alone - and it raises the question...is the family name even worth saving? So, she might let the legal system deal with her husband after all.

Yes, Brad definitely likes to brag about the people he “knows.” Just like he told Lyn and Alexander about Luke - his future brother-in-law, great guy, and the D’Artagnan to their existing trio of Musketeers - he was probably hyping Luke up with stories about his “successful,” “badass,” “hot” friends- the surgeon and the lawyer. Brad loves to show off his acquaintances. So by the time they were all at the pub, Luke already knew who the “smart ones” were supposed to be - and he made a comment that left both Brad and Alexander fuming… with Lyn stepping in like a one-man UN peacekeeping force.

Ah, you mean that fateful last night of college. I’m beginning to think that each of the three of them remembers it differently - and maybe even experienced it in completely different ways.

Isn’t that always the case - children end up as collateral in adult conflicts?

The first battle was Danny’s; this one is Ryder’s - what a powerful team they make!

I think you’ve hinted before that Luke might be the catalyst, and @Laura S. Fox confirmed there’s ‘something about it.’ The masks could fall through Luke’s unintentional push rather than any dramatic confrontation. Often, the most effective catalysts are those innocent of malice - they provoke change simply by not realizing the power they hold.

It's all the part of the grief cycle! There are five stages: 1) Denial (refusing to believe - it protects victim from being overwhelmed, 2) Anger (emotions explode), 3) Bargaining (if only...maybe we can fix this...), 4) Depression (sadness, loss of energy, hope, will...), 5) Acceptance (basically, it's moving forward). People jump back and forth - someone may feel anger one day, acceptance the next, then slip back into depression. It's the process. Right now, Noah is firmly at number two (anger), having burned through one and three very quickly. Finding the necklace killed denial (1). Seeing them together intimately detonated all that bottled suspicion. Driving the car at them and flooring the pedal - pure anger, a physical outburst (2). The suspicions, the searching for proof, the “maybe I’m wrong, maybe it’s not what it looks like” - that was his brush with bargaining/obsession. But once the necklace and the scene confirmed everything, bargaining collapsed (3). People often cycle back. Even after this rage, Noah could later slip back into bargaining (“What if I misunderstood? What if we can fix it?”) or denial (“Maybe it wasn’t that serious”). That looping is part of the grief process. In Noah’s case, since he exploded in anger and fled, the very next “phase” might be crash into despair - the exhaustion and grief after the adrenaline fades. Finally, forgiveness... Forgiveness is for the self, not for the cheater. Forgiveness wouldn’t mean getting back with his husband or best friend, it would mean reaching a point where he no longer feels the need to punish, obsess, or replay the betrayal. It’s part of moving on but not required for reconciliation...and in Noah’s case, it could be his way of finally closing the story without letting anger rot him from the inside. But we are still far, far away from that part of the story!