"And he didn't immediately kick you out, so I suppose that is something I should be thankful for," Luke answers, still looking amused. He truly doesn't require everyone in his life to be the best of friends and he doesn't expect it either, not when it comes to Shadowhunters and Downworlders, but he does appreciate the attempt at civility, if nothing else. For all he doesn't want to be responsible for another pack, for how little he ever wants to step into the alpha role ever again, it's still nice to have one other werewolf he can refer to as family in that way. And although he'd been teasing about not wanting to have to choose between the two of them, it isn't entirely a joke.

He won't stop spending time with Derek, but he also knows he can't stop spending time with Alec. Not when it's so clear he needs someone in his life, possibly someone like Luke. Even if he's just there to give Alec a place to go when he needs it, there's no way he'd ever take that away from him. It's important they get along at least as far as that becomes necessary.

"A lot of the werewolves here talk about pack," he says thoughtfully. "And some of them don't seem to understand why it is I'm not comfortable with the word or with the idea of being a pack leader again. You saw the wolves I was in charge of in Manhattan, though, you know how readily they followed me into a war against Valentine. How many of them died. I can't imagine anyone would be willing to take that up again."