Page 56 of Marked

Scout whined softly in his sleep, pressing closer to Kai’s legs. Their guard dogs had always been drawn to him, even as pups. They’d howled for days after Sarah took him away, mourning the loss of their future packmate.

“The pre-mark is getting stronger,” Derek observed, watching Kai unconsciously curl toward Marcus’ touch. “He shouldn’t feel this safe with us yet. Not consciously.”

“His wolf knows,” Marcus traced the curve of Kai’s jaw, memorizing every detail. “Even if he doesn’t.”

“Did you see how he reacted when I caught him?” Derek’s voice held a mix of pride and frustration. “Pure instinct. His body remembers us, even if his mind doesn’t.”

“The way he koala-clung to you was pretty spectacular.” Caleb grinned. “Though I still say he would have landed on me if I’d been closer.”

“In your dreams, little brother.”

“You’re just jealous because—”

“Enough,” Marcus cut them off as Kai stirred slightly. Both brothers immediately fell silent, watching their mate with identical expressions of concern.

Kai settled again, one hand curled near his face like a child. The sight did dangerous things to Marcus’ control. Nine years of watching from afar, of maintaining distance while their mate grew into himself. Nine years of fighting their wolves’ demands to claim, to protect, to possess.

“We can’t wait much longer,” Derek voiced what they were all thinking. “The Blackwoods—”

“Are being handled,” Marcus’ voice held steel. No one would touch their mate. Not again.

“He’s going to freak out,” Caleb said softly, watching Kai sleep. “When he learns everything. About us, about what he is, about that night…”

“We’ll handle it,” Marcus stated with absolute certainty. “Together.”

Storm lifted his head suddenly, ears pricked. A moment later, Maria’s voice drifted from the direction of the kitchen, ordering Jorge to “stop hovering over her paella,por favor(please).”

“Should we wake him for lunch?” Caleb asked, though he looked reluctant to disturb their mate’s peaceful rest.

Marcus shook his head. “Let him sleep. He hasn’t been resting well.” The dark circles under Kai’s eyes had been driving their wolves crazy all morning.

“Nightmares,” Derek growled softly. They’d all sensed it through the pre-mark—Kai’s restless nights, his anxiety about returning to Cedar Grove.

“They’ll stop now that he’s home,” Marcus stated with alpha certainty. Their mate would never spend another night unprotected.

Kai shifted again, making a small sound of distress. Before any of the brothers could move, Scout was already nuzzling his hand while Storm pressed closer to his feet. Shadow maintained his guard position but lowered his head to rest against Kai’s shoulder.

“Traitors,” Caleb muttered fondly. “All that training, and they turn into puppies the moment he shows up.”

“Can you blame them?” Derek’s voice held dry amusement. “Look at him. Even asleep he’s…” He trailed off, unable to find words for how their mate affected them all.

Marcus understood. Kai was… everything. The missing piece they’d been waiting for since that bloody night nine years ago. The one person who could complete their pack, their family, their very souls.

And this time, they weren’t letting him go.

The brothers were silent, watching their mate sleep. None of them wanted to break this moment—their little mate safe in their den, surrounded by their protection. It felt right in a way that made their wolves rumble with satisfaction.

But they had responsibilities, duties that couldn’t be ignored even for this. Marcus was the first to stir, though every step away from Kai felt wrong on a primal level.

“We should get back to work,” he said quietly to his brothers, his tone making it clear he’d rather do anything but. He turned his attention to their dogs, who had formed a protective circle around Kai. “Guard him,” he ordered softly, though the instruction was unnecessary given how possessively they’d already claimed their positions.

Derek nodded reluctantly, his military training warring with his instinct to stay. “I need to check the perimeter,” he announced, but when he whistled for Storm, the massive dog merely opened one eye and settled closer to Kai’s feet. “Storm. Come.”

The dog huffed, clearly conveying his opinion of leaving his post.

“Rejected by your own wolf,” Caleb snickered, already settling into an armchair with his laptop. “That’s got to hurt.”

Derek’s scowl would have sent lesser men running. “Fine. Stay.” He stomped toward the door, muttering about traitorous wolves and mate-struck puppies.

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