Page 57 of Marked

Around half an hour later, Marcus paused at the doorway, watching Caleb pretend to work while openly staring at Kai. “Try to actually accomplish something today.”

“I am accomplishing something,” Caleb protested, not taking his eyes off their sleeping mate. “I’m documenting how adorable our mate is when he sleeps. Look, he just scrunched his nose.”

Maria bustled through, hands full of fresh linens. She clicked her tongue at Caleb. “Ay, pobrecito(Oh, poor thing), you are as bad as the dogs. At least they admit they are guarding him.”

“I’m working!” Caleb gestured to his laptop.

“Your screen has been dark for twenty minutes,mi amor(my love).”

Shadow lifted his head at Maria’s voice, but unlike their usual enthusiastic greetings, he merely watched her pass before returning to his vigilant position near Kai’s head. Scout, typicallybouncing off the walls by this time of day, hadn’t moved from his spot against Kai’s legs.

An hour later, the sound of boots on hardwood announced Derek’s return. He strode in, still in full tactical gear, radio crackling at his hip.

“The perimeter team reports all clear, sir,” one of his men called from the doorway.

Derek waved him off without looking, his attention fixed on Kai’s sleeping form. “Double the patrols near the eastern border. And tell Johnson to check those motion sensors again.”

“Forgot something?” Caleb asked innocently, watching his brother circle the room in what he probably thought was a subtle manner.

“Checking the interior security,” Derek growled, finally stopping at a position that gave him a perfect view of their mate.

“Of course. And the fact that you can see our mate from this particular security position is purely coincidental.”

“Shut up, Caleb.”

A phone rang, followed by rapid Spanish as Maria answered it. Marcus emerged moments later, suit jacket discarded, sleeves rolled up. His path to the kitchen just happened to take him directly past the couch where Kai slept.

“Third coffee run in two hours,” Caleb observed, stretching lazily in his chair. “You know we have an intercom system, right? Maria would bring it to you.”

Marcus ignored him, taking in how Kai had shifted slightly, one hand now curled near his face. Their wolves practically purred at the sight. His phone buzzed insistently in his pocket, but he couldn’t bring himself to move just yet.

“The great Marcus Stone, reduced to coffee-fetching excuses just to peek at his sleeping mate,” Caleb continued, clearly enjoying himself. “Wait until I tell the board—”

“Caleb.”

“Yes, big brother?”

“Shut up.”

The kitchen door swung open as Maria appeared with a fresh pot of coffee, muttering rapid-fire Spanish about lovesick wolves and stubborn men. “Here.” She thrust the pot at Marcus. “Now you have no excuse to keep wandering in. Let the poor boy sleep.”

Derek’s radio crackled again. He growled in frustration, stepping away to answer it in hushed tones. But his eyes kept drifting back to Kai.

Kai made a small sound in his sleep, and all three wolves immediately moved to comfort him. Even Maria’s stern mother act softened at the sight.

“Dios mío.” She sighed, adjusting Kai’s blanket with gentle hands. “Your wolves have good taste, at least.” She patted Marcus’ arm. “Now, back to work. All of you. He will still be here when you finish.”

Derek was already positioning himself by another window, pretending to examine the security setup. Caleb had resumed his random key-tapping, though his screen remained dark. And Marcus…

Marcus took one last look at their sleeping mate before forcing himself back to his office. His phone showed fifteen missed calls, but all he could focus on was the soft sound of Kai’s breathing.

“He’s been sleeping for hours,” Caleb said for the third time, picking at his simple lunch of grilled chicken and vegetables. His eyes strayed toward theliving room where Kai lay curled into a tight ball on the couch, small fists tucked under his chin. “Maybe we should wake him? What if he’s hungry?”

“He ate plenty at breakfast,” Derek reminded him, though his own gaze lingered on their sleeping mate. Their three massive dogs had barely moved since morning—Scout now curled tighter against Kai’s legs, Storm stretched out but still vigilant at his feet, and Shadow having settled his head closer to Kai’s, maintaining his protective watch. “Let him rest.”

The kitchen felt oddly empty without Maria’s usual bustle. She’d banished them all when they’d tried to sneak tastes of the paella simmering on the stove.

“It’s for Kai,” she’d declared, brandishing her wooden spoon like a weapon. “You get chicken. Simple chicken for simple wolves who can’t wait their turn.”

---