Page 34 of Marked

“Says the one who conveniently got dinner plans out of car trouble.”

“That actually was genuine help!” Caleb protested. Scout perked up, tail wagging in agreement until Shadow’s warning growl made him slouch back behind his inadequate plant coverage. Caleb grinned. “Though I might have taken a little longer with the repairs than strictly necessary…”

Derek threw up his hands. “Meanwhile, I’m stuck waiting until tomorrow’s maintenance duty for my first real look at him.Do you know how hard it is to protect someone from the tree line? The brambles are murder on my fur.”

“Should have been more creative.” Caleb smirked, dodging Derek’s swat. “Though I have to say, Marcus, I’m impressed. Coffee accident? Really?”

“Like you’re one to talk,” Derek growled. “How long does it actually take to check spark plugs?”

“Hey, that car genuinely needed work!” Caleb held up his hands. “The thank-you dinner was just a… fortunate development.”

“A fortunate development,” Marcus repeated flatly.

“I’m taking him somewhere nice,” Caleb continued. “You should have seen his face when I fixed his car. Like he wasn’t used to anyone helping him. It was…” He trailed off, his usual playfulness fading.

They shared a moment of silence as they all felt it—that fierce need to protect, to provide, to care for their mate who’d been alone for far too long.

“Fine,” Marcus finally growled. “But you bring him home by ten.”

Shadow sat straighter, as if mentally noting the curfew he’d be enforcing. Scout’s whine perfectly matched Caleb’s protest. “He’s not a teenager, Marcus. And it’s not even a real date—”

“Nine thirty.”

“You’re being ridiculous. Derek, help me out here.”

Derek just grinned, clearly enjoying not being the target of Marcus’ alpha tendencies for once. “Don’t look at me. I’m just the guy who gets to lurk in the woods, making sure no other wolves come sniffing around while you two wine and dine him.”

“Nine,” Marcus stated firmly.

“For fuck’s sake,” Caleb muttered. “You realize I can’t actually force him home, right? He doesn’t even know he lives here yet!”

“Eight thirty.”

“Right, I’m out before you break out the ankle monitor and SWAT team,” Caleb announced, backing toward the door. Scout bounded eagerly after him, tail wagging with anticipation—only to be stopped by Shadow’s commanding bark.

“That can be arranged!” Marcus said. Shadow sat straighter, head tilted in clear volunteering for the position, while Storm’s alert stance suggested he wouldn’t mind backup duty.

“Not tonight, buddy,” Caleb said to Scout, trying not to laugh at his dog’s dramatic dejection. “Can’t exactly bring my ‘pet wolf’ to a thank-you dinner. Might raise a few questions about what kind of car mechanic keeps a wolf as a pet.”

Scout flopped to the floor with a theatrical whine, rolling onto his back as if mortally wounded by the rejection. Storm huffed what sounded suspiciously like a laugh, while Shadow maintained his dignified stance.

“Don’t wait up!” Caleb shouted back at the brothers as he stepped outside, then added under his breath as he walked to his car, knowing they could hear him perfectly, “Not that you won’t anyway, you possessive bastards.”

Scout’s answering howl of despair at being left behind echoed through the house, earning him an exasperated look from both Shadow and Storm. “Ay Dios mío,” (Oh my God) Jorge muttered, “like master, like dog,” as he set down a plate of his special homemade dog treats, which immediately improved Scout’s tragic mood. The sound of Caleb’s car starting up had Scout’s ears perking, but Shadow’s warning growl kept him firmly by the cooling treats.

Through the window, Marcus and Derek watched their brother’s sleek car pull away, their wolves already restless at the thought of him spending the evening with their mate. Storm moved to stand guard by Derek while Shadow took his usual position at Marcus’ side, both wolf-dogs as agitated as theirmasters about a pack member being alone with their unclaimed mate.

“You realize we’re completely fucked, right?” Derek said conversationally. “Fighting over who gets to feed him dinner like teenage wolves. And I haven’t even gotten close to him yet.” He paused. “Think I could accidentally start maintenance early?”

“Don’t even think about it,” Marcus warned, though his lips twitched. “And yes, we’re absolutely fucked.”

“At least tomorrow I finally get to see him up close,” Derek mused. “Though after you two hoarding all the interaction today, I might need to make my own… fortunate development.”

“Derek…”

“What? Those cottage walls need a thorough inspection. Could take hours. Might need to check the foundation too. And the roof. Actually, you know what? Better make it a full day job—”

Marcus’ growl cut him off, but they were both smiling.

---