Page 44 of Marked

Their mate slept bathed in moonlight, his face peaceful in ways it never was awake. The sight hit all three wolves like a physical blow. Derek whined low in his throat, taking an involuntary step forward. Their ancestors might have claimed this land, but their mate… their mate was what made it home.

The massive gray wolf tipped his head back, a haunting howl building in his chest. Marcus snapped at him—too risky, too soon—but couldn’t quite hide how his own wolf ached to claim, to mark, to make their little mate understand he belonged here. With them. In their territory, their legacy, their pack.

Caleb pressed against his brothers, sharing their need through their bond. His wolf remembered Kai’s scent from earlier, how right it had felt mixed with his own. How perfect their mate would smell marked by all three of them.

When Kai stirred in his sleep, sensing their presence, it took all of Marcus’ alpha authority to keep his brothers from pressingcloser to the glass. Their wolves were going crazy with the need to protect, to possess, to claim what was theirs by ancient right and modern desire.

But when their mate’s eyes fluttered open, catching the gleam of amber, electric blue, and crimson in the darkness, they melted back into the shadows of their ancestral woods. Their little mate might not be ready for the full truth yet, but soon…

Derek hadn’t slept. Couldn’t sleep. Not with his wolf still riding high from their moonlight vigil, from seeing their mate so close. Even after they’d returned home near dawn, his body thrummed with restless energy that no amount of military discipline could contain.

Four tours in active combat zones. Multiple black ops missions that would never see official records. Enough medals locked away in his study to make a general envious. Yet here he was, reduced to pacing by a five-foot-six civilian who probably couldn’t even throw a proper punch.

His coffee went cold, forgotten as he checked his watch again. Six fifteen a.m. Early enough to start maintenance work without raising suspicion?

“Screw it,” he muttered, grabbing his tactical gear. His wolf practically bounded with excitement as they headed for the cottage.

The morning air still held traces of their scents from the night patrol. Derek circled the perimeter twice, cataloging every detail through both human and wolf senses. The ancient water main needed replacing—he’d make sure of that—but his attention kept drifting to the living room window where he could hear Kai’s steady breathing.

Just one look. To check security, of course.

His wolf surged forward as they approached the window. Their mate slept curled in a sleeping bag on the couch, dark hair spilling across a borrowed pillow, looking impossibly young and vulnerable. Derek’s hands flexed, claws threatening to emerge. Every instinct screamed to break in, to gather that small form close, to protect and possess and—

Years of military discipline slammed down hard. He forced himself to step back, to breathe through the possessive haze. He was a decorated officer, for fuck’s sake, not some hormone-driven teenager. He had a mission: maintain cover, establish contact, protect mate.

Simple. Straightforward. Just like any other op.

Right.

The lawn mower provided decent cover and kept his hands busy while his enhanced hearing tracked Kai’s movements. The shower starting sent his imagination places that definitely violated mission parameters. Steam and water sliding over pale skin, those delicate hands working shampoo through dark hair…

Derek growled, attacking a particularly stubborn patch of grass. Thirteen years of military service, countless covert operations, the highest level of special forces training, and here he was, fantasizing like a—

The water stopped.

Then came cursing. Creative cursing that actually impressed him, followed by the sound of bare feet on hardwood.

Derek positioned himself near the water main, trying to look professional and not like he’d been stalking his mate all night. Just a normal maintenance worker, doing normal maintenance things, definitely not imagining Kai naked and—

The back door burst open.

Holy. Fucking. Hell.

His mate stood there dripping wet, wearing nothing but a scrap of towel that barely qualified as fabric. Water traced paths down that slim chest that Derek’s tongue ached to follow. Shampoo bubbles slid down a neck that was absolutely made for claiming bites. And that towel… that ridiculous excuse for a towel… riding dangerously low on narrow hips…

A growl ripped from his chest before he could stop it. His wolf surged forward, claws threatening to emerge, every instinct screaming mine—take—claim—MINE.

Kai blinked shampoo from his eyes, and Derek stopped breathing entirely. Up close, their mate was even more perfect. Delicate features with just enough sharpness to hint at hidden strength. Those haunting eyes with their mysterious gold flecks. Lips that parted slightly in surprise…

The towel slipped lower.

Derek growled again, the sound completely beyond his control. Thirteen years of military discipline crumbling in the face of one half-naked mate.

His wolf howled in triumph. Finally, finally they were going to—

“Um.” Kai’s voice came out high and breathy. “You wouldn’t happen to have destroyed my water pipe with your murder-mower, would you? Because I’ve got to say, that’s some impressive timing. Like, Olympic-level inconvenient timing. Gold medal in ‘Making Kai’s Morning Weird.’”

Derek’s wolf practically purred at the sass. Marcus and Caleb had mentioned their mate’s sharp tongue, but experiencing it firsthand… The way those clever words danced even while half-naked and dripping wet, the flash of defiance in those gold-flecked eyes despite being clearly intimidated…

---