Page 94 of Marked

He wrenched away with a curse, his breathing ragged. “Can’t… losing control,” he panted. “Need to… fuck.”

The last word came out as more snarl than speech. With excruciating gentleness that cost him physical pain, he set Kai down and forced himself to step back. Then another step. His massive chest heaved with the effort of restraint, hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“Derek?” Kai’s voice was breathy, confused. His body swayed toward Derek even now, and God, the tree at his back was probably the only thing keeping him upright.

“Don’t,” Derek growled, his voice wrecked. “Don’t move. Please.”

He paced a short distance away, every movement screaming barely leashed power. His wolf was going mad with the need to claim, to mark, to make their mate truly theirs.

“I’m sorry,” Kai offered softly.

Derek’s laugh was harsh. “Trust me, little one, you have nothing to be sorry for.” His eyes, when they met Kai’s, still held that impossible amber glow. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. I shouldn’t have… This isn’t…”

He ran a hand over his face, torn between desire and the knowledge that he’d nearly ruined everything. When he looked at Kai again, his eyes traced over thoroughly kissed lips, messed-up hair, the marks already forming on that delicate neck. Another full-body shudder ran through him.

“We should head back,” he managed, though everything in him screamed to do the opposite. “Before I… before this goes too far.”

The walk back was torture. Derek kept careful distance between them, though his eyes never left Kai. Every few steps he had to clench his fists or take deep breaths, physically restraining himself from reaching for their mate.

Then Kai’s scent shifted, deepened with renewed desire, and Derek’s control snapped completely. He stopped walking, another violent shudder racking his frame.

“Kai.” His name was a desperate growl. He took a step toward their mate, then another, moving with predatory grace. “I can’t… you smell so…”

Derek!Marcus’ voice cracked like a whip through their bond.We’re almost there. Don’t.

His hands clenched into fists, tendons standing out on his forearms. “Please,” he ground out, though he wasn’t sure if he was begging Kai to run or to stay. “I can’t… fuck…”

Marcus and Caleb burst through the trees, moving with inhuman speed. Derek barely registered Caleb wrapping an arm around Kai, pulling their mate to safety. His wolf was too close, the shift imminent.

“Derek.” Marcus’ voice held alpha command. “Go.”

He turned and ran, letting his supernatural speed take him deep into the forest. The moment he was far enough, his control shattered completely. The shift took him violently, clothes shredding as his massive wolf form burst free with a roar that shook the trees.

Through their bond, he felt his brothers’ mixture of sympathy and concern. But right now, he needed to run. To hunt. To do anything to forget the taste of their mate’s kiss and how close they’d come to claiming him completely.

Rain began to fall as Derek’s wolf tore through the forest, but even the storm couldn’t wash away Kai’s scent from his memory.

Or the knowledge that soon—very soon—they wouldn’t have to hold back anymore.

His massive wolf form crashed through the underbrush, powerful muscles bunching as he ran. The forest blurred around him, but his enhanced senses caught every detail—every scent, every movement, every potential prey. The Stone bloodline ran ancient and powerful, a legacy of carefully chosen matings with other strong shifter lines from around the world. Their wolves were larger and more powerful than any others, generations of warriors and protectors producing alphas of unprecedented strength. Even among his brothers, Derek’s wolf form was built for raw power, a perfect match to his military training.

There. A flash of movement to his left. His military precision merged seamlessly with his wolf’s instincts as he changeddirection, moving like a ghost through the trees. The young buck never saw him coming. It was over in seconds—quick, clean, efficient. Just like his training had taught him.

But it wasn’t enough. The kill didn’t satisfy the primal need burning through his veins. His wolf wanted a different kind of hunt. Wanted their mate.

Focus, brother, Marcus’ voice echoed through their bond.Work it out of your system.

Derek’s wolf snarled in response, abandoning his kill to run deeper into the forest. The storm intensified around him, rain soaking his silver-gray fur, but he barely noticed. His massive form cleared fallen logs in single bounds, his power evident in every movement. Lesser wolves would have tired by now, but the Stone blood in his veins sang with endless strength.

Another scent caught his attention. Prey. This time he let his wolf take full control, losing himself in the hunt. Two more kills followed, each one executed with lethal grace. Other predators scattered at his approach, recognizing a superior hunter. An apex predator. But even this display of dominance couldn’t erase the memory of Kai in his arms.

Hours passed before Derek finally felt his control returning. The rain had soaked through his fur, but the storm raging around him matched his internal turmoil perfectly. A familiar bark drew his attention—Storm had found him, his faithful companion’s eyes reflecting understanding. The massive dog settled beside his wolf form, a steady presence that helped anchor him.

He always knows when you need him, Caleb’s voice came through their bond, tinged with affection.

Storm’s presence helped Derek focus, his military training slowly reasserting itself over his wolf’s primal needs. Together, they patrolled the perimeter of their territory, Storm matching his alpha’s movements with practiced precision.

Later that night, Derek sat against a massive pine, letting the rain cool his overheated skin. He sensed his brother before he saw him—Marcus’ black wolf form emerging from the darkness with Shadow at his side. His brother shifted smoothly, settling beside him as the rain dripped from his dark hair.

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