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“The claiming has three parts,” Marcus explained, his voice deep and resonant in the chamber. “The blood bond, the renewal of marks, and the physical claiming.”

“I’m ready,” I said, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. This was what I wanted, what I’d been running from and yet somehow always heading toward.

Marcus nodded, his expression solemn despite the desire burning in his eyes. “Then we begin.”

I watched, fascinated, as their hands began to change—not a full shift, but enough that their nails lengthened into deadly claws, sharp enough to cut through flesh with ease.

“I, Marcus Stone, Alpha of the Stone Pack, claim this mate by right of first mark,” Marcus intoned, his eyes locked with mine. “I offer protection, provision, and devotion until death and beyond.”

He drew his claw across his palm, blood welling in a crimson line. Without breaking eye contact, he pressed his bleeding hand to my forehead. The warmth of his blood should have been disturbing, but instead it sent a jolt of pleasure through me so intense I gasped.

“I, Derek Stone, Second Alpha of the Stone Pack, claim this mate by right of first mark.” Derek’s voice was rougher, more primal. “I offer strength, defense, and loyalty until death and beyond.”

He followed Marcus’ example, cutting his palm and pressing it to my chest, directly over my heart. The contact sent another wave of pleasure crashing through me, making me arch off the stone platform.

“I, Caleb Stone, Third Alpha of the Stone Pack, claim this mate by right of first mark.” Caleb’s voice had lost its usual playfulness, replaced by an intensity that made my breath catch. “I offer comfort, understanding, and fidelity until death and beyond.”

His bleeding palm pressed against my stomach, just above my navel, completing the triangle of blood that now marked my body.

The effect was immediate and overwhelming. Where before I’d felt their emotions as distant echoes through our developing bond, now their presence flooded my mind—Marcus’ steady strength, Derek’s fierce protection, Caleb’s bright passion. I could feel their love for me, their desire, their relief at finally claiming what they’d waited for so long.

Can you feel us, little mate?Marcus’ voice resonated in my head, clear as if he’d spoken aloud.

“Yes,” I gasped, overwhelmed by the sudden connection. “All of you. It’s… intense.”

It will settle, Derek assured me, his internal voice a low rumble that matched his physical one.You’ll learn to control it.

But right now, Caleb added, a hint of his usual mischief returning,just enjoy the ride.

The blood bond settled into a warm, constant presence at the back of my mind—three distinct connections that somehow formed a perfect whole. I could feel their emotions, catch glimpses of their thoughts, sense their presence in a way that transcended the physical.

“The blood bond is established,” Marcus declared, satisfaction evident in his voice. “Now, we renew the marks.”

As one, they shifted their positions, surrounding me more closely. I could feel the heat radiating from their bodies, smell the intoxicating scent of their blood mingling with mine.

“This will hurt,” Derek warned, his voice gentle despite the hunger in his eyes. “But only for a moment.”

I nodded, bracing myself. “I can handle it.”

Marcus moved first, his partially shifted hand exposing the mark on my lower right side—the triangle of scars that had been with me since I was thirteen. The pre-marking that had both protected me and bound me to these three men.

“With this mark, I claim you as mine,” Marcus said, his claw tracing the straight line of his original mark.

The pain was sharp but brief, like a papercut on steroids, immediately followed by a wave of pleasure so intense I nearly saw stars. Seriously, this supernatural claiming business should come with a warning label: “May cause spontaneous tears and embarrassing noises.” Through our new bond, I could feel Marcus’ satisfaction, his possessiveness, his love—emotions so powerful they made my cynical heart do gymnastics it was definitely not trained for.

“With this mark, I claim you as mine,” Derek echoed, his claw following the diagonal slash that formed the second side of the triangle.

Again, pain flashed hot and bright before dissolving into pleasure that had me gasping. Derek’s emotions flooded through me—fierce protectiveness, burning desire, and beneath it all, a tenderness that few ever saw in him.

“With this mark, I claim you as mine,” Caleb finished, his claw completing the triangle with a curved line.

This time, I couldn’t hold back the cry that escaped me, my body arching off the stone as pleasure and pain merged into something transcendent. Caleb’s joy, his playfulness, his deep and unwavering devotion washed through me, completing the emotional circuit between us.

The three freshly bleeding lines formed a perfect triangle, exactly as they had nine years ago. But this time, instead of silver light, golden flames danced along the marks, sealing them into permanent scars that would never fade.

Ours, came their collective thought, so powerful it resonated through my entire being.Finally, completely ours.

And you’re mine, I replied through the bond, surprising myself with how easily it came.All of you. Always.