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“And you can’t stand hiding it from them,” Marcus observed softly.

“No,” I admitted, something tight unwinding in my chest at his understanding. “Luke… he has this way of knowing when something’s wrong. This morning, he just knew. He always knows. And Imo, she worries so much already. They’re the only real family I have left and I…” My voice cracked slightly.

Marcus’ arms tightened around me, one hand coming up to cup my face. “They’re important to you.”

“They’re everything to me,” I whispered. “They took in this random kid who’d lost his mom and made me family. No questions asked, just… love.”

Marcus studied me for a long moment. “The supernatural world is dangerous,” he acknowledged. “But sometimes keeping secrets from those we love can be more dangerous. If he’s truly family to you…”

“Like keeping the whole ‘quarter-wolf destined mate’ thing from me until I got attacked by rival wolves?” I arched an eyebrow at him. “Yeah, secrets worked out great there.”

His lips twitched, though his eyes held a hint of regret. “Point taken, little mate.”

“He is,” I said more seriously. “Family, I mean. The only real family I have left.”

“Then he deserves to know. And we’ll protect them both.”

The simple certainty in his voice made my throat tight. “You can do that?”

“We’re one of the most powerful packs in the region,” he reminded me, pressing a kiss to my temple that felt like a promise. “Anyone who threatens what’s ours answers to us.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.” His voice held absolute conviction. “They’re your family. That makes them pack adjacent. We protect our own.”

I let out a shaky breath, overwhelmed by the wave of gratitude and something deeper, warmer. “Thank you,” I managed, turning to press my face into his neck. “I don’t know how to… just, thank you.”

His hand stroked down my spine, soothing and possessive all at once. “Always, little mate. Always.”

The warmth of his promise wrapped around me like a blanket, making it hard to focus on the ancient text in my lap. Though honestly, being in Marcus’ lap wasn’t exactly helping my concentration either.

“So these are like, Werewolf 101?” I asked, picking up the top book, its leather binding soft with age, mostly to distract myself from how right he felt and trying to lighten the emotional weight of the moment. “The stuff they don’t teach you in supernatural school?”

“More like advanced studies,” he corrected, and the sudden smirk that crossed his face made me narrow my eyes.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re having a pack conversation right now, aren’t you? With Derek and Caleb?”

“Perhaps.”

“What are they saying?”

His chuckle vibrated through his chest and straight into parts of me that really didn’t need the encouragement. “They’re expressing their… displeasure at missing this particular moment.”

“They’re jealous?”

“Extremely.” His lips brushed my neck, and okay, focusing on ancient texts was definitely not happening. “Especially since I just shared how perfectly you fit in my lap.”

“That’s just mean,” I managed, yet I made no move to leave said lap. “You’re terrible. All of you.”

“Mm,” he agreed, nipping gently at my ear. “But you like it.”

“I like the books,” I protested weakly. “I’m trying to be a good student here.”

“Are you?” His hand slid up my spine, and whatever witty response I had prepared short-circuited. “Because from here, it seems like you’re being very”—his teeth grazed my neck—“very distracting.”