Page 21

“Yet,” Luke cut in. “We’re talking tomorrow. No excuses.”

After we hung up, I flopped back on the bed, immediately becoming a pillow for three very large dogs. A soft knock at the door made me look up to find Marcus there, his brothers right behind him.

“How did it go?” Marcus asked, entering the room.

“My best friend thinks I’ve lost my mind; his mom is breaking out ancient Korean ritual tools, and they’re coming this weekend to potentially perform an exorcism on you three.”

“So… better than expected?” Caleb grinned, dropping a kiss on my forehead.

“We’ll handle it,” Marcus promised, his kiss landing on my lips, slow and sweet.

Derek’s kiss was firmer, more possessive. “Sleep. You need rest.”

I watched them leave, three pairs of eyes glowing slightly in the darkness of the doorway before they closed it softly. Surrounded by warm fur and the lingering sensation of three different kisses, I drifted off to sleep, wondering what exactly I was going to tell Luke tomorrow.

Chapter 5

STONE BROTHERS

Marcus’ study looked different at night. Shadows played across ancient leather-bound books while three alpha wolves discussed their mate over coffee that had long since gone cold. The brothers had retreated here after ensuring Kai was safely asleep, surrounded by their pack guardians.

“Kate’s readings make no sense,” Caleb said, sprawled in his usual chair with the kind of casual grace that belied his predatory nature. “Even for First Pack blood, the energy signatures are… odd.”

“Odd doesn’t begin to cover it,” Derek said, his military precision showing in his rigid posture. “I watched him heal from injuries that would have taken a pure-blood alpha days to recover from. In hours.”

Marcus traced the rim of his coffee cup, remembering the strange silvery glow that had surrounded Kai during the Knox attack. “I’ve studied every record we have of Reece Walker and his father, Tom. But their abilities were nothing like this.”

“Could it be the quarter-wolf aspect?” Caleb suggested, reaching for one of the ancient texts. “The old writings talk about ‘power through unity’—different magical affinities combining to create new abilities.”

“There are records of other mixed-blood First Pack descendants,” Derek countered. “None of them healed like that. And those eyes…” He trailed off, remembering how Kai’s eyes had gleamed during the attack. “First Pack wolves have gold flecks, yes, but not like that. Not like actual molten gold that seems to shine from within.”

“Don’t forget how he moved during the fight,” Marcus added. “That wasn’t just wolf instinct. It was something else. Something older.”

“Something that makes our pre-marking glow like a supernatural night-light,” Caleb quipped, though his eyes were serious. “Speaking of which, anyone want to explain why our mark reacts differently to him than any recorded in pack history? Because I’m pretty sure ‘glows like a beacon’ wasn’t in the manual.”

Derek snorted. “Was there a manual? Because I distinctly remember us winging it during an emergency blood moon ritual.”

“The point,” Marcus cut in before they could derail into their usual bickering, “is that even accounting for First Pack blood and quarter-wolf status, something about our mate is different.”

“The texts mention how human blood can act as a stabilizing agent,” Caleb mused, flipping through pages. “Creates new magical pathways, enhances rather than dilutes…”

“But even that doesn’t explain what we’re seeing,” Marcus frowned. “His energy readings, the mark’s reaction, how he instinctively accessed abilities no quarter-wolf should have…”

“Could his mother’s bloodline be significant?” Derek suggested. “We know almost nothing about Sarah Chen’s family history.”

“Other than her impressive ability to disappear with our mate for a decade?” Caleb’s tone was light but his eyes flashed. “Yeah, that might be worth looking into.”

Marcus closed the grimoire with a decisive snap. “Whatever the source, his power is growing. And after that display with the Knox wolves…”

“Others will notice,” Derek finished grimly.

“They already have,” Marcus confirmed. “The council is convening tomorrow morning. Apparently, news of a quarter-wolf mate with unusual abilities travels fast.”

Caleb’s grin turned predatory. “Perfect timing to discuss what we’re going to do about Knox’s… territorial overreach.”

“You mean their suicidal decision to attack our marked mate?” Derek’s growl held promises of violence.

“The council will expect us to handle this traditionally,” Marcus said, though his own wolf stirred at the memory of rival wolves daring to touch their mate. “They’ll want proper challenges, formal proceedings…”