Page 18 of Marked by Alphas 2: Claimed (The Blood Moon Chronicle #2)

T he observation deck overlooked what the brothers casually called their “training grounds,” which was actually a massive clearing surrounded by dense forest. High-tech equipment was cleverly disguised to look like natural features—because apparently even supernatural training had to maintain the manor’s aesthetic.

“Your team’s already warming up,” I noted, watching the group of men stretching below. They all had that same coiled-power vibe as Derek, like they were barely containing something wild beneath their tactical gear.

“Johnson’s running today’s drills,” Derek explained, coming to stand beside me at the reinforced glass. “He’s my second.”

“The one who looks like he bench-presses trucks for fun?”

Derek’s lips twitched. “That’s Rivera. Johnson’s the one checking the perimeter.”

“Ah. The one who looks like he could kill me with his pinky. Got it.”

“No one’s killing you,” all three brothers said in perfect unison .

“That’s still creepy when you do that,” I informed them, but my attention was caught by movement below. The team was maneuvering into precise positions, reminding me of the military documentaries Derek sometimes watched. “So… how does this work exactly? Do you just… poof into wolves?”

“Poof?” Marcus sounded pained.

“Technical term,” I said primly. “Very scientific.”

Caleb snickered. “Not exactly a ‘poof’ situation, little mate. Though your version sounds much more dignified than the reality.”

“There’s a specific process,” Derek began in his tactical voice.

“That’s Derek-speak for ‘we get naked first,’” Caleb stage-whispered.

I choked on my smoothie. Maria, who was arranging snacks nearby, didn’t even try to hide her laugh.

“It’s a natural part of—” Derek started.

“The stripping or the shifting?” I couldn’t help asking.

“Both,” Marcus answered, his voice dropping to that dangerous purr that made my skin tingle. “Though some of us are more… graceful about it than others.”

“I am extremely graceful,” Caleb protested.

A sharp whistle sounded from below.

“Time for the show.” Caleb grinned. “Try not to swoon too hard when you see Derek in all his furry glory.”

I turned back to the window, hoping they’d attribute my blush to the smoothie’s “secret ingredient” rather than the mental image of Derek… shifting.

This was purely educational, I firmly reminded myself. Just research. Completely professional observation of supernatural transformation. Nothing to do with how the tactical gear highlighted certain… aspects of werewolf anatomy.

“Focus,” Derek murmured close to my ear, making me jump. When h ad he gotten so close? “Watch how they maintain formation even during the change.”

Right. Formation. Military precision. Not the way Derek’s voice had dropped an octave or how his breath ghosted across my neck or?—

The first howl split the air, and suddenly I had much bigger things to focus on.

Holy. Shit.

I’d seen nature documentaries. I’d watched Discovery Channel specials. I’d even caught a few episodes of that werewolf show Luke was obsessed with. None of them had prepared me for… this.

The change rippled through Derek’s team like a wave.

Bones shifted and reformed; muscles flowed like liquid beneath skin that sprouted fur in patterns as distinct as fingerprints.

But it wasn’t the physical transformation that held me transfixed—it was the raw power, the barely contained wildness of it.

“Breathe,” Marcus reminded me softly.

Right. Breathing. Important thing, that.

Johnson shifted first, his massive black form somehow maintaining perfect military bearing even as a wolf. The others followed in precise formation, their tactical gear dissolving into shadow—because apparently supernatural clothing was a thing—as fur replaced Kevlar.

“The gear is specially enchanted,” Caleb explained, noticing my confusion. “Expensive, but better than having to replace uniforms every time.”

“Of course it is,” I said. “Because regular workout clothes would be too normal.”

Each wolf was unique—different colors, markings, sizes—but they moved as one unit, coordinated in a way that spoke of years of training. It was beautiful and terrifying.

“Ready?” Marcus asked Derek, who had stepped back from the window .

I turned, unable to look away as Derek stripped off his shirt with military efficiency.

The transformation started slowly, like ripples across water.

His muscles shifted and flowed beneath skin that seemed to shimmer in the afternoon light.

Dark fur sprouted along his spine first, spreading outward in a wave that made my breath catch.

His bones reformed with a grace that seemed impossible for something so profound, power radiating from him in almost visible waves.

Unlike his team below, Derek’s shift was…

mesmerizing. Where they had changed quickly, efficiently, Derek’s transformation seemed more controlled, deliberate.

Each stage was distinct, beautiful in its raw power.

Maybe he was showing off, or maybe this was just how an alpha shifted.

Either way, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

When it was done, a massive wolf stood before me, easily larger than any of the ones below.

Steel-gray fur with darker markings caught the light, and his eyes were pure amber now, fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin tingle.

He moved with lethal grace as he padded closer, power contained but never diminished.

“Show-off,” Caleb murmured, but I barely heard him.

I reached out without thinking, then caught myself. “Can I…?”

Derek nudged my hand with his muzzle in clear permission. His fur was impossibly soft, and I could feel the barely contained power thrumming beneath my fingers. This close, he was easily as tall as my chest, and I had a feeling he was holding himself back from his full size.

“He’s preening,” Marcus observed dryly.

Derek made a sound that was definitely a growl, but he pressed closer when I scratched behind his ears.

“Completely undignified,” Caleb agreed. “Though you should see him when?— ”

Whatever he was about to say was cut off by Derek’s warning snarl.

“Now, children,” Maria called from her corner. “Play nice or no more snacks.”

Below, Johnson’s team had started their drills—complex maneuvers that looked like a deadly dance. Wolves moved in perfect synchronization, their power contained but never diminished.

“They train like this three times a week,” Marcus explained, coming to stand beside me. “Maintaining control in wolf form is crucial.”

Derek’s fur brushed my leg as he joined us, a warm presence that somehow made me feel both safer and more nervous.

“It’s beautiful,” I admitted, watching the wolves below move through another formation. “Terrifying, but beautiful.”

“Wait until you see your wolf form,” Caleb said confidently. “You’ll be gorgeous.”

I tensed slightly. “If I can even shift.”

Three distinct growls—one wolf, two human—made me jump.

“You will,” Marcus said with absolute certainty. “Your body’s already preparing for it.”

“Yeah, about that.” I turned to face them, trying to ignore how Derek’s wolf form was practically plastered to my side now. “Are we going to talk about the whole ‘glowing skin’ thing? Because I’m pretty sure that’s not normal, even for quarter-wolves.”

The brothers exchanged one of their looks—impressive considering one of them was currently furry.

“Dr. White has some theories,” Marcus began carefully.

“About why I’m starting to light up like a supernatural beacon?”

Derek made a sound that might have been a wolf laugh.

“Your heritage is… unique,” Marcus continued diplomatically. “The Firs t Pack bloodline manifests differently in everyone.”

“Right,” I drawled. “So I’m just special. Nothing to worry about. Totally normal to start glowing like a supernatural night-light.”

Derek nudged my hand again, clearly demanding more attention. It was surprisingly effective at derailing my minor panic attack.

“Subtle,” Caleb commented.

Derek’s tail may or may not have “accidentally” whacked his brother’s leg.

Below, Johnson’s team shifted into a new formation, their movements precise despite their massive size. It was like watching a deadly ballet, if ballet involved wolves the size of small horses executing military maneuvers.

Derek’s ears pricked forward, his body tensing with obvious interest. He glanced at me, then at the training ground, clearly torn.

“Go.” I laughed, giving his fur one last stroke. “Show me what an alpha can do.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. Derek launched himself from the observation deck with predatory grace, landing among his team like a shadow given form. The other wolves immediately adjusted their formation, making space for their commander.

“Now the real show begins.” Caleb grinned, already shrugging off his shirt. “Can’t let Derek have all the fun.”

“We do need to maintain our training,” Marcus agreed, his voice dropping to that dangerous purr as he stripped off his own shirt with elegant efficiency. “For security purposes, of course.”

“Of course,” I echoed faintly, suddenly very grateful for the observation deck’s reinforced glass as I had something to lean against. “Purely professional.”

Their transformations were as distinct as their personalities.

Where Derek’s had been controlled power, Caleb’s shift was something else entirely.

His change started with a playful shimmer across his skin, like sunlight dancing on water.

Golden-brown fur rippled outward in fluid waves, each movement graceful and light.

His transformation was almost mesmerizing in its beauty—less about raw power and more about pure, natural elegance.

When it finished, his wolf form was sleek and agile, built for speed rather than brute force, with fur that caught the light like burnished gold.