Page 20 of Marked by Alphas 2: Claimed (The Blood Moon Chronicle #2)

The change started with Marcus, because of course it did.

His black fur seemed to melt away like ink dissolving in water, revealing bronzed skin and powerful muscles.

The transformation was somehow both elegant and devastating, each stage a display of controlled power that made my breath catch.

When it finished, he stood waist-deep in the lake, water droplets tracing paths down his chest like they were worshipping every perfect line.

Derek’s shift was next, his steel-gray fur rippling away in a controlled wave that showcased every inch of his warrior’s build.

His transformation spoke of contained strength, each movement precise and deliberate.

The water barely stirred around him, like even the lake knew better than to disturb his change.

Caleb’s transformation was pure grace, his golden-brown fur shimmering away like sunlight dancing on water. His shift was faster, more fluid, revealing lean muscle and golden skin that seemed to glow in the late afternoon light.

Three very naked, very wet alpha werewolves surrounded me, their eyes conveying something that made my skin tingle with awareness. Derek’s steel-gray gaze burned with barely contained heat, Caleb’s electric blue sparkled with mischief and desire, and Marcus… Marcus’ eyes were pure crimson fire.

“Oh,” I breathed, heat flooding my face as I belatedly rememb ered I was also half-naked. “That’s… that’s really not fair.”

Marcus moved first, closing the distance between us.

Water rippled around his powerful form as he approached, and I began to back up, until I hit Derek’s solid chest. Marcus’ hand cupped my jaw, tilting my face up as water lapped around our bodies.

“Life rarely is, little mate,” he murmured, then claimed my mouth with a hunger that made my toes curl.

Marcus kissed like he did everything else—with absolute authority.

His tongue swept into my mouth, hot and demanding, making my breath catch as he deepened the kiss.

My lips parted instinctively, letting him take control as our tongues tangled in a dance that had heat pooling low in my stomach.

Derek’s solid chest anchored me from behind, his skin fever-hot against my back despite the cool lake water.

Every brush of their wet skin against mine sent electricity dancing along my nerves.

“Beautiful,” Derek growled against my neck, his voice rough with need.

His teeth grazed my pulse point, making me shiver.

When Marcus finally released my mouth, my lips felt swollen and sensitive.

Derek turned my head back toward him, and I melted against his chest, using his strength to stay upright as he claimed his own kiss.

Where Marcus had been demanding, Derek was pure intensity—each stroke of his tongue making me whimper.

Water droplets traced paths down our bodies as he deepened the kiss, his hand sliding up to cup the back of my neck.

Marcus took advantage of my distraction, his mouth trailing fire down my throat.

The contrast between his hot tongue and the cool water drops had my skin tingling.

I gasped into Derek’s kiss when Marcus’ teeth grazed my collarbone, then moaned outright as his mouth moved lower.

His tongue flicked across my nipple, making it tighten into a hard peak.

My back arched involuntarily, pressing harder against Derek’s chest as Marcus’ clever mouth sent sparks of pleasure shooting through me .

“My turn,” Caleb announced, and suddenly I was being tugged away from his brothers.

His lean body pressed against mine as he backed us toward deeper water, his eyes electric blue and hungry.

Droplets clung to his long eyelashes, and his usual playful smile had turned predatory. “They’ve had you long enough.”

“Caleb,” I started to protest, but his mouth caught mine before I could finish.

He kissed like he fought—quick, graceful, and devastatingly effective.

His tongue teased along my bottom lip before diving deep, drawing a moan from me that the water couldn’t muffle.

His hands slid down my back, pulling me closer until every inch of our wet skin pressed together.

The lake swirled around us, making everything slick and heated and desperate.

A low growl from Marcus reminded me we weren’t alone, but Caleb just smiled against my lips, his teeth catching my bottom lip in a playful nip. “They’ll have to catch us first.”

Caleb spun us deeper into the lake, his movements as fluid as the water around us.

My body was already hypersensitive from Marcus and Derek’s attention, and every brush of Caleb’s wet skin against mine sent new sparks of pleasure racing through me.

He kept stealing quick, heated kisses as we moved, each one making me forget why we were supposed to be escaping.

A deep growl behind us sent shivers down my spine.

I glanced back to see Marcus and Derek cutting through the water with predatory grace, their powerful bodies moving with intent that made my mouth go dry.

Water streamed down their chests, highlighting every perfect muscle, and their eyes…

their eyes promised delicious retribution.

“Oh God,” I breathed as Caleb’s teeth found my earlobe. His tongue traced the shell of my ear, making me shudder.

“They look good when they hunt, don’t they?” he murmured agains t my ear, his hands sliding down to my hips. “But you look even better being hunted.”

Before I could process that statement, Marcus caught up to us.

His arm wrapped around my waist from behind, pulling me against his chest while Caleb’s mouth found mine again.

I was trapped between them, Marcus’ solid heat at my back while Caleb pressed against my front.

The water made everything slick and heated, and when Derek joined us, boxing me in completely, I thought I might combust on the spot.

“Teasing little mate,” Marcus growled, his mouth finding that sensitive spot below my ear that made my knees weak.

His tongue traced patterns on my wet skin while Caleb’s kisses grew deeper, more demanding.

Derek’s hands slid over my ribs, thumbs brushing just under my nipples in a way that had me arching and gasping into Caleb’s mouth.

“Please,” I whimpered, though I wasn’t sure what I was begging for. My body felt like it was on fire despite the cool water, every touch sending new waves of pleasure coursing through me. When Derek’s thumb finally brushed across my nipple, the jolt of sensation had me crying out.

“So responsive,” Derek murmured, his voice rough. “Every little touch makes you shake.” As if to prove his point, he rolled my nipple between his fingers while Marcus sucked hard at my neck, marking me.

Caleb swallowed my moans with another kiss, his tongue tangling with mine as his hands slid lower, tracing patterns on my hip bones that made me squirm. I was drowning in sensation, surrounded by three powerful alphas who seemed determined to drive me crazy.

A particularly sharp nip from Marcus had me gasping, breaking away from Caleb’s kiss. “We… we should…” I tried to form coherent thoughts, but Derek chose that moment to pinch both nipples while Caleb’s hands tightened on my hips .

“Should what, little mate?” Marcus purred against my neck, his voice dark with promise. “Stop?”

“Don’t you dare,” I managed, reaching back to tangle my fingers in his wet hair. The action pressed me harder against him, and the growl that rumbled through his chest sent new shivers racing down my spine.

“Dangerous words,” Caleb warned, but his smile was wicked as he leaned in to trace my collarbone with his tongue. “Very dangerous words.”

Marcus’ grip tightened, his control visibly slipping. “Kai,” he warned, voice rough. “We can’t…”

“Then don’t stop,” I challenged, feeling reckless and desperate. I rolled my hips back against him, drawing a sound that was more wolf than human. Derek’s fingers tightened on my nipples in response, the sharp pleasure-pain making me gasp.

“Baby wants to play,” Caleb murmured against my throat, his usual playfulness replaced with something darker, hungrier. “Even though he knows we can’t claim him yet. Not until his wolf awakens fully.”

A wave of pure need crashed through me at his words, making my body arch helplessly between them. Derek’s mouth found my other nipple, his tongue circling the sensitive peak while Marcus’ teeth scraped along my shoulder. Every touch felt amplified, like my skin was too sensitive, too reactive.

“Please,” I begged again, even knowing it was futile. My fingers tightened in Marcus’ hair while my other hand gripped Caleb’s shoulder for support. The cool lake water did nothing to soothe the fire building under my skin.

Marcus growled, the sound vibrating through my back. “You know we can’t. Not yet. Not until?—”

“Until I can shift, until I can tap into my power fully, until the stars align and Mercury isn’t in retrograde,” I finished for him, frustration clear in my voice. “I know. But you three keep… keep doi ng this. Getting me all worked up when you know we can’t…”

“Can’t help ourselves,” Derek’s voice was strained as he lifted his head, his eyes molten silver. “Your scent, your reactions… you drive us crazy, little mate.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” I said, then gasped as Caleb’s teeth found my pulse point. “And you three are definitely not helping by—oh God—doing that when you know we have to stop.”

“Maybe we like seeing you like this,” Caleb murmured against my skin. “All desperate and needy for us.”

“Cruel,” I accused, even as my body betrayed me by arching into their touches. “You’re all cruel, terrible wolves.”

A howl echoed through the trees—Derek’s security team, probably reporting something that needed attention. The sound broke through the heated haze, reminding us we were very much in the open.

“I hate everything,” I announced as they slowly pulled away, my body practically screaming in protest. “This is torture. You know that, right? Actual torture. And you three are doing it on purpose.”

Caleb’s laugh was slightly strained. “Guilty as charged, baby.”

“Can’t resist teasing you,” Derek added, his eyes still silver-bright with need.

“Even though we know we should,” Marcus confirmed, though he managed to sound slightly more controlled than his brothers. “We should head back. Before this gets even more out of hand.”

I watched them shift back to wolf form, their transformations slightly less graceful than usual—probably due to their… distracted state. As Marcus lowered himself for me to climb onto his back, I made a silent promise to myself.

They wanted to torture me with almost-moments and heated touches, knowing full well we couldn’t go further yet? Fine. Two could play that game. And I was pretty sure I knew exactly how to drive three alphas completely crazy.

“Just wait,” I muttered, settling onto Marcus’ back. “You think you can tease me without consequences? You have no idea what you’re in for.”

The wolves exchanged glances that might have been worried, but it was too late. They’d created this little monster, and now they’d have to deal with the consequences.

Game on.