Page 46 of Marked by Alphas 2: Claimed (The Blood Moon Chronicle #2)

To my dismay, they headed straight for us. Shadow let out a low warning growl, though it lacked the genuine hostility I’d heard him direct at others. Storm and Scout remained alert but didn’t rise, which was interesting considering how protective they usually were .

“Luke,” Xander greeted, his formal tone belied by the heat in his eyes. “I see the fates continue to align in our favor.”

“Or you’re just predictable,” Luke replied, but I noticed his breath catch slightly. The tension between them crackled despite the formal setting.

“Mrs. Kim,” James acknowledged with a respectful bow that seemed genuine. “Your presence adds weight to these proceedings.”

Min-seo studied the three brothers, her prayer beads clicking softly. “Some things change,” she observed cryptically, “some remain same. But all things happen for reason, yes?”

Liam positioned himself with careful precision—close enough to Luke to make his interest clear, but far enough to maintain ceremony. “The energy here is… fascinating,” he murmured, his eyes flickering between the ancient stones and Luke. “Rather like certain encounters at the Harvest Festival.”

Luke’s heartbeat stuttered at that reference, and I wondered exactly what had happened at the festival that made both parties so… aware of each other.

“And this must be the famous Kai,” Xander noted, his attention shifting to me with analytical interest. “First Pack blood. How extraordinary.”

I growled softly, more from instinct than actual threat.

“Spirited,” James observed, his voice a rough purr that somehow managed to be both threatening and sensual. “I can see why the Stones keep him so… close.”

“These seats are reserved,” Johnson interrupted, stepping forward with two other members of Derek’s team. “I’ll have to ask you to move along.”

“This is neutral ground during a formal duel,” Liam pointed out, his tone pleasant but firm. “Tradition dictates we may sit where we please.” Without waiting for a response, he settled more comfortably beside Luke. “Besides, we merely wish to observe the proceedings from the best vantage point. ”

“And what vantage point would that be?” Marcus’ voice cut through the tension as he approached, flanked by Derek and Caleb. “The one directly beside my mate and his friend?”

“Alpha Stone,” Xander acknowledged with a slight incline of his head that managed to be both respectful and dismissive simultaneously. “Surely you wouldn’t violate sacred ground protocols over seating arrangements?”

“I’d violate a lot more than protocols if you don’t back away from my mate,” Derek growled, his hand resting casually on his sidearm.

“Now, now,” Liam smiled, though his eyes had taken on a dangerous glint. “Let’s all be civilized. The duel hasn’t even begun yet.”

“And it won’t begin with you three sitting here,” Caleb stated flatly.

The standoff might have escalated further if Elder Grey hadn’t approached, her silver cane tapping sharply against the ground.

“Enough,” she commanded, her voice carrying the weight of decades of authority. “The Blackwoods are correct about protocol. They may sit where they choose.” She fixed Xander with a stern glare. “However, tradition also dictates that visiting alphas show appropriate respect to the host pack’s mate.”

“We intended no disrespect,” Xander replied smoothly. “Merely curiosity about such a… unique individual.”

“Your curiosity is noted,” Marcus said coldly. “Touch him, and it will be the last thing you do.”

“Such dramatics.” Xander sighed, but he did take a step back. “We’ll observe from here, then.” He gestured to a spot several feet away—close enough to watch but far enough to somewhat appease the Stone brothers.

“Fine,” Marcus bit out, clearly unhappy but unwilling to create a scene before the duel. “Johnson, keep your team close. ”

“Yes, sir,” Johnson nodded, positioning his men strategically around us.

As the brothers returned to the stone circle, Luke let out a breath. “Well, that was intense.”

“Aigoo,” Imo said, clutching her prayer beads tighter. “Too many wolves, too much power.”

Luke was still watching where the Blackwood brothers had gone, and I couldn’t blame him. The tension between them had been electric, reminding me of my early encounters with Marcus, Derek, and Caleb.

“Alpha Knox approaches,” the same formal voice announced, and a group of rough-looking wolves entered from the opposite side of the clearing.

My body went rigid as memories flooded back—that night on the dark road, being surrounded by men who turned into monsters, the terror of running through the woods.

These were the same wolves who had attacked me, though I hadn’t recognized them at the time.

Their leader, Richard Knox, was exactly as I remembered—a barrel-chested man with a perpetual sneer and hands the size of dinner plates.

He stalked forward like someone used to intimidating others by his mere presence, but now, instead of fear, I felt only disgust.

“Alpha Knox,” Elder Grey acknowledged from her position at the edge of the stone circle. “You come to answer the challenge of Alpha Stone?”

“I do,” Knox growled, his gaze flickering to where I sat on Luke’s lap. His expression changed then, in a way I couldn’t quite interpret—a mixture of hunger, fear, and something that looked almost like… reverence?

One by one, the other Knox wolves reacted the same way when they spotted me. Their aggressive postures softened, their eyes widened, and several actually took involuntary steps in my direction before their alpha’s growl pulled them back into formation .

“What’s happening?” Luke whispered, noticing the strange reaction.

“They sense his bloodline,” Xander murmured from where he now stood, several feet away but still close enough to comment. “First Pack blood calls to all wolves, especially those of lesser lineage. They can’t help but respond.”

“They sense both bloodlines now,” Imo said quietly, her hand still protective on my back.

Both bloodlines. The mystery of my mother’s heritage, still unexplained but apparently obvious to everyone but me. Typical. I was the last to know everything about my own damn body.

“The challenge has been issued and accepted,” Elder Grey announced, her voice carrying across the clearing. “Alpha Stone claims territory violation and attempted mate theft. Alpha Knox disputes these claims. Let the truth be determined by ancient law and combat.”

The moment Elder Grey said “combat,” my tiny wolf heart nearly stopped. Full pack combat? Twenty against three? Even with my limited understanding of supernatural mathematics, those odds seemed slightly problematic.

“As the challenged pack, Knox will choose the form of combat,” Elder Grey continued.

“Full pack,” Knox declared without hesitation, a nasty smile spreading across his face. “Wolf form. To submission.”

Oh, fantastic. Not just a fight, but a full-on wolf battle royale. From my position on Luke’s lap, I could practically taste the testosterone in the air. The Knox Pack members were already sizing up my mates, smirking like they’d just won the supernatural lottery.

“He can’t be serious,” Luke hissed. “That’s not a fair fight!”

“It’s not meant to be,” Liam commented from nearby, sounding almost bored. “It’s meant to be a slaughter.”

My stomach dropped. Even in my tiny wolf form, I could see the raw numbers advantage. Twenty massive wolves against my three mates? I’d only just found them—I wasn’t ready to watch them get torn apart in some ancient ritual combat that probably predated indoor plumbing.

“We accept,” Marcus replied, his voice calm and cold as winter. “Full pack. Wolf form. To submission.”

We accept? WE ACCEPT?! Was he insane? I tried to growl my objection, but it came out as a pathetic little yip that only made Luke hold me tighter.

“So be it. Combatants, prepare yourselves,” Elder Grey announced.

What happened next was both terrifying and—I’m slightly ashamed to admit—ridiculously hot.

The Stone brothers stripped with military efficiency, their movements synchronized as if they’d done this a thousand times before.

In any other context, watching three gorgeous men undress in perfect unison would have been the highlight of my year.

Under these circumstances, it was more like watching someone prepare for their own funeral.

The Knox Pack followed suit, though with considerably less grace—more like a locker room full of frat boys than a ceremonial disrobing.

Twenty beefy men, all with that same predatory look that had made my skin crawl.

Great. I was about to watch my mates get murdered by the supernatural equivalent of a football team with anger issues.

And then the shifting began.

The Knox wolves transformed first, their changes quick and brutal—bones cracking, muscles reforming, fur erupting from skin in a wave of barely controlled violence. They were massive, each one looking like it could take down a moose single-handedly. Twenty of them. Twenty. Against three.

Then my mates shifted, and holy supernatural hotness.

Marcus’ transformation was like watching darkness take physical form—his body flowing seamlessly into his black wolf shape, crimson eyes blazing with lethal intent.

Derek’s shift was contro lled power personified, steel-gray fur rippling over muscles built for battle.

And Caleb, my playful Caleb, transformed with fluid grace into a golden-brown wolf that looked like speed and danger given physical form.

Standing together, the three of them looked impossibly outnumbered. But there was something about their stance, about the way they positioned themselves back-to-back-to-back, that made me think the Knox Pack might have just made a terrible mistake.

“Begin,” Elder Grey commanded.