Page 52 of Marked by Alphas 2: Claimed (The Blood Moon Chronicle #2)

“The Blackwoods did attack that night,” Elder Redwood clarified, nodding toward the three brothers at the end of the table.

“But th ey were not acting entirely of their own volition. The Blood Moon Coven had been influencing Lord Edmund for years, whispering to him, heightening his obsession with bloodline purity.”

“Our father was the perfect target,” Xander said grimly. “His obsession with pure bloodlines, his fear of weakness in our pack—the Coven used it all.”

“The Coven doesn’t manipulate through direct control,” Elder Grey explained, nodding at Xander’s understanding. “It feeds on conflict, on violence between supernatural beings. It enhances what’s already there—pride, fear, hatred. Your father’s fixation made him the perfect conduit.”

“We’ve seen evidence of this influence,” Liam added, his scholarly interest momentarily overriding the tension between their families.

“Ancient texts in our library describe similar patterns throughout history—supernatural conflicts that seemed disproportionate, blood feuds that erupted suddenly and violently.”

“And our parents?” Marcus asked, the question that had haunted him for nine years. “Were they truly killed by the Blackwoods?”

The elders exchanged glances again, a silent communication that spoke volumes.

“Some were killed by the Blackwoods, yes,” Elder Grey finally admitted, her voice softening slightly. “The Coven had already weakened your parents, feeding on their life force during the battle. By the time Edmund’s forces reached them, they were already drained, vulnerable.”

“The Coven, it weakened its target and fed on the chaos it created,” Elder Redwood said grimly.

“Your grandmother,” Elder Grey said. “She sacrificed herself performing the banishing ritual, trying to stop the true threat before it could consume everyone.”

“At the cost of her own life,” Caleb said .

“A willing sacrifice,” Elder Standing Bear confirmed. “Your grandmother was a powerful seer. She knew what was at stake. She saw what Kai would become.”

“The twice-blessed child,” Liam murmured, leaning forward with undisguised fascination. “Dragon and wolf. No wonder the Coven wanted him.”

“Wanted?” Derek’s voice carried a dangerous edge. “Past tense?”

“Wants,” Elder Black Hawk corrected grimly. “Still wants. The binding ritual at the stone circle was temporary. The Coven will return, and when it does, it will be stronger, more determined.”

“Which is why we’re here,” Xander said, rising from his seat. “Our families have been enemies for generations, but this threat is greater than our feud. The Coven cannot be allowed to claim Kai.”

“On that, at least, we agree,” Marcus said, studying the Blackwood brothers with new eyes. “But why the sudden alliance? Your father tried to take Kai by force nine years ago.”

“Our father is not well,” James said after a moment’s hesitation. “The Coven’s influence damaged him in ways we’re only beginning to understand. He’s become… unstable.”

“The continued exposure to the Coven’s energy has corrupted his mind,” Liam elaborated, his scholarly detachment slipping to reveal genuine concern. “He’s become obsessed with bloodline purity to the point of madness.”

“And you three?” Derek asked, his tactical mind already calculating potential threats and alliances. “Where do you stand in all this?”

“Against our father,” Xander replied simply. “Against the old ways that nearly destroyed our pack. Against the Coven that used us as pawns.”

“We’ve been working to reform our pack from within,” Liam explained, gesturing to a stack of journals he’d brought with him. “Researching mixed bloodlines, documenting the strengthening effects rather than the weakening our father fears.”

“Kai is proof of what we’ve suspected,” James added. “Mixed blood isn’t weaker—it’s potentially stronger, more adaptable. The dragon blood combined with First Pack wolf lineage creates something unique.”

“Something the Coven fears,” Elder Grey interjected. “Which is precisely why they tried to consume him before he could awaken to his full potential.”

Marcus absorbed this information in silence, his alpha instincts weighing the sincerity of the Blackwoods’ words against the history between their families. Something didn’t quite add up.

“If you’re so interested in reform,” he said finally, “why have you been watching Kai since his return? Why send Victoria to the bookstore?”

The Blackwood brothers exchanged glances.

“We suspected what he might be,” Xander admitted. “There are ancient texts in our library about the Imperial Dragon bloodline. When we heard rumors of a quarter-wolf with unusual energy patterns returning to Cedar Grove, we wanted to confirm our theories.”

“Victoria was not sent by us,” Liam clarified. “She reports directly to our father. Her interest in Kai is… concerning.”

“She believes, as our father does, that Kai represents a threat to pure bloodlines,” James explained. “She doesn’t know about the Coven or its influence.”

“So we have multiple threats,” Derek summarized, his military mind already strategizing. “The Coven, which will return. The Crimson Serpent Society, which hunts dragon bloodlines. And potentially, Victoria and those loyal to your father.”

“Don’t forget the White Tiger Clan,” Caleb added. “Though they claim to serve Kai, their sudden appearance is suspicious.”

“The Tigers are legitimate protectors of the Imperial Dragon bloodl ine,” Elder Standing Bear assured them. “They’ve been searching for Sarah Chen’s child since her death. They can be trusted—to a point.”

“My contacts in the supernatural community confirm this,” Elder Rivers added. “The White Tiger Clan has served the Imperial Dragon family for centuries. Their loyalty is to Kai’s maternal bloodline, not to any pack politics.”

“Which is precisely why Tía Maria is treating them like visiting royalty,” Caleb said. “She thinks Kai is some kind of dragon prince.”

“In a sense, he is,” Elder Black Hawk said, his weathered face serious. “The Imperial Dragon bloodline is ancient and powerful. In the supernatural hierarchy, it ranks among the oldest and most respected lineages.”

“Great.” Derek sighed. “So our mate is not only a quarter-wolf with First Pack blood, but also supernatural royalty. Any other surprises we should know about?”

The elders exchanged another of those meaningful glances that made Marcus’ hackles rise.

“What aren’t you telling us?” he demanded, his alpha power filling the room.

Elder Grey sighed, her fingers tightening around her silver cane. “The prophecy. The one your grandmother saw in her final moments. It speaks of the twice-blessed child as both savior and destroyer—depending on which path he chooses.”

“What prophecy?” Caleb asked, his voice sharp with concern. “What exactly did Grandmother see?”

“We don’t know the full extent of her vision,” Elder Redwood admitted. “Only that she insisted on the pre-marking as protection—not just from the Blackwoods, but from the Coven’s influence.”

“The ancient texts in our library mention a similar prophecy,” Liam offered, flipping through one of his journals. “A child of two ancient bloodlines, marked by both darkness and light, who wo uld either bring balance to the supernatural world or tip it into chaos.”

“How comforting,” Derek said.

“And what about Kai?” Marcus asked, the question that mattered most to him. “What happens when he wakes up? He didn’t ask for any of this—the marking, the wolf blood, the dragon heritage. We’ve already taken so much choice from him.”

Elder Grey’s expression softened. “The choice was made nine years ago, when your grandmother saw what was coming. The pre-marking saved his life, protected him from the Coven’s influence all these years. Without it, he would have been claimed long ago.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Marcus pressed. “What happens now?”

“Now,” Xander said, “he needs to be trained. Both aspects of his heritage must be developed if he’s to have any chance against the Coven when it returns.”

“The wolf aspect is your domain,” Liam added. “But the dragon blood requires different expertise. The White Tiger Clan can help with that.”

“And us?” James gestured to himself and his brothers. “We have resources, knowledge from our archives that could prove useful. An alliance would benefit everyone.”

“What you’re proposing isn’t just an alliance,” Elder Rivers observed, his diplomatic instincts clearly engaged. “It’s a fundamental shift in pack politics. The Stones and Blackwoods working together after generations of enmity? The implications are far-reaching.”

“Perhaps that’s exactly what’s needed,” Elder Standing Bear said thoughtfully. “The old ways have not prepared us for threats like the Coven. New alliances, new strategies may be our only hope.”

Marcus exchanged glances with his brothers, their pack bond allowing them to communicate without words. Derek’s tactical assess ment, Caleb’s intuitive read on the Blackwoods’ sincerity, their shared concern for Kai—all flowed between them in an instant.

“We’ll consider your offer,” Marcus said finally. “But understand this—Kai’s well-being comes first. His choices, his comfort, his safety. If he doesn’t want your help, you’ll respect that.”

“Fair enough,” Xander conceded with a slight nod. “Though time may be a luxury none of us have.”

“The Coven was significantly weakened by the binding ritual,” Elder Grey reminded them. “It will take time for it to regain its strength. How much time, we cannot say.”

“And the Crimson Serpent Society?” Derek asked. “What do we know about them?”

“They’re human practitioners of blood magic,” Elder Black Hawk explained. “They’ve hunted dragon bloodlines for centuries, believing that consuming dragon blood grants them power.”

“Which, unfortunately, is true,” Liam added. “Dragon blood does enhance magical abilities in humans. The Serpents are dangerous precisely because they’re willing to kill for that power.”

“So we’re facing ancient evil fog monsters AND human blood mages,” Caleb summarized. “Wonderful.”

“Don’t forget Victoria and Lord Edmund’s loyalists,” James reminded them. “Our father may be unstable, but he still commands significant resources and respect within certain circles.”

“A three-front war,” Derek said, his military mind already calculating strategies and contingencies. “Against enemies with very different strengths and weaknesses.”

“Four, if you count the Knox Pack,” Caleb added, though his tone suggested he found their new devotion to Kai more amusing than threatening .

“The Knox Pack has pledged themselves to Kai’s protection,” Elder Rivers pointed out. “They could be valuable allies, if properly managed.”

“So could the White Tiger Clan,” Elder Standing Bear added. “Their knowledge of dragon bloodlines and defensive magic would be invaluable against both the Coven and the Serpent Society.”

“We’re talking about a complete restructuring of supernatural alliances,” Marcus realized, the implications hitting him fully. “With Kai at the center.”

“Precisely,” Elder Grey confirmed. “The twice-blessed child has the potential to unite disparate supernatural factions—or to divide them further. Much depends on how he chooses to embrace his dual heritage.”

“And how we choose to support him in that process,” Elder Redwood added, his gaze fixed on the Stone brothers. “Your influence on him cannot be overstated.”

The great hall doors opened, and Luke stood there. “He’s awake,” he announced.

The council members rose as one, the gravity of the moment not lost on any of them.

“Go,” Elder Grey urged. “We will continue this discussion later.”

Marcus didn’t need to be told twice. He was already moving toward the door, Derek and Caleb close behind him.

“Is he alright?” Marcus demanded as they followed Luke through the corridors.

“Physically, yes,” Luke replied, his pace quickening. “Mentally… he’s a bit overwhelmed.”

“Understandable,” Derek said grimly. “Finding out you’re part dragon and the target of ancient evil would overwhelm anyone.”

They reached the medical wing, and Marcus took a deep breath to center himself before pushing open the door. Nothin g could have prepared him for the sight that greeted them.

Kai sat propped up against pillows, looking smaller and more vulnerable than Marcus had ever seen him.

“Kai,” Marcus breathed, relief washing over him in a wave so powerful it nearly brought him to his knees.

Kai looked up, those extraordinary eyes widening as they took in all three brothers. “Hey,” he said, his voice slightly raspy. “So… apparently I’m part dragon. That’s new.”

The simple, quintessentially Kai response—understated humor in the face of life-altering revelations—broke the tension. Caleb was the first to move, crossing the room in three long strides and pulling Kai into a careful embrace.

“You scared us,” he murmured against Kai’s hair. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Which part?” Kai asked, his voice muffled against Caleb’s chest. “The turning into a dragon thing or the passing out for two days thing?”

“Both,” Derek said firmly, joining them by the bed. “All of it.”

Marcus approached more slowly, drinking in the sight of Kai awake and talking, the sound of his voice a balm to the fear that had gripped him for the past two days. When he finally reached the bed, he took Kai’s hand in his.

“How do you feel?” he asked, the question inadequate but necessary.

“Like I’ve been hit by a supernatural truck,” Kai replied honestly. “Everything hurts, I have memories that don’t feel like mine, and apparently, I have fan clubs camping on your property. So, you know, just another day in Cedar Grove.”

Despite everything, Marcus felt his lips twitch into a smile. This was their Kai—snarky, resilient, facing the impossible with dry humor and unexpected courage.

“We have a lot to talk about,” he said gently.