Page 64 of Marked by Alphas 2: Claimed (The Blood Moon Chronicle #2)

Marcus, always the strategist, was already planning their revenge even as his wolf howled for immediate action.

He would let Kai think he’d won, let him believe he’d escaped punishment—and then, when their mate least expected it, they would remind him exactly whom he belonged to.

The anticipation of it was almost as sweet as the claiming would be.

For a moment, Kai just stood there, letting the water wash over him as he caught his breath, his legs trembling slightly.

When he finally looked up, all three brothers were pressed against the glass, their supernatural eyes glowing through the fog of condensation, their bodies visibly straining with the effort of control.

“That,” Kai said once he could speak again, “is how it feels to be left wanting. Not fun, is it?”

“Kai,” Marcus’ voice was barely recognizable, a rough growl that seemed torn from his throat. “Let us out. Now.”

His alpha command reverberated through the room, a sound that would have sent any other wolf to their knees.

But Kai merely smiled, stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel.

He dried off with deliberate slowness, making sure they could see every movement, every swipe of the towel across his skin a fresh torment to the trapped wolves.

Derek’s enhanced vision caught every detail—the way Kai’s muscles flexed as he moved, the lingering flush on his skin, the marks they’d left earlier still visible on his neck.

His wolf recognized those marks as the beginning of a proper claiming, interrupted and incomplete.

The need to finish what they’d started clawed at him, physical and overwhelming.

“When we get out of here,” Derek promised, his voice a dangerous rumble, “you’re going to pay for this.”

The words weren’t a threat but a promise—a preview of the pleasure-punishment that awaited their clever mate.

Through their bond, the brothers shared visions of exactly how they would make good on that promise—Kai beneath them, between them, around them, claimed in every way possible until he couldn’t remember his own name, let alone his clever revenge.

“Looking forward to it,” Kai said with a wink, wrapping the towel around his waist. “But first, we have a dinner to get throug h. And I plan to make every minute of it absolute torture for you three.”

Caleb’s wolf snarled at the challenge, recognizing the gauntlet being thrown down. His mate was challenging their dominance, their control, their very claim—and while part of him thrilled at Kai’s boldness, a deeper, more primal part demanded they answer that challenge immediately and definitively.

He’s going to make us wait through dinner . Caleb’s thought was incredulous. After this.

He’s testing us , Marcus replied, his alpha nature recognizing the power play for what it was. Testing our claim.

Then we’ll show him exactly how strong that claim is , Derek concluded, his military mind already formulating a strategy for their counterattack.

As Kai gathered his clothes and moved toward the door, the brothers exchanged glances, their bond humming with shared purpose, their wolves in perfect alignment for perhaps the first time since they’d discovered their mate.

Now? Derek asked, his control hanging by a thread.

Now , Marcus confirmed, his own restraint shattered beyond repair.

With a synchronized surge of supernatural strength, all three wolves slammed against the glass wall. The specially treated material, designed to withstand even alpha strength, groaned under the combined force of three alphas driven beyond reason by their mate’s display.

The sound of Kai’s laughter faded down the hallway as the brothers made one final push. The glass shattered with a spectacular crash, shards flying in all directions as they burst free from their prison, their wolves howling in triumph at the destruction.

Free from their glass cage, their wolves surged closer to the surface, senses heightened to track their fleeing mate.

Derek inhale d deeply, filtering through the scents of the manor until he isolated Kai’s unique signature—that intoxicating blend of dragon fire and wolf musk that marked him as theirs.

He’s heading for his room , Caleb reported, already moving toward the door, his body shifting to a predatory crouch without conscious thought.

With Luke , Derek added, his military training allowing him to track multiple targets even through the haze of desire clouding his thoughts.

Perfect , Marcus thought, a predatory smile curving his lips as they pursued their clever mate. An audience for what comes next.

They moved through the manor like the apex predators they were, glass dust sparkling in their hair, steam practically rising from their skin as they followed Kai’s scent. Their wolves were in full agreement—dinner with the Rivera Pack would happen as scheduled, but afterward…

Afterward, their little mate would learn exactly what happened when you teased three alpha wolves to breaking point. When you challenged their claim, their control, their dominance. When you made them watch but not touch, see but not take, want but not have.

Game on, indeed.