Marked (Marked by Alphas #1)

Chapter 24

T hree enormous wolves crashed into the clearing—one pitch-black with crimson eyes, one golden-brown, and one dark gray. They were larger than the other wolves, more powerful, and radiated pure fury. Even in wolf form, I knew them instantly. Because of course the universe wasn’t done messing with me.

“Really?” I wheezed, dodging another attack while my brain tried to process this new reality. “The three gorgeous men I’ve been fantasizing about are shifters? Luke is never going to let me live this down. ‘Be careful of hot guys in small towns,’ he said. ‘They’re either serial killers or supernatural creatures.’ Turns out it’s both!”

The black wolf—Marcus, it had to be Marcus—launched himself at the alpha who’d been trying to claim me. Their collision shook the ground. Derek’s gray wolf form tore through the pack’s left flank while Caleb’s golden-brown wolf darted around with devastating speed, picking off stragglers.

But the other wolves had numbers on their side. While the brothers fought the main group, two broke away, charging at me with snapping jaws. I grabbed a thicker branch, wielding it like a staff.

“Bad dogs,” I snarled, that strange new power still singing in my veins. “No treats for you.”

I caught one across the muzzle, spinning to slam the branch into the other’s ribs. The wood cracked from the impact, but so did something in the wolf. It yelped, stumbling back.

“Ha!” I couldn’t help the slightly manic laugh. “Look at me now, Luke! Taking down supernatural creatures with a stick. Bet that wasn’t in your risk assessment spreadsheet!”

More howls split the night—familiar ones this time. Scout burst through the undergrowth, followed by Shadow and Storm. The three dogs, who suddenly looked a lot more wolflike than I remembered, joined the fray with practiced coordination.

“The family that slays together, stays together?” I quipped, backing toward a large tree as the fighting intensified. “Also, seriously? Even the dogs aren’t actually dogs? What’s next—is Maria secretly a dragon? Is Jorge a vampire? Actually, that would explain his garlic obsession…”

My rambling cut off as Marcus’ black wolf form sent the other alpha flying into a tree. The massive wolf hit with a sickening crack and crumpled. The rest of the pack faltered, their confidence wavering as their leader struggled to rise.

I should have been terrified. I should have been running. Instead, I was oddly fascinated by the deadly grace of Marcus’ black wolf, the raw power radiating from Derek’s massive form, the lethal speed of Caleb’s smaller frame. They fought like a single unit, protecting each other’s flanks, herding the enemy pack into killing zones.

“This is so messed up,” I muttered, watching Marcus pin the alpha down. “Why is this hot? This shouldn’t be hot. I need therapy. So much therapy.”

The other alpha lay broken at Marcus’ paws, his once-proud form now a bloodied mess. Around him, his pack whimpered and crawled, their arrogance shattered by the Stone brothers’ brutal efficiency. Some wouldn’t survive the journey home without immediate care—a fact that seemed to please Marcus’ massive black wolf.

“You dare touch what’s ours?” Marcus’ voice was thunder and fury, each word dripping with alpha dominance. “You dare try to claim our mate?”

The other alpha tried to rise and failed. Blood bubbled from his muzzle, bones clearly shattered beneath his matted fur. His pack’s defeat was total, humiliating—a disgrace that would echo through wolf territories for generations.

“We let you live before,” Marcus growled. “Respected the old agreements for the sake of peace. But you crossed a line tonight.” His jaws snapped inches from the alpha’s throat. “Run back to your territory while you still can. When we come for you—and we will come—pray your death is quick.”

The other wolves retreated, dragging their broken alpha and injured packmates away. Some crawled more than walked; others had to be carried. Derek’s wolf snapped at their heels while Caleb’s golden form darted around the edges, his speed adding to their panic.

As their defeated howls faded into the night, the strange power that had been fueling me suddenly vanished. My legs buckled, every bruise and injury screaming for attention. I slumped against the tree, shaking uncontrollably.

“Oh God,” I wheezed, watching the three enormous wolves pad toward me. “This is real. This is actually real.”

The air shimmered around them, their forms blurring and shifting. In seconds, three very naked, very gorgeous men stood before me. The moonlight carved shadows across their muscled forms, highlighting every perfect line and plane. My brain tried to short-circuit, but even that felt too exhausting.

“Don’t look, don’t look, don’t… okay, I’m looking,” I babbled, my voice trembling as badly as my body. “This is really happening. Shifters. You’re wolf shifters. With very impressive… everything. And I just fought off a pack of them with a stick. A stick! Like some deranged color guard routine from hell.”

“Breathe, little one,” Marcus murmured, stepping closer. His eyes still burned crimson around the edges, but his expression was infinitely gentle. Without warning, he scooped me up into his arms, cradling me against his chest like something precious.

“I can walk,” I protested weakly, even as I curled into his warmth. He felt real—so impossibly, wonderfully real. His skin burned hot against mine, his heartbeat strong and steady under my cheek.

“You’re trembling,” he growled softly, pulling me closer. His lips brushed my forehead, a gesture so tender it made my throat tight. Derek and Caleb flanked us, their hands reaching out to touch, to reassure themselves I was safe. Their warmth surrounded me, grounding me in this new reality.

“Well, yeah,” I managed through chattering teeth. “My car broke down, I got attacked by wolf shifters, discovered I have weird super-strength, and now I’m being carried by three naked men who are also shifters. I think I’m entitled to a minor breakdown. Also, is anyone else cold? Because you’re all very naked, and while I’m not complaining about the view, it’s freezing out here in the middle of the night.”

“Let’s get you home,” Marcus rumbled, his chest vibrating against my cheek. He pressed another kiss to my temple, and I felt something inside me settle at the touch.

“Home?” I asked, my voice small and uncertain. Everything I thought I knew had shattered tonight. Home seemed like such a fragile concept now.

“Home,” Derek confirmed, his hand warm on my shoulder.

“Where you belong,” Caleb added softly, fingers brushing through my hair. “Where you’ve always belonged.”

Scout, Shadow, and Storm materialized from the darkness, falling into formation around us as Marcus carried me through the moonlit forest. I should have been terrified. I should have been running screaming into the night. Instead, I melted into Marcus’ embrace, surrounded by their warmth and protection.

“We have so much to talk about,” I murmured, exhaustion dragging at my limbs. “So many questions. Like, was the sniffing really necessary? Is that a wolf thing? And please tell me someone has clothes at home because as distracting as all… this… is, I can’t have a serious conversation with three naked men. Luke would never let me hear the end of it. ‘Oh, you finally got them naked and instead of enjoying it, you asked about sniffing habits?’ He’d disown me.”

Marcus’ laugh rumbled through his chest. “Rest, little mate. All your questions will be answered soon.”

Mate. The word should have scared me. Instead, it felt right in a way nothing else had tonight.

The Stone Manor emerged from the darkness like something from a fairy tale, windows blazing with warm light. Maria burst through the front doors before we reached them, Jorge and Miguel right behind her.

“Dios mío!” Maria cried, her hands flying to her mouth.

Anna appeared in the doorway, her eyes widening at the sight of three very naked men carrying a battered boy. To her credit, she recovered quickly, though her voice shook slightly. “I’ll get the first aid kit and some blankets.”

“Smart girl,” Jorge muttered, already wrapping a blanket around Marcus’ shoulders while Miguel handled Derek and Caleb.

Maria’s hands fluttered over my bruises. “Jorge, prepare tea. Lots of tea.”

The manor’s warmth enveloped us as Marcus carried me inside, my body still trembling despite the brothers’ heat surrounding me. Without discussion, he headed for the family living room where I’d spent so many comfortable evenings with them during the past two weeks. The familiar space, with its oversized leather furniture and crackling fireplace, felt different now—every shadow holding new meaning.

Marcus settled me into my favorite armchair, the one I always claimed during movie nights. The leather was butter-soft and still held traces of warmth from the nearby fire. Derek and Caleb, now wrapped in blankets, positioned themselves on either side of my chair, their protective instincts clearly visible in every tense line of their bodies.

“Here, pequeno.” Jorge appeared with a steaming mug that smelled of spices and comfort. “My special remedy. Good for shock, better for the soul.”

My hands trembled as I accepted the mug. A soft whine drew my attention to Shadow as he padded over, pressing his warm bulk against my legs. Storm took up position on my other side while Scout, still full of energy despite the night's events, circled the chair twice before flopping dramatically at my feet. The three massive "dogs" created a protective circle around me, their presence somehow both familiar and different now that I knew what they really were.

"Does it help with finding out your crushes are actually wolf shifters?" I asked, finding comfort in Shadow's steady presence as he rested his head on my knee.

Jorge’s warm laugh settled something in my chest. “Ah, for that you need something stronger. When I found out about our furry cousins, I fainted right into the paella. Ruined dinner and my favorite apron.” He settled on the nearby couch, his familiar presence grounding. “Though I suppose learning over a ruined dinner is better than…” He gestured vaguely at my disheveled state.

Maria bustled around me with a blanket, tucking it firmly around my shoulders despite the fire’s warmth. “Drink your tea, carino. Jorge’s remedies might taste strange, but they work miracles.”

I sipped the spicy-sweet liquid, letting its warmth spread through my chest. The familiar comfort of the living room helped ground me, even as my mind struggled to reconcile everything that had happened. The same coffee table where we’d played cards last week had apparently hosted generations of wolves. The couch where I’d fallen asleep watching movies belonged to three men who could transform into massive wolves.

“I can hear you thinking too hard,” Caleb murmured.

“Can you actually hear me thinking?” I asked, only half joking. “Because apparently that’s a thing now? The whole… smelling emotions thing?”

Derek made a sound that might have been a laugh. “Not thoughts. Just…” He paused, searching for words.

“Chemosignals,” Marcus supplied from where he stood by the fireplace, the flames casting shadows across his face. “Emotions have distinct scents.”

“That’s…” I took another sip of tea, trying to process. “That’s both fascinating and terrifying. Also explains so much about the past few weeks. Like how you always seemed to know when I was upset or…” I felt heat rise to my cheeks, remembering certain… frustrated moments.

Jorge coughed delicately. “Perhaps we should save some revelations for later, yes? When everyone is less…” He gestured vaguely at our collective state of disarray.

Anna hurried in with the first aid kit, her cheeks pink as she tried very hard to look only at faces. Maria immediately began checking my bruises, her touch gentle but efficient.

“These need cleaning,” Maria tutted. “I’ll get a bath ready in your room upstairs.”

“My room?” I blinked, then corrected myself. “I mean, the guest room I usually use?”

“Your room,” Marcus confirmed softly, something possessive in his tone making my stomach flip. “It’s always been your room, little one.”

The implications of that statement made my head spin. Or maybe it was just exhaustion finally catching up with me. The mug trembled in my hands, and Derek steadied it with gentle fingers.

“I’ll have the bath ready in a few minutes,” Maria announced, heading for the stairs with her usual authority. “Then sleep. The world will still be full of shifters in the morning.”

“Can you stand?” Marcus asked softly, already moving toward me with that predatory grace that now made so much more sense.

I tried to push myself up from the chair, but my legs felt like jelly, and my muscles screamed in protest. “I… maybe not?”

Before I could try again, Marcus had swept me up into his arms, blanket and all. The movement should have startled me, but instead, I melted against his chest, too exhausted to maintain any pretense of independence.

The brothers moved as one unit up the familiar stairs, Derek and Caleb flanking Marcus as if they couldn’t bear to let me out of their sight. I should have felt overwhelmed by their hovering, but something deep inside me felt oddly safe.

The suite’s bathroom had always been impressive, but tonight it felt almost magical. Steam rose from the enormous tub, where Maria was still adding herbs and checking the water temperature. The air was thick with soothing scents, and fluffy towels were arranged perfectly on the warming rack.

“Maria has gone overboard again,” I mumbled against Marcus’ chest, watching her fuss with various healing herbs and salts.

“Enough now,” Maria said, giving the water one final stir. “The temperature is perfect, and I’ve added everything you need for those bruises.” She dried her hands on her apron and headed for the door. “Call if you need anything, pequeno. I’ll be right down the hall.”

“She’s been waiting years to properly take care of you,” Caleb said softly, adjusting his blanket as Maria closed the door behind her.

Marcus set me down gently on the padded bench near the tub, his hands lingering as if afraid I might collapse. My battered body protested every movement as I tried to shrug off my torn clothes.

“Let us help you into the water,” Derek murmured, his voice gentle in a way I’d never heard before. “Then we’ll get cleaned up ourselves.”

I nodded, too exhausted to argue. They helped me out of my ruined clothing and into the perfectly heated water. The warmth enveloped me immediately, and whatever Maria had added to the bath was already easing the ache in my muscles.

“Call if you need anything,” Marcus said. “We’ll be quick.”

“Maria’s right down the hall,” Caleb added. “And we’ll be back as soon as we’re cleaned up.”

I watched them file out, still maintaining their careful grip on their blankets. As the door closed behind them, I sank deeper into the warm water, letting the herbal-scented steam rise around me. Alone for the first time since the woods, I could finally breathe.

The water was perfect—hot enough to ease my aching muscles but not scalding. I let my head fall back against the tub’s edge, fragments of the night playing through my mind. The other pack’s attack, the three massive wolves that had come to my rescue, and that surge of strange power that had coursed through my veins…

“What am I?” I whispered to myself, sinking deeper into the water. It wasn’t just tonight—there had been signs all along. The way I could sometimes hear conversations from impossible distances, how I always seemed to know when the brothers were near, that pull I felt toward them that defied explanation. But instead of answers, I only had more questions.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. “Carino?” Maria called through the door. “Do you need help?”

“I’m okay,” I called back, realizing I’d been soaking for a while. “Just… processing.”

“Take your time. I’ve left fresh pajamas and towels by the door. The boys are almost done cleaning up—they’re worse than cats about getting dirty, I swear.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that, the familiar exasperation in her voice making everything feel a bit more normal. With effort, I reached for the soap and started washing away the night’s grime, careful of the bruises that were already starting to fade faster than they should.

By the time I heard another knock, I was clean but reluctant to leave the warmth of the water.

“Kai?” Marcus’ voice was now steady and controlled. “We’re back. Do you need help getting out?”

“I…” I looked at my trembling arms, realizing I might have soaked a bit too long. The water had cooled, and my muscles felt like jelly. “Maybe?”

The door opened just enough for Marcus to slip in, now properly dressed in dark silk pajamas. His hair was damp from his own shower, and he looked almost normal—if you ignored the lingering crimson tinge in his eyes.

“Let’s get you out before you turn into a prune,” he said softly, holding up what looked like the world’s fluffiest towel. “Can you stand?”

I gripped the sides of the tub and tried to push myself up, but my arms shook with the effort. Without comment, Marcus stepped forward and lifted me from the water, immediately wrapping me in the towel.

“The others are waiting in the bedroom,” he said, helping me stay steady as I dried off. “Maria left you something to wear.”

The silk pajamas were ridiculously soft and new. I managed to get the pants on but my hands were shaking too much to handle the buttons of the top.

“Here,” he murmured, turning back to help. His fingers were quick and impersonal as he buttoned the top, but I could feel the tension in his movements, the careful control he was maintaining.

Marcus kept a steadying hand on my elbow as we made our way back into the bedroom. Derek and Caleb were already there, both in similar silk pajamas, their hair still damp. They’d been pacing—I could tell by the way they immediately stopped when we entered.

The massive bed looked impossibly inviting, its thick duvet turned down and pillows arranged in the exact way I preferred. Jorge set down a fresh mug of his special tea on the nightstand.

“Drink this before you sleep,” he said, his usual cheerful manner softened with concern. “It will help with the healing.”

“And the shock?” I asked weakly as Marcus helped me sit on the edge of the bed.

“Ah, for that you need time,” Jorge smiled kindly. “And maybe a stiff drink, but Maria would kill me if I suggested that right now.” He patted my shoulder gently. “Try to rest, pequeno. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything stronger than tea.” With a knowing wink, he slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

I sipped the spicy-sweet liquid, watching through heavy eyes as the brothers moved around the room with familiar ease. The sight of them in their silk pajamas, padding around my room— my room—made everything feel simultaneously more real and more dreamlike.

“You should rest,” Marcus said softly, settling at the foot of the bed. But I could see the intent in their eyes—none of them would leave me alone tonight.

“Stay?” The word slipped out before I could stop it. “I mean… if you want to…”

Caleb moved first, sliding under the covers beside me. His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me gently against his chest. Derek followed, settling behind me, his larger frame curving protectively around both of us. Their warmth surrounded me, their scents mixing with the lingering herbs from the bath in a way that made my head swim pleasantly.

Marcus remained at the foot of the bed, his presence like a guardian alpha watching over his pack. Even with my eyes growing heavier by the second, I could feel his gaze—watchful, tender, possessive.

“I have so many questions,” I yawned, nestling deeper into the cocoon of warmth they’d created. Caleb’s heartbeat was steady under my cheek, while Derek’s chest rose and fell rhythmically against my back.

“Tomorrow,” Marcus promised. “We’ll tell you everything tomorrow.”

“Everything about wolves?” My words were starting to slur with exhaustion. “About why those other wolves wanted me? About why you three keep looking at me like I’m the answer to a question you’ve been asking forever?”

“Everything,” Derek murmured into my hair, his arm tightening slightly around my waist.

“No more secrets,” Caleb added, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my hip.

“Mmm,” I hummed, finally letting my eyes close. “Good. Because running from naked wolf shifters is exhausting. Though the view was nice…”

Their quiet laughter rumbled through me as sleep pulled me under. For the first time in years, I felt completely, utterly safe—surrounded by my wolves, in a house that felt more like home than anywhere else ever had. Marcus’ watchful presence at the foot of the bed was the last thing I was aware of, his protective aura wrapping around all of us like an invisible blanket.

In my dreams, three wolves ran through moonlit woods, and this time, I ran with them.