Page 100 of Marked By Alphas 2: Claimed

“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 bloodline,” 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 would 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.”

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