Page 110 of Marked By Alphas 2: Claimed

I nodded, sliding off the examination table. “Apparently, I need to learn how to not accidentally set things on fire when I sneeze. Seems like a reasonable life skill.”

“Just take it slow,” she advised. “Your body is still adjusting.”

That was an understatement. Over the past five days, I’d discovered that being part dragon came with a whole host of unexpected side effects. My body temperature ran several degrees hotter than normal—my normal. I could see perfectly in the dark. Food tasted different—spicier, more intense. And sometimes, when I was particularly emotional, my eyes would glow gold like some kind of supernatural mood ring.

The Stone Manor had transformed into what could only be described as supernatural grand central station. The east garden remained occupied by the White Tiger Clan, their yurts becoming a permanent fixture among Miguel’s prized hydrangeas. To my surprise, Miguel didn’t seem to mind—apparently, the tigers’ presence was causing his plants to bloom with unusual vigor.

The Knox Pack had established a semipermanent camp at the edge of Stone territory, sending daily delegations bearing increasingly bizarre gifts. Yesterday’s offering had been a hand-carved wooden throne that now sat, unused and extremely uncomfortable-looking, in the corner of the great hall. Derek had wanted to burn it, but Maria insisted it was “disrespectful to reject tribute from loyal subjects.”

“Your loyal subjects are waiting at the gate again,” Luke informed me as I made my way back to my room after the medical exam. “Alpha Knox brought what appears to be an entire deer carcass this time. Jorge is having a conniption.”

“Can’t you tell them I’m still recovering or something?” I pleaded.

Luke grinned, falling into step beside me. “I tried. They said they’re willing to wait until you’re strong enough to receive them properly. I think they’re planning to camp there indefinitely.”

“Fantastic.” I sighed. “Any other supernatural beings I should know about?”

“Well, the Pack Elders are meeting with Marcus in the library. Again. I think this is their third visit this week. Elder Grey keeps asking to see your ‘dragon manifestation,’ but Marcus has been running interference.”

“Thank God for small mercies,” I said.

“Oh, and the Blackwood brothers are here. Again.” Luke’s tone shifted slightly, a hint of annoyance creeping in.

“Let me guess—they’re ‘researching’ the Blood Moon Coven in our archives?”

“That’s their excuse,” Luke confirmed. “But Liam spent two hours asking me about Korean shamanic traditions yesterday, and James keeps ‘accidentally’ running into me in the hallways.”

I couldn’t help smirking. “Sounds like someone has admirers.”

“Shut up,” Luke grumbled, though I caught the faint blush on his cheeks. “They’re just trying to get information about your recovery through me.”

“Sure they are,” I drawled. “That’s definitely why Xander was staring at your ass yesterday during dinner.”

Luke shoved me lightly, careful of my still-recovering state. “Speaking of dinner, Maria sent me to tell you that we’re having guests. Again.”

“Who is it this time?” I asked, dreading the answer.

“The Rivera Pack from Port Angeles. Mrs. Rivera is bringing her entire inner circle to ‘pay respects to the twice-blessed one.’”

I groaned, leaning against the wall. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Wish I was,” Luke replied. “Maria’s been cooking since dawn. Jorge is making three different kinds of paella because he couldn’t decide which one was ‘worthy of the occasion.’”

“I can’t do another formal dinner, Luke. I just can’t. Last night, Mrs. Chen spent two hours telling me about my ‘noble dragon ancestors’ while her husband kept trying to get me to promise their daughter a position in my ‘future court.’ I don’t even know what that means!”

“Well, you better figure it out fast, because the supernatural world is treating you like royalty whether you like it or not,” Luke said, not unsympathetically.

Half the bookstore’s regular customers turned out to be undercover pack members, and they’re all suddenly very interested in meeting me. That was another surreal development. Turned out Cedar Grove was a supernatural hotspot, with at least a third of the population being wolves or other supernatural beings. Mr. Patterson, the retired history professor who frequented the bookstore, was actually the keeper of the pack archives and had been researching the Blood Moon Coven since my transformation. Mrs. Rivera and Mrs. Chen had formed research teams of their own, combining resources from multiple packs to gather information.

“The security situation update is ready whenever you want to hear it,” Luke continued as we made our way through the manor. “Derek’s team has expanded to include Knox wolves and some volunteers from other allied packs. They’re patrolling in shifts now, with a special focus on the stone circle.”

The ancient ritual ground where I’d transformed had become something of a supernatural tourist attraction, with wolves from various packs visiting to see where the “twice-blessed child” had revealed his true nature. Derek had been forced to post guards to keep souvenir hunters from chipping off pieces of the stones.

“Any word on the Coven?” I asked, lowering my voice even though we were alone in the hallway.

Luke shook his head. “Nothing concrete. Elder Grey says they’re still recovering from the binding ritual, but it’s only a matter of time before they return.”

“That’s comforting,” I said.

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