Page 14 of Marked By Alphas 2: Claimed

“Out,” Maria ordered, brandishing her wooden spoon at Derek. “All of you. Let the doctor finish her examination in peace.”

The brothers reluctantly retreated, though they didn’t go far. I could hear them in the hallway, their murmured conversation too low to make out but tense enough to raise the hair on my neck.

“They’re rather intense,” Dr. White observed dryly, checking my reflexes.

“You have no idea.” I sighed. “Though apparently that’s normal for… what did you call it? Pre-claiming physical optimization?”

“Ah, yes.” She smiled slightly. “The technical term for ‘your mates are driving themselves crazy trying not to claim you before you’re ready.’ Though in your case…” She glanced at her readings again. “The energy exchange is unusually strong. Almost as if…”

“As if what?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. Just medical speculation. But Kai?” Her green eyes met mine, a serious look in hers. “Whatever you are—whatever combination of bloodlines and magic made you—it’s something special. Something rare. Be careful who you trust with that information.”

By the end of the exam, I had a medical file thick enough to kill a small animal and more questions than answers. The brothers returned, hovering closer than ever, and I caught them exchanging loaded looks when they thought I wasn’t watching.

Great. More supernatural secrets. Because being a quarter-wolf with some fancy First Pack upgrade wasn’t complicated enough, now I apparently had mysterious energy readings that made doctors nervous and alphas twitchy.

At least the brothers’ weird hot-and-cold behavior made more sense now. Though watching Derek nearly wolf out when Dr. White pressed too hard on one of my bruises suggested “sense” might be a relative term.

“Back to resting,” Maria ordered, already herding me like a particularly determined sheepdog. “You need it after all that poking and prodding.”

“I’m fine?—”

“Tea and snacks,” she declared. “Jorge stress-baked those little meat pastries you like while eavesdropping on your examination.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping!” Jorge’s voice carried from the kitchen. “I was… strategically monitoring the situation!”

The dogs, who had been maintaining their ‘dignified guard’ routine, immediately perked up at the word ‘meat.’ Even Shadow, usually the most stoic of my furry security detail, couldn’t maintain his aloof facade.

“No begging,” I warned them as Maria returned with a laden tray. “You literally just ate. I watched Jorge sneak you extras.”

Scout hit me with puppy eyes that could probably end wars, while Storm attempted to look both professional and starving—a feat only a supernatural guard dog could pull off. Shadow held out for approximately three seconds before joining what I could only describe as synchronized begging.

“Dios mío!” Maria said, already pulling out the special dog treats Jorge made just for them. “They’re worse than Miguel during his growing phase.”

I settled into my usual spot on the leather couch, amused by how quickly the manor had become familiar. The dogs arranged themselves around me like furry satellites, their eyes tracking every movement of the pastries.

“About the cottage,” Marcus began carefully, and something in histone made me look up. He had that expression—the one that meant he was trying to figure out how to say something without triggering my fight-or-flight response.

“What about it?” I asked, though I had a feeling I knew where this was going.

“The location is… problematic,” he said diplomatically.

Caleb nodded from his perch on the armrest. “It’s too exposed. The wards aren’t as strong there.”

“The what now?”

“Protective magic,” Derek explained, his tactical gear-clad form somehow making the antique chair he occupied look like a throne. “The manor’s better defended.”

“Are you trying to tell me my cottage is in a supernatural dead zone?” I raised an eyebrow. “Because I distinctly remember some very alive wolves finding it just fine last night.”

“That’s exactly the problem,” Marcus said softly. “You’re too vulnerable there. Here, we can protect you properly.”

“Here, meaning…?”

“Stay with us.” Caleb’s voice was gentle but eager. “Not just for now—permanently.”

I blinked. “Move in? Here?”

---