MARKED BUT UNCLAIMED

My hands shook as I reached for my mask. Every instinct screamed at me to run. But Kade's silver eyes held me frozen in place.

"Don't," I whispered. "Please don't make me."

His hand dropped away from my face. He took a step back, giving me space. The loss of his heat made me want to move closer again. My wolf whined at the distance.

"You feel it too," he said. Not a question. A statement. "The pull. The bond."

I couldn't lie. Not about this. Wolves could smell lies.

"I feel it." My voice cracked. "But it doesn't matter."

"Doesn't matter?" His eyes flashed gold. "You're my mate, Della. How does that not matter?"

"Because I left that world behind!" The words burst out of me. "I left my pack. I left my father. I built a human life. I own a bakery. I have an apartment. I have—" I stopped. I was going to say I had Marcus. But I didn't. Not anymore. "I have a life that doesn't include pack politics or alpha commands or any of it."

Kade was quiet for a long moment. He walked to the window and looked out at the city lights. His shoulders were tight with tension.

"Your father is looking for you," he finally said. "He's been looking for five years."

My stomach dropped. "I know. That's why I've been hiding."

"From him?" Kade turned back to face me. "Or from yourself?"

"Both." I wrapped my arms around myself. The red costume suddenly felt too thin. Too exposed. "You don't understand. You don't know what he—"

"I know exactly what he is." Kade's voice was hard. "Alpha Lucian Hart of Northern Ridge Pack. Ruthless. Controlling. Old-fashioned. He runs his pack like it's still the 1800s."

I blinked. "How do you know so much about him?"

"Because he's been asking every alpha in the west if they've seen his daughter." Kade moved closer again. Slower this time. Like he was approaching a spooked animal. "He shows your picture at every pack meeting. Offers rewards for information."

My chest tightened. "And? Did you tell him you found me?"

"No."

"Why not?"

His eyes met mine. The intensity in them made my breath catch.

"Because the moment I saw you dance six months ago, I knew you were mine. And I don't give up what's mine. Not even to another alpha."

The possessiveness in his voice should have made me angry. Should have made me want to run. Instead, it made my wolf purr with satisfaction.

"I'm not yours," I said. But even I could hear how weak it sounded.

"Yes, you are." Kade was right in front of me now. Close enough to touch. "You became mine the second the bond snapped into place. You felt it too. Don't lie to me, Della."

I had felt it. Six months ago. The first time I saw him in the VIP section, watching me dance. Something inside me had recognized him. My wolf had woken up just enough to whisper mine before going quiet again.

I'd ignored it. Pushed it down. Told myself it was nothing.

But you can't ignore a mate bond. Not forever.

"This can't happen," I said desperately. "You're an alpha. I'm—"

"The daughter of an alpha. My equal."

"No." I shook my head. "I'm a baker who dances at a club on Friday nights. I'm human now. Or at least, I'm trying to be."

"Why?" The question was soft. Genuine. "Why are you trying so hard to be something you're not?"

Because being a wolf only brought pain. Because pack life meant rules and expectations and never being free. Because my father wanted to marry me off to some alpha's son to strengthen alliances.

Because I watched my mother die following alpha commands and I swore I'd never end up like her.

But I couldn't say any of that out loud. Not yet. Not to him.

"It's complicated," I whispered.

"Then uncomplicate it." Kade's hand came up again. This time he didn't reach for my mask. He touched my cheek. Gentle. Careful. "Take off the mask, Della. Stop hiding. At least from me."

His touch sent sparks across my skin. The mate bond hummed between us, growing stronger with every second.

"If I take it off," I said slowly, "everything changes."

"Everything already changed." His thumb traced my jaw. "The moment you walked into my club. The moment our eyes met. You can't run from this. From us."

"I've been running for five years. I'm good at it."

His smile was sad. "I know. But aren't you tired?"

Yes. God, yes. I was so tired of running. Of hiding. Of pretending to be someone I wasn't.

Tonight had already been hell. Marcus and Sophie destroyed the life I'd built. What did I have to lose anymore?

My hands reached up. Slowly, I untied the red leather mask.

It fell away.

Kade's breath caught. His eyes widened slightly. Then his hand moved to cup my face, his thumb brushing across my cheekbone.

"There you are," he murmured. "Beautiful."

No one had looked at me like that in five years. Like I was precious. Like I mattered.

"Now what?" I asked.

"Now," Kade said, his voice dropping lower, "we figure this out. Together."

"I don't know how to do this. The mate bond. The pack thing. Any of it."

"Neither do I." His confession surprised me. "I've been alpha for eight years. I've never found my mate. Never thought I would. And then you walked onto that stage and my whole world shifted."

"Kade—"

"I'm not asking you to accept the bond right now," he interrupted. "I'm not asking you to join my pack or move into the pack house or any of that. I'm just asking you not to run. Stay. Talk to me. Let me know you."

It was the most reasonable thing any alpha had ever said to me.

"Okay," I whispered. "I'll stay. For now."

Relief flooded his face. Then his expression changed. His nose flared. His eyes narrowed.

"You smell like sadness," he said. "And tears. And another man."

Marcus. He could smell Marcus on me.

"That's why you were angry tonight," Kade continued. His voice went hard. Dangerous. "Someone hurt you."

"It doesn't matter—"

"Who. Was. It."

The alpha command in his voice made my knees weak. Made my wolf want to bare her throat and submit. I locked my knees and glared at him.

"Don't," I snapped. "Don't use your alpha voice on me. I'm not one of your pack members."

He blinked. Then slowly, the gold faded from his eyes. "You're right. I'm sorry. That was—" He ran a hand through his hair. "When I smell your pain, my wolf goes crazy. He wants to destroy whatever hurt you."

"My boyfriend cheated on me." The words came out flat. "With my best friend. I found them this morning. That's why I came here tonight. That's why I was angry."

Kade's jaw clenched. "His name."

"Kade—"

"His. Name."

"Why? What are you going to do?"

His smile was cold. Predatory. Full of violence barely contained.

"Make sure he understands what happens when someone hurts what's mine."

Before I could respond, the door burst open.

Thomas stood there, his face pale with fear.

"Alpha," he gasped. "We have a problem. Northern Ridge Pack just arrived. They're asking for Della by name."

My father was here.