MARKED BUT UNCLAIMED

The world stopped.

My father was here. In this club. Looking for me.

Five years of hiding. Five years of building a new life. Gone in one night.

"How many?" Kade's voice was sharp. Controlled. Alpha mode activated.

"Six wolves," Thomas said. "Including the alpha. They're in the main club area. They showed Della's picture to Rico."

My legs felt weak. I grabbed the back of a chair to steady myself.

"Did Rico tell them anything?" Kade asked.

"No. He said he'd never seen her. But Alpha Hart doesn't believe him. He's threatening to search the building."

Kade's eyes flashed gold. "This is my territory. He can't—"

"He's doing it anyway," Thomas interrupted. "He says his daughter is in danger. That he has the right to search any building if he believes she's there."

"Della." Kade turned to me. His face was calm but his eyes were fierce. "Do you want to see him?"

Yes. No. I don't know.

"I—" My voice wouldn't work properly. "I can't. If he finds me, he'll make me go back. He'll—"

The memories hit me hard. My father's cold voice. The arranged marriage he planned. The alpha's son from the Eastern Pack who looked at me like I was property. My mother's funeral where my father didn't even cry.

"Breathe," Kade said. He was in front of me suddenly, his hands on my shoulders. "Breathe, Della. No one is taking you anywhere. Not without your permission."

"You don't understand. He's an alpha. He'll use his command voice. He'll make me—"

"I'm an alpha too." Kade's voice was steel. "And you're under my protection now. Mate bond or not, you're in my territory. That means you're mine to protect."

Thomas shifted nervously. "Alpha, with respect, if you claim her publicly, it could start a war between packs. Northern Ridge won't take that lightly."

"I don't care." Kade didn't take his eyes off me. "Della, look at me."

I looked up. His silver eyes were steady. Certain.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

"I don't even know you."

"Yes, you do. Your wolf knows mine. The bond doesn't lie." His hands tightened on my shoulders. "Do you trust me to keep you safe?"

I should say no. I barely met him twenty minutes ago. But something deep inside me, something ancient and instinctive, whispered yes.

"Yes," I breathed.

"Good." He turned to Thomas. "Tell Rico to bring Alpha Hart to the VIP lounge. Make it comfortable. Offer him a drink. I'll be there in five minutes."

"And Della?" Thomas asked.

"She stays here. Lock the door from the outside. No one comes in except me."

Thomas nodded and left quickly.

The moment the door closed, I grabbed Kade's arm. "What are you going to do?"

"Talk to him. Find out what he wants."

"He wants me. That's what he wants."

"Then he's going to be disappointed." Kade's jaw was tight. "But I need to know why he's so desperate to find you. What happened five years ago, Della? Why did you run?"

I looked away. "I told you. It's complicated."

"Your father shows up at my club with six wolves, threatening my staff, demanding to search my building. It just became my business." His voice softened. "Talk to me."

I wrapped my arms around myself. The red costume felt ridiculous now. I felt exposed. Vulnerable.

"He wanted to marry me off," I said quietly. "To Alpha David's son from the Eastern Pack. They had it all arranged. I was supposed to meet him at my twentieth birthday celebration. We'd mate, join the packs, strengthen alliances. Standard alpha politics."

"But you didn't want that."

"I didn't even know the guy! And my father didn't care. He said it was my duty. That I was born for this. That my mother would have wanted—" My voice cracked. "My mother died following his orders. She went on a hunt she didn't want to go on because he commanded it. She got killed by rogues. I was sixteen."

Kade's expression darkened. "And he used her memory to manipulate you."

"He uses everything to get what he wants. That's what alphas do." I looked at him. "No offense."

"None taken. Some alphas are tyrants." His hand came up to my face again. That gentle touch that made my wolf purr. "I'm not your father, Della. I won't force you into anything."

"You're already using the mate bond to make me feel safe."

"That's not manipulation. That's biology. The bond makes us want to protect each other. But the choice to accept it? That's still yours."

I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to believe him so badly.

"What if he doesn't leave?" I asked. "What if he demands to see me?"

"Then I'll tell him you're not here."

"He'll smell me. Wolves can track scents."

Kade smiled slightly. "Not when the entire club smells like alcohol, perfume, and a hundred different humans. Your scent is buried. And even if he catches it, he'd have to go through me first."

"He'll fight you."

"Let him try." There was no boast in his voice. Just fact. "I'm younger, stronger, and this is my territory. He won't win."

"But if you fight, other packs will get involved. Thomas was right. It could start a war."

"Then your father better be smart enough not to push me." Kade checked his watch. "I need to go. Stay here. Don't open the door for anyone but me."

He started to leave, then stopped. Turned back.

"One more thing," he said. "The human boyfriend. Marcus. Does he know what you are?"

"No. I never told him."

"Good. Keep it that way." His eyes flashed gold again. "And when this is over, you and I are going to have a conversation about him. Because my wolf still wants to rip his throat out for making you cry."

Before I could respond, he was gone. The door clicked shut. I heard the lock turn from the outside.

I was alone in the dark room.

I sank into the chair, my legs finally giving out. My hands were shaking. My heart was racing.

My father was here. After five years, he'd found me.

And the only thing standing between us was a mate I just met and a bond I wasn't ready to accept.

I closed my eyes and tried to breathe. Tried to think.

But all I could focus on was the faint sound of voices coming from down the hall. Deep. Male. Angry.

One of them was my father's voice. I'd recognize it anywhere.

And the other was Kade's. Calm. Controlled. Deadly.

I pressed my ear to the door, straining to hear.

"—my daughter," my father was saying. "I have every right—"

"You have no rights in my territory," Kade interrupted. "And if the girl wanted to be found, she wouldn't have been hiding for five years."

"You know where she is."

"I know a lot of things, Lucian. That doesn't mean I'm sharing them with you."

There was a long, dangerous silence.

Then my father's voice, cold as ice: "If you're harboring my daughter, it's an act of war against Northern Ridge."

"Then consider this war." Kade's voice was just as cold. "Because I'm not handing over any wolf who doesn't want to go with you. Especially not her."

"Her? You know her name. You've seen her."

Shit. Kade had slipped up.

"I've seen a lot of wolves," Kade said smoothly. "Doesn't mean they belong to you."

"She's my blood. My pack. Mine."

"She's not property, old man. And if she left your pack, that means you failed her as an alpha."

I heard a growl. Low. Threatening. My father's wolf rising.

"Careful," Kade said softly. "You're outnumbered here. My pack. My club. My rules."

"I will find her," my father said. "With or without your help. And when I do—"

"When you do, she'll still be under my protection. So unless you want this to get ugly, I suggest you leave my club. Now."

Another long silence.

Then footsteps. Heavy. Retreating.

But my father's voice echoed back one last time, loud enough for me to hear clearly through the door:

"Tell Della her time is up. The Eastern Pack alliance can't wait any longer. If she doesn't come home willingly, I'll drag her back myself. She has one week."

The main door slammed shut.

I stood frozen, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might explode.

One week.

My father was giving me one week before he came back for me.

And this time, he wouldn't ask nicely.