MARKED BUT UNCLAIMED

I pressed my ear against the door, straining to hear what was happening in the hallway.

Marcus's voice came through muffled but panicked. "Look, man, I don't know who you are, but this is between me and my girlfriend—"

"Ex-girlfriend." Kade's voice was cold enough to freeze blood. "And you're going to leave. Now."

"I'm not going anywhere until Della talks to me!"

A low growl rumbled through the hallway. Not human. Definitely not human.

My wolf surged forward, recognizing her mate's aggression. She wanted out. Wanted to stand beside him.

I pushed her down. Not yet. Not here.

"Last warning," Kade said softly. "Walk away. Or I'll make you."

"Are you threatening me?" Marcus laughed. "I'll call the cops—"

The sound of a body hitting the wall cut him off.

"Call whoever you want," Kade said. "But you'll do it from the ground floor. Not outside her door. Are we clear?"

Silence. Then footsteps. Fast. Running down the stairs.

I sagged against the door, my heart pounding. Part of me felt guilty for letting Kade handle my mess. The other part—the wolf part—felt satisfied. Protected.

A soft knock made me jump.

"Della. It's me."

I unlocked the door and opened it slowly.

Kade stood in the hallway, perfectly calm. Like he hadn't just threatened my ex-boyfriend. His silver eyes scanned me from head to toe.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine. You didn't have to—"

"Yes, I did." He stepped inside and I backed up automatically. He closed the door behind him and locked it. All three locks. "He was at your door at six in the morning, pounding and yelling. That's not someone who respects boundaries."

He was right. Marcus had never shown up like this before.

"He probably just wants to explain," I said weakly.

Kade's eyes flashed gold. "I don't care what he wants. He hurt you. That's all I need to know."

The possessiveness in his voice made my wolf purr.

"You've built a good life here," Kade said, looking around my small apartment. "I can see why you don't want to leave it."

I wrapped my arms around myself. "But you still want me to stay at your territory."

"I want you safe." He turned to face me. "Your father knows where you work. It's only a matter of time before he finds where you live."

"He probably already knows."

"Then why hasn't he come here yet?"

I thought about that. "He's waiting. Building leverage. Making me sweat."

"Or he's trying to figure out if you're under another alpha's protection." Kade moved closer. "You could be. You just have to say yes."

I looked up at him. At those silver eyes that saw too much.

"And if I say yes," I asked carefully, "what exactly am I agreeing to?"

"One week at my territory. In the guest house. Your own space, your own rules." He paused. "But you stay close. You let me know where you are."

"That sounds like a prison."

"That sounds like staying alive." His voice was gentle but firm. "Your father gave you one week. I'm not wasting it."

I wanted to argue. But the truth was, I'd been running for five years. And running was exhausting.

"What about my bakery?" I asked.

"Bring your work with you. I have a full kitchen. Or I can arrange security for your bakery. Whatever you need."

"This is crazy," I muttered.

"You were never normal, Della. You're the daughter of an alpha. And now you're my mate." His hand came up to my face. "Normal was never an option for you."

I hated that he was right.

"I need to pack," I said.

Relief flooded his face. "You're saying yes?"

"I'm saying yes to one week. That's all."

He pulled out his phone. "I'll call my beta. He'll arrange security for your bakery."

While he talked, I went to my bedroom and started packing. Clothes. Toiletries. My laptop. The photo of my mother I kept hidden in my nightstand.

I stared at her face. Young. Smiling. Alive.

She'd been so beautiful. And my father's commands had killed her anyway.

*I won't end up like you,* I promised silently.

"Della?" Kade's voice came from the doorway. "Derek's on his way to the bakery now."

I tucked my mother's photo into my bag. "How many wolves do you have?"

"In Shadow Moon Pack? Seventy-three. Not the biggest pack, but we're strong."

"And they'll all know about me."

"They'll know you're under my protection. The mate bond—that's between us for now."

I thought about that. If other packs knew Kade had found his mate, it would change everything. Make me a target.

"Let's keep it quiet," I said.

"Agreed."

We were almost to the door when my phone rang. The screen showed "Sunrise Bakery."

"I have to take this," I said, answering. "Hello?"

"Della?" Marina, my assistant manager, sounded stressed. "We have a problem. There are men here. Big guys. Asking questions about you. They don't look like customers."

My father's wolves. Already making moves.

Kade held out his hand for the phone. I gave it to him.

"Marina? This is Kade Thorne, a friend of Della's. Those men are not customers. Do not give them any information. Tell them she's not available and ask them to leave."

"O-okay. Should I close the bakery?"

"No. Stay open. But there will be new security personnel arriving within ten minutes. They're there to protect you."

He hung up and handed my phone back.

"Your father's not wasting time," he said grimly.

"I need to go there—"

"No." Kade's hand caught my arm. "That's exactly what he wants. Derek's already there. Three hostile wolves removed. Bakery secure."

I sagged with relief. Then anger hit me.

"I can't live like this!"

"You're not running." Kade's voice was steel. "You're making a strategic retreat. There's a difference."

His hands came up to frame my face. "I know you're scared. But right now, we need to get you somewhere safe. Then we figure out how to handle your father. Together."

The word *together* did something to my chest.

"Okay," I whispered. "Let's go."

The drive out of the city took twenty minutes. We headed north, into the hills where the houses got bigger and the trees got thicker.

"How much land do you have?" I asked.

"Two hundred acres. The pack house is in the center. The guest house where you'll stay is on the eastern edge. Private but not isolated."

We turned onto a private drive. Trees pressed in on both sides. The scent of pine filled the air.

My wolf stirred. She liked it here.

The trees opened up to reveal a massive log and stone house. Warm lights glowed in the windows. Smoke drifted from the chimney.

Other houses dotted the landscape. I saw wolves moving between them—some in human form, some as actual wolves.

A real pack. Everything I'd run from.

Kade drove past the main house to a smaller cabin. Two stories. Large windows. A wraparound porch.

"This is yours," he said.

I got out slowly. The cabin. The forest. The scent of pack territory.

It smelled like home. And that terrified me.

Kade unlocked the door and gestured for me to go in first.

The inside was beautiful. Open floor plan. Kitchen. Living room with a fireplace. Stairs leading up.

"It's too much," I said.

"It's enough." Kade set my bag down. "Kitchen's stocked. WiFi password is on the counter. Call if you need anything."

"Where will you be?"

"Main house. Five-minute walk." He pointed through the window. "Close enough if you need me. Far enough to give you space."

"What if I want to leave?"

His jaw tightened. "Then you leave. I'm not keeping you prisoner."

"But you'd try to stop me."

"I'd try to convince you to stay. There's a difference."

He moved toward the door, then stopped.

"I know this isn't what you wanted. But I'm not your father. I won't control you."

"Then what do you want from me?"

He smiled. Sad and full of longing.

"I want you to stop running long enough to see that not all alphas are monsters." He opened the door. "And I want you to realize that accepting help isn't the same as giving up freedom."

Then he was gone.

I stood alone in the guest house, surrounded by safety and everything I'd told myself I didn't want.

My phone buzzed.

**Kade:** *Pack meeting at 7 PM if you want to meet everyone. No pressure.*

I looked at the time. 2 PM. Five hours to decide.

I walked upstairs. Large bed. Soft blankets. Windows overlooking the forest.

I unpacked slowly. Put my clothes in the dresser. Set up my laptop.

And placed my mother's photo on the nightstand.

*What would you do?* I asked her silently.

I already knew the answer. She would have followed my father's commands. Would have died for his orders.

She would have done everything I refused to do.

I texted Kade back.

**Me:** *I'll be at the meeting. But I'm not promising anything.*

**Kade:** *That's all I'm asking for.*

I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

One week. Seven days to figure out if I could trust Kade Thorne.

Seven days before my father came back.

My wolf stirred. She was done running. Done hiding.

She wanted her mate. Wanted her pack.

*Soon,* I promised her. *But not yet.*

She settled down, patient for now.

But I could feel her waiting. Ready to take over the moment I let my guard down.