6. Marshall

6

Marshall

The cigarette hung loose between my fingers, the ember burning low, and the smoke curling lazily into the morning air. I didn’t bother to move, leaning back against the porch railing with one boot braced on the post, the other planted firmly on the creaky wooden planks.

It had been hours since my conversation with August and Finn. Elisabed was still inside, probably asleep, wrapped up in the sheets that still carried the scent of all of us. My scent was on her, in her, and fuck if that didn’t light something primal in me. My wolf had been pacing since last night, claws dragging through my head whenever I thought about how she’d looked under us—her breath hitching, her body trembling, but her eyes burning with something wild and untamed.

She bore our mark now. Even if we didn’t want to give in—she was ours.

Marked, taken, claimed.

But my wolf wasn’t satisfied. Not yet. Not fully. He wanted more, and it was damn hard to fight it.

I brought the cigarette to my lips, dragging in the smoke and letting it settle deep in my lungs before blowing it out in a slow, steady stream. The nicotine wasn’t doing a damn thing to settle the restlessness crawling under my skin, but the ritual gave me something to focus on—something to keep me from marching back inside, peeling her out of that bed, and reminding her who she now belonged to.

My old man was probably rolling in his grave right now. I had upkept his teachings about control and emotional detachment for so long, and it only took one vicious little omega to change everything I built my identity around.

She was supposed to be a tool, a necessary attachment to achieve our goals. So why couldn’t I get her out of my mind?

The crunch of gravel pulled me from my thoughts. I straightened, dropping the cigarette and crushing it under my boot as I squinted into the tree line.

It didn’t take long for the bastard to show himself.

Raol Carlisle.

He strutted out of the woods like he owned the place, his chin tilted up, showing the barely noticeable pink scar that Elisabed had left on his neck. He reeked of arrogance, and it was pissing me off already. He was the type of alpha I detested. My father may have been wrong about a lot of things, but he was right when he instilled in me a hatred of those that ruled through fear rather than true leadership. My wolf snarled, and I had to clamp down on the urge to shift then and there.

“Marshall Goddard,” Raol called, his voice slick and condescending as he stopped a few feet from the porch and looked up at me. “You’ve got my omega.”

I didn’t move. I didn’t even blink. I just stared him down, letting the tension stretch until he started shifting uncomfortably on his feet. “She’s not yours anymore,” I said, my voice low and sharp. “You gave her up when you decided to mate her sister . You’re disgusting, you know that?”

Raol’s lips twisted into a sneer, unashamed. “She’s still mine. She was born into my pack. She owes me her loyalty—and her punishment.”

I didn’t even try to suppress the growl that ripped from my throat. I stepped off the porch, towering over him, and felt a sharp thrill of satisfaction when he instinctively took half a step back. “She doesn’t owe you a damn thing. You’ve got no claim here.”

Raol’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. “You think I’ll just let this go—that I’ll let some stray omega betray me and walk away? If the council won’t properly deal with her, I promise I will.”

“The council made their decision,” I said, my voice dropping lower. “I suggest you follow it—unless you want me to remind you why they don’t let us fight in neutral territory.”

His hand twitched at his side for a moment, like he was debating it. My wolf snarled, ready and begging for an excuse to tear him apart. I almost wanted him to try.

But then the door behind me creaked open, and I didn’t have to look to know it was August. His scent rolled out first, calm and commanding, and his steps were measured as he joined me on the grass.

“Raol,” August said, his voice sharp but quieter than mine—always the picture of control, even when the tension was thick enough to snap. “What are you doing here?”

Raol’s eyes flicked between us, and I saw the moment he realized he was outnumbered, two alphas to one. He wasn’t stupid enough to push his luck.

“This isn’t over,” Raol spat, his face twisting with barely concealed rage. “That defective little bitch will pay for what she did, one way or another.”

Defective ?

I took a step forward, my fists clenched. The way he talked about Elisabed threatened my normal resolve. “Just try it. I’ll tear you limb to limb, then I’ll gladly gift her your head so she can use it as a paperweight.”

Raol snarled, but he didn’t say anything else. He turned on his heel and stormed back into the trees, his scent fading as he stepped into the shadows.

August leaned against the railing, his sharp green eyes scanning the woods where Raol had disappeared. “You handled that well.”

I snorted, crossing my arms over my chest. “You mean I didn’t rip his throat out.”

“That’s exactly what I meant,” August said, his tone calm. “I could tell you wanted to.”

“I still do.”

He didn’t say anything, and we stood in silence for a moment, my thoughts reeling.

“You know he’s not going to stop,” I said finally, my voice low. “He won’t let it go. Elisabed humiliated him, and that kind of thing sticks with an alpha like Raol. He’ll come back. And next time, he won’t come alone.”

“I know,” August said quietly.

“So why are we still here?” I asked, turning to face him. “Neutral territory isn’t safe for us anymore. Too many alphas would jump at the chance to side with Raol if it meant taking us down. Hell, he’s probably at Marcus’ place right now, plotting our demise. We need to move. If the council retracts the decision, there’ll be nothing we can do.”

“I agree,” August said, surprising me. “But if we leave now, Elisabed won’t have the time she needs to adapt. She’s already overwhelmed. Rushing this could make things worse.”

“She doesn’t need time,” I said, shaking my head. “She needs us. The bond will settle her and make her stronger. You saw her last night. She’s ready.”

August’s jaw tightened, his green eyes narrowing. “She’s not fully integrated yet. Without a proper nesting period—”

“Fuck the nesting period,” I growled, cutting him off. “We don’t have the luxury of time, August. Every minute is a risk.”

August turned to me. “And if she breaks? What then, Marshall?”

“She won’t.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do,” I snapped. “She’s tougher than you think. She fought Raol and lived. She faced six council alphas looking to punish her for it—and lived. She’s strong, August. She’s a fighter.”

He didn’t respond right away, his expression unreadable. I could see the wheels turning in his head, weighing the risks and consequences. That was August for you—always thinking ten steps ahead, always planning for every possible outcome. It drove me insane sometimes.

“We’ll bond with her on the road,” I continued, my voice calmer now. “We’ll run together as wolves, and it’ll be enough. By the time we reach our territory, she’ll be fully integrated, and we’ll be safer. You know I’m right.”

August let out a slow breath, his jaw tightening. “You’re sure about this?”

“Damn sure.”

He nodded slowly, though I could tell he was still hesitant. “Fine. We’ll leave tonight.”

“Good,” I said, relief flooding through me.

August turned to go back inside but stopped just before the door. “Marshall,” he said, his voice quieter now.

“What?”

“You’re right. She’s stronger than I thought,” he admitted. “But that doesn’t mean she’s invincible. Remember that.”

I didn’t answer, watching as he disappeared back into the house.

The door clicked shut, leaving me alone again in the morning silence. I lit another cigarette, the glow of the ember flaring as I inhaled. My wolf was quieter now, but not calm.

He wouldn’t be calm until Elisabed was fully bonded to us, and she was ours completely.

I was certain Raol wouldn’t stop trying to take Elisabed back. I knew he would likely come at us with every resource and ally at his disposal. But it didn’t matter. He—or anyone—wouldn’t take her from us.

Elisabed was ours.

I’d kill anyone who dared to think otherwise.