Marked by the Alpha Team (Luna Merrick) novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

LUNA

10 vouchers

stood frozen near the French doors, the backyard lights casting long shadows across the grass, and all I could do was watch Ryder walk toward me like he owned every inch of ground between us. My feet felt glued to the floor, and my mouth went completely dry. I wanted to say something, anything, to break the silence, but nothing came out. I just looked up at him as he stopped a couple feet away, that usual annoying smirk already in place.

The heat inside me multiplied so fast it stole my breath, and it wasn’t slow at all. It hit like a wave crashing over my head, burning through my chest, my stomach, and even lower. I knew without a doubt it was only going to get worse. The other four were already moving this way, Jace leading, Theo right behind him, and Knox and Orion flanking like shadows.

There were five of them, five scents, and five pulls, and my body felt like it was being tugged in five different directions at

once.

Ryder stopped close enough that I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. Gray, sharp, and seeing way too much.

“I’d say I’m surprised to see you here,” he said, his voice low enough that it felt like the words were just for me, “but that would be a lie. I knew you weren’t going to miss this party.”

He stared at me like he could see straight through my skin to whatever mess was happening inside. I wanted to snap back, to tell him he didn’t know anything about me, but my tongue felt thick and useless. Seconds stretched, and my pulse

hammer

my ears so loud I barely heard the music anymore.

hy elbow, small, quick, and almost panicked. I’d completely forgotten she was standing right beside me. She ward a little, putting herself between us like a shield, and stuck her hand out toward Ryder.

he said, her voice bright but shaky at the edges. “I’m Ivy, Luna’s roommate. We met earlier…. when you were in our

Ryder glanced down at her hand, then back at me for half a second before taking her hand very briefly, polite but visibly distant.

“I remember,” he said, and then his eyes slid right back to me. “So… is there a reason you’re not speaking?”

He leaned in just a fraction, his smirk growing. “If you’re embarrassed about showing up after swearing you wouldn’t, you don’t need to be. I’m glad you changed your mind.”

I finally found my voice, or at least part of it. “I didn’t…” I started, but the words died when the others arrived.

They moved in smooth and quiet, like they’d rehearsed it. Jace was on Ryder’s left with his arms folded, and his gray eyes locked on mine. Theo on the right, dimples showing even though he wasn’t smiling. Knox was behind them, his broad shoulders blocking out some of the light from the fire pit, while Orion was a step back, his glasses catching the glow and lus golden eyes unreadable.

All five.

All at once.

Their scents slammed into me like a physical torce, pine, smoke, storm, ink, and earth, all tangled together until I couldn’t tell where one ended and the next began The heat exploded, not slowly or building, just everywhere My skin burned, my vision blurred at the edges, and my legs turned to jelly so fast I didn’t even have time to brace myself.

One second I was standing, and the next I was falling.

1/3

2:42 pm P PPP.

Chapter 12

10 vouchers

The ground rushed up, and next thing I knew, Ivy yelped my name. Someone… Ryder?…lunged forward. His strong hands caught under my arms before my knees hit the grass, pulling me upright again. My head spun, and the world tilted. I grabbed the closest thing, which was Ryder’s hoodie, to keep from dropping again.

I heard Ivy’s voice, high and panicked. “Luna? Luna!”

I tried to answer, but I just couldn’t. My throat felt closed, and my legs wouldn’t hold me. The only thing keeping me vertical was Ryder’s grip and the wall of bodies suddenly surrounding me, blocking me from the rest of the party.

Jace stepped closer, his voice low and calm. “Breathe.”

I tried, but the air felt thick, too hot, and too full of them.

Theo was suddenly on my other side, his hand light on my elbow. “Easy, we’ve got you.”

Knox moved in front, his broad back to the crowd, shielding us from curious eyes. Orion stayed a step behind, watching everything, silent. Ryder still held me up, one arm around my waist now, steady but not tight. His voice was right against my

ear.

“Look at me.”

I did, but barely. His gray eyes were darker than usual, pupils wide but focused.

“Breathe in slowly,” he said. “Out slower. You’re okay.”

I wasn’t okay. I was shaking and sweating. The heat was unbearable now, centered low and sharp, making my thighs press together without me meaning to. Every breath pulled more of their scents in, and every breath made it worse.

Ivy’s voice cut through. “What’s happening to her?”

Jace answered without looking away from me. “She’s overwhelmed. Give her space.”

Ivy didn’t move. “She said she gets hot and weird around you guys. Is this… is this that?”

Theo glanced at Ivy, then back at me. “Yeah, this is that.”

I managed a weak shake of my head. “I… I need to sit.”

Ryder didn’t argue. He guided me toward a nearby outdoor couch, the others moving with us like a protective circle. People stared, but no one came closer. Knox glared over his shoulder, and they looked away fast.

Ryder eased me down on the cushions, and I curled forward with my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands. The cool night air helped a little, but not enough.

Ivy knelt in front of me, worried. “Do you want water? Or should we leave?”

I shook my head again, knowing very well that leaving wouldn’t fix this. I could still feel them, all five, standing close, their scents wrapping around me like a blanket I couldn’t escape

Ryder crouched so we were eye level. “You’re safe here,” he said quietly “We’re not going to let anything happen to you.

I laughed, short, bitter, and breathless. “You’re the reason this is happening.”

He didn’t deny it.

Jace spoke from behind him “We need to talk Somewhere quieter

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify