Marked by the Alpha Team (Luna Merrick) novel Chapter 148

Chapter 148

Chapter 148

Luna’s POV

I followed Knox back into the cabin, the door clicking shut behind us with a finality that somehow made small space feel even smaller. I tried to act normal, like I hadn’t just seen him completely naked in the clearing outside, but my mind refused to cooperate. It kept replaying the images in vivid, unwanted detai the broad shoulders, the trail of tattoos disappearing lower, and the heavy, unapologetic weight of him between his legs. Even now, as I settled back on the edge of the bed, my cheeks burned and a restless heat coiled low in my stomach.

The atmosphere was undeniably awkward, thick, and charged. I crossed my legs tightly and stared at the floorboards, willing my thoughts to behave. “Get it together, Luna.

But Moon was no help at all. She lounged in the back of my mind like a satisfied cat, purring occasional reminders that only made things worse. ‘He’s our mate. It’s only natural to look and to want.

I mentally shushed her, but the damage was done. My mind was firmly in the gutter, and no amount of deep breathing seemed to pull it out.

Knox moved with his usual efficiency, walking straight to the compact fridge in the corner. The door opened with a soft hum, and cool light spilled across the floor. He paused, then turned back toward me, one eyebrow slightly raised in that understated way of his.

“Do you care for a drink?” he asked simply. “I’ve only got water and a few cans of beer here, and there are no convenience stores nearby, so you’ll have to make do with one of those.”

I sighed, running a hand through my still-damp hair. I wasn’t someone who drank alcohol ever. My life had been chaotic enough without adding poor decisions to the mix, but right now? Restless didn’t even begin to cover it. I felt heated, fidgety, like my skin was too tight and my thoughts too loud.

Water sounded awful. I’d had enough of cold, rushing water today under that waterfall to last a lifetime. I needed something else, something with bite. Maybe a can of beer would be the distraction I needed to drag my mind out of dangerous territory. One can couldn’t possibly get me drunk, right? I wasn’t that much of a lightweight.

“I’ll take the beer,” I said, trying to sound casual.

Knox studied me for a second longer than necessary. “You sure?”

I nodded, though a tiny flicker of doubt crept in at his tone. “Is it going to make me drunk by any chance?”

et out a short, dry sound that might have been a laugh. “Except if you’ve got the tolerance of a toddler, of this shouldn’t do any damage at all.” He paused, then added, almost reluctantly, “You sound like never drank before, and given you already think I’m some kind of delinquent, the last thing I need is

one offering you your first can of beer.”

is stung a little, but mostly because they were accurate. I had judged him at first, and now here I was drink beer with him after seeing him naked. The irony wasn’t lost on me.

olled my eyes and waved him off. “Stop dilly-dallying and just bring it already. I’m not some child you 1/4

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Chapter 148

need to babysit.”

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He still looked unconvinced, his jaw tightening slightly like he was debating whether to argue, but after a beat, he reached into the fridge and pulled out two cans. The metal gleamed under the dim cabin light as he closed the door. He crossed the room and handed me one, his fingers brushing mine for the briefest moment. That small contact sent another unwanted spark through me. I pulled my hand back quickly, focusing on the can in my lap.

Knox didn’t sit on the bed. Instead, he took one of the two simple wooden chairs by the small table, turning it slightly so he could face me. He popped his own can open with a sharp hiss and took a slow sip, his movements relaxed but watchful. I could feel his eyes on me even without looking directly at him.

I stared at the can in my hands for a few seconds, then carefully pulled the tab. It opened with a satisfying fizz. The smell hit me first, malty and slightly bitter. I brought it to my lips and took a small, tentative sip. It was colder than I expected, with a sharp tang that made my nose wrinkle. Not terrible, but definitely not something I’d crave regularly. Still, it was better than plain water, and the slight burn as it went down my throat felt like a welcome distraction.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Knox watching me closely, not in a creepy way, just that steady, observant stare he always had. It made my skin prickle with awareness. I took another sip, larger this time, and tried to ignore how vividly I could still picture him from earlier.

He set his can down on the table with a clink. “Let me know when you’re ready to head back,” he said evenly.

At the mention of heading back to Blackridge, my stomach twisted. School, the staring, the rumors, the pressure of the upcoming race, and Ivy probably worrying herself sick about me as we speak. Everything I’d temporarily escaped out here. I frowned, staring into the open can as bubbles rose to the surface. The idea of leaving this quiet cabin right now felt overwhelming, and going back meant facing reality. Here, with Knox, things felt… different, and suspended, even with the awkwardness and my wildly inappropriate thoughts.

I shifted on the edge of the bed, the borrowed shirt riding up my thighs a little. The urge to ask bubbled up before I could stop it. Could I stay here for the night? Just one night. No school, no drama, and no expectations, but the thought was risky. Dangerous, even.

I was already struggling to keep my mind out of the gutter, and staying here alone with him, with the memory of his naked body fresh in my mind, felt like playing with fire, and as much as I wanted to blame Moon for the heat spreading through me, I knew my own thoughts were just as bad, if not worse. I kept imagining what it would feel like to run my hands over his skin, to explore without the barrier of clothes or embarrassment.

‘You’re a mess, Luna,’ I scolded myself silently.

Just as the internal debate raged on, Knox spoke again, as if he could read every perverted corner of my thoughts. His voice was low and steady, without a hint of pressure. “If you want to stay here for the night, we absolutely can. All you have to do is ask.”

My head snapped up, eyes widening as I met his gaze across the small room. The beer can felt suddenly cold and heavy in my hand. How did he do that? Was it the mate bond? Or was I just that transparent? Heat flooded my face again, and I took another quick sip of beer to buy myself a second.

The silence stretched for a moment while I processed his words. Staying meant more time in this tiny cabin, more chances for my thoughts to wander, and more opportunities to make a complete fool of myself, but it

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Chapter 148

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