Marked by the Alpha Team (Luna Merrick) novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Third Person POV

Orion had already been awake for about fifteen minutes, and from the very moment his eyes opened, something had felt off in a way he couldn’t immediately explain. It wasn’t specific or obvious at first, but it was there, sitting quietly in his chest like a warning that refused to fade no matter how much he tried to ignore it.

The warmth that had been pressed against him when he fell asleep was gone, and that alone was enough to make him sit up slowly, his brows pulling together in confusion as his eyes inoved around the room. The last thing he clearly remembered was Laina in his arms, her body still hot, still restless, but calmer than before, and he had stayed with her because he believed it was the only way to keep both of them under control.

It had taken everything he had to do it, every bit of restraint, every ounce of discipline, and even then, it fadn’t been easy Shadow had been loud in his head, pushing him, urging him to give in to instinct, to take what was theirs, and to stop pretending like he was above it. He had forced his wolf down, forced himself to stay still, and eventually, exhaustion had taken over, pulling him into sleep whether he liked it or not, and now, waking up to an empty space wfrere she should have been, it didn’t sit right with him at all.

He pushed himself fully upright, his movements sharper now and more alert as his attention moved quickly across the room, scanning every corner like she might suddenly appear if he looked hard enough. The bed was no different than it had been earlier, the floor where they had been lying was empty, and the air itself felt colder without her presence there.

“Luna?” he called quietly, his voice low, but there was no answer.

The silence that followed only made the uneasy feeling in his chest grow stronger, and without wasting another second, he got to his feet, his eyes immediately shifting toward the door. It was still closed, exactly as it had been before, and that alone confirmed what he already suspected. If she had left through the door, he would have heard it. Even in his sleep, his senses were not that dull.

His gaze dropped back to the floor again, and that was when he saw it clearly. Her clothes. They were still there, scattered near where she had been earlier, and the sight made his jaw tighten almost instantly. That meant she had left without them. completely exposed, completely unaware of herself, and most likely still not fully in control of her actions. His frustration spiked immediately, sharp and fast, because this was exactly what they had been trying to avoid.

“Damn it…” he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair as he forced himself to stay calm. Getting angry wouldn’t help her, and it wouldn’t fix anything. He needed to think.

His eyes slowly lifted toward the window, and everything clicked into place almost instantly. That was the only way she could have left, and under normal circumstances, the idea would have been ridiculous. They were on the third floor, and no one in their right mind would climb out of a window from that height, but Luna was not in her rightmind, not when her wolf was still affecting her, not when her instincts were stronger than her logic.

Without hesitation, Orion moved toward the window and jumped out with ease, his body reacting naturally as he dropped down to the ground below. He landed smoothly, barely making a sound, and immediately straightened, his eyes scanning the area around him as his senses stretched outward.

He didn’t call her name, even though every instinct in him told him to do exactly that. The urge was there, strong and persistent, but he forced it down because he knew better. The last thing he needed was to draw attention to her. She had ne clothes on, and if anyone else saw her in that state, especially while she was still dealing with the effects of her heat, the situation would spiral into something far worse than it already was.

So instead, he stayed silent, his movements careful but also pretty fast as he started to move around the side of the house, keeping his focus on solely finding her. He listened for anything, any sound that could lead him to her, but for a moment, there was nothing but the silence of the night around him.

#gn it he him.

Her scent came first, sudden and strong, filling his senses in a way that made his entire body react without permission. His chest rose with a sharper break his muscles tightening slightly as the familiar sweetness wrapped around him, carrying that same edge of heat that made it impossible to ignore It told him she was close, very close.

“She’s here…” he muttered quietly, already shifting direction without thinking twice, but theft omething else reached hurr too, another scent that was mixed with hers, and as he moved forward it became clearer, stronger, and more distinct with every step he took.

Jace.

Drior slowed slightly, confusion flickering across his face as his mind tried to make sense of it. Why was Jace out here? He had been the one to set the rules, the one to make it clear that they needed to stay controlled, that frey needed to keep their distance unless absolutely necessary. Orion was about to reach out through their mindlink, ready to ask hire directly what was going on, but then he saw them, and everything inside him snapped.

una was lying on the grass, completely still, her body relaxed in a way that suggested she was asleep, her bare skin was hining softly under the moonlight, and she looked… peaceful. Too peaceful for everything that had been happening, too alm for someone who had been in so much distress just hours ago, but she wasn’t alone. Jace was there with her, his arm wrapped around her, holding her close, his body pressed against hers in a way that was far too intimate to misunderstand. He was just as naked as she was, and the sight of them together like that hit Orion harder than anything else could have.

He didn’t need to be closer to understand what had happened. He didn’t need to ask questions or wait for an explanation. The answer was already there, clear and undeniable in the way they were positioned, in the way their bodies fit together, and nost of all, in the scent that filled the air around them. Jace’s scent was on her, strong and unmistakable, mixed with hers in

way that could not be ignored or hidden. It wasn’t just contact, and it wasn’t just proximity. It was something deeper. omething permanent.

Marked.

Orion’s hands curled into fists at his sides, his entire body going rigid as something dark and violent surged through him without warning. It wasn’t just anger he felt immediately because what he was feeling right now wasn’t something simple or asy to name. It was deeper than that, so much deeper, and more consuming, and for the first time in his life, he felt it fully nd without restraint.

He felt jealousy, the same one he had always tried to keep under wraps and never fully expressed.

t hit him so hard it almost stole the air from his lungs, his chest tightening painfully as his breathing grew heavier His gaze ocked on Jace, and for a moment, he couldn’t look away even if he wanted to.

He did it first… he’s first again…” Orion muttered under his breath, his voice low and strained as the Falization settled in ully.

Of all of them, Jace had been the one to set the boundaries, the one to speak about control and restraint like it was Something that could not be broken. He had been the one to tell them not to cross the line, not to take advantage of Luna when she wasn’t fully herself, and yet, here he was. The first to break that rule, and the first to claim her

Shadow reacted instantly, rising up inside him with a force Orion had never felt before. His wolf didn’t hesitate, and the rage that filled him was raw, unfiltered, and dangerously close to taking over completely. The sight in front of them was enough to push him to the edge, and for a brief moment, Orion felt his control slip. The thought came fast and clear, and his rage was so deep that all he was seeing was red. He could walk forward right now, and he could drag Jace away from her and make him pay for what he had done.

His fingers twitched slightly, his claws threatening to push through as his body leaned forward without his permission. It would be so much easier to catch Jace off guard this way and kill him for daring to mark their mate. Their mate. His mate.

2/3

Chapter 80

Fiop…” Onion metered under his breath his voice tight as he forced himself to stay where he was. His entire body was Liense, his inuscles toiled like they were ready to snap at any second, but he held himself back. He had to.

Shadow didn’t like it or agree with it, and the anger didn‘ fade, but Orion forced it down anyway, even if it felt like trying to hold back a storm with nothing but his bare hands.

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