Chapter 39: The Mark

The pack house was quiet for the first time in months.

No alerts. No training. No Gate humming in the distance.

Just me and Kai. In his room. Door closed.

It had been 4 days since the peak. 4 days of paperwork, pack meetings, and Kai going back to Black Ridge practices.

Tonight was the first night that felt... normal.

Kai was sitting on the edge of the bed. Still in his Ravens hoodie. Hair damp from the shower.

I was cross-legged on the floor, leaning against his knees.

"You okay?" he asked. Thumb brushing my hair.

"I think so," I said. "It’s weird. Quiet."

"I know," Kai said. "I keep waiting for something to go wrong."

"Nothing will," I said. "The Gate is closed."

"Yeah," Kai said. But he didn’t sound convinced.

I looked up at him. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Why haven’t you... marked me yet?"

Kai went still.

Werewolves mark when they’re certain. When it’s forever. It’s not just bites. It’s magic. A bond. Everyone can see it.

"Do you want me to?" he asked. Careful.

"I’ve wanted you to since Chapter 12," I said. "I just thought... after the Gate. After everything."

Kai cupped my face. "Lila. I’ve wanted to since I was 17 and you wrapped my hands after practice."

My breath caught. "Then why—"

"Because marking you means I’m choosing you over the pack, over duty, over everything," he said. "And I needed to be sure nothing would take you from me."

He smiled. Sad. "And because I was scared. If I mark you and something happens to me—"

"It won’t," I said. "Not anymore."

Kai searched my eyes. "Are you sure? This is forever. My Alpha. My Moon. My mate."

"I’m sure," I said. "I’ve been sure for 200 years."

Kai made a sound. Half laugh, half sob. He pulled me onto the bed. Into his lap.

"Say it again," he whispered.

"I’m yours," I said. "And you’re mine."

"Good," Kai said.

He leaned down. Kissed me. Slow. Like he had all the time in the world.

His hands in my hair. Mine on his chest. Over his heart.

When we broke apart, we were both breathing hard.

"Where?" I whispered.

Kai touched the spot where my neck met my shoulder. "Here. So everyone can see."

"Do it," I said.

Kai’s eyes went gold. Alpha. But soft.

He lowered his head.

The bite hurt. Sharp. Then warm. Then... everything.

I felt him. In my head. In my chest. Like a second heartbeat.

*Mine*, his voice said in my mind. *Always mine.*

*Always yours*, I answered back.

The mark burned. Silver and black. Like the Ravens. Like the Moon.

When he pulled back, he licked the spot. Sealing it.

I was crying. "It’s done?"

"It’s done," Kai said. He touched it with his thumb. "You’re marked, Lila. By me. Forever."

I kissed him again. Harder this time. "My Alpha."

"My Moon," he said back.

We stayed like that. Hours. Talking. Not talking. Just being.

At some point Nova knocked. "Um. Dinner?"

Kai didn’t answer. Just pulled the blanket over us.

"She’s busy," he said through the door.

Nova’s laugh. "About time. Mark looks good on her."

---

The next morning, the pack saw it.

Whispers. Smiles. Elder Torren cried.

Marisol hugged me so hard I thought my ribs would break. "My daughter," she said.

Even Mason clapped Kai on the back. "Finally, man. Took you long enough."

Kai just grinned. Arm around me. Possessive. Proud.

At Black Ridge that afternoon, it was worse.

Kai walked into the rink in his Ravens jersey. Me right behind him.

The team saw the mark first.

"Yo," the goalie said. "Is that—"

"Yes," Kai said. "She’s my mate."

The team erupted. Cheering. Whooping.

From the Frost side, Vex saw it.

She went still. Then turned away. No scene. No fight.

Just... acceptance.

After practice, Kai skated to the boards where I was sitting.

"Hi, Captain," I said.

"Hi, Moon," he said. He leaned down and kissed me. Right there. In front of 40 people.

"So," I said. "What now?"

"Now," Kai said, "we live. We finish school. You finish your stats degree. I finish my last season with the Ravens."

"And the pack?"

"And the pack," Kai said. "But no more Gates. No more dying."

He took my hand. The mark on my neck tingled.

"Just us," he said.

"Just us," I agreed.

That night, back home.

No blood. No prophecies. No sacrifices.

Just Kai tracing the mark on my neck with his fingers.

"Does it hurt?" he asked.

"No," I said. "It feels like home."

"Good," Kai said. "Because you are."

He kissed me. Soft. Deep.

And for the first time in 200 years, the Moon and the Alpha slept.

Without fear. Without waiting.

Just together.