All Chapters of The Mark You Hide: Chapter 21 - Chapter 23

GageI don’t like bringing her into town, and she knows it.Mara stood in the cabin’s kitchen doorway in my hoodie, arms crossed like she lived there. The view of her in my clothes made my skin hot. Put thoughts in my head I had to shake away.The ward stone in the baseboard killed her signal and kept her here. The bond kept tugging anyway, reacting every time her gaze slid over me like a challenge.“You said one lead,” she said.“I said you come with me to verify one lead,” I corrected. “Not that you get to freelance.”She lifted her chin. “Same thing.”“It’s not.” I checked the bag: cuffs, zip ties, gauze, silver wrap, burner, keys. Then I shut it. “Rules.”Her eyes narrowed. “Let me guess—don’t breathe.”“Rule one: you stay within arm’s reach in public.”“I’m not a toddler.”“You’re a target,” I said. “Rule two: you don’t speak unless I ask you a direct question.”She opened her mouth anyway.I stepped closer until the bond flared and her breathing hitched. “Rule three: if I put my

GageI brought her in through the back entrance because the front hall has too many eyes and too many mouths. Mason met me at the threshold, jaw tight, nose flaring at the blood on my hands and the silver tang on Mara’s skin.“She’s hurt,” I said.“I can see that,” Mason snapped, then caught himself. “Alpha. Wren’s ready.”Wren didn’t waste time on greetings. The medical room lights were bright and cruel, the kind that make everything look worse. Mara sat on the edge of the exam table, sleeve pushed up, forearm mottled red where the silver had kissed her. She was pale, angry, and trying not to show either. That stubbornness might keep her alive.Wren pressed gauze to the cut and Mara hissed through her teeth. “Ow.”“It’s silver,” Wren said, matter-of-fact, like she was explaining a splinter. Then she paused—just a fraction too long—and her eyes narrowed at the angry red blooming under the wrap. “It’s supposed to hurt.”Mara’s glare snapped to me like I’d personally dipped the blade. I