Chapter 17: Rage
**Lily's POV**
I woke to the gentle sensation of Marcus stroking my cheek, his thumb tracing slow, soothing circles across my skin.
For a moment, I just lay there with my eyes closed, savoring the warmth of his touch, the steady sound of his breathing, the knowledge that he was alive and awake and here. Then reality crashed back in—the ambush, his injuries, Sam's death, Derek still out there planning his revenge—and tears filled my eyes before I could stop them.
"Hey," Marcus said softly. "What's wrong?"
I opened my eyes to find him watching me with concern, his dark eyes warm despite the pain I could still see etched in the lines around them. He looked better than he had hours ago—more color in his face, more strength in his movements—but he was still hurt. Still ban
