Marked Twice by the Alpha King

Ava's POV

Her eyes held that steel-under-sorrow look, the same one I'd seen when she first visited William in that silver-lined cell.

"Because I made a deal with Martha," she said quietly, fingers fidgeting in her lap. 'If I join their medical team-handling full moon symptoms, Brewing their healing herbs—she'll fast-track William's Blood Protection application. She's promised I can help prepare for his trial."

1 stared at her, feeling like the floor was tilting. "You're kidding me, right? They want you as their personal herb slave?"

"Medical advisor," she corrected weakly, gaze sliding away from mine. "They provide a roof and position. I provide expertise."

"That's grade-A bull and you know it, I growled, my wolf snarling under my skin. "Look what they did to me! They promised Chief Combat Instructor and stuck me in a glorified broom closet running triple patrols. You really think they'll keep their word about Dad?"

"Has Blake promised to help William?" The question landed sharp as a knife. "Has he guaranteed your father's release? Does he even know everything we're up against?"

My mouth opened, then closed. Guilt crashed over me like an icy wave. Truth was, I'd never laid it all out for Blake. Never swallowed my pride enough to actually ask for direct help. He'd mentioned investigating, sure, but I'd never pushed for specifics or pressed him for a real commitment.

"That's what I thought,” Sarah said, not unkindly. "You've got too much of William in you-too stubborn to ask for help. I don't have that luxury. If groveling gets him out of that cell, I'll crawl on my hands and knees."

"This isn't about pride," I said, feeling my eyes burn. "It's about safety. These people aren't trustworthy. Not even a little bit.

'I know." Sarah nodded, exhaustion lining her face. "But I've made my choice. For family, we each play our part. Mine is staying here, fighting for William's freedom. And yours..."

She reached up, cradling my face between her hands the way she used to when I was small.

"Your part is to go with Blake. Now."

I gaped at her, blindsided. "Are you out of your mind? Leave you here alone in this snake pit?"

"Every day you stay puts a target on your back," she said firmly. "Vanessa wants to destroy you. Jackson wants to possess you. Martha sees you as a threat to her plans. You can't protect me here-but if you're safe..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Maybe then you can help us in ways we can't even see yet."

I bit down on my lip hard, fighting back the hot pressure building behind my eyes. She was right-of course she was right-but admitting it felt like swallowing broken glass.

'I love you too much to just walk away," I whispered, voice cracking down the middle.noveldrama

Sarah pulled me into her arms, enveloping me in that familiar embrace that had been my safe harbor since before I could remember.

"And I love you too much to watch you sacrifice yourself she murmured against my hair. "From the moment William and I pulled you from that attack, you became our everything. Now it's my turn to protect my child, the way you've always tried to protect us."

The tears I'd been fighting broke free, soaking into her shoulder. "None of this is your fault," I mumbled.

She stroked my back in slow circles, the way she always had. "Or yours. We're just pieces on someone else's game board right now, But r Rivers family doesn't go down without one hell of a fight."

y words-the

Sarah left first. I trailed behind her, legs feeling like they'd been hollowed out and filled with cement. As we made our way through the corridor, the air felt thick- Hayes territory's trademark arrogance mixing with Blake's barely contained fury Martha's artificial apologies floated from the main hall before we even reached it.

-deeply regrettable incident, Alpha King. I assure you, we'll get to the bottom of this immediately..."

I could picture Blake's face without seeing it-that special brand of calm-on-the- surface, volcano underneath that only the Alpha King could pull of than 1 pushed the door open, the whole room went dead silent. Every head turned toward me like I'd just crashed a funeral.

“Ah, Ava, Martha's voice dripped fake concern as she glided over, trailing enough perfume to make my nose burn. "Feeling better, dear? Such an unfortuna accident during training....

'It's nothing, I cut her off, eyes finding Blake over her shoulder. His were tinged with gold wolf riding right beneath the surface, ready to test through. He wasn't buying any of this theater, and somehow, that gave me strength.

"You should rest," Martha continued, her motherly tone making my teeth ache. "Perhaps tomorrow we can arrange a lighter schedule for you......."

I glanced at Sarah, catching her almost imperceptible nod and the quiet determination in her eyes. She'd made her decision. Now I had to make mine. "Goodnight," I said simply, turning to leave without another word.

I'd barely made it three steps when I heard the door open and close behind me. The mark on my neck hummed, awareness prickling along my spine. Blake. His presence crackled around me like the air before lightning strikes.

"Whatever you were thinking before," his voice rumbled low like distant thunder, 'you're coming with me tonight. I'm not leaving you in this hellhole another minute."

He stood there braced for an argument, all Alpha stubbornness and unmovable force. But I just didn't have any fight left in me. Sarah was right-staying here was just digging a deeper hole.

"Okay,” I said quietly.

Blake blinked, thrown off balance. "Just like that?"

"Just like that, I confirmed, almost smiling at his confusion. "But I have one condition."

His expression turned serious again. "Name it."

"Sarah stays here-her choice, not mine. But I need your word she'll be safe." promise to me that Hayes won't touch a hair on her head."

met his eyes directly. "Not the Alpha King's formal guarantee. I need Blake's

His gaze deepened, something fierce flashing gold in his eyes. Not just Alpha anger-this was deeper, more primal. The kind of protectiveness usually reserved for pack, for family.

"I swear it by the Moon Goddess and my bloodline," he said, voice soft but vibrating with power. "If they harm her in any way, I'll make sure the entire Hayes territory understands what Alpha fury truly means."

Relief washed through me like a cool wave. A blood oath. More binding than contracts, more sacred than pack law. My wolf finally settled under my skin, some of the constant tension easing from my muscles.

I nodded once and turned to leave, but his hand caught my arm gently-not commanding, just connecting. It reminded me of Lucas mimicking my combat moves, so careful not to get it wrong.

'Just grab what you need," he said, his voice suddenly gentle. "Tyler will meet you

at the boundary when you're ready."

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