Marked Twice by the Alpha King

Third Person POV

Lyra sucked in a deep breath, pulling herself back together. When she looked at Sophia again, those purple eyes had gone cold and determined.

"Thanks for the heads up, little Morgan. Her voice was silk over steel again. 'I'l make sure your dad figures out what he really wants.

"Perfect. Sophia beamed like Christmas morning. "Someone like Dad deserves the best woman in the world, And Ava Rivers?" She shook her head sadly. "She's not even close to good enough."

Lyra nodded, satisfaction written all over her face. Silver hair caught the light as she moved. "Don't worry, honey. Some Shadow Creek nobody doesn't stand a chance against a Northern Lights priestess."

She turned and walked toward the meeting hall, moving like a predator who'd just spotted prey.

Sophia watched her go, smile getting deeper and more complicated. She should've felt good-plan working, pieces falling into place. But there was this weird empty feeling in her chest too.

She didn't wanna be this person. The scheming type, cold and calculating, willing to destroy people to get what she wanted. Mom had never been like that. Dad wouldn't want his daughter turning into this.

But Ava had pushed her here. That woman was like poison, seeping into Jackson's thoughts, making it impossible for him to love her completely. Even when

they were together, really together, Sophia could feel part of him was somewhere else.

Now Ava was pulling the same crap with her dad? Not a chance in hell. Sophia had finally gotten her family back together-loving father, devoted fiancé. Nobody was gonna wreck that.

If I don't stop her now, Dad's next on her hit list. Sophia breathed deep, pushing down the guilt. Step one: complete. Time for step two.

She didn't have to wait long.

Maybe eight minutes later, familiar footsteps came from the other direction. Sophia flipped the switch, turning back into innocent daddy's girl mode.

Ava Rivers rounded the corner, those deep green eyes still sharp from training. Afternoon light hit her just right, making her look annoyingly gorgeous.

All those complicated feelings hit Sophia at once. Anger, jealousy, this bitter unfairness of it all. Why did this woman get to mess with people's hearts so easily? Jackson was supposed to be hers, but he still got that look when Ava's name came up. Now Dad was starting to act weird around her too.

What's her secret? How does she do it? Sophia's jaw clenched. Well, not this time.

"Ava!" She bounced over, voice full of fake concern. "Oh good, you're here."

Ava stopped, looking confused. The afternoon light made Sophia's hair look like spun gold, but something about her smile felt off.

"Hey, Sophia. What's up?"

"Well..." Sophia put on this slightly worried face. "Dad's in the meeting hall with the Northern Lights people. Big important strategy session. So if you were gonna see him..."

"I'm not here for Blake. Ava shook her head. "Just picking up Lucas. Training's done for today."

Oh, Lucas is in there too." Sophia's eyes lit up like she'd just remembered. "You could totally go look, but..." She trailed off, doing that thing where you obviously want someone to ask.

"But what?"

"You might find it kinda... surprising." Sophia sighed, voice getting this weird tone. "That priestess lady is really into Dad. Like, really into him."

The meeting hall door was cracked open just enough. Ava could see straight in- Blake in his usual spot at the head of the table, and that stunning silver-

haired woman right beside him. They were talking quietly, heads close together. Lyra kept touching his arm, leaning in the whole body language thing screaming intimacy.

All the color drained from Ava's face.

"They look amazing together, don't they? Sophia whispered right in her ear, voice dripping with fake sympathy. The priestess was just telling me thes thinking about moving to Silverpeak permanently. I'm already getting excited about having a new stepmother."

Ava went stiff as a board. Her hands curled into fists, knuckles white as paper.

"..." Her voice came out barely above a whisper. "I'm not feeling so great."

She turned away fast, couldn't look at the meeting hall anymore. "Could you tell Lucas training's canceled? I need to get out of here."

"Sure thing. Sophia kept that sweet, caring tone going. "You okay? You look really pale."noveldrama

'I'm fine. Ava forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Thanks, Sophia. See you around."

Watching Ava stumble toward the exit, Sophia felt way more complicated than she'd expected. Yeah, there was satisfaction-plan working, enemy retren But there was this hollow feeling too, like she'd just kicked a puppy.

When she saw Ava pause at the doorway, saw her shoulders shake just slightly, something twisted in Sophia's stomach.

That wasn't fake. That trembling, that pain-it looked real. Like actual heartbreak.

She's just acting. Playing for sympathy. Sophia told herself harshly. Same trick she used on Jackson. Poor helpless Ava, making men feel sorry for her.

But damn, if that was acting, she was good at it.

No. She couldn't think like that. Ava Rivers had been slowly destroying her happiness piece by piece-first Jackson's heart, now trying to steal Dad's attention. If Sophia went soft now, she'd lose everything.

She's not taking anything else from me. Not one more thing.

Sophia straightened up, watching that lonely figure disappear around the corner.

Time to make sure Lyra and Dad's little "romance" stayed on track.

This was just the beginning.

Chapter Comments

Jessica Konopa

have to know why women always blame other women. it is usually the man's fault

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