Marked Twice by the Alpha King

Ava's POV

The Silverpeak car rolled to a stop, and I stepped out, my boots crunching on the gravel path leading to Blackwood Manor. The silver wolf emblems embedded in the stonework seemed to watch me approach, like they knew something I didn't.

My mark tingled as I approached the massive estate. Last time I'd been here, I'd practically thrown myself at Blake Morgan. Not my finest moment.

I tugged at my collar, trying to ignore the memory of his gentle rejection. The golden threads in my mark seemed to pulse with each step closer to his

territory.

The massive oak doors swung open before I could knock. Mr. Wilson stood there, silver hair perfectly combed, eyebrows slightly raised as he took me in.

"Miss Rivers." No smile, just assessment. "Right on time."

"Thanks for not making me wait outside," I said, stepping past him into a foyer bigger than my entire house.

His lips twitched, almost amused. "The contract awaits your signature, but first, let me show you to your... battlefield."

we walked through corridors lined with weapons old enough to have tasted blood in wars humans had forgotten. My fingers itched to touch them.

"Is the Alpha King here?" I asked, pretending my heart wasn't doing gymnastics in my chest.

"Council meeting. He typically returns by nightfall." Wilson paused at a massive portrait-Blake standing tall beside a seated blonde woman holding a baby. "You should know that Master Lucas has dispatched eight instructors already. One lasted exactly forty-seven minutes."

I couldn't help but grin. "So I need to hit forty-eight to win?"

Wilson didn't smile, but something in his eyes lightened. "That would be a record."

A crash echoed from somewhere ahead, followed by a woman's voice raised in frustration.

"Ah, Wilson sighed. "It seems today's dismissal is right on schedule."

The training ground was impressive-a circular arena surrounded by ancient pines, equipped better than Warrior Academy's facilities. In the center stood a small boy with dark hair twirling a training dagger between his fingers while a woman in expensive battle gear stuffed equipment into a bag.

"Impossible!" she spat when she saw us. "Completely impossible! He deliberately ruined every exercise!" She stormed past without looking at me. "Good luck. You Il need it."

Lucas Morgan looked me up and down, unimpressed. His eyes were storm- gray like his father's but flecked with gold that seemed to analyze my every

move.

"Another one?" He sounded bored. "Where'd father dig you up from?"

"Warrior Academy." I matched his stare. "I hear you're collecting fired instructors like trophies."noveldrama

His eyebrows shot up, clearly not expecting my directness.

"They sucked," he said with a child's bluntness. "Dad keeps sending me babysitters instead of real warriors."

From the corner of my eye, I noticed staff members lingering nearby. Apparently, "Watch the Alpha's son terrorize another instructor was their favorite entertainment.

Lucas attempted a complex knife maneuver, his small face scrunching with concentration. He botched the final twist, frustration flashing across his features.

"Want to see it done right?" I asked.

His pride warred with curiosity before he extended the blade. "If you can."

I took the knife, feeling its perfect balance, and flowed through the sequence that had given him trouble. My body moved from memory, dust swirling at my feet. I added a flourish at the end-a high-level variation that made the staff members whisper among themselves.

Lauras's saw tightened as he tried to look unimpressed, but his widened eyes gave him away.

2:49 PM

"Not bad, he shrugged. "For basic moves."

Basics are why your father can drop any wolf who challenges him," I said, handing back the blade. "Even the Alpha King practices fundamentals daily."

His expression shifted. "You know my father?"

"We've met." I kept it vague, feeling Wilson's attention sharpen. "He must have had reasons for picking me."

Lucas twirled the dagger. "The last instructor who claimed to know my dad lasted less than a day."

Wilson sighed softly behind me, already anticipating another failure.

"So, I rested my hand on my hip, "how are you going to test if I'm worth keeping around?"

Lucas grabbed two wooden blades from a rack, tossing one at me with surprising force.

'Combat," he said simply, moving to the center of the circle. "The others were too scared to fight me. Afraid of hurting the precious Alpha heir."

Wilson stepped forward. "Young master-*

"It's fine, I caught the blade, testing its weight. "Some kids need to get their asses kicked before they learn respect."

Lucas's mouth twitched, almost smiling. His stance was good-feet positioned correctly, weight balanced, guard up.

"Let's see what you've got," he challenged.

He lunged without warning, moving faster than any seven-year-old had a right to.

I blocked easily but made it look like effort, assessing his skill level.

As we exchanged blows, he incorporated increasingly advanced techniques. This wasn't just natural talent-someone had taught him well. I started paying closer attention when he nearly broke through my guard with a combination that adult warriors would struggle to execute.

Still think I need basics?" he taunted, a smirk playing on his lips.

I stepped up my game, introducing counters that would challenge an academy graduate. Lucas adapted quickly, his eyes tracking my movements with unnerving focus. Once or twice, he even attempted to copy techniques I'd just demonstrated.

My wolf stirred, recognizing the raw potential in this pup.

After a few minutes, I decided it was lesson time. I created a deliberate opening-a

trap disguised as a mistake. Lucas pounced immediately.

In one fluid motion, I twisted away, disarmed him, and tapped the training blade

against his shoulder, side, and knee in rapid succession.

"Dead, dead, and crippled," I said quietly. "Three openings you left me."

Lucas stared at his empty hand, momentarily speechless. For the first time, genuine respect flickered across his face.

"Nobody's ever caught those," he admitted.

“That's the difference between people afraid of offending an Alpha's son and someone who actually wants to teach you something useful."

As we finished, Lucas returned the training weapons with unexpected care. His earlier bratty attitude had mellowed into something thoughtful.

"You're different," he said, studying me. "The others saw a problem to fix. You see something else."

I brushed dust from my sleeve. "Talented students are the hardest to teach. They don't need controlling-they need challenges."

A small smile tugged at his lips. "Dad said you'd be different. He was right."

My mark warmed at the mention of Blake. "Your father... talks about me?"

He said you have wolf's spirit." Lucas's expression turned mischievous. "But that's not enough to pass my final test."

I planted my feet firmly, crossing my arms with a confident smile. My mark tingled under my collar, but my voice came out steady and strong.