Marked Twice by the Alpha King

Chapter 37: A Sudden Honesty Bomb

Ava's POV

"Need a lift to Blackwood Manor?" Sophia called out, leaning against a sleek carriage that screamed money. Sunlight caught her golden hair, giving her that perfect princess vibe that made my stomach knot.

I blinked twice, definitely not expecting to see her here of all places. "Yes, but-

"I knew you were training Lucas today," she cut in, tapping the carriage door. Thought you might want a ride instead of hoofing it through the woods. We could catch up,"

My fingers brushed the mark on my neck before I could stop them. It tingled-not quite pain, not quite pleasure. The thought of being trapped in a fancy box with Jackson's fiancée made my skin crawl, but I didn't have the heart to be cold to her. Whatever was happening between lackson and me wasn't her fault, and starting drama with the Alpha's daughter seemed like a spectacularly had idea.

"Thanks," I managed, the word sticking in my throat like a half-swallowed pill. "Been a day already."

The carriage was next-level bougle-butter-soft leather seats with actual silver wolf head designs pressed into them. Fresh flowers sat in the corner, scent strategically masking the subtle markers most wolves could pick up on. Nothing left to chance in Alpha-land.

Sophia caught me eyeing the over the top interior and actually winced. "Dad's thing, not mine. He says image matters or whatever."

their

As the wheels started rolling, she drummed her fingers on her knee. "So Lucas hasn't scared you off yet? You're officially the record holder. Last teacher literally forfeited a whole season's pay just to escape."

"He's just a kid with too much power in a too-small body." I said, watching the trees blur past. "Everyone expects him to be mini-Blake, but nobody actually sees him. Blake's drowning in Alpha crap, you're planning your big day... kid's basically raising himself,"

Something flickered across Sophia's face-guilt, maybe. She tugged at a loose thread on her sleeve. "Yeah, I've been pretty useless in the big sister

he big department lately. It's weird though-since Jackson and I got engaged, my wolf goes nuts when he's not around. Like, physical pain level attachment, Never felt anything like it."

"Your woll?" My voice went sharp enough to cut glass.

"Mmhmm." Her eyes went all dreamy, which was exactly what I didn't need to see. "We both know he's not my fated mate or anything. No destiny marks or whatever. But Jackson's just so... focused. My wolf practically rolls over whenever he walks in the room. Like he's exactly what we need,"

I twisted toward the window, jaw clenched tight enough to crack nuts. My fingers found the mark again, tracing the weird gold threads that had been spreading through Jackson's silver claim. The universe's idea of a practical joke-carrying the physical ache for someone else's man.

"You ever been in love, Ava? Like, the real deal?" Sophia asked, watching me with those stormy gray-blue eyes that reminded me too much of her father.

"Thought I was," I muttered, focusing on a passing oak tree e like it held the secrets of the universe. "Turns out power and status beat destiny for some people."

The carriage rolled through a checkpoint where guards practically folded themselves in half bowing to Sophia while giving me the stink eye. Traitor's kid. Walking reject. Just another Tuesday.

"Their loss, Sophia said, her voice suddenly missing its usual polish. "You've got something most people would kill for, Ava. Not just the fighting skills. Lucas wouldn't shut up about you for three whole days after your first lesson."

When the carriage finally stopped at Blackwood's entrance, I nearly face-planted in my rush to escape. "Thanks for the ride. Wouldn't want to keep you-"

"I've literally got nothing else today," she admitted, picking at her perfectly manicured nails. Jackson's doing pack stuff. Funny how being the Alpha's daughter means I'm surrounded by people but nobody's actually there, you know?"

I had no clue how to handle this

sudden honesty bomb, so I just nodded and bailed toward the house before things got even weirder.

Wilson was hovering by the door like a bad smell, back straight enough to use as a ruler. "Miss Rivers. Early today." Three words carrying seventeen layers of disupproval.noveldrama

Ever since Blake shut him down in front of Luces, Wilson had been watching me like I might sprout a second head and eat the silverware. Our silent war continued with every perfectly clipped sentence.

Chapter 37: A Sudden Honesty Bomb

"Where's Lucas?" I asked, not bothering with the social niceties neither of us meant.

"Back training yard," he replied, nostrils flaring slightly. “Alpha King has requested he pass basic warrior testing next week. Quite the challenge for one so.....

I brushed past him, the implied criticisms bouncing off my back like a dull arrow.

Hunter spotted me first, the massive wolf dog's head priking up, golden eyes brightening. Lucas was flailing at a training dummy with a wooden tened, all power and zero finesse, like watching someone try to kill a fly with a baseball bat.

"You're strangling that sword,” I called out, making him jump: “It's a weapon, not a hostage. Lotsen up."

"Ava!" His face lit up like I'd brought Christmas in July. These moves are so boring. Can't you teach me something cool? Like claw fighting or mind control

ster this boring stuff

"Basics first, badass later, I cut in, stepping over to fix his stance, Hes feet were all wrong, his balance shot to hell. Your dad had to master Too. Alpha blood doesnt mean skipping the hard parts.

The kid was a sponge-soaked up three defensive stances in an hour flat, progress that would take most kids a week. When he really locked in, his eyes would flash gold for a split second-the Morgan bloodline power simmering just under the surface. The reason Blake pared the floor at night,

"Not bad for a shorty," I said, ruffling

g his h

i hair. "Let's see how you handle the real deal. Remember-defense first. No hero moves."

With each passing minute, Lucas sank deeper into the flow. His movements quickened, his eyes flashed gold more often, and I could practically feel the Alpha energy trackling around him like static before a storm.

"Dial it back a notch, I warned softly, spotting his fingernails starting to lengthen. "You control the wolf, not the other way around. Alpha 101-

He blocked my strike perfectly and bounced on his toes like he'd just won the lottery, "I did it he shouted, pumping his fist in the air.

That's when it happened his excitement sent his partial shift into overdrive. His eyes locked into full wolf gold, no more flickers.

Shif

His fingertips morphed before my eyes, nails extending into re-sharp clawn. O twice his age.

On a seven-year-old. The kind of shift that shouldn't be possible for someone "Lucas, breathe," I dropped my training sword, reaching for his shoulders. Remember the center point. Find

But he was riding the high of success, lost in the moment, his body responding to emotions his mind couldn't yet control.

He spun around, wanting to show me his new stance-completely oblivious to the lethal weapons his fingers had become.

White-hot pain scared across my back as his claws connected, slicing through my combat gear like it was tissue paper. I hit back a scream as warm blood trickled down my spine, my suit hanging open from shoulder to hip, skin exposed to the cool ain

Chapter Comments

Why are we in carriage days? Earlier Blake said his car but the book repeatedly refers to riding in carriages.

The rich use carriages for transport, but in chapter 2 page 6 Jackson (not yet an Alpha) arrived at Ava's house with his black SUV...