Marked Twice by the Alpha King Chapter 105

**Ava's POV**

Morning light snuck through a crack in the heavy curtains, painting a golden line across Blake's sleeping face. I blinked awake, momentarily forgetting where I was. The silky sheets felt nothing like the rough cotton I was used to, and the air smelled of pine and rain and something else—the unique scent of us together.

I carefully turned to look at Blake's peaceful face, so different from his usual stern Alpha expression. A strand of dark hair fell across his forehead, making the untouchable Alpha King look surprisingly vulnerable.

Memories of last night flooded back, heating my cheeks. Blake had promised that when the time was right, he would announce to everyone that I was his mate, the Luna of Silverpeak Pack.

And then, we didn't need words anymore.

In his bedroom, we'd lost ourselves in each other's touch, as if the world had narrowed to just the two of us. His lips had ignited fires across my skin while my fingers had traced every line of his body. 

From the luxurious bed to the spacious windowsill, from the soft carpet to the massive bathroom, every corner of this room now held memories of our passion.

Our connection wasn't just physical—it was something deeper, something that resonated through our souls.

Years of training had taught me how to take down three grown werewolves, but with him, I willingly surrendered. The feeling was so strange yet so right.

I pulled myself from these memories and gently touched the mark on my neck. No longer Jackson's silver brand, but completely transformed to gold—Blake's mark, the Alpha King's claim.

With a soft sigh, I started to carefully slip out of bed. We'd agreed to keep our relationship secret, but if anyone caught me sneaking out of the Alpha King's bedroom, any hope of privacy would instantly evaporate. But just as I lifted the covers, a strong arm wrapped around my waist.

"Going somewhere?" Blake's voice was deep and lazy with sleep.

I turned to face him, finding his eyes already open, watching me with an almost tender expression.

"Back to my usual role," I answered softly. "We can't let anyone find out I spent the night here."

He nodded silently, but his fingers continued tracing small circles on my waist. "Give me ten more minutes," he said, his gaze dropping to my lips.

"What can you do in ten minutes?" I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence.

Blake's answer was to pull me closer, his lips brushing mine lightly before pressing more firmly. Heat spread from where our mouths connected, making me instinctively arch against him.

When his hand slid to my back, tracing down my spine, I had to remind myself that Lucas's training would start in an hour.

"We agreed," I managed between kisses, "to keep this secret... for safety."

"Right now it's just the two of us," his voice was deeper than usual, "and I can't wait another second to touch you."

His mouth moved to my neck, teeth grazing the golden mark, sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body. My fingers tangled in his dark hair, pulling him closer.

"Wilson might come knocking," I tried to hold onto my rationality, but my voice was already trembling.

"Wilson knows not to disturb me without orders," Blake looked up, his eyes completely gold now, wolf-bright and hungry. "Now stop talking."

He rolled on top of me, his broad shoulders blocking the sunlight. I stared up at his commanding face, momentarily speechless. He was like a true Alpha wolf—powerful, confident, impossible to refuse. And in that moment, I didn't want to refuse.

I lifted my head to capture his lips, feeling his surprise and then his passionate response. Our bodies fit together perfectly, like two pieces of a whole finally finding their place.

As his hands explored my body, my nails dug into his back, marking him as mine. He chuckled softly, the sound filled with satisfaction and a primal sort of pride.

"Mine," he whispered, golden eyes flashing with possession. "Completely mine."

"Yours," I heard myself answer, voice barely audible, but I knew his enhanced wolf hearing would catch it.

What happened after that... well, like our relationship, it's best kept secret.

At noon, I dragged my tired body into the Warrior Academy's student lounge. The morning training with Lucas had been more grueling than usual, partly because I wanted to prove I could separate my personal relationship from my professional responsibilities. And partly because I needed to burn off energy and distract myself from thoughts of Blake.

"Look at you," Ella's voice came from the corner. "Either last night's Moon Festival wore you out, or this morning's training was brutal."

I turned to see her already occupying the most comfortable couch, holding two steaming cups. Seeing that one was clearly meant for me, I couldn't help but smile.

"Both," I admitted, accepting the offered drink. A rich herbal scent wafted up—her special energy concoction, supposedly perfect for quick recovery. I took a careful sip, feeling the warm liquid slide soothingly down my throat.

"So," Ella asked with fake casualness, "how was the festival? Did cousin Steven sweep you off your feet?"

I nearly choked on my drink, quickly setting it down. "Where did you get that idea?"

"Please," she rolled her eyes. "The whole Academy knows Steven from the Northern Pack took shining Ava Rivers to the Moon Festival. Give me details."

I sighed, thinking about how to explain without revealing too much. "Actually... things got complicated."

"Complicated?" She leaned forward, her expression suddenly serious. "What happened?"

"Steven wasn't exactly what he seemed," I said quietly, fingers absently tracing the rim of my cup. "He... made certain demands I couldn't accept."

Ella's eyes immediately narrowed, like a mother wolf on alert. "What kind of demands? What did he do to you?"

"He wanted me to be his mate," I explained. "When I refused, he got really angry."

"Angry?" She raised an eyebrow. "Because you said no? How childish."

I shook my head slightly, feeling a chill at the memory. "More than that. He... lost control for a moment. I actually thought he might—" I stopped, unwilling to say the word.

Ella suddenly sat upright, her expression turning dangerous. "Did he hurt you?" Her voice dropped to a threatening growl.

I unconsciously touched my cheek where the bruise had been, but the memory lingered. That small gesture seemed to answer her question.

"I'll kill him," Ella practically snarled through clenched teeth. "I don't care what fancy wolf bloodline he comes from, nobody treats my friend like that."

"Calm down," I grabbed her wrist, stopping any rash action she might take. "It's been handled."

"Handled? By who?" Suspicion flashed in her eyes. "I know you, Ava Rivers. You wouldn't let anyone lay a hand on you without fighting back. Unless—"

"Blake took care of it," I cut her off, my voice softer than I intended.

Her jaw nearly hit the floor, eyes wide as silver platters. "Blake? Blake Morgan? The Alpha King?"