Marked Twice by the Alpha King Chapter 112

**Ava's POV**

Eleanor and Vanessa whipped around toward the source of that voice, mouths hanging open. The crowd froze like they'd been hit with some kind of spell. The crackling blue flames suddenly seemed to bow away from the new arrival.

"Who the hell are you?" Vanessa placed her hands on her hips, somehow still confident enough to challenge. "This is a pack ceremony. You have no right to enter the inner circle uninvited."

*I didn't think you'd get here so fast*, I sent through our mark, feeling the mind-link snap into place instantly.

*I've been watching you*, his voice echoed in my mind with a hint of amusement. *Seems I arrived just in time.*

The intimacy of that connection sent warmth flooding through my chest. In the weeks since our marking under the moonlight, our mental link had been strengthening, but using it in public still made my heart race.

Blake approached slowly, dressed in understated black formal wear with none of his Alpha King insignias. But every step he took radiated power, making nearby wolves instinctively back away, their eyes dropping in submission.

"This woman," Eleanor jabbed a bony finger at me, voice dripping with contempt, "has no place at an heir's ceremony. Her father is a traitor, and she herself was abandoned by her fated mate—she pollutes our sacred ritual."

*Ha, these clueless old wolves*, I mocked through our link as Blake moved closer to me. *They don't even recognize you.*

*Ignorance is truly a blessing. Let them enjoy their courage for a few more minutes*, he responded, his mental voice carrying dangerous humor.

"Stranger, you'd better walk away," Richard sneered. "This is Shadow Creek business."

Blake came to stand beside me, one hand resting lightly on my shoulder. That simple touch made me feel safer than I had all night, like an invisible shield had been wrapped around me.

"Interesting," Blake smiled, calm as if discussing the weather. "I don't recall 'drenching guests in sacred wine' being part of any werewolf ceremony I've attended."

*See the old lady's face?* I asked through our link, watching Eleanor's panicked eyes. *Is she going to pop a blood vessel or what?*

*It'll be even better when she realizes the truth*, Blake replied, though his exterior remained perfectly composed.

"Hey, handsome," Vanessa sauntered closer, pushing her chest forward in what I could only describe as her "wolf-whore" stance. "Why waste your time on this unwanted Omega? Her foster father's a traitor, and even her fated mate rejected her. You look strong... you deserve better."

I struggled not to laugh out loud. *Is she seriously hitting on you? God, this is painful to watch.*

*Want me to keep playing along or reveal myself now?* Blake asked, amusement coloring his thoughts.

*Wait a bit longer*, I responded, *let's see how deep a hole she can dig herself.*

"You have no idea the power our Hayes family holds," Vanessa continued, dragging a fingernail down Blake's chest. "I could make you forget this pathetic nobody even exists."

"You think I'd be interested in a girl younger than my daughter?" Blake's voice carried disgust, though his face maintained that cold smile.

*Nice one!* I cheered mentally. *Look at her turning red as a tomato.*

"What daughter..." Eleanor's eyes narrowed as she truly began to assess Blake.

I felt the exact moment Blake decided to end this charade. His posture shifted subtly, shoulders broadening, stance straightening. The Alpha presence he'd been deliberately suppressing suddenly released, rippling outward like an invisible shockwave.

"Mom..." Richard's voice came from the crowd, his face draining of color as he stared at Blake. "Do you know who this is?"

Eleanor's expression morphed from confidence to confusion to horror as she finally sensed the unmistakable Alpha King aura.

"Impossible..." she whispered, eyes widening.

*Now witness true social death*, Blake said through our link, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"Thank you for your warm hospitality tonight," Blake's voice suddenly carried the authority that only the Alpha King could command, making the air itself tremble. "Eleanor Hayes, is this how you always treat my daughter's friends?"

The entire gathering seemed to freeze. Vanessa nearly tripped over herself backing away. Richard looked like he'd seen a ghost, and Eleanor's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

*This is even better than I imagined*, I couldn't help thinking. *Their entire family is collectively dying inside.*

*It's not over yet*, Blake responded, satisfaction lacing his thoughts.

"Alpha King..." Eleanor stammered, "we didn't know it was you... we were just..."

"Just insulting my daughter's guest? Drenching her in ceremonial wine? Slandering her name?" Blake raised an eyebrow. 

With each sentence, his aura expanded further, pressing down until everyone instinctively lowered their heads. I noticed more wolves gathering around the edges, watching this spectacle with shocked expressions.

"We... we deeply apologize," Richard interjected, his voice shaking so badly I could barely make out the words. "We didn't realize she had... connections to you."

*Connections. Ha. If they only knew how deep our "connection" really goes...* I teased through our link.

Blake's mouth twitched slightly, a smile only I could detect. *Want them to know?*

The suggestion made my heart skip a beat. *Are you crazy? Not now. But seeing them terrified like this is pretty damn satisfying.*

"Ava Rivers is an honored guest of Silverpeak Pack," Blake announced, his voice carrying to every ear in the vicinity. "She came at my daughter Sophia's invitation. Any disrespect shown to her is disrespect shown to me—the Alpha King."

Eleanor dropped to her knees, others quickly following suit. "Please forgive our ignorance, Alpha King."

Blake's hand moved slowly from my shoulder to my wrist, the intimate gesture making everyone present draw in a collective breath.

"Miss Rivers," he addressed me publicly, his voice returning to normal but still filled with authority. "Would you care to join me elsewhere? I believe this ceremony is no longer worthy of your presence."

*Now we're having fun*, I laughed through our link, feeling his amused response flow back.

I looked up at him, answering in the sweetest voice I could muster: "I would be honored, Alpha King."

Walking alongside Blake through the Hayes inner circle, I couldn't resist glancing back. Vanessa's face had turned a sickly white, Eleanor looked like she might have a heart attack any second, and Richard seemed to wish the ground would open up and swallow him whole.

*Dramatic enough exit for you?* Blake asked, holding my hand as we headed toward the exit.

*Absolutely perfect*, I responded, savoring the warmth of our palms touching. *Just curious though, how did you arrive so perfectly on time?*

*When they threw that drink on you, I felt your shock and anger*, his thoughts turned serious. *Through our mark. That feeling... I couldn't ignore it.*

His answer sent warmth spreading through my chest. I was finally experiencing the true wonder of a mate connection, that feeling of being deeply understood.