Marked Twice by the Alpha King Chapter 32

**Blake's POV**

My mother's voice vanished from my head, leaving me alone with the warm, drugged woman curled against me. Ava had finally passed out, her face slack with sedation as she slumped against my shoulder.

I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. Part relieved, part... something I didn't want to name.

"Boss, we're here," Tyler called from outside. "Need a hand?"

"I've got her," I said, my voice sharper than intended. The mere thought of anyone else's hands on Ava made my wolf bristle like a damn teenager.

The night air hit me as I pushed the door open—cold and clarifying. I shifted Ava's weight, surprised again by how someone who fought like a demon could feel so light. As I stepped out, she nuzzled into my neck, her lips accidentally grazing my throat.

My eyes flashed hot gold before I could stop them. I bit my cheek until I tasted copper, fighting the wolf that wanted to claim her right there in the street.

"Jesus Christ," I muttered. "Get a grip. She's Lucas's teacher, she works for me." The excuse sounded hollow even to my own ears. The truth was far more disturbing—she was Sophia's age, from a disgraced family, with my future son-in-law's mark on her neck. Everything about wanting her was wrong. Forbidden. And that only made my wolf want her more.

I dug through her combat gear one-handed until I found a key tucked in a hidden pocket. The lock clicked open with a soft snick, and I stepped into darkness.

The house smelled wrong—full of tears and worry. Sarah Rivers' scent lingered, but hours old.

"Nice parenting," I growled under my breath. "Your kid doesn't come home and you, what, go bar-hopping?"

I followed Ava's scent upstairs, each step testing my control as her sleeping form pressed against me, her mark pulsing silver and gold just at the edge of my vision.

Her bedroom door swung open, and I froze. Like stepping into her head.

Combat medals and certificates plastered the walls—not displayed for show, but stacked like necessary proof. Battle-worn trophies lined a shelf. A weapons rack held daggers and short swords that had seen real use, not just practice.

Her desk told the real story—tactical manuals covered in notes with letters that sometimes flipped and twisted. A dyslexic fighter who'd clawed her way up through sheer stubbornness.

But it was the photos that caught me. One showed William with his arm around a teenage Ava, both grinning with matching dimples I'd never seen on her. Another showed her mid-laugh with that friend of hers, Ella, looking young and unburdened.

Ava stirred in my arms, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my chest that sent heat straight to places it shouldn't go. 

*Mark her... she's yours...*

The golden threads in her mark seemed to answer my wolf, brightening as if reaching for me.

"She's drugged, you ass," I told myself, stepping back.

I laid her on the bed and tucked the covers around her, backing away immediately. I turned to leave when warm fingers wrapped around my wrist with surprising strength.

Ava's eyes were half-open, unfocused but somehow finding mine in the dark. 

"Don't go..." she whispered, voice small and raw.

It took everything I had to gently untangle her fingers. "Tomorrow, warrior," I managed.

I got out of there fast, shutting the door with a quiet click, feeling like I'd just outrun a forest fire.

Next day, I walked into the council chamber right at noon. Every elder and family rep was already seated, my mother Victoria at the right hand of my empty chair, radiating disapproval.

"Fifteen minutes we've been waiting, Blake," she said, all ice and judgment.

I pointed to the moonlight timepiece. "Meeting was called for noon. It's noon."

Victoria's perfectly sculpted eyebrow rose. "A real Alpha King arrives before everyone else. That's basic respect."

Before I could tell her where to stick her lecture, Sophia jumped up with that peacemaker smile of hers. "Dad, we were just talking about wedding stuff."

Victoria's face softened instantly. "Sophia's always so considerate."

She turned to me. "This wedding will cement crucial alliances. The bloodlines couldn't be more perfect."

Sophia tugged Jackson to his feet. "Daddy, Jackson wants to run something by you."

Jackson dipped his head like a good little subordinate. "Sir, I think we should invite the three Northern packs to the wedding. It would strengthen our position up north."

"See that strategic thinking?" Victoria practically purred. "What an excellent future leader."

Sophia beamed while Jackson smiled, a quick calculation flashing behind his eyes that my daughter completely missed.

I caught Lucas squirming in his chair, his eyes darting to the door every few seconds like he was expecting someone. Victoria noticed too.

"Sit still," she hissed. "Alpha blood doesn't fidget like common wolves."

"He crushed his combat training yesterday," I cut in. "Cut him some slack."

Before she could snap back, the doors swung open. Amber Collins swept in wearing formal medical robes, her golden-brown hair braided exactly how my wife used to wear hers. Tyler followed, catching my eye with a look that said we needed to talk.

Victoria smiled like she'd won something. "Our Chief Medical Officer arrives at last."

Amber made a beeline for the empty seat beside me. "Sorry I'm late," she murmured, brushing my arm as she sat. The intimate tone made my skin crawl.

I shifted away. "Meeting's in session. First up—Shadow Creek border situation."

Throughout the briefing, Amber kept pulling Elizabeth moves. Suggesting policies Elizabeth would have backed. Leaning in too close with documents. Even wearing some herb concoction that mimicked my dead wife's scent. She kept dropping little "remember when Elizabeth and you handled that wolf territory dispute?" bombs like I wouldn't notice.

During a break, Victoria stood up. "We're having family dinner tonight. To celebrate Sophia's engagement and Lucas's training."

She turned to me. "Amber will join us, of course. As our medical chief and family friend."

Her eyes narrowed. "Seven years of mourning is enough, Blake. The pack needs to see you with a suitable woman."

My eyes flashed before I could stop them. "I'll think about it."

"Is Ava coming?" Lucas perked up. "She promised me special training today."

Victoria's lips thinned. "That Rivers girl? She's staff, Lucas. This is family."

Lucas slumped, but stuck to his guns. "She's better than all my other teachers. Combined."

My mind drifted to last night—Ava's weight against me, that wildflower-and-steel scent, her breath hot on my neck. I could almost feel her all over again.

"You look exhausted," Amber cut in. "Rough night?" The question dripped with suspicion.

I snapped back to reality. "Pack business," I said flatly, shutting her down.

As everyone filed out, Tyler hung back. "How is she?" he asked quietly. "The girl from last night."

"Safe," I said, though whatever showed on my face made him study me harder.

Tyler scratched his stubbled jaw. "Elizabeth's been gone seven years," he said carefully. "Maybe fate's trying to tell you something. Even if it picked someone nobody saw coming."

I didn't answer, but his words followed me long after the chamber emptied.