Marked Twice by the Alpha King Chapter 45

**Ava's POV**

Jackson, the opportunistic bastard, jumped right in: "Perfect idea. Why don't you get comfortable in the living room while we sort this out?"

Sarah beamed at him like he'd hung the moon, then shuffled off. I waited till her footsteps faded before rounding on him, keeping my voice to a hissing whisper.

"What the hell are you playing at?"

He shrugged, mopping up water with irritating precision. "Just lending a hand to my mate's mother. That a crime now?"

"Bullshit. You breathe with an agenda." I grabbed a towel to help, hating how his scent still messed with my head. "What's your angle this time?"

Jackson stopped, those blue eyes locking on mine. Eyes that used to make me dizzy now just made me want to punch something. "Maybe I've been thinking about us. About what I threw away."

I snorted. "Right. After you ditched me for your fancy political marriage? Oscar-worthy performance, by the way. Almost believed you loved me."

His face went dead serious. "I never faked anything. The mark doesn't bullshit, Ava."

My fingers automatically went to my neck where the mark pulsed warm. His eyes tracked the movement like a predator.

"Something's different. I can feel it. Smell it on you," he murmured, voice low and strange. "What the hell happened to our bond?"

I chucked the wet rag in the sink and stepped back. "You mean the bond you crapped on and left for dead? Nothing happened except you walking out. Now go play perfect son-in-law for Sarah. I'm done here."

I could feel his stare burning holes in my back as I left, but didn't give him the satisfaction of looking back. Whatever game he was running, I wasn't playing.

I leaned against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, watching Jackson pull pots and bowls from our cupboards like he owned the damn place. From somewhere, he'd conjured a packet of herbs that filled the kitchen with the rich, earthy scent of wolf healing magic. Way more expensive than the Moonlight Spring water I'd just destroyed.

"You can go upstairs if you want," he said without turning around, cocky bastard so sure I wouldn't leave. "I've got Sarah covered. Not like I'm the one who just rolled in from someone else's fancy dinner."

That stopped me cold. How the hell did he know? Could he smell Blackwood Manor on me? I kept my mouth shut, just watched his every move to make sure he didn't slip anything weird into the food.

Within minutes, an aroma I hadn't smelled in forever drifted through the house—traditional wolf comfort soup. The tribe called it "Soul's Embrace," supposedly eased the pain when fated mates got separated. Only elders and healers knew how to make it right, yet here was Jackson, mixing it like a pro.

I peeked into the living room where Sarah sat staring at Dad's photo on the mantle. Her whole body relaxed as the smell reached her, tension melting off her like ice in summer. When Jackson appeared with a steaming bowl, her eyes actually lit up.

"Is that... Soul's Embrace?" she asked, voice tinged with disbelief.

"Fresh made," Jackson said, all gentle and respectful as he sat beside her. "Try it, Mrs. Rivers. I added northern cedar needles—should take the edge off for a while."

I hung back, watching this bizarre scene unfold. Why the hell was Jackson playing nurse to my mom?

Sarah took a sip and practically melted. "God, that's incredible," she whispered. "I can feel him... closer somehow."

"It's temporary," Jackson said, hitting that perfect mix of professional and sympathetic. "But I can teach you how to make it. For the times I'm not around."

He shot me a smug little victory glance over Sarah's head. Asshole. He was winning her over, and it was working like a charm.

Dinner went weirdly smooth. Jackson playing perfect gentleman while I avoided looking at him directly. Sarah actually cleaned her plate for the first time in weeks and even started sharing memories of Dad I hadn't heard in years.

"When William is released, would you consider going back to focusing on your Academy studies full-time?" Sarah suddenly asked, shattering our awkward peace. "Jackson could help arrange better schedules for you."

I nearly choked on my water. "I don't need anyone arranging my schedule, Mom. I'm managing both just fine. Plus I've got the Honor Medal now, remember?"

"Of course, of course," Jackson chimed in, smooth as butter. "Ava's a natural warrior, Mrs. Rivers. Always finds her path, no matter how rough the terrain. I've always admired that about her."

I glared daggers at him, but he just sipped his water with this innocent smile like he couldn't feel the heat of my stare.

After dinner, Jackson actually offered to help Sarah with her bath. This was getting seriously weird—even when we'd been together, he'd never shown this caring side. My wolf paced nervously, just as confused about his game as I was.

He even pulled a tiny bottle of oil from his pocket and handed it to Sarah.

"Moon silver pine," he explained. "A few drops in hot water will help your nerves settle. Might even let you get some real sleep for once."

Sarah took the bottle with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Jackson. You're such a good boy. If everyone could see this side of you..."

"Not everyone needs to," he said softly, but his eyes slid to me. Message received, jackass.

After getting Sarah bathed and tucked in, I dragged myself back downstairs, hoping Jackson had taken the hint and left. But of course, he was lounging on our couch like he owned it, one arm stretched across the back, wearing that smile I used to love and now wanted to punch off his face.

"Nice performance," I said coldly, staying across the room. "Why not just tell me what you want? Cut the caring-about-Sarah act."

"Act?" His face went serious in a flash. "You really think I don't care about her pain? She's my mother's age, Ava. Seeing any woman tortured by fated mate separation isn't exactly fun."

"How touching," I said flatly. "If you weren't pulling strings behind the scenes, she wouldn't be suffering in the first place. We both know you had something to do with Dad's arrest."

He sighed and stood, moving toward me. I automatically stepped back, watching him like you'd watch a snake.

"You deserve better, Ava," he said with what sounded like actual sincerity. Evasion to my words. "I know you're angry about my choice. Betrayed. But it was for the greater good. You and I both know sometimes personal feelings have to take a backseat to what's best for the pack."

"Don't feed me that political bullshit," I snapped. "You dumped me and proposed to a woman you don't even love just because she's Blake Morgan's daughter! Do you have any idea how unfair that is to Sophia? She's a good person who shouldn't be used like that!"

Jackson's eyes widened slightly, like he hadn't expected me to defend Sophia. "Sounds like you two got cozy during your time at the Morgan house?"