Marked Twice by the Alpha King Chapter 79

**Ava's POV**

"You sure they're still out cold?" One of the hired wolves leaned against the bars, squinting at our motionless forms through the darkness.

"Moon venom's enough to keep them under for at least twelve hours," his companion replied with a nasty grin. "Especially two little females."

I kept perfectly still, forcing my breathing to remain slow and steady despite the rage building in my chest. *Little females*. If these assholes knew what I was capable of, they wouldn't be so smug.

"Brock said it has to be tonight," the first wolf fidgeted with a blade, turning it so the silver edge caught what little light filtered into our dungeon.

"Instructions were clear—the warrior bitch dies, and she needs to know why."

"Gotta bring back the wolf fang necklace as proof," his partner reminded him. The mention of my necklace—Dad's gift on my first successful hunt—made my blood boil.

"What about the blonde princess?" 

"Just a bonus," the wolf's grin widened, revealing unnaturally sharp canines. "Rest a few hours. We'll finish when they wake up. Always more satisfying to watch your prey squirm."

Their footsteps faded, followed by the heavy groan of metal as the iron door slammed shut. I waited, counting my heartbeats until I was certain they were gone, then slowly opened my eyes.

The silver chains burned against my skin like acid, but I'd learned to push past the pain. I looked down at Sophia, still unconscious on my lap, her golden hair matted with dirt. Her pulse was steadier than before, breathing more regular.

I gently wiped sweat from her forehead with the torn edge of my shirt. Her eyelids fluttered slightly, a good sign she was fighting through the venom's effects. At least I wouldn't be facing this alone.

Moments later, Sophia stirred with a pained moan, struggling through the fog of venom like swimming through mud. Finally, her blue eyes opened, clouded with confusion and fear.

"Ava?" Her voice cracked, dry as autumn leaves. "Where... where are we?"

"We're in trouble," I said simply, keeping my voice level despite the anxiety gnawing at my insides.

Sophia tried to sit up, only to let out a sharp cry when the silver chains made contact with her skin.

"Goddess!" She stared in horror at the angry red marks on her wrists, then back at me. "Are these... silver chains?"

"We were attacked," I explained, eyes continuously scanning our prison for any advantage, any weakness. "Someone ambushed us."

"My father..." Tears gathered in her eyes. "He'll find us, right?"

Something in her voice—the raw vulnerability—made my chest tighten. Blake's fierce, confident daughter reduced to this frightened girl. She didn't deserve any of this.

"I tried to mindlink Tyler, but these chains are blocking my abilities," I admitted, hating how helpless I sounded.

"Mindlink..." Sophia murmured thoughtfully. "We could try to link with each other."

I looked at her in surprise. "You mean... between us?"

"Internal connections are easier than external ones," she explained, her voice weak but determined. 

"Worth a shot," I nodded, meeting her eyes directly. "If it works, we can at least communicate without them hearing us."

We pressed our foreheads together, closing our eyes to concentrate on forming a mental bridge. At first, there was nothing but static, jumbled thoughts crashing against each other. But slowly, like threads being woven into fabric, a connection began to form.

*Can you hear me?* Sophia's voice whispered through my mind, faint as wind through leaves.

*Yes, barely, but I can hear you,* I responded, startled by the intimacy of the connection.

"It worked," Sophia smiled weakly as she opened her eyes. "At least we're not completely alone."

"You're tougher than I gave you credit for, Miss Morgan," I said honestly, feeling the distance between us shrink.

*What are they planning to do with us?* Sophia asked through our new link, avoiding speaking aloud where guards might hear.

*I don't want to scare you,* I admitted, *but from what I heard, they're planning to kill us.*

**Third Person POV**

Jackson had been explicit in his instructions to Brock: have some wandering Omegas kidnap Ava and hold her captive, but don't harm her.

"Just scare her, don't actually hurt her," Jackson had emphasized. "I'll come 'rescue' her myself."

"Once I save her, she'll be so grateful she'll crawl right back to me," Jackson had smiled confidently. "Even with Sophia as my fiancée, I can't pass up the taste of my fated mate."

"Oh, and don't mark up her face," Jackson had added as an afterthought. "I like it the way it is."

But Brock had his own agenda.

Each night, he arranged stolen items belonging to Serena on his bedside table—her training gloves, headbands, photographs. His obsession with her had grown to pathological proportions, though she'd never spared him a second glance.

Serena only had eyes for the strongest warriors and wolves of status. Brock was merely one of Jackson's ordinary Betas, not worthy of her attention.

He'd heard Serena curse Ava countless times, calling her "Shadow Creek's disgrace" and "the traitor's daughter unworthy of being a warrior." In his twisted mind, Brock reasoned that eliminating Serena's most hated rival would finally earn her gratitude—perhaps even her affection.

"Kill the Rivers bitch and tell her she's dying for Serena Evans," Brock had instructed the hired wolves. "Bring me her wolf fang necklace and leave no evidence connecting me or Jackson."

By the time Jackson arrived in the morning for his planned "rescue," it would be too late. All blame would fall on nameless hired wolves who would be long gone.

In his office at Blackwood Manor, Blake's Alpha energy had become nearly tangible, making the air heavy and difficult to breathe.

"Say it again, Tyler," Blake's voice was dangerously low. "You let my daughter and Ava leave on their own?"

Tyler stood at attention, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "They insisted on dining privately. Sophia said we only needed to wait outside."

"And you just stood there like logs until they disappeared?" Blake's voice cut like ice.

"We thought they'd changed plans and headed home themselves," a guard explained nervously. "When we checked the restaurant, the owner said he saw two ladies leave through the kitchen's back door."

"You are the most elite warriors I've trained," Blake's anger burned controlled but intense. "Yet you couldn't protect two women?"

Tyler took a deep breath. "I... have no excuse, Alpha King. The fault is mine."

Blake suddenly stood, his Alpha energy shattering a water glass on his desk.

"Gather all warriors, lock down every exit from the neutral zone," Blake commanded, his voice making the air vibrate. "Contact Shadow Creek, have them search their territory. If necessary, alert the northern packs."

"My daughter and her friend must be found before sunrise or," his eyes flashed dangerously gold, "I will personally hunt down every wolf who might have harmed them."

"Yes, Alpha King," everyone responded in unison, rushing to action.

Alone, Blake drove his fist into the wall, leaving a deep crack in the stone.

"Sophia... Ava..." he whispered, unusual fear flickering in his eyes. "Hold on. I will find you."