Marked Twice by the Alpha King Chapter 92

**Ava's POV**

I double-checked my training bag, making sure all blades were tucked away securely. Last thing I needed was a dagger slicing through fabric and into my leg on the way home. The afternoon sun hit the Academy courtyard at that golden-hour angle that turned everything soft, a stark contrast to the brutal combat drills we'd just wrapped up.

Ella practically tackled me from behind, her arms locking around my waist. "Next week's group session—don't flake!"

I spun around, raising an eyebrow. "And what else am I supposedly not forgetting?"

"Seriously?" She rolled her eyes with the dramatic flair only Ella could pull off. "The Moon Festival? You and tall, blond, and royal? Don't play dumb—everyone knows Steven's back."

My fingers twitched toward my collar, making sure the mark stayed hidden. That damn thing had been shifting from Jackson's silver to something else—a warm gold that seemed to pulse whenever *he* got close.

"We hung out a couple times. Nothing earth-shattering," I muttered, shifting my bag to the other shoulder.

Ella snorted. "Yeah, and I moonlight as the Goddess herself."

If she only knew how messy things really were. Since that night with Blake—God, that night that replayed in my head like a favorite song stuck on repeat—we'd done this awkward dance around each other. Professionally polite in public, carefully distant in private. Then there was Steven, who'd kissed me before everything went to hell. Nice enough, but nothing like the wildfire that blazed through me when Blake touched me.

"Steven's cool," I said with a shrug. "But I've got enough on my plate."

"What—teaching some rich kid how to punch?" Ella leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Do you have any idea how many she-wolves would trade places with you in a heartbeat? Alpha heir material doesn't just fall into your lap every day."

I kicked at a loose pebble. "Trust me, that spotlight burns more than it flatters."

"Hopeless," she sighed, giving my shoulder a light shove. "Look, if he asks you to the festival, you'd be an idiot to say no. It's only the most romantic night in wolf culture, but whatever."

"Right, because stuffy ceremonies are totally my scene," I shot back, shaking my head. "Plus, Lucas's training—"

"How are you holding up?" Ella cut in, her playful tone vanishing. "Since... you know."

My muscles locked up before I could stop them. The silver burns had healed fine, but the other scars—being drugged, feeling my body betray me while my mind screamed in protest, that bone-deep terror—those weren't going anywhere soon.

"Burns healed," I said simply. "Sleep's still a work in progress."

"Whenever you want to talk..." She let the offer hang in the air.

I nodded, grateful but eager to shift gears. "Gotta jet. Lucas is waiting."

"One day," Ella's face cracked into that mischievous grin I knew meant trouble, "you're gonna spill what really goes on in that mansion that's got you walking around in a daze."

Heat crawled up my neck. "I teach a kid to fight. That's the headline."

"Sure," she laughed. "And that dreamy look you get has nothing to do with a certain storm-eyed Alpha with shoulders that don't quit."

"There's nothing—" I started too sharply. 

A sleek black carriage with the Silverpeak crest rolled up to the Academy gates, cutting me off. Instead of the usual stone-faced driver, Sophia's blonde head popped out, bright as sunshine.

"Ava!" she called, waving. "Finally tracked you down!"

I watched, momentarily frozen, as Blake's daughter hopped gracefully from the carriage and headed our way. After what we'd lived through together—chained in that cellar, facing death side by side—something had shifted between us. Something neither of us had expected.

"Sophia?" I blinked. "What are you doing here?"

She wrapped me in a quick hug, smelling of expensive perfume and safety. "Convinced Father to let me play chauffeur instead of sending the usual brick wall with a driver's license."

Ella's eyebrows disappeared into her hairline, fascination written all over her face. I shot her a pointed look.

"See you next week," I said, my tone making it clear the conversation was over.

She backed away, grinning. "Remember what I said!"

Once Ella was out of earshot, Sophia's bright smile dimmed. "Feels like we haven't really talked since... you know."

"How's recovery treating you?" I asked quietly, scanning our surroundings out of habit.

"The physical stuff's fine." She lowered her voice. "But I still wake up thinking I'm back in that cellar sometimes." Her blue eyes—so eerily like her father's—searched mine. "If you hadn't been there with me..."

"You'd have figured something out," I said, squeezing her hand. "You've got more steel in you than you know."

"That place changed things," she said, holding onto my hand. "Before that night, I didn't have anyone I could really trust. Not like this."

Something warm bloomed in my chest. For someone who'd built her life around staying detached, having Sophia's friendship felt surprisingly right—complicated as hell given my feelings for her father, but genuine.

"I had this idea," she continued, her eyes brightening again. "Instead of heading straight back to the mansion, we could take a little detour?"

I glanced at my watch. "Lucas is expecting me—"

"Already handled," she cut in with a dismissive wave. "Told Father we needed to hit the trading zone. He rescheduled Lucas for later."

My eyebrow shot up. "Blake actually agreed to that? He's been watching you like a hawk lately."

She pointed toward a second carriage parked down the street. "Tyler and the security detail are our shadows for the day. After what happened... well, Father's not taking chances."

I spotted Tyler's broad shoulders by the second carriage, his eyes constantly scanning for threats. At least Blake was serious about keeping her safe.

"Need to grab some things for the Moon Festival," Sophia explained, already steering me toward her carriage. "Could use a warrior's perspective."

"Why me?" I asked, not bothering to hide my suspicion.

A sly smile curved her lips. "Because I need to look elegant but still battle-ready. Plus," she added casually, "Steven mentioned you'll be his companion for the evening."

I felt my steps falter slightly. "Steven said what now?" I asked, blinking in surprise.