Marked Twice by the Alpha King

His Urgent Alpha Matters

Ava's POV

"Dad! Ava!" Lucas bounced between us as we crossed the courtyard, practically vibrating with excitement. "Can you guys take me to the academy? I wanna show everyone that Ava's my mom now!"

My chest did that familiar squeeze. The way he said it so naturally, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Blake shot me a quick glance. "Sorry, bud. I've got some urgent Alpha matters to handle this afternoon. Tyler can take you though-next time we'll both go."

Lucas's face fell for about two seconds before Tyler appeared from the training yard, perfect timing as always.

"I'll take you, little wolf." Tyler ruffled his dark hair. "We can hit the market after if you want those honey cakes."

"The ones with nuts?" Lucas perked up instantly.

"Those exact ones."

As Lucas took off running to grab his gear, I felt relief mixed with disappointment. Perfect timing, actually-once he was gone, I could finally corner Sophia for that conversation I'd been putting off since Lyra's warning.

"Urgent Alpha matters?" I raised an eyebrow. "Anything I should know about?"

Blake's mouth curved into something wicked, but before he could answer, Ruth appeared from the manor's side entrance, flour still dusting her hands.

"Alpha King, Ava," she said with a slight bow, "Sophia asked me to tell you not to wake her for lunch. She wants to rest until this afternoon."

My stomach dropped. There went my plan to corner Sophia for that overdue heart-to-heart. I'd have to wait... again..

Blake's smile turned decidedly wicked. Without warning, he caught my hand and started pulling me toward the manor.

"Come with me," he said, voice dropping to that rough tone that never failed to make my pulse skip.

"Blake, what are you-" I half-laughed as he tugged me up the stone steps.

"Ruth," he called over his shoulder without breaking stride, "we won't need lunch either."

I managed to twist around as we passed through the doors. "Ruth! When Sophia wakes up, let me know!"

"Of course, Ava!" Ruth's knowing smile was the last thing I saw before Blake pulled me deeper into the manor.

He led me through familiar corridors with clear purpose, his grip warm and firm around my fingers. By the time we reached his chambers, my heart was doing things that had nothing to do with the quick pace.

Blake pushed open the heavy door, drew me inside, then turned to slide the iron bolt home with a definitive click.

"Alright." I crossed my arms, trying to look stern despite the way my pulse was hammering, "What exactly are these urgent Alpha matters?"

He turned to face me, and the heat in his eyes made my breath catch. Dark, hungry, completely focused on me

"You." He stepped closet. 'You're my

urgent matter."

Oh.

"Blake Morgan," I managed, trying to sound scandalized instead of breathless, 'did you just lie to your son?

"I chose my words carefully. He backed me against the door, hands finding my waist. His thumbs traced the midnight blue silk. "You have any idea what you did to me this morning?"

I swallowed hard. "I... what do you mean?"

"Watching you handle those Northern Lights delegates." His voice toughened, "Looking so perfect in this dress. Every man in that courtyard was watching you, and all I could think about was getting you alone."

Heat flooded my face. "Blake..."

"I've been thinking about getting you out of this dress since you put it on." His fingers found the delicate clasps at my throat. "Thinking about all the ways I wanted to worship you once we had privacy."

The first clasp came free, then another. Each small victory earned a soft kiss to the newly revealed skin, his mouth hot against my pulse point.noveldrama

"You planned this." My voice came out far more breathless than accusatory.

"The moment I realized Tyler could take Lucas, I knew this was my chance." He lifted his head to meet my eyes, completely unrepentant. "I've been counting down the minutes, thinking about your skin under this silk."

I should have been annoyed at his scheming. Instead, the evidence of how desperately he wanted me-how he'd been planning this all morning-sent liquid fire racing through my veins.

"My jewelry," I whispered as his fingers moved to the emerald necklace. My breath caught when his knuckles brushed against my collarbone.

"I'll be careful.” He lifted the necklace over my head with reverent hands. "Every piece will go back exactly where it belongs. But right now..."

The emeralds joined my other jewels on the carved wooden chest. Blake's hands returned to my waist, then slid upward, mapping territory that was his by right and choice. When his palms cupped my breasts through the silk, I couldn't stop the soft sound that escaped my lips.

"There." His satisfaction was clear against my ear. "I've been wanting to hear that all day."

"Right now, I want to show you exactly how incredible you looked today."

The first time was urgent, desperate-all the want that had been building since this morning finally breaking free. Blake couldn't get enough of me, his hands and mouth claiming every inch of skin the midnight blue silk had hidden. The dress pooled at my feet like spilled ink, and his eyes darkened as they traveled over what was now his to claim.

"So beautiful," he breathed against my neck as he pressed me back against the door, his body caging me in. Every nerve ending came alive under his touch as he kissed his way down my throat, pausing to suck gently at my pulse point until I gasped.

Chapter 186: His Urgent Alpha Matters

When he lifted me easily and carried me to the bed, I wrapped my legs around his waist, drawing him closer. The feel of him, hard and wanting against me, made me bold in ways I was still discovering.

"I love the way you respond to me," he murmured against my ear as I arched beneath him. "The way you trust me to take care of you."

My hands fisted in his dark hair as he worshipped every inch of me with his mouth. When I cried out his name, voice breaking with pleasure, he groaned against my throat like the sound was everything he'd been craving.

"Every man in that courtyard was watching you," he said as we came back to earth, both of us breathing hard, "and all I could think about was this-having you to myself."

I traced the strong line of his jaw, still catching my breath. "Were you really counting down the minutes?"

"Since you walked out in this dress." His thumb brushed across my lower lip. "Actually, since about five minutes after you left for the villa. I've been going crazy."

The confession made me smile. This powerful Alpha King, reduced to counting minutes like a lovesick teenager.

"Come here." He pulled me closer on the massive bed, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. The late afternoon sun had shifted, casting golden light across the rumpled sheets. "Let me do this properly. Like you deserve."

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