Marked Twice by the Alpha King

What Are You Getting At?

Blake's POV

"You kept this from me?" The words scraped out of my throat, rough with emotion.

Ava's eyes found mine, green and glistening with unshed tears. "Blake, not now. Please."

"Yes, now." I crossed the room in three strides, ignoring the shaky tension between them. "I'm done with secrets."

My hands found her face, thumbs brushing across her cheekbones, forcing her to look at me. Her skin was warm beneath

my fingers, the golden mark on her neck pulsing with our connection.

"Listen to me," I said, voice dropping to that register meant only for her. "I don't give a damn what Jackson told anyone. I

don't care what people whisper behind our backs."

This woman-this fierce, loyal, stubborn woman-had fought so hard for everything. Fought for her father, for Lucas, for

1. us. And still, she was standing here, facing down the storm.

"I love you, Ava Rivers." The simple truth of it burned through me like wildfire. "Not because it's convenient. I love you because you call me on my bullshit. Because you look at me like I'm just a man, not a crown."

Her lips parted slightly, eyes shining with emotion. The golden mark on her neck pulsed visibly, our connection strengthening as she leaned into my touch. This wasn't doubt-this was her taking in the moment, letting herself feel the certainty of our bond.

"You're the only one who makes me feel alive." I traced the line of her jaw, feeling her pulse jump beneath my touch. "And that jackass actually suggested you be his mistress while he married my daughter? I'm gonna rip his throat out."

The threat wasn't empty. My wolf snarled agreement, already picturing Jackson Hayes bleeding out at my feet.

I turned to face Sophia, who looked shell-shocked, those familiar blue eyes-my eyes-wide with confusion and hurt.

“And you,” I said, reining in my anger, “need to hear something.”

She swallowed hard. "Dad-"

"Remember when Ava first came here? When you noticed me watching her during training?" I kept my voice level despite the rage still simmering just under my skin. "You told me something important."

Sophia's brow furrowed, memory struggling to surface through the emotional chaos. "What did I say?"

"You said, 'Dad, I don't mind if you find someone new." I watched understanding dawn on her face. "You said you didn't. care if she was younger than me, or from a different background. You just wanted me to be happy again."

Tears welled in her eyes as she remembered.

"You said you wanted me to find what I had with your mother-real love, not just duty." I softened my tone. Ava is that choice, Sophia. My first real choice in years, and my last."

The room fell quiet, just our breathing and the tick of the grandfather clock breaking the silence. Through our bond, I felt Ava's emotions, flowing- surprise, gratitude, and a love so fierce it stole my breath.

Chapter 189: What Are You Getting At?

"But Dad..." Sophia's voice cracked. "How do you know she's not just using you? That she hasn't been manipulating you this whole time?"

I let out a humorless laugh. "If anyone's been manipulated here, it's you.

Jackson's been feeding you exactly what you'd need to hear to turn against her."

I reached for Ava's hand, twining our fingers together, drawing strength from her touch.

“Think about it,” I said, holding my daughter's gaze. "Since the day she arrived, Ava's done nothing but earn her place here. She transformed Lucas from a wild brat no tutor could handle into a focused young warrior. She took silver for him, Sophia. She risked her life for your brother without a second thought." Sophia's gaze dropped to our joined hands, something shifting in her expression.

"Your mother," I said more gently, "would have wanted all of us to be happy. She'd have wanted Lucas to have a mother who loved him fiercely. And she'd have wanted you to have someone in your corner who understood what it meant to fight for family."

"That's Ava," I finished simply. "That's who she's always been."

Third Person POV

"So we're finally gonna talk about the elephant in the room." Blake's voice sounded calm, but the golden gleam hadn't left his eyes, power rolling off him in waves that made the crystal vase on the side table tremble slightly.

Sophia glanced between Blake and Ava, teeth worrying her bottom lip. Something was shifting behind her eyes-like puzzle pieces finally clicking into place after being forced into the wrong spots for too long.

Blake settled into his favorite leather chair, the one that had seen a thousand council meetings, but his body remained coiled tight, ready to spring at the slightest threat.

"Sweetheart," he said to Sophia, his tone softening around the edges, "a man who really loves you doesn't turn you against your family. He doesn't make you into a weapon. Real love builds bridges, not walls."

A tear escaped down Sophia's cheek, catching the afternoon light before she brushed it away with trembling fingers.

"But Jackson's barely been around lately," she admitted, voice small. "He keeps saying there's urgent pack business in Shadow Creek. Alpha succession stuff." She twisted her engagement ring nervously. "Before he left, he promised me good news when he gets back..."

Blake's jaw tightened. "Funny how this urgent business happened right after I announced Ava

y Luna."

He rose from the chair, pacing like a caged predator. Ava tracked his movements, noticing how the plants in the room seemed to bend away from his path, instinctively avoiding his anger.

"Jackson Hayes," Blake nearly spat the name, "doesn't take a piss without calculating the political angle. He's been playing a long game, and we're just starting to see the board."

Ava watched Blake's controlled fury build, then suddenly straightened, something clicking into place in her mind. Her eyes widened.

"Wait a second..." She turned to Sophia, leaning forward. "He's coming back soon?"

“That's what he said.” Sophia nodded, twisting her engagement ring again. “Said he'd wrap up in Shadow Creek and head straight back here."

Something electric passed between Ava and Blake, a shared realization. She could feel his rage through their bond, hot and protective, but also his sharp focus-the mind of a strategist who'd just spotted an opening.

"Sophia," Ava said, keeping her voice gentle, "what if we flipped the script on him? What if we let him think his plan is working?"

Blake stopped pacing, his golden gaze locking onto Ava.

"What are you getting at?" Sophia's forehead creased.noveldrama

"He thinks he's got you wrapped around his finger," Ava explained, the plan forming as she spoke. "He believes you've bought his story hook, line, and sinker. What if we let him keep believing that?"

"Ava-" Blake's voice carried a warning, his protective instincts flaring.

"Just hear me out." She raised a hand, never breaking eye contact with Sophia. “If you pretend nothing's changed-that you still believe him, that you still see me as the enemy-he might get cocky. Might reveal more than he intends to."

Understanding dawned on Sophia's face, her blue eyes widening. "You want me to... play along? Make him think he's still controlling me?"