Marked Twice by the Alpha King

Ava's POV

"Get low! Elbows in!" I shouted across the yard, watching Lucas dodge an imaginary attacker. "Fighting isn't just muscle-it's about being sneaky-fast."

Lucas adjusted mid-move, his eyes lighting up when he got it right. Three days since Blake took off for the border, and I'd settled into a weird kind of normal at Blackwood. Training this kid had become the highlight of my days.

"Better?" He tried again, this time flowing through the move like water.

"Way better." I flicked a towel at him, hitting his sweaty face dead-center. "You're a natural, squirt."

Lucas beamed, and for a second, I remembered he was just a kid playing at being a warrior. “Think I could kick butt at Junior Qualifiers?"

'Crush it," I nodded. "Keep this up and you'll make wolves twice your age look like puppies."

Hunter huffed beside him, practically rolling his eyes in agreement.

Lucas kicked at the dirt. "Dad coming back today?" His voice wobbled between hopeful and bracing-for-disappointment.

"Should be. My stomach did a stupid little flip at the thought. “Three days, he said."

"He never sees the cool stuff, Lucas muttered, shoulders slumping. "Always misses when I nail something big."

I ruffled his hair, surprising myself with how natural it felt. "We'll show him together. Make him eat his words about missing out."

The door creaked, and Tyler appeared, jingling his keys. "Alpha's inbound. Sunset ETA.

Lucas shot up like he'd been electrocuted. "Gotta practice my finale moves!" He bolted with Hunter hot on his heels, dust cloud in their wake.

Tyler's face softened when the kid disappeared. "Border mess was hairier than we thought. Blake handled it, though. Everyone's coming home."

Relief hit me harder than I wanted to admit. I'd been counting hours, not that I'd tell a soul.

"The kid's different now, Tyler said, his usual poker face cracking into something almost friendly. "Never seen him this fired up about training."

"He makes it easy," I said, surprised to find I meant it. "Kid's all heart."

Prison had a new smell today-less like despair, more like industrial cleaner. Third visit since Blake pulled rank, and each time the place felt less suffocating. Guards still weren't throwing me welcome parties, but at least they'd dropped the death glares.

"Kiddo!" Dad's face split into a grin that erased years from his face. The silver cuffs that had been burning raw wounds were gone, replaced with something that didn't make his skin bubble and smoke.

'Looks like someone got the memo about not torturing prisoners," I said, eyeing his healing wrists.

Dad snorted. "Amazing what happens when the Alpha King gets personally pissed off. Got daily check-ups now and everything."

We sat across a metal table, no guard breathing down our necks for once-just a couple bored-looking patrols at the far end. Privacy felt like a luxury I'd forgotten existed.

'So what really went down?" I kept my voice low. The question had been burning a hole in my tongue for months.

Dad's eyes darted around before settling on mine. "I was there that night," he admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "Found files-dirty deals going down in Shadow Creek leadership. Was heading to tell Carter when I found him... already down."noveldrama

"You saw who did it?"

"Just the aftermath. Tried stopping the bleeding. He rubbed his palms like he could still feel the blood. "Then they found me with a dead Alpha and jumped

to conclusions.'

"So they slapped traitor on you and called it a day."

"More or less." He sighed. "I screwed up, keeping quiet about those documents. Made me look guilty as hell, especially with Carter's blood all over me."

I reached across and squeezed his hand. "I'll get you home. Whatever it takes."

Something flashed in his eyes-hope mixed with fear. "Sarah?"

"Night and day different," I grinned. "Got her color back. Yesterday she even dragged Mrs. Peterson out hunting moonlight flowers."

Dad's face softened. "Those damn flowers. First thing I noticed about her-arms full of silver blooms, moonlight in her hair."

We drifted to easier topics-Lucas's training, Sarah's cooking again, neighborhood gossip. When I left, Dad hugged me awkwardly across the table, his arms still solid despite everything.

When I got back, the setting sun painted Blackwood gold. Guard shouts and hoofbeats carried on the wind-Blake was home.

Lucas tore into the training yard like his pants were on fire. "Dad's back! Wants to see what we've been doing!"

"Then let's blow his mind." I grabbed practice staffs, tossing him his favorite. Blake filled the doorway moments later, road dust still clinging to his boots. He looked beat, but his eyes sparked to life when he spotted us.

"Missed all the action, did I?" His voice had a new softness around the edges. "Dad! Watch this!" Lucas launched into his routine-fluid movements chained together with precision no seven-year-old should possess.

Blake went dead still, tracking every move. When Lucas stuck the landing on his finale, Blake crossed the yard and dropped to one knee, eye-to-eye with his

son.

"That was..." He paused, searching for words. "Incredible. You're miles beyond where I thought you'd be."

Lucas lit up like someone had flipped a switch inside him. He spun toward me, practically vibrating. "Ava taught me everything! She doesn't yell when I mess up!' Blake's eyes found mine, something unreadable burning in them. "Lucky kid," he said simply, but the weight behind those two words hung in the air between

1. us.

Dinner was surprisingly chill. Wilson had gone all-out, and Lucas bounced between wolfing down food and demonstrating moves with his fork. Blake actually smiled twice-l counted-and asked real questions about the training, soaking up every detail. Even with Sophia out wedding-planning, the room felt weirdly... right.

After Lucas crashed from his excitement high, Blake walked me toward the main gate. The almost-full moon painted everything silver, a reminder that primal forces were always just beneath the surface.

"Border mess bad?" I asked, kicking a stray pebble.

"Messy, not deadly." He shrugged. "Northern wolves getting bold, but nobody's looking for a war."

I dug my nails into my palm, working up nerve. "Thanks-for Dad, for the medicine, for everything."

Blake walked a few steps in silence. "Lucas is different now. Happier. More himself." He glanced sideways at me. "That's worth something."

Just business then?" The words tumbled out before my brain could catch up with my mouth.

Blake stopped dead, his eyes catching mine like hooks. Something electric crackled between us, dangerous and alive. Then he blinked, breaking the spell. "Getting late. Training tomorrow?"

His non-answer felt heavier than any confession. I nodded and turned away.

"Night, Alpha."

"Night, Ava."