Marked Twice by the Alpha King

Chapter 39: Forbidden Territory

Blake's POV

I massaged my temples as the council chamber door finally closed behind me. Six hours of circular arguments had left me with a splitting headache and exactly zero solutions. Every elder had pitched their opinion like it was gospel, while my mother Victoria had somehow worked my love life into every other Topic

"Blake needs a Luna by his side during these negotiations."

"A united front with a

ha proper mate would strengthen our position."

"Amber has excellent bloodlines and healing skills.”

When I finally escaped, the evening air hit my face like sweet mercy

Tyler waited at Blackwood Manor's entrance, leaning against the stone column with deceptive casualness. His eyes never stopped scanning, even here in the heart of our territory. That constant vigilance was exactly why I'd made him my Beta and why I trusted him with my life.

"From your face, I'd say the old wolves were in rare form today," he said, straightening up.

"Six hours of my life I'll never get back, I muttered.

He tossed me a small velvet box. "At least something went right. Jeweler finished early."

The box felt reassuringly heavy in my palm. I cracked it open to reveal the family sapphire necklace, newly reset with diamonds that caught the light. The central stone-deep blue and flawless-had graced the necks of brides in our family for generations.

“Perfect,” I said, snapping it shut. "Sophia will be pleased." "Your mother

will approve, Tyler remarked. "At least about this tradition.

His eyes flickered with something knowing, studying my face a beat too long. "Rough meeting?"

"Victoria's still pushing Amber at every turn." I rolled my shoulder, trying to release the tension. "Seven years since Elizabeth, and suddenly I need a

replacement yesterday,"

Tyler's mouth quirked. "Maybe fate has other plans."

I shot him a look. He'd been making cryptic comments ever since the night I'd brought Ava home from the Academy. Like he knew something I didn't.

"Get some rest," I said, cutting off that line of discussion. 'Border patrol at dawn."noveldrama

He nodded and slipped away as I pushed through the heavy oak doors. The manor seemed unusbelly quiet for this time of evening. I figured Sophia was probably out with Jackson-those two had been practically inseparable since the engagement. I'd just leave the necklace in her room with a note and be done with

it.

1 headed for the stairs, taking them two at a time. She needed to see it before her dress fitting tomorrow.

As I approached her room, an unexpected scent stopped me cold. Wildflowers and steel, mixed with the sharp tang of blood. I knew that scent instantly-had dreamed about it more than I cared to admit.

Awa Rivers. In Sophia's room. Bleeding.

I pushed the door open without knocking-mistake number one.

The scent hit me like a physical blow, a hundred times stronger inside. But it was the sight that knocked the air from my lungs. Ava stood with her back to me, half- naked, her combat gear in tatters around her feet. Three angry claw marks raked across her back from shoulder to hip, the edges already inflamed

Not ordinary claw marks-Alpha claw marks. My blood ran cold. Lucas.

She spun at the sound of the door, green eyes flaring wide, For one suspended moment, neither of us moved. My gaze betrayed me, dropping to her exposed breasts, full and firm against her warrior's frame.

My wolf surged forward, howling with such forte I nearly staggered.

ID!

Chapter 39. Forbidden Territory

She grabbed for a shirt on the bed, holding it against her chest. "Jesus! Don't you knock?"

"What the hell are you doing in my daughter's room?" I asked, voice rougher than I intended.

Her chin lifted, defiance flashing despite her vulnerable position. "Do Alphas always barge into rooms like they own them?" A pause. "Wait. I guess you da

own this one."

The bathroom door opened before I could respond. Sophia emerged carrying a bowl of green paste, freezing when she saw me.

"Dad!" Her eyes darted between us. "What are you doing home so early?"

"I could ask why Ava is half-naked in your bedroom." The words came out harsher than I intended, my control slipping with each breath of her blood-ting

scent.

Sophia's eyes narrowed. "Lucas lost control during training. His claws came out- Alpha claws-and Ava needed immediate treatment. She held up the bowl "Morgan claw wounds need special herbs or they li fester. 1 brought her here to help."

My eyes locked on those three angry lines marring Ava's skin. My son had done this-his untrained Alpha nature breaking through too early. Anger warred with

concer

"You should have reported this immediately," I said, struggling to keep my voice level.

"She did nothing wrong, Sophia cut in, stepping

ping between us protectively. "I brought her up here.

"Alpha," Ava's voice was steady despite everything. "He's seven. It was an

accident. I've had worse in training,

I could smell the pain she was hiding, see it in the tight line of her jaw. My wolf whined, wanting to soothe rather than challenge.

"Our agreement was clear," 1 said, falling back on formality when emotions threatened to overwhelm me. "Second floor is off-limits."

Regret hit me the moment the words left my mouth. Sophia's face flushed with anger,

"Are you serious right now?" she demanded. "She's bleeding because of Lucas, and you're worried about territory violations?"

Ava's expression shuttered, all emotion wiped clean. "My mistake, Alpha King. II leave immediately."

She started to pull on Sophia's borrowed shirt, moving stiffly. My eyes followed the curve of her spine, the subtle shift of muscle beneath skin. I found myself suddenly, intensely aware of her in ways that had nothing to do with Alpha authority and everything to do with the man beneath the title.

"Wait." I pulled out the velvet box, suddenly desperate to change the subject. "This is for your wedding. Sophia. The sapphire necklace-I had it reset with diamonds to match your ceremony colors."

Sophia's anger melted as she opened the box, gasping at the contents. The family sapphire! Dad, it's stunning!" She turned to Ava, momentarily forgetting the tension. "This has been in our family forever. Each bride wears it on her wedding day."

Something Nickered in Ava's eyes-gone before I could identify it

"Il mindlink Jackson," Sophia said, excitement bubbling through her irritation with me. “He's been asking what jewelry I'd wear." She glanced at Ava. "Keep those clothes. That blue suits you."

Sophia moved to her bed, closing her eyes to establish the mindlink, leaving Ava and me in uncomfortable silence.

“I should go,” she said quietly, fully dressed now in Sophia's deep blue top.

I stepped aside to let her pass through the doorway. The narrow space meant she had to brush past me, her scent washing over me in a dizzying wave. Our eyes met briefly, and something electric passed between us-something that made my wolf strain toward her like a compass finding north.

I trailed her downstairs, keeping a cautious distance, but my eyes betrayed nie, locked on her every move. Sophia's clothes reshaped her, smoothing the hard edges of a warrior into something softer, yet sinfully enticing-each sway of her hips accentuating curves her combat gear had hidden. My mind spiraled into forbidden territory, consumed by the thought of those curves molded against me, her heated skin yielding under my hungry hands, my teeth grazing the pulsing mark on her neck, tasting the shiver of her surrender as desire clawed through my restraint...