Marked Twice by the Alpha King novel Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Blake’s POV

my silver.

Sunlight sliced through the Infekt canopy, playing hide–and–seek across my

eaved between ancient usks. The fiberpeak henting moundi stretched ahead, rich with deer scent and fresh sail after last night’s rain. Any other day, this would ve jolted my senses after, parked my wolf right to the

Today, I might as well have been sleepwalking.

A fat buck practically danced across our path mont beside me spoke volumes.

wrapped prry–and I completely missed it before the animal vanished into the brush. Tylers disbelieving

My bead was stuck at Blackwood. Replaying water splashing amund us. Sheets tangled between limbs. Axa’s green eyes darkening an I’d meed inside her, her lips forming my name like a sectel prayer. The memory bit so vivid. I could almost taste her–wild berries mixed with something uniquely her

We hit a sun–drenched clearing, and I shifted without thinking, bones snapping and muscles flowing into human form with the casual confidence of someone who’d done this thousands of times, Tyler followed suit, fishing nur stashed clothes from behind a fallen log and tossing mine ment.

“Well damn, Tyler smirked as I yanked on parts, “what happened to the big had Alpha who never misses? That deer practically offered its throat, and you didn’t even blink

I grunted, not bothering to deny it. Tyler had stuck by me too long–any bullshit excuse would just confirm what he already knew.

Thirty years I’ve known you,” he continued, tugging on his shirt, and I’ve never seen you this distracted. Not since…” He left the rest unsaid. Not since Elizabeth

I fumbled with buttons, avoiding his too–perceptive stare. Drop it. Reed.”

“Can’t do that,” he shrugged, completely unfazed by my warning tone. “I was there before anyone called you Alpha King, back when you couldnt even track

wounded rabbit. If I can’t call you on your crap, who can?”

I let out a breath, eyes drifting toward Blackwood Mance, Even from here, something tagged at me–like fishing line hooked under my ribs, connecting me to that mark on her neck, that body Ed claimed, that woman who’d somehow burmed under my skin when I wasn’t looking

“It’s messy.”

4.” I finally admitted, hating how pathetic it sounded. “She.

“Life’s messy.” Tyler said, leaning against a tree trunk. “Wolf Life’s meer. But some messes are worth jumping into face–fint.”

Binds chirped in the awkward silence while I wrestled with thoughts I hadn’t let myself fully form. “She made it crystal clear this moming–professional only,” I said finally, “Better for everyone that way.”

“Better, or just safer?” Tyler shot back, eyes suddenly sharp. “Sometimes the best things are the ones that scare the hell out of you.”

A rumble built in my throat, but there wasn’t any real bite to it. “Enough,” I said, mouth quirking despite myself. “Back to Blackwood, Got actual problems to deal with today.”

“Right,” Tyler’s grin spread like wildfire as he headed for the horses. Like pretending you’re not watching a certain green–eyed warrice kick your son’s bull all afternoon.”

I flipped him off, but his laughter chased me all the way to my

horse.

finally escaped the day’s political bullshit. The The moon was just peeking over the horizon, pairing Blackwood’s imposing silhouette in siber when 1 second I pushed through the heavy oak doors, her scent hit me like a physical thing–that distinctive mix that was purely A–making my wolf pare restlessly under my skin.

Lucas stood in the middle of the great hall, arma flailing as he showed Ava some elaborate fighting move bed clearly invented on the spot. She watched with that half–smile that transformed het fare, making her look younger, soller Somehow. Sophia floated down the curved staircase, and trailing behind her-

Steven.

JA

Chapter 107

1 froze mid–step, binin stuttering to catch up. How the hell bad i forgotten my nephe today–something that had completely slipped my mind alter last night

viting! The northern pack his had been scheduled to arrive

developments.

More surprising was watching Aca stillen when she spotted hits, like she’d alus forgotten this appointment, Steven, oblivious to the oddes drop, strede straight toward her with that easy confidence all Morgans seemed boom with. He clapped her shoulder canally, and antjething hot and ugly trated up inside me, a warning growd building helme I could slim it back down.

I spun toward the window, needing a second to wrangle whatever tertitmial bullshit was happhing in my chest. Through the hall

Steven’s animated voice telling Ava about some ancient northern pack legend. The story pulled that rare, throaty leigh from her the kind I’d only brand a handful of times, usually never directed at me.

“Catch yots tomorrow, Ava said, gathering her training bag. She waved to Lacan and Sophia, then turned–and–our eyes lacked across the space. Something electric tapped between us. Her lips pasted like she might say something, anything, but then she just gave a quick nod and practically bolted, leaving me Feeling like scene had sucked all the oxygen from the mum.

“Dinners

ready.

Wilson’s starchy voice cut to my thoughts.

“Thank god. I’m starving, Sophia grinned, hending Loras found the

Steven broke away

dining room,