Marked Twice by the Alpha King novel Chapter 109

I double checked my rising bag, making sure all blinder meir focked away securely. Lall thing I needed was a dagger slicing through fabric and lea on the way home. The afternoon sun hit the Academy urtyard at that golden hour angle that turned everything out, a mark contrast to the brutal combat. drills we’d just wozpped upk

Hila practically tackled me from behind, her arms locking around my waist. “Next week’s group testini –don’t faker”

I spun armand, raising an rychres. “And what else am I supposedly not forgetting

“Seriously?” She rolled her eyes with the dramatic flair only Ella could pull off “The Moon Festival everyone knows Steven’s back.”

and tall, Mond, and royalf Dort play dunch –

My fingers twitched toward my collar, making site the mark stayed bilden. That damn thing had been shifting from Jacksons silver to unmething else wa warm gold that seemed to pulse whenever he got close.

“We hung out a couple times. Nothing earth shattering.” I muttered, shahing my bag to the other shoulder.

Ella snorted. “Yeah, and I meenlight as the Goddess herself”

If the only knew how messy things really were. Since that night with Blake–God, that night that replayed in my head like a finvorite song stuck on repeat— we’d done this awkward dance around each other. Professionally polite in public, carefully distant in private. Then there was Steven, who’d kissed me before everything went to hell. Nice enough, but nothing like the wildline that blazed through me when Blake touched

“Steven’s cool,” I

with a shrug. “But I’ve got enough on my plate”

“What–teaching some rich kid how to punch? Ella leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. ‘Do you have any idea how many she wolves would trade places with you in a heartbeat? Alpha heir material doesn’t just fall into your lap every day.”

I kicked at a loose pebble. Trust me, that spotlight burns more than it flatters.”

“Hopeless,” she sighed, giving my shoulder a light show. “Look, if he asks you to the festival, you’d be an idiot to say no. It’s only the most romantic night in wolf culture, but whatever.”

cause stuffy ceremonies are totally my scene,” I shot back, shaking my head. “Plus, Lucas’s training”

*Right, because

“How are you holding up?” Ella cut in, her playful tone vanishing. “İnce… you know.”

My muscles locked up before I could stop them. The silver burns had healed fine, but the other scars–i

-being drugged, feeling my body betray me while my mind screamed in protest, that bone–deep terror–those weren’t going anywhere soon.

“Burns healed,” I said simply. “Sleeps still a work in progress.”

“Whenever you want to talk…” She let the offer hang in the air.

I nodded, grateful but eager to shift gears. “Gotta jet. Lucas is waiting.”

“One day,” Ella’s face cracked into that mischievous grin 1 knew meant trouble, “you’re gonna spill what really goes on in that mansion that’s got you walking around in a daze.”

It crawled

Heat

I up my neck. “I teach a kid to fight. That’s the headline.”

“Sure,” she laughed. “And that dreamy look you get has nothing to do with a certain stored Alpha with shoulders that don’t quit.”

“There’s nothing” I started 100

A sleek black carriage with the Silverpeak crest rolled up to the Academy gates, cutting me off. Instead of the mual stone faced driver, Sephia’s blonde hea popped out, bright as sunshine.

Chapter 109

“Aval” she called, waving Finally tracked you doen!“–

I watched, momentarily freeen, an flakes daughter hopped garefully from the carriage and heated our way. After what and bed

in that cellar, facing death side by side–umething had shifted batire us. Something neither of us had expected.

“Sophia?” | Blinked, “What are you doing here?

She wrapped me is a quick hug, smelling of expensive perfume and safety. Tomised Father to let me play chauffeur instead of seriding the

Ella’s eyebrows disappeared into her hairline, fascination written all over her face. I shot her a printed look.

“See you next week,” I said, my tone making it clear the conversation was over.

She backed away, grinning. “Remember what i said?“

Once

e Ella was out of earshot, Sophia’s bright smile dimmed. Teels like we haven’t really

“How’s recovery treating you?” I asked quietly, scanning our surroundings out of habit,

“The physical stuff’s fine.” She lowered her voice. “But I still wake up thinking I’m back in that cellar sometimes. Her ble eyes–sol like her father’s searched mine. “If you hadn’t been there with me..

“You’d have figured something out,” I said, squeezing her hand. “You’ve got more steel in you than you know.”

“That place changed things,” she said, holding onto my hand. “Before that night, I didn’t have anyone I could really trust. Not like this.”

Something warme bloomed in my chest. For someone who’d built her life around staying detached, having Sophia friendship felt surprisingly right- complicated as hell given my feelings for her father, but genuine.