Marked Twice by the Alpha King novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Ava’s POV

Blake’s quarters hit me like a punch to the gut the second we stepped inside. Dark wood, leather, and his scent–everywhere. The mark on my neck burned with each step, pulsing under my skin.

“Crap, I muttered, pressing my back against the nearest wall. Even across the room, his scent crawled inside me–pine and storm clouds and something wild that made my wolf pace like a caged animal.

Blake yanked open a cabinet door, his movements jerky. ‘Need to find the herbs.”

“So this dust–it’s basically werewolf cocaine?” I asked, biting my lip as another wave of heat crashed through me.

A muscle jumped in his jaw. “Training tool. Makes senses sharper.” He kept his words short, like talking hurt.

I hugged myself tight, my clothes suddenly feeling like sandpaper on my skin. Blake’s shoulders bunched under his shirt as he dug through bottles, and I couldn’t look away.

“Got it,” he muttered, pulling out a small vial.

When he turned, his eyes had changed from stormy gray to molten gold. His chest rose and fell in deep breaths–the Alpha fighting for control.

“Water, he said, moving to a crystal pitcher. “Have to mix it.”

I pushed off the wall, taking wobbly steps forward. “How long till it kicks in?”

“Thirty minutes. Maybe more.” His voice dropped so low it rumbled. “Just… keep your distance.”

Too late. As he handed me the vial, our fingers brushed.

The contact zapped through me like lightning. My hand grabbed his wrist before my brain could catch up. His skin burned against mine, sending heat straight to my core.

Blake froze. The muscle in his jaw twitched, but he didn’t pull away. Didn’t speak. Just watched me with those gold eyes as I held onto him.

My fingers moved on their own, sliding up his forearm to where he’d rolled his sleeves. His pulse raced under my touch.

blake remained silent, jaw clenched tight as he stared down at me. The control in his body was obvious–like someone holding their breath underwater.

I stepped closer, drawn by something I couldn’t fight. My hand pressed against his chest, feeling his heart hammer against my palm. His scent wrapped around me–deeper now, mixed with something that made my mouth water.

I rose on tiptoe, pulled to his neck by some weird instinct. My lips brushed his throat, tasting salt and heat. A low sound rumbled in his chest, vibrating against my mouth.

I nipped at his neck, and his fingers dug into my sides. One of his hands slid up my back, tangling in my hair, not directing, just hanging on.

We were one heartbeat from the point of no return when a sharp knock broke through the room like a gunshot.

We jumped apart. Blake dragged a hand through his hair, breathing like he’d run up a mountain.

Blake squared his shoulders, Alpha mask sliding back into place. “Bring him in.”