Marked Twice by the Alpha King novel Chapter 141

e poi hii shit tetthet Baker vilte însă before he caught himself. “11 the linda ml.)

thehi hátt, she’ll bagh, shell try, Usaid. “And then she get through it because then your daughter. She unsiger than you tak

Meley shoulders dropped. “She told me this was her only chance at happiness. That she couldn’t lose this too, for aber her mother.” Kao pelt lazed ho words. Then my daughter, Mrs. I can’t be the one to destroy het world.”

Those words pinced me like silver arrows. I fought to suppts the entions rising inside me, tralizing this imbalance had thways existed between us Just revised to see it.

“Pamily,” I repented quietly, my voice slightly shaky. “Yeah, family matters.

Blake stepped cloves, reaching in touch my shoulder. “Ava? Are you nikay?”

I gently moved away, looking him straight in the eyes. “No. I’m wondering if my father had done something wrong, would you protect him this way? Be this Torgiving

Blake expression turned confused. “That’s different

“Not to me,” I interrupted, my voice soft but firm. “I see you willing to hide the truth for Sophia, even protect someone who betrays her. Yet my father sits in prison-” I swallowed hard. “And all I hear is 1 need more evidence and these things take time.”

Something like realization Mashed in Blake’s eyes, followed by guilt. I am investigating William’s case, but I can’t risk alerting the wrong people…”

“I get it,” I said, tears threatening to spill. “I really do understand the responsibility of protecting family. It’s just… watching you do all this for Sophia makes me malice… my family and I will always come second for you. Maybe that’s the truth about us

“It’s not like that,” Illake’s voice dropped, urgent. “You matter to me. Awal

I gave a bitter smile. “I matter, but not enough. That’s okay, it’s what I signed up for. I just. I took a deep breath. “I thought this mark between us meant

more.”

“I need to go home.” I hurled away, tears blurring my vision.

Wind whipped through the trees as I walked home, each step taking me further from the place that had started to feel like a sanctuary. I scrubbed my face with my sleeve, determined not to let Sarah see me crying.

Blake’s choice had cut deep, but how could I blame him? If forced to choose between him and my family, wouldn’t I pick blood every time? Of course he protected Sophia–she was his daughter. His priority.

But where did that leave me? Was I just convenient company until something more important came along? Was his mark ju

The knowledge didn’t ease the ache, but at least the battle lines were clearer now

just another way to pass the time?

1 pushed open our front door and frome. Sarah sat in the living room, but she wasn’t alone. Martha’s perfectly coiffed figure occupied our best chair, looking thoroughly out of place among our modest furnishings,

They both looked up, conversation dying instantly.

“Ava!” She jumped up. “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.”

I shifted awkwardly. “Lucas’s training. Had to stay at Blackwood a few nights.” Half–truth at best.

Martha took a prim sip of tea, her manicured fingernail tapping against the chipped mug like she might catch poverty from it. “Jackson speaks highly of your

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to the duale. I told Smith, lanering Marita completely. This

“Precisely, Martha purred. Tady son har entrusted me with Bealising the datatie, as his duties krep him btherwise

“bil ang tongue. Ceuspled Joening a wolf hooker, apparently,

Sarah stopped forward, chitching a scroll tied with Shadow Creek’s silver bon. Ava, listen, Martha brought the official terms: Chief Gehat) Însition, Ara. Chief.”

Martha nodded, her jewelry catching the lamplight. “Complete with pack loosing, generous stipend, and most crucially-

“Blood Protection Rights,” I finished. “I remember. So what’s the actual price tag?”

Sarah and Martha exchanged a look that made my skin prickle.

“Wa,” Sarah’s voice dropped to harply a whisper. I sold the house.”

The floor seemed to tilt beneath me. “Vou what?”

Sarah’s hands twisted in her apron–a nervous habit from my childlinad. “It’s been impossible since Will was taken. The pack treats us like we’ve got the plague. My healing practice is dead. Prison guards want more ‘gifts‘ every time I visit Exhaustion etched lines around her eyes I’d never noticed before. “We have to be out by the fall moon.”

“If you accept my son’s generous offer,” Martha said with practiced sympathy, “Shadow Creek will provide immediate accommodation. Sarah could live with you–closer to the prison, protected by pack law.”

The pieces clicked together with sickening clarity. “This isn’t an offer–it’s a trap. You’ve been planning this all along, cutting off every escape route to force me back.”

Martha’s expression didn’t change. “We’re providing options, dear. Every day sooner you quality for Flood Protection Rights, your father sits in that cell one day less”