Marked Twice by the Alpha King novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Ava’s POV

The morning air carried a chill as I approached Blackwood Manor. My mark hummed with warmth the closer I got to Blake’s territory, those golden threads beneath my skin responding to the unmistakable energy of an Alpha’s domain.

I reached the massive oak doors before they swung open. Mr. Wilson stood there, his silver hair perfectly combed, his face set in professional neutrality that didn’t quite hide his skepticism.

“Miss Rivers,” he said coolly. “Punctual. At least there’s that.”

I offered a tight smile. “Morning to you too.”

Wilson closed the door behind me. “Light is not what’s needed today, I’m afraid. Master Lucas has… created a situation.”

“What kind of situation?”

Wilson’s lips pressed into a thin line. “He’s managed to get his hands on something he shouldn’t have. A Moonstone Scroll.”

stiffened. Even in Shadow Creek, we knew about those–ancient texts containing forbidden wolf techniques passed down through the oldest bloodlines.

“How the hell did a seven–year–old get a Moonstone Scroll?” I asked, already moving toward the stairs.

“That’s precisely what I’d like to know. The Alpha King keeps such items locked in his private study.”

As we climbed the stairs, I felt the shift in the air–a crackling energy that made the hair on my arms stand up.

“He’s been in there since dawn, Wilson said, his voice dropping. “I heard chanting earlier. When I tried to enter, he…” The manager trailed off, and for the first time, I noticed the thin scratch along his jawline. Fresh.

“He shifted?” I asked, alarmed.

“Partially. His eyes, claws…” Wilson hesitated. “No child his age should be able to do that. The previous instructors fled the moment they saw his eyes change color.

We reached the second floor. The energy grew stronger as we approached Lucas’s door–wild, untamed power pulsing from inside.

Wilson placed himself between me and the door. “Perhaps I should call for the Alpha King. Master Lucas in this state is… unpredictable.”

I shook my head. “Blake hired me to handle Lucas. First day on the job isn’t the time to prove I can’t.”

I stepped forward and knocked firmly on the door. “Lucas? It’s Ava.”

Silence answered me, but I could feel movement inside. He was listening.

“Lucas, I know you’ve got a Moonstone Scroll. Those aren’t meant for cubs.”

I tried again, gentler this time. “Lucas, your dad hired me to help you, remember? To teach you the fighting skills you want to learn.”

“I don’t need you anymore!” His voice cracked slightly. “I found something better!”

The doorknob rattled. I heard a thud against the door and a snarl–a young wolf’s snarl, but with an edge that shouldn’t be there in someone so young.

I shrugged him off, my patience evaporating. Lucas Morgan, open this door right now!”

When silence was my only answer, I made a split–second decision. I took three steps back, centered my weight, and kicked the door with enough force to crack the frame. The wood splintered, the door flying open and banging against the wall inside.

“Miss Rivers!” Wilson gasped, his professional mask cracking with shock.