Marked Twice by the Alpha King novel Chapter 29

Marked Twice by the Alpha King

Chapter 29

Ava’s POV

After putting the Delta warrior on his back for the third time this morning, I dragged my aching body to the rest area My muscles protested with every step. but teaching Lucas had given me a strange new energy and focus in my own training.

Ella sat at our usual bench, attacking a jerky stick while flipping through a dog eared tactics manual. Some constants in life kept me sane.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” she called, snapping her book shut. She nudged a steaming mug toward me. Recovery brew. Heard you were sparring with the Delta warriors today.”

I collapsed across from her, bones practically melting into the bench. “Ella, I could kiss you right now. The mug warmed my palms as 1 inhaled herbs that smelied like forest and healing.

“Drink up,” she said, kicking my shin lightly under the table. “You look like death warmed over.”

The first sip hit my system like lightning, dulling the screaming in my muscles. I closed my eyes, sighing as the tension uncoiled.

“So, Ella leaned forward, elbows on the table, ‘you ghosted me last night. Thought we had a mindlink date?”

I winced mid–sip. “Sorry. Lucas ran me ragged at Blackwood. Fell face–first into bed the second 1 got home,

“That bad? Ella raised an eyebrow. “Kid must be a nightmare.”

My fingers tightened around the mug. The Blood Oath with Blake tingled at the back of my mind–a silent warning. One slip about what really happened with Lucas and that magical scroll, and I’d be in serious supernatural trouble. High–paying job? Gone, Worse, Blood Oath backlash could literally fry me from the inside out.

“It’s… I searched for safe words, ‘complicated.”

“Complicated how? Is he setting things on fire? Her eyes gleamed with mischief.

I snorted. “Lucas is actually scary smart. Kid’s like a sponge. He’s just…” My tongue felt heavy, the Oath keeping certain truths locked behind my teeth. “His wolf abilities are showing way too early. He needs someone who gets what that’s like. I traced the rim of my mug. Plus the payment helps to ease my way.”

‘Sounds perfect! Ella’s face brightened. “Nobody better for the job. You taught my hopeless ass to fight, and I’ve got two left paws.”

‘Please,‘ I rolled my eyes. “You’re not that bad.”

She pressed a hand to her chest in mock offense. Name one warrior thing you suck at. Just one.”

I thought for a second. “Herbal remedies. Can’t mix them worth a damn.”

“That’s because you’re too busy being perfect at everything else, she laughed, throwing her jerky wrapper at me. “Even when you mess up, you still follow the recipe exactly. It’s annoying as hell.”

I grinned, something tight in my chest easing for the first time in days. God, normal felt good–just two friends laughing like the world wasn’t burning downs around us.

A sickly–sweet scent hit my nose–designer perfume trying to mask the sharp bite of weapon oil. My smile dhed as Serena Evans sauntered over, trailed by her pack of wannabes.

I’d known Serena since we were pups fumbling through our first battle stances. Our rivalry sparked when I knocked her on her ass during our first youth tournament, but what started as healthy competition had rotted into something ugly over the years.

Every day was a battle for Academy rankings. Serena rode her family connections like a free pass, while I clawed my way up through sheer grit. As much as 1 hated her, she was good—lightning–fast reflexes, killer instincts, and a tactical mind that made her dangerous, Ice–blue eyes that caught every weakness, sunshine–blonde hair always woven into those perfect battle braids even during the bloodiest fights.

Her battle gear–custom made by her famous designer mother–fit like she’d been poured into it. The ideal warrior princess for breeding perfect wolf cubs. Too bad all that packaging hid a heart pumping pure venom.

Well, well, Serena stopped at our table, lips curling like she’d smelled something foul. “Traitor’s daughter still has the nerve to show her face here.”

“Wolves never reject fated mates unless they’re fundamentally broken, one girl with too much eyeshadow piped up.