Marked Twice by the Alpha King novel Chapter 30

Ava’s POV

I froze mid–step as a gleaming black carriage pulled up at the Academy entrance, the silver wolf emblem of Silverpeak catching sunlight like a warning flare. My plans to rush home and change before heading to Blackwood Manor evaporated in an instant.

The carriage door swung open, revealing Blake’s warrior chief Tyler Reed. His broad shoulders filled the doorframe as he nodded a greeting.

“Good afternoon, Miss Rivers,” he said, voice carrying easily across the yard. “Alpha King sent me to escort you to Blackwood Manor.”

Heads turned. Whispers rippled through the training yard like wind through tall grass. Great–exactly what I needed after Serena’s little scene earlier.

“Thanks, though it wasn’t necessary,” I muttered, climbing into the carriage.

As I settled onto the plush leather seat, my neck tingled with the sensation of being watched. My wolf’s senses snapped to attention, but Tyler had already closed the door, and the carriage lurched forward.

The interior smelled of leather and pine, with faint traces of Blake’s scent lingering in the cushions. My mark responded instantly, pulsing with warmth instead of the knife–edge pain I’d grown used to since Jackson’s rejection.

Tyler studied me with those calm, assessing eyes that missed nothing. As Beta to Blake’s Alpha, he had that watchful quality of someone constantly scanning for threats.

“Will you be attending the Honor Ceremony tomorrow?” he asked, breaking the silence.

I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral. “I should be. I need those exchange privileges.”

His mouth quirked up slightly. “The Alpha King will be lead judge, as you might know.”

My hand automatically went to my neck where the mark hummed beneath my fingertips. ‘Is that so?” I forced my voice to stay steady, but it sounded strained even to my own ears.

Tyler inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring slightly–reading my emotional scent markers as easily as words on a page. He just smiled knowingly and said nothing more.

Silence settled between us, punctuated only by hoofbeats and the crunch of wheels on gravel. I turned toward the window, watching the landscape blur past while my thoughts raced ahead.

Tomorrow’s ceremony wasn’t just about honors anymore. The exchange privileges meant direct access to other packs‘ archives and resources–a golden ticket to find evidence clearing Dad’s name without having to beg or bribe like I’d been forced to do recently.

I just had to keep my focus. Nothing could go wrong tomorrow.

Third Person POV

Serena paced along the edge of the Academy training grounds, golden wolf eyes flashing as she fumed over Ava’s earlier challenge. She’d quickly ditched her followers, preferring to seethe alone.

“How dare that worthless lone wolf speak to me like that,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “A traitor’s daughter! A marked reject!”

Her nose caught a familiar scent–expensive cologne barely masking the sharp notes of ambition and power. She relaxed her guard instantly, turning toward the source.

Jackson emerged from the shadows of the trees, his black cloak making his approach seem like darkness itself taking form. His movement had the fluid grace of a predator sizing up its territory.

Serena’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “She is getting more insufferable by the day,” she said, tossing her perfect blonde battle braids over her shoulder. “She actually had the nerve to challenge me publicly, implying she’s better in combat. Ridiculous.”

“What else would you expect?” Jackson’s voice was cool and controlled. “Arrogance has always been her defining trait. It’s one of many reasons I couldn’t tolerate her.”

“It’s risky for you to be seen here,‘ Serena remarked, fixing him with a sharp stare. “Isn’t this beneath your station, as you always say?”

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Chapter 30

“Tomorrow is crucial,” Jackson said. “Ensure she doesn’t receive exchange privileges. I’ve arranged certain… incidents. But I need someone on the inside to help things along.”

“Everything is in place,” his subordinate’s voice whispered through the connection. “At tomorrow’s Honor Ceremony, Ava will be accused of cheating during her last combat assessment. We’ve bribed one of the judges and prepared ‘evidence‘.”

A satisfied smile spread across Jackson’s face. “Excellent. Make sure the timing is perfect–right as she’s about to receive exchange privileges. Preferably in front of the Alpha King.”