Marked Twice by the Alpha King novel Chapter 55

Ava’s POV

“Please sit, Alpha King, Morgan Luna.” The headmaster yanked out chairs for us, bowing so low I thought he might fall over.

Blake guided me to a chair, his fingers brushing my knuckles as I sat. A jolt shot up my arm, and I couldn’t tell if it was panic or something I didn’t w

want to

The headmaster laced his fingers together. “About Lucas’s incident–we have strict fighting policies, even for Morgan cubs.”

just playing house, or something else? His warm grip anchored me when

Under the table, Blake’s hand found mine and squeezed. My pulse skipped–was this ju I was about to float away on a sea of panic.

“Cut to the chase,” Blake said, lounging back. “What exactly happened?”

“Yesterday, Lucas attacked an older student named Tobby. Witnesses say Lucas threw the first punch and injured the

Blake’s muscles tensed against my arm. He glanced sideways at me, one eyebrow up. “You knew about this?”

crap. I only knew Lucas had mentioned someone trash–talking his mom

“Just hits and pieces,” I hedged. “Lucas said a kid said something nasty, but no details.”

boy’s

‘face.”

Blake’s focus swiveled back to the headmaster. “My son doesn’t start fights without a good reason. What did this Tobby say to him?”

The headmaster tugged his collar. “We didn’t actually ask… we were focused on the injury

“So you’re telling me,” Blake’s voice dropped to that scary–quiet level, ‘you slapped blame on a seven–year–old without getting the whole story? That’s how this fancy school operates?”

The headmaster’s face went the color of old paper. “I assure you, Alpha King, we’ll investigate fully

“Get Lucas. Now.” Blake didn’t raise his voice, which somehow made it worse.

Heavy

silence fell. I snuck glances at Blake–jaw tight enough to crack nuts, eyes flickering with something fierce. Why was he backing my crazy lie instead of busting me on the spot?

“That wrist still hurt?

I blinked down at the purple fingerprints on my skin. “It’s nothing.”

His eyes dropped to my neck where Jackson’s mark sat. “Interesting.”

“What?” My hand flew up to cover it.

“You.” His voice dropped to a murmur. “You could w

I’ve come clean when I showed up, begged for mercy. Instead, you doubled down.”

I don’t know what i wrong with me, but I met his gaze head–on, “Pot, meet kettle,” I whispered back. “You could’ve exposed me in two seconds flat. Instead, you jumped in like we’ve been rehearsing this play for weeks. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I

Our eyes locked, something electric crackling between us. His mouth quirked up at one corner, like he was impressed I’d called his bluff.

A soft knock broke our staring contest. The headmaster barked, “Come in!”

Lucas preked through the door, fear written all over his face. Hunter slipped in behind him. When Lucas spotted Blake, he froze like a rabbit who’d just seen

“Dad?” His voice barely carried as his eyes ping–ponged between us. ‘Ava’s here too?”

Flake held out his hand. “Cmere, kid.”

Lucas inched forward like the floor might bite him. Hunter stuck to his heels, tail hanging law,

Chapter 55. Playing House

“Park it,” Blake nodded to the chair beside me.

Lucas climbed up, looking like we’d grown extra heads overnight.

“Heard you decked a kid yesterday,” Blake said, voice neutral.

Lucas’s face went for

tomato–red as his eyes dropped to his speakers. “Sorry, Dad.”

He looked up with such trust it made my chest ache.

“This kid Tobby,” Lucas finally said. “He’s always on my case about not being Morgan material. Yesterday he started talking about… about Mom.”

Lucas bit his lip. Blake’s voice softened just a fraction. It’s okay, son, Let it out.”

“He called me a motherless runt,” Lucas said, each word dragged out like it hurt. “Said Mom would rather die than have a worthless p

I tried walking away, Lucas’s voice trembled. But he blocked me and said Mom died because she gave birth to a useless heir. That’s when I hit him. I know I shouldn’t have, bur

Blake’s fingers dug into the chair arms so hard I heard wood crack. Without thinking, I laid my hand over his, squeezing gently. The move felt as natural as breathing.

He turned to me, his eyes wolf–gold and blazing with rage–but also a flash of surprise. His hand flipped over, catching my fingers in a grip that was both fierce and careful. I caught Lucas noticing, a tiny smile lifting one corner of his mouth.

“That’s enough,” Blake said, voice deadly quiet.

To my shock, Blake moved around me and dropped to one knee in front of Lucas. His massive hand rested on his son’s tiny shoulder.

“You didn’t mess up,” he said, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it. “Standing up for family is never wrong.”