Marked Twice by the Alpha King novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

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

The temperature seemed to drop twenty degrees. Alpha energy rolled off Blake in waves that made my wolf curl up. Even the headmaster shrank back in his

chair.

“Keep going,” Blake growled.

“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, but-

Blake’s fingers dug into the chair arm 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.

Lucas’s eyes pooled with tears. “I messed up, didn’t I?”

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.”

Lucas blinked, tears spilling over. “For real?”

Blake nodded, thumb gently wiping a tear from his son’s cheek. “For real. But next time, come to me first. Some fights are mine to handle.

Something warm unfurled in my chest watching them. This wasn’t ice–king Blake–this was a father who’d burn the world down to protect his son. For a second, I almost forgot I was just an imposter in their family portrait.

Blake rose to his full height, turning to the headmaster with wolf–gold still swirling in his eyes. “What punishment did you give the kid who trashed my late mate and bullied my son?”

The headmaster’s throat bobbed. “He received medical attention–”

“A bandage isn’t punishment,” Blake cut in with arctic coldness. “That little shit insulted the Morgan legacy, disrespected my fated mate, and verbally attacked my son. By tribal law, that’s grounds for his whole family to be kicked off pack lands.”

The headmaster went chalk–white. “We had no idea-”

“Now you do.” Blake’s tone slammed the door on further excuses. “I want a full report on what happens to this kid. Handle it wrong, and Silverpeak Academy might find itself without Morgan backing. Clear?”

The headmaster nodded frantically. “Crystal clear, Alpha King.”

Blake held his hand out to Lucas. ‘You’re coming home with us today.”

Lucas glanced at me, checking if “us” included me. I nodded with a reassuring smile.

Blake extended his other hand to me. “Ready to go, babe?‘

That casual endearment echoed in my ears as I slid my hand into his waiting palm. His fingers closed around mine with familiar ease, like we’d been doing this dance for years.