Marked Twice by the Alpha King

"The mark" - Chally choked on. Þerly like sking Blver wins."

"Blake vanished and reappeared in bionds with à enld washcloth. He pressed it gently against my neck, his other arm wripping stoned

his chest. A latched onto his solid warmth like an anchor in a storm.

"Easy," he murmured, his breath warm against my est. "Breathe with me. În... cent... thats it."

1 tried fotuning on his chest rising and falling against my back, but another were crashed through me, worse than before. A pathetic whimper ripped t I dochind evET.

"Shit," I gasped. "Never felt this bad before. Not even when he got engaged.

Blake's chest expanded as he took a deep breath. I didn't need to see his eyes to know they'd flashed gold his wolf rising to the parface.

old mate marks have weird connections," he said, voice tight as he pressed the cloth harder against my skin. "While my mark's mill replacing his, there can be... feedback. Especially when the first marker is getting physical with someone,

My stomach dropped as his meaning sank in. "Wait-you think Jackson and Sophia are...?"

"Maybe celebrating his big night, Blake said, but his tone suggested he wasn't buying it either. That would be the expected thing."

Another jolt of pain shot through me, so intense I had to bite my lip bloody to keep from screaming. My fingers dug into Blakes thigh hard enough to leave

"Your hand," I managed between gritted teeth. "When you touch it... hurts less," Understanding flashed in his eyes. Without hesitation, he pulled me onto his lap, one hand at my waist while the other covered my mark completely. The pain immediately dialed down from unbearable to merely horrible. I instinctively curled into him, craving more contact.

"Our marks are fighting it out," he said, breath warm against my ear. "Mine's pushing his out. My touch strengthens our side."

When his lips brushed the mark, the pain transformed into something wildly different-a hot electric current that shot straight to my core. I shuddered, my hrad dropping back against his shoulder.

"Better?" he asked, voice rough as gravel.

"Don't stop," I breathed, twisting to face him.

His eyes darkened. "Every time I see that silver on you," he growled, "I want to burn it off. Can't stand knowing his teeth touched you."

Despite everything, I smirked. "Is the big bad Alpha King jealous?"

eyes flashed gold. "Alphas don't get jealous," he said with mock dignity. "We stake claims."

So I'm a claim now

His palm cupped my face, thumb tracing my lip "You know I'm nothing like him,” he said, all humor vanishing. He threw you away. I'd tear apart anyone who tried to take you from me."

The raw honesty in his voice stole my breath. Before I could find words, his mouth claimed mine in a kiss that was both gentle and demanding, like he was trying to erase Hayes from my memory.

Jackson never kissed me like that," 1,whispered against his lips.

"he demanded, voler Wirk and dark, fail me he never made you feel this?noveldrama

Isisë under my khiết, his palm hot against my rib. "Not once.

its andle against my skin féll almost predatory. "Just medicine," he murmured, pushing my shirt higher. "For the pain

let out a breathless twogh, my body already melting for him. "Is that what they call it at Alpha schon??

He pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, suddenly serious. "I hate seeing you butt, Ava. Don't ever think otherwise." His fingers traced my cheek i might break. "Bạt I'm not sorry his mark is lading. Silver was never your color. Your were made for gold'

Something cracked open in my chest, raw and vulnerable. I used my mouth against his, puuring every feeling Loouldn't wine into that kiss. His hande tightened on my hips, pulling me closer as I straddled him.

Our clothes disappeared in a frantic rush of hands and teeth and whispered encouragements. Blake's mouth never left my skin, trailing fire down my neck, across my collarbone, between my breasts. Every touch was reverent yet desperate, like he couldn't get enough of me. When his lips returned to my mark, the earlier pain transformed completely into pleasure so intense it bordered on unbearable,

Through our fading bond, I could sense an echo of Jackson's experience - mechanical, disconnected, empty compared to what I was feeling with Blake. "Whoever she is," I gasped as Blake guided me over him, "she's not feeling what I am."

The thought slipped out before I could catch it-the fleeting, petty satisfaction that Jackson's partner wasn't experiencing the same depth of connection I fell with Blake. Shame immediately followed. What kind of person takes pleasure in something like that?

Blake's eyes caught mine, questioning, but I shook my head, silently begging him not to ask. Instead, 1 sank down on him slowly, taking him deep inside me. We both groaned at the connection, my body stretching to accommodate him. His hands steadied my hips, guiding my movements while his mouth returned to my neck, teeth grazing the mark with deliberate pressure.

The dual sensation-his body inside mine, his teeth on the mark-created a feedback loop of pleasure that made my head spin. Each touch, each thrust, each brush of his lips against my skin strengthened the golden threads of his mark while weakening lackson's silver brand. When we finally collapsed against each other, spent and trembling, I knew something fundamental had shifted. Hayes's mark had never felt weaker, Blake's gold never stranger.

After, as we lay tangled in st

sheets damp with sweat, Blake brushed hair from my face. "How's the pain now?" he asked, voice soft in the darkness.

"Almost gone." I smiled up at him, feeling boneless and spent.

His expression grew serious. "That reaction shouldn't have been so strong. Something's not right." He closed his eyes briefly, that little crease appearing between his brows that showed he was using mindlink.

When his eyes opened, they were

ry were troubled. "Tyler just confirmed Sophia got back to Blackwood hours ago.

She's alone in her room. Nobody saw Hayes come back with her."

Ice flooded my veins. My fingers instinctively touched my neck, where the pain had settled to a dull throb,

"If Jackson isn't with Sophia... I whispered.

Blake's eyes hardened, glinting gold in the moonlight. Then who the hell is he screwing?"