Marked Twice by the Alpha King

Sweet Warnings

Ava's POV

The main courtyard bustled with activity when we descended the steps. Northern Lights carriages waited in a neat line horses stamping impatiently while delegates finished their farewells. I felt every pair of eyes turn toward us, tracking our movements with undisguised curiosity.

"Alpha King, James approached with a formal bow, "thank you for your hospitality. This alliance will benefit both territories greatly."

"The pleasure was ours," Blake replied smoothly, his arm drawing me closer. "I believe you've met my Luna, Ava Rivers.

James smiled warmly, pressing a brief kiss to my knuckles. "Future Luna, it's been an honor."

Other pack members had gathered to witness the delegation's departure-Tyler and Maya, Council members, even kitchen staff. To my surprise, their expressions held more curiosity than judgment. Ruth gave me a subtle thumbs-up from behind a pillar, making me bite my cheek to keep from laughing.

"Ava!" Lucas barreled through the crowd, a miniature version of Blake in his formal wear. "Everyone knows you're my mom

now!"

Before I could stop him, he'd grabbed Lyra's hand. "Priestess Starlight, this is my mom! Isn't she pretty?"

My face burned. The kid had zero filter.

Lyra's expression softened as she looked down at him. "She's very pretty, Lucas. And lucky to have such a wonderful son.

Lucas beamed. "I know! I'm teaching her Luna stuff. Did you know she can throw a knife from twenty feet and hit the target every time?"

I caught Tyler hiding a smile. Great. The knife-throwing Luna-that's what they'd call me now.noveldrama

An elderly wolf with silver-streaked hair approached Oliver, one of the senior council members. His sharp gaze swept over

me, assessing.

"Miss Rivers," his voice carried across the courtyard, "as a warrior from Shadow Creek, what unique value do you bring to Silverpeak? Our traditions differ significantly from your upbringing."

The crowd went silent. I felt my mouth go dry as every eye turned toward me.

"I..." My voice wavered embarrassingly. I cleared my throat, starting again. "I believe these differences might actually be

valuable."

I felt Blake's hand tighten around mine,/offering silent support.

"I see both packs differently than someone who's only known one way of life." The words came haltingly, but I pushed through. "And as a warrior, protecting this pack-my new family-is something I already know how to do."

Oliver studied me, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched uncomfortably.

Blake stepped in smoothly. "Oliver, remember when Elizabeth first arrived? New perspectives always take time to integrate,

Chapter 185: Sweet Warnings

but they make us stronger for It."

Oliver's expression softened slightly. "Fair point, Alpha King. I simply wanted to

ensure our future Luna understands t responsibility she carries."

I shot Blake a grateful look. I still had miles to go before I'd be comfortable in this

role, but his steady presence made the journey less daunting.

As the delegates prepared for departure, Lyra pulled me aside, her voice dropping.

"I wanted to thank you again for yesterday," she said. "Your understanding meant more than you know.

"Of course," I replied. Despite our rocky start, I genuinely respected the woman standing before me.

Lyra hesitated, those unusual purple eyes studying my face. "There's something else you should know.

My stomach tightened. "What is it?"

"It's about Sophia." She kept her voice low, glancing around to ensure we weren't overheard. "She approached me several times during our stay, trying to encourage a relationship between Blake and myself."

Heat rushed to my face. Not exactly surprising, but hearing it confirmed still stung. "Oh."

“She also told me things about you. About why you came to Silverpeak.” Lyra's expression turned serious. She said you approached Blake to save your father from execution. That he was accused of being a traitor to Shadow Creek."

My chest constricted at the mention of Dad. "That's... that's true. William Rivers is my father, and he was arrested for

treason. But Lyra, I didn't come here to seduce Blake." I took a deep breath, wanting her to understand. 'Initially I did come seeking mercy for my father, but what happened between Blake and me... that was something I never expected. Now I just know that I love him, and want to be with him, regardless of whether he's the Alpha King or not."

"I believe you," Lyra said firmly. "But the way Sophia told the story... It sounded like omeone has been filling her head with a very specific narrative about your motivations."

Jackson. It had to be him.

"There's something else," Lyra continued. "William Rivers... that name came up during our recent border discussions. Incidents along our shared borders with Shadow Creek."

My heart jumped. "You know about his case?"

"Not specifically, but I remember mentions of something." Lyra's brow furrowed. "When I return home, I'll look into what our border guards might know. If there's information that could help your father..."

"Lyra, you don't have to-"

"Yes, I do." Her voice left no room for argument. "If an innocent man faces execution while the real traitor walks free, that concerns all territories."

Tears pricked my eyes. I blinked them back, refusing to cry in front of everyone. "Thank you."

"Be careful, Ava." Lyra's expressión turned grave. "If Sophia truly believes you're dangerous to her family, if someone's feeding her lies about you...",

Chapter 185: Sweet Warnings

She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't need to.

"Trust your instincts," she added softly. "If something feels wrong, don't ignore it."

I watched her climb into the lead carriage, her silver hair disappearing behind curtained windows. The convoy rolled through the gates, leaving a strange mix of hope and unease in its wake.

Blake appeared at my side, his arm slipping around my waist. "Everything okay?" "Yeah." The word wasn't entirely a lie. Hope about Dad's case flickered in my chest, fragile but real.

As we walked back toward the Manor, I caught sight of Sophia watching from an upper window. Even from a distance, the calculation in her eyes was unmistakable.

Something shifted inside me. I was done waiting for others to decide my fate. Done tiptoeing around people who saw the as a threat.

Blake leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. "Let's celebrate. Our first official appearance went perfectly."

I let myself lean into him, drawing strength from our connection. Whatever storms

were brewing, I had Blake. I had Lucas. I had a family worth fighting for.

And sometimes, fighting meant having the hard conversations others were avoiding.

Lyra's warning echoed in my mind: Trust your instincts.

Mine were telling me it was time to stop reacting and start acting. Sophia had been fed lies about me, manipulated into seeing me as the enemy. Maybe it was time we talked, just the two of us-cards on the table, woman to woman.

I wasn't going to let anyone else control the narrative about who I was or why I was here. Not anymore.

BITE ME WEREWOLVES:

Ava's finally decided to take action rather than just reacting to events around her! Perhaps it was Lyra's encouragement, or maybe Blake's public declaration gave her the confidence she needed. Our Ava has always been extraordinary-it's just that recent events have overwhelmed even her incredible strength. Stay tuned!