Ava''s POV
I froze mid-step as a gleaming ck carriage pulled up at the Academy entrance, the silver wolf emblem of Silverpeak catching sunlight like a warning re. My ns to rush home and change before heading to ckwood Manor evaporated in an instant.
The carriage door swung open, revealing ke''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 ckwood 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 ke''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 ke''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 ring 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 thendscape blur past while my thoughts raced ahead.
Tomorrow''s ceremony wasn''t just about honors anymore. The exchange
privileges meant direct ess 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 shing 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 rxed her guard instantly, turning toward the source.
Jackson emerged from the shadows of the trees, his ck 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 inbat. 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?"
08
Jackson raised an eyebrow, his voice dropping lower. "I need your assistance. Specifically, I need you to find anything-weaknesses, secrets, transgressions- on Ava.
''She''s caught ke''s attention, Serena sneered, eyes tracking the Silverpeak carriage as it pulled away with Ava inside. "Everyone''s seen the royal transport picking her up. What''s so special about her?"
Jackson''s eyes shed dangerously as he stepped closer, voice barely above a whisper now. "We have amon enemy. Help me, and I can provide what you desire.
"And what would that be?" Serena asked skeptically, crossing her arms.
jackson smiled, revealing the sharp tips of his canines. ess to Shadow Creek''s elite warrior training. We have certain techniques not taught at the Academy. As future Alpha, I can arrange it."
Interest sparked in Serena''s eyes, her wolf fully present now in those golden irises. Shadow Creek warriors were legendary for their unique fighting methods, techniques typically reserved for the pack''s inner circle.
I''ll watch her every move," Serena agreed with a nod. "Especially at tomorrow''s Honor Ceremony."
"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."
Their eyes locked in silent agreement as Serena watched Ava''s carriage disappear down the road, her jealousy and hatred reaching new heights.
Night had fallen by the time Jackson took his seat in a secluded booth at Moonlight Lodge. The untouched ss of Silverpine before him caught the soft light from overheadnterns as he stared into its depths, mapping out tomorrow''s strategy.
His mindlink suddenly hummed to life, breaking his concentration. "Everything is in ce," his subordinate''s voice whispered through the connection. "At tomorrow''s Honor Ceremony, Ava will be used of cheating during herstbat 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."
"Perfect," Jackson replied, malicious pleasure evident in his voice. "She thinks she''s making progress, but she has no idea how disastrous tomorrow will be." He severed the mindlink and rose to stand by the window. Tomorrow would be Ava''s most difficult day yet-public humiliation, family scandal, and she wouldn''t even know who orchestrated it all.
Jackson lifted his ss toward the moonlight visible through the window. Though not yet full, it served as a reminder that William Rivers'' execution date approached rapidly. Time was on his side, and Ava''s options were dwindling by the day.
He took a small sip of the expensive wine, savoring both its taste and the sweet anticipation of revenge. Soon, very soon, Ava would have no choice but to ept his offer.
And even ke Morgan, Alpha King or not, wouldn''t be able to protect her.
Chapter Comments
Carolyn Balldwin
How many more tirnes are we going to be told about the feelings she gets from Jacksons mark?
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