Ava''s POV


    Sunlight cut through the trees as Lucas nailed the defensive move I''d taught him. ke''s cape had worked magic on my sleepst night, and now sat folded in my bag, waiting to go home.


    "Drop your weight lower," I said, fixing his wrist position. "Right arm''s like a board."


    "Better?" He tried again, eyes lit up.


    "Way better. One more time, but get that elbow up."


    Lucas beamed and nailed it on the next try. No way around it - the kid had serious skills. ke''s blood running strong.


    "You''re picking this up crazy fast,” I said.


    "Dad always says Alpha bloodes with bigger responsibilities," Lucas puffed his chest, then deted. "Too bad he never watches me practice."


    I passed him some Moonlight water and plopped down beside him. "Your dad''s juggling the entire wolf world. Cut him some ck."


    "Yeah, I get it." Lucas took a gulp, voice going quiet. "Just wish he''d show up once in a while."


    I couldn''t help studying him – those storm-gray eyes exactly like ke''s, carrying way too much weight for a seven-year-old.


    "He''d flip if he saw how good you''re getting," I said, wondering if I was overstepping.


    We fell quiet for a bit, just catching our breath. Lucas started twisting his empty bottle, suddenly looking like something was eating at him.


    "What''s up?" I finally asked.


    He nced up, mouth tight, eyes nervous. "Ava..." his voice barely audible, ''I screwed up at school yesterday."


    "What happened?" I sat up straight, wolf instincts kicking in.


    Lucas sucked in a breath. "Some older kids were trash-talking Mom in the training yard. Said she was weak and that''s why she died. Said Dad shouldn''t have picked such a pathetic mate.", His voice cracked. "I lost it. Started shifting right there."


    "Did you hurt anyone?" My stomach dropped.


    He shook his head. "Almost. Teacher jumped in. But I wed this one kid''s face parent toe in."


    My blood went cold. "Does your dad know about this?"


    turns out he''s the Northern pack leader''s son. Now Instructor Silver wants a


    "No way," Lucas looked up, panic written all over his face. "Please don''t rat me out, Ava. Dad''s always hammering me about controlling my wolf, says future Alphas can''t flip their shit just ''cause someone pushes their buttons. If he finds out I wolfed out over Mom..."


    He trailed off, but I got it. ke set the bar impossibly high for himself for his kid, it''d be in the stratosphere.


    ''So what''s your n? They want a parent there," I reminded him.


    Lucas''s face brightened slightly. "What if... what if you pretend to be my stepmom? Just for the meeting?"


    I nearly choked. "Are you kidding? Everyone knows your mom died, and I''m way too young. Nobody''s buying that."


    "You could be Dad''s secret wife!" he pushed, suddenly animated. "Tell them you guys got hitched on the down-low because of pack politics!"


    "That''s insane," I said tly. "If we get busted, I''m toast and you''re in even deeper shit."


    "Just this once, Ava.'' He grabbed my hand, eyes burning with desperation. "Silver''s never even met Dad. The school staff don''t know our family stuff. If you sell it right, they''ll totally buy it!"


    His puppy dog eyes melted my resolve. This kid had lost his mom and was desperate for his dad''s approval. ke wasn''t being a hardass for no reason he


    wanted Lucas strong enough to handle the Alpha life someday. But right now, he was just a little boy who needed someone in his corner.


    "When exactly is this meeting?" I asked.


    "Today. After lunch, he answered, hope lighting up his face.


    "Today? You''re kidding me. I blinked.


    He nodded frantically. "They want it over with fast. Please, Ava. If Dad hears I wolfed out because someone dissed Mom..."


    I caught myself actually weighing this crazy scheme. If ke found out, he''d be beyond pissed - might even tear up our Blood Oath. But looking at Lucas''s desperate face, I couldn''t say no.


    “Alright,” I said, barely believing what wasing out of my mouth. "Just this once. After this, we tell your dad everything."


    Lucas nearly tackled me with excitement before remembering his ''future Alpha" dignity. "Thank you. Seriously."


    Hold your horses," I warned. "I still don''t have a clue how to convince anyone I''m ke Morgan''s wife."


    A sly grin spread across his face. "I''ve got just the thing...


    Standing in front of my mirror at home, I barely recognized myself. I was dolled up in a deep blue dress Sophia had loaned me when I mumbled something about needing "formal clothes." It hugged curves I usually kept hidden under battle gear. But what really had me speechless was draped over my shoulders - ke''s Alpha cape. He''d lent it to mest night as a windbreaker, and now I was wearing the damn thing. Made from rare silver-back wolf hide with the Morgan family crest, it practically screamed ''property of the Alpha King. Even a wolf with a stuffed-up nose would know what it was.


    "I''ve lost my mind, I muttered, running my fingers over the fancy embroidery. Using the Alpha King''s cape to fake being his wife had to break about a dozen packws.


    I heard movement downstairs and found Sarah actually cooking in the kitchen – something I hadn''t seen since Dad got locked up.


    "Mom?" I couldn''t hide my shock.


    Sarah turned with a smile I''d forgotten existed. "Morning, honey. Made some moon tea. Want some?"


    "You''re making tea?" I approached cautiously.


    She nodded. "Those herbs Jackson brought really did the trick. I feel... alive


    again."


    Hearing Jackson''s name set off rm bells, but seeing color in Sarah''s cheeks for the first time in forever, I bit my tongue.


    "You look gorgeous, she noticed my outfit. ''Hot date?"


    "Work thing, I mumbled.


    Her eyes narrowed at my shoulders. "Is that-*


    "E''s," I cut her off. "Borrowed it." Sarah kept staring but didn''t push. Thank god. She''d been hounding me daily about Dad''s case, and I had zero progress to report.


    "Gotta run," I said, backing toward the door.


    Before leaving, I took onest look at Sarah standing there, holding her tea, looking halfway human again. Even if Jackson was behind it, I couldn''tin about the results.


    The carriage was waiting outside. I took a deep breath, adjusted the cape, and climbed in, immediately surrounded by ke''s scent - rain-soaked pine and lightning-struck earth. It wrapped around me like a security nket. I hated how my body responded to it, like some kind of Wolf Prozac.


    As we rolled toward Silverpeak Academy, my pulse went wild. This n was batshit crazy. But for Lucas, I''d give it a shot.


    I closed my eyes and sent up a quick prayer to the Moon Goddess. If ke caught me posing as his wife while wearing his cape... I was dead meat, in


    and simple.


    213


    Marked Twice by the Alpha King