Islock my brat, feeling four tied in a way Leonididit exin. "Tex not Jackson. I jint.


    qli h?n 1 avvided looking at him. "Tot the crap, Ark. I see it in your eyes. Did someone force you toe tonight? is someone threatening y


    "No," I said firmly. "But what I feel for you is friendship, I cant fake something more. I den i want to hurt you, Suven. You deserve better-somewhe low youpletely


    Meven k expiration cooled, disappoitmeni simphing into suspicion. "You hired me back at Moon Fall just days ago. What change


    The night wind suddenly gusted hander, Howing my hair munnd. My ne shifted, exposing the mark on my neck.


    Steven''s eyes dropped to it, widening in shock as he saw golden threads weaving though fark?nma silver mark.


    He grabbed my shoulders hard enough to fenise, his voice dropping to a dangerous pel "What the hell is this? Another Alpha mark ove That''s imposible...unless...


    I fed to cover it, but toote. He''d seen the transformation, and as an Alpha heit, he knew exactly what it meant.


    Steven''s eyes shifted to woll eyes, gold gleaming bright in the mounlight. "It''s my uncle, isnt it? ke. I saw you on the terrace. This is why you''re turning me down? You chose the Alpha King?


    Fear gripped me like a vise. He now ? Saw that is? What happens now? If word gets out, ke''s repitation takes a hit, and I look like some power-hungry


    ''Steven, it''splicated.. it''s not what you think... I tried to exin, knowing how empty my words sound


    He lost it, his voice turning rough with emotion. Complicated? You let me think we had something! While you were with my uncle... the Alpha King? Are you out of your mind?


    1 yanked free of his grip, anger ring at being manhandled. I never promised you


    a damn thing. I''m sorry you ne hurt, but this is my choice


    Steven''s eyes reddened, rage and jealousy twisting his handsome Care. You used me to get close to him? Or was it to save your traitor father? Was that your n all along? To sleep your way to the top?"


    Something snapped inside me, fury burning away all reason. "Don''t you dare talk about my father like that! He''s not a traitor!"


    Stevenughed calilly, revealing wolf fangs. "No wonder Jackun dumped you. Your hunger for power makes me sick. You''re thest person who deserves tu stand beside the Alpha King"


    Rape took over. My warrior instincts kicked in, and I punched bim square in the jaw-hard enough to make him stumble back. He clearly didn''t see thating


    Steven shifted halfway to wolf form in an instant, eyes fully gold, and pped me across the face with enough force to draw blood. I tasted copper as pain exploded across my cheek.


    Stunned, I touched my injured fore, feeling warm blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. I watched Stevens expression change from anger to honor i a sh


    My pride, my warrior dignity-trampled in the dist/Nobody gets to treat me like this, not even a pack hej


    Steven, seeing what he''d done, quickly shifted back to human form, fear flickering in his eyes. "Ava... I didn''t mean to..." Hi toward nie.


    books be reached


    I took a fighting staner despite the dizzying pain, anger making my eyes sh gold. "Get out of here. Now." My voice could have frozen fire,


    1/


    Steven tried to touch my wound, but I jerked back like his hand was made of sitere.


    just... I really care about you," he said, his malce tracking." "Leant believe your chose him instead


    The isnt about choing anyone, I said, ice cold. "You had no right to hit me. Nobody does, I don''t care who they are. How got


    Steven gave me onest link, regret and anger mixing in his eyes, before turning away. In cutline fooked lonely and borer ageinum ei


    Only when he disappeared in the trees did I let myself feel the pain, gently touching my swollen check. Mord dripped from my mouth only my dress, leaving dark red spots on the fabric.


    Is this what I pet for trying to here it both ways? fuct pair and Ameliners? Maybe this di pagback for being dumped by my fated mate-maybe I''m just not meant to find real love.


    Third Pensen how


    ke was deep in border talks with the Northern Tack elders when a sharp pain stabbed through his chest, like someone had driven a knife straight into


    beart.


    He frowned, pressing his hand against his chest, during concerned looks from the elders whood never seen the Alpha King show any weakness.


    Tyler immediately moved closer. You okay, Alpha King?" he asked quietly, just for


    It''s Ava." ke replied, his voice tight like he was holding back a roar. ''She''s in trouble." He didnt exin how he knew, but the golden sh in his eyes showed he was near shifting


    The elders exchanged confused nces, but none dared question the Alpha King''s instincts.


    What ke felt wasn''t just pain-it was an overwhelming urge to protect,ing through the iplete marking bond, telling him Ava was being hit


    The feelings of distress and fear grew stronger through the marking connection. He could sense where Ava was, like an invisible threadected them


    He gave the elders a quick apology: "Please excuse me. Something urgent needs my attention. His tone left no room for argument, and even the oldest alders knew when to back down


    A Northern Pack elder tried to dy him: "But we havent finalized the border agreement, Alpha King. This affects peace between two packs."


    Hakes eyes shed wolf-gold, his Alpha presence expanding around him, making the air hey. "I trust you can handle this." His voice was low and dangerous, suggesting amone who pushed further would regret it.


    Tyler followed him, whispering, ''Need backup? Is Sophia okay?"


    ke shook his head, looking grim. "No. Watch Sophia. I need to handle this myself. He didn''t mention wa, but Tyler saw something in his Alphas eyes he''d never seen before-worry that bordered on fear.


    ke strode toward Moonlight Lake, his Alpha aura making wolves scatter from his path, nobody daring to get in his way.


    The marking connection grew stronger with each step. Ava''s pain hit him as clearly as if the wound were his own


    His eyes fully transformed to wolt eyes, gold gleaming in slightly with each step. darkness. llis Alpha presence spread without him even trying, making the ground tremble


    He thoughts were


    were consumed with rage and protectiveness: If someone hurt her, tonight''s Moon Festival will see what happens when an Alpha King loves contral Nobody touches her. Nobody


    Under the moonlight, ke moved like a dark lightning bolt toward Moonlight Lake. Just one thought dominated his mind: Find wwa. Protect her. No matter


    what it costs