AYAN POY


    Inside the car beading back to Backwood, I felt the shin from our dreamlike encounter back in harth reality.


    Biste held my hand but maintained se


    distance. I could feel him mentally preparing for what came next


    The mark is permanent. Even if we wanted to hide our triationship, the golden imprint an my neck sell silently dance is every wolf who sees (1-1 am the Alpha King''s mate. But it also means I no longer belong in Shades Creek. My allegiance has shifted...


    I gazed at the moon through the window, thoughts Imming in my father and mother. There will thée affect niy father''s altuation? Will my position as the dipha King''s mate help him, or will our secretive rtionship onlyplicate things?


    My fingers absently traced the wom mark. This is just the beginning, but 117 Not the end.


    The car pulled up to a side entrance at ckwood Manor, svolding the main dones where we might be noticed.


    "Wilson will only appear if necessary," ke said quietly. The won''t ask questions or speak of what he sees."


    We entered the mansion like thieves, creeping through hallway I''d walked freely before. Everything felt different now.


    Hours ago, I was Lucas''sbat trainer, ke''s employee. Now I''m sneaking to this house bearing his mark, like some dirty secret that can''t see the light of


    do....


    As we carefully navigated the corridors, I realized this hiding might be the norm for our rtionship.


    Is this what I''ve chosen? To be the mote the Alpha King can''t publicly acknowledge? Hidden away like something shameful?


    Wilson appeared suddenly, startling me. His expression remained Impably neutral


    "Alpha King, everything is arranged," he said in a hushed tone. "Young Master Loras is asleep, and Miss Sophia has just returned to her room."


    When his gaze shifted to me, I instinctively adjusted ke''s cost to cover my mark, though his eyes told me he''d already noticed.


    "I''ve prepared hot water and ate supper for Miss Rivers, as instructed," Wilson continued without missing a beat.


    I felt a jolt of surprise. ke had arranged this beforehand? As if he''d been certain of tonight''s oue.


    ke nodded briefly. "Thank you, Wilson. About tonight..."


    Wilson cut him off. "Nothing I need to know, sir. I serve only your His words carried the weight of ancient loyalty.


    We reached the fork in the hallway-one path leading to my room, the other to ke''s master suite. Both of us hesitated.


    we can''t


    follow the


    After marking, wolf mates typically crave close contact to let the band stabilize. Separation creates an unnatural pulling sensation. But it seems we normal path... ke caressed my cheek. "You need rest. A lot happened tonight. His voice was low and gentle.


    I nodded, despite the disappointment i


    in my chest. "You''re right. We both need to think about what happens next."


    His fingertips traced my mark onest time, sending a warm shiver through me. "Tomorrow we need to talk. About everything"


    Alone in my room, I stood before the full-length mirror, finally getting a clear view of my neck, Jackson''s silver mark hadpletely transformed into brilliant gold, more intricate and beautiful than before.


    I touched it gently, feeling the connection to ke. If I concentrated, I could see his presence and emotions, as if he were in the room with me.


    lilipped out of the silver dress, kecing evlilence el tonight''s reckless decisión, . passt?nate encounter-light bruises from Maker Hobs and Dau dam da say dài Steam rose from the hath that had been prepared. I sank into the warm water, letting it enkele me, though it couldiri wah


    I closed my vyek, feeling the warmth and pull of the mark, knowing ke was feeling the same connection in his mom,


    After my bath, 1 pat on a nightgown and sat in the windows alere, staring at the moonlight while my mind cataloged potential consequen


    His will acas react? Learning hisbat trainer has be his father''s mate? Will Splits ept me as her... stepmother? God, that word sounds bizarre...


    I considered what this meant for my career. Can I will be Licore trainer? Can I return to Shadow Creek in fulfill my warrier duties? The Alpha Ringsmate typically has her men responsibilities and position...


    Most importantly, I thought about my father. Hale promised to help free him. But will our rtionship make this easier or moreplicated? Will people think" he''s showing favoritism for personal reasons, or will my connection to hini lead to a reevaluation of my fathers case?


    A sense of responsibility and pressure unlike anything I''d felt before settled on my shoulders. I''m no longer ountable just for myself. My decisions affect ke''s rule, the rtionship between two parks.


    My fingers traced the mark again. Yet despite all theseplications and


    challenges. I cut bring myself to regret tonight''s decision.


    A soft knock at my door broke through my thoughts. I opened it to find ke


    standing there, his expression sollemn.


    ut us, and how to handle this."


    "We need to talk," he said directly. "About


    He sat across from me and exined his thoughts. The marking is done, but we


    can keep a low profile for now. Only a few trusted people need to know."


    ke carefully outlined his suggestion. "Making our rtionship public might cause attack me or harm you I want to protect you from that."


    e unnecessary political turbulence right now. Enemies could use it to


    He continued. "This isn''t permanent. Just time to resolve your father''s situation, stabilize things, let Lucas and Sophia adjust."


    I listened,


    emotions churning. "So you''re suggesting me... see each other secretly? At least temporarily?"


    ke nodded, his face serious. "I won''t risk making you a target. Once things are stable, once y


    mate."


    your father is safe, I''ll announce to everyone that you''re my


    I considered his proposal, weighing the possibilities. "This means keeping


    g our distance in public, pretending to be just employer and employee?"


    His expression softened. “Yes, in front of outsiders. But with trusted people, in private, you are my mate, my equal


    I took a deep breath and made my decision. "Alright. For my father''s safety, for Lucas and Sophia to have time to adjust, I''ll agree to this arrangement. But it''s not permanent, ke. I won''t be your secret forever."


    "The world won''t easily ept us," ke said, his voice tight with tension.


    I met his eyes, understanding the implications-an Alpha King and a Shadow Creek warrior would face countless obstacles and opposition.


    ke touched my cheek. "We need to be careful. At least for now, His words held both protection and regret


    I nodded,plex emotions swirling inside me, I understand. You have so many responsibtes, so many people depending on you."


    ke made a solemn promise. "I swear to you, Ana Rivers. When the time in right, I will announce to the entire world that you are my mate, the Luna of Silverprak Pack


    Marked Twice by the Alpha King