"Badi. Von tonna watch mir special training?: Imas hollered when he spotted Mike heating on way, benzina mi kia te


    I nced up mid stjelih, catching sig


    m din. Abg all their works, murd think


    - his exty, confident walk. My mark instantly i


    Living a double life is a hell of a tip. Tastime Avatar


    that ailsbat teacher, Shadow Corki golden mernice. Nighttime Ara, teraking


    That bakden cabin with ke, where I''m his mate, his fans, his everything. Talk about whish


    The semest part? Having to act normal armund him with other people watching. Not staring ton long, not letting met hands bruch when we part the training. dagers, fighting the urge to breathe him in when he walks by Every bit of self control during the day bes jet fuel for when we''re final


    Lucas was the biggest surprise in all this mess. This kid who are done all futurs now practically glows whenev? Make the


    Tid catch him stealing these litle nces at his dad, desperate for a nod or a wood of praise. Gets me right in the soft root every time.


    "If the instructor approves," ke tid, vice all business while liis eyes said something entirely different, for merk connection hummed like a plucked guitar string.


    1 shrugged, fighting a smile. "I think we can bend the rules today.


    "Yes" Lucas panched the air. "Training with Dad! Can we show him that shadow step thing? Please?"


    The kid''s excitement was contagious, making both ke and me crack smiles. For a second, we felt like something real-like family. My stomach did a weird Dip at the thought. Dangerous territory, Rivers, Get it together.


    Watching Lacas dart between like a hyperactive puppy, I felt this strange little pang. Here we were, putting on this whole charade for an innocent had no idea his teacher was sleeping with his dad. The guilt and the thrill tangled together in my chest. ying with fire while standing in gasoline


    "Change of ns today," I called out as ke and Lucas took their spots. "Father-sonbat drills-essential stuff in real fights“.


    I caught ke''s eye, both of us knowing damn well this was the perfect cover to get close to each other without raising eyebrows.


    "Alpha King, position yourself here," I said, all professional while boldly sliding my hands onto his shoulders to adjust his stance. My fingers lingered a heartbeat too long, soaking in the heat of him,


    "More like this? I murmured, barely audible.


    "Better?" he asked just as quietly, eyes flicking to mine when Lucas was


    distracted. Those gray eyes could melt steel.


    “Perfect,” I said, meaning way more than his fighting stance.


    "You smell like Dad," Lucas blurted, head cocked like a confused puppy. "Weird." shit. ke and I locked eyes


    s for a split second before both looking anywhere else. My mark burned so hot I swear it must''ve been glowing through my


    Training in the same space; I stammered, voice jumping an octave. Scents rub off, you know?"


    "Eyes on the target, Lucas," Hake cut in smoothly. "Real warriors don''t get distracted by smells."


    I shot him a thank you nce before scrambling to reset my face. Note to sell: shower twice after cabin nights.


    While showing them a back-to-back defense muve, I had to physically position both of them. When I reached ke, he breathed against my ear: Tonight


    Labin


    ick nod before stepping back into trainer mode


    Two words. Thats all it took to make my pulse spike like I''d sprinted uphill. I gave a quick


    "Hold this position," I instructed, hoping nobody noticed the slight shake in my voice. "Trust is everything inbat."


    Lores showed off the "Mint Strike more ti fidalt him, dinding Ba


    -No f Fight is reel baille, póp.," heughed, fingina Finding Lucara tiba.


    Locas hosted withughter, tepling to escape, "Chemteit tea, help!!


    Before I knew it. I was dragged into their y light. The three of us rolled around on the grass,ughing like idiots, post a normal, happy family having f The thought hit me like a worker punch.


    Soet him!" Lucas sqoraled, grabbing my hand as we ganged pm ke, We tackled him together, and our lighter ached arms the field.


    When we finally copsed on our backs, penting and staring at the clouds, Lanas said unmething that stopped my heart: "You know what, Dad? Since Ava came, this ce actually feels like hose."


    The kid might as well have dropped a bombs, ke and I went still, the weight of these innocent words hanging in the air between us


    ke''s eyes found mine, and through our mark flowed a current of emotion tooplex for words.


    "That''s a wrap for today," I said, clearing my throat. "Great job, Lucas,”


    "Did 1 do good, Dad?" Lucas asked, eyes hungry for approval.


    "Better than good," ke said, pride written all over his face, "Your tactles areing along nicely."


    Lucas litu


    up like a firecracker. "Can I show you my archery? Wilson says I don''t suck anymore! At the targets by the forest!"


    ke nced at me, a silent question in his eyes.


    "Go for it," I said, helpless against those p puppy-dog eyes. ''I''ll clean up."


    "You rock!" Lucas threw his arms around ke''s waist. ke froze for a split second clearly not used to spontaneous hugs-before awkwardly puttin son''s shoulder.


    Watching them, something warm unfurled in my chest. Whatever mess ke and I had created, seeing father and son finally connect made it worth something


    "We should discuss Lucas''s progresster," ke said, voice professional while h his eyes promised something entirely different.


    "Til stop by your study," I replied, equally proper while my heart raced at what might happen once that study door closed.


    He gave a barely-there nod before Lucas dragged him toward the archery range.


    chattering the whole way.


    When they disappeared from view, I let myself grin like an idiot. As I gathered practice weapons and daydreamed about ''discussing progress in ke''s study, a voice sliced through my thoughts


    "ying happy families now? How touching"


    I whipped around to find Jackson standing there, his smile sharp enough to cut.


    My mark instantly burned with warning


    his


    I know what you''re doing, Ava," he said, eyes attering. with


    something dangerous.


    My stomach dropped, but I kept my poker face. "No idea what you''re talking about."


    "Bullshit," he snapped, grabbing my wrist hard enough to bruise. "We need to talk. Now. Puvitely."


    He yanked me toward the trees, and I let high-I needed to know exactly what he


    knew. By the time ke''s concern pulsed through our mark, we were already too deep in the woods