The cleaning room door clicked that behind us. I spin around to fare Sarah, my voler liarely above a whisper.
Seriously? You''re buyingckson''s offer? This terks of bullshiE"
Sarby shoulders slumped as she dropped onto a small stool in the corner. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, making her look ghostly under the birth Tuorescent lighting.
"What choice do I have, Ava?" She rubbed her temples. "William''s losing weight. The guards are... they''re tist kind to him."
My stomach knotted. I''d tried not to picture Dad in that concrete box they called a cell, tried not to imagine what "not kind" might look like.
"But Jackson? Conit on.'' I grabbed a towel and scrubbed at the wise stains on my neck. "The sime jackest who tossed me aside like yesterday''s garbage? Who just stood there while his grandmother humiliated me? And now he''s Mr. Helpful?"
"You think I don''t know that?" Sarah''s voice cracked. "You think I wouldst rather punch him in his perfect teeth thun
his help?"
That pulled me up short, Ed never heard her talk like that before.
"The Blood Protection Right is real, Ava? Her fingers twisted in herp. "If you regain pack status as an instructor, you could invoke it. Even Hayes can''t ignore ancientw without losing fare."
The wine had dried sticky on my skin. I ran the damp towel along my corbone, mind racing. This was ssic Jackson-dangling hope like bait in a trap.
"Going back means giving up everything at ckwood," I said quietly. "Lucas''s training, the stability..."
Bialy. I couldn''t say his name out loud, but he filled my thoughts. Our secret cabin. Hisugh in the darkness. The way his eyes turned molten gold when he wanted me.
Sarah reached for my hand, her cool fingers squeezing mine. I know it''s not fair. None of this is. A tear slipped down her cheek. "But Will is running out of
My throat tightened. Sarah wasn''t just my foster mom anymore-she was a woman watching her husband waste away in prison for a crime he didn''tmit. "What if it''s a trap?" I leaned against the sink. "Jackson doesn''t do favors. Ever." "Maybe he''s trying to look good to the pack" Sarah shrugged. "Magnanimous future Alpha forgives traitor''s daughter, Great PR.”
I noted. "You really think Mr. Self-Absorbed grew a conscience overnight?"
"Hell no." For a second, Sarah''s old spark shed in her eyes. "But if he wants to use us for his image, why not use him right back?"
I blinked, caught off guard by her calcting tone. Turns out my sweet foster mom had ws when hacked into a corner.
"Jackson wants an answer by tomorrow," she added, her voice softening again. "He needs time to submit the application before the council meeting
"Of course he does." I rolled my eyes. "Heaven forbid I get five minutes to think."
Sarah stood, smoothing her rumpled dress. "Ava, fil back whatever you decide. Just... please think about it. William needs us.
I nodded, the weight of the decision pressing down like a mountain on my shoulders.
"One more thing." Sarah paused at the door. "What''s ke Morgan really
ally like? I saw how he stepped in for you."
My pulse skittered. I busied myself with wiping w
wine from my dress. "Just professional stuff. I barely see him. I''m with Lucas most of the time."
my say his femper''s legendary (80) Surch lowered her wire. Last pick meeting. ht publicly destroyed inme peo
* my mind. I saw ke''s controlled rage after my húmiliation-not the mark of a hothead, hot of someone protective to hites
"Probaki g?nip, 1 shrugged, careful to keep iny expression neutral.
Sarah qurd my arm. Just watch yourself, okay? Men like Mangan Just staff. Receable."
with that kind of power-they don''t or people like us as epals. To him, you en
If she only knew about the golden mak burning under my cor, about ke''s whispered promises, about how che looked at me like I was irreceable. She''d have a stroke on the spot.
"I love you, kiddo." She kissed my cheek. "Thu going to work the room, see if there''s anyone else who might help. Meet you by the entrance in an hour?"
After she left. I turned to the mirror, pushing aside my hair to expose my neck. The mark gleamed in the harsh light-nearly all gold now, Jackson''s silver imprint almostpletely overwritten by ke''s ims.
The warmth of it pulsed in time with my he
heartbeat. Going back to Shadow Creek meant giving this up. Giving up.
The door swung open without warning. I yanked my hair down and whirled around, fists raised-only to find ke filling the doorframe, eyes buming like
"Jesus!" I hissed, quickly checking the door was shut. "Are you trying to get caught?"
"Nobody saw me." He crossed the tiny room in two strides. "1 checked."
"That''s not the My protest died as he cupped my face in his hands.
"They humiliated you," he growled softly, thumbs brashing my cheeks. "Took everything I had not to tear the ce apart."
"I can handle a little wine to the face." I tried to sound tough, but found myself leaning into his touch. "Not my first rodeo with Hayes family hospitality."
"I know you can handle it. The corner of his mouth lifted. "Doesn''t mean you should have to."
His gaze dropped to my lips, and the air between us crackled like a live wire. I could feel his heartbeat picking up speed, our marks connecting in that weird way that still caught me off guard.
Author''s Note: OMG guys! Talk about being stuck between a rock and a sexy Alpha Poor Ava''s got Jackson dangling her dad''s freedom like bait while ke''s over here making her heart race. What would YOU do? Choose family duty or follow your heart? And can we talk about Sarah dropping those ke rumors?! The tension is KILLING me! Will Ava make the right choice? See you in the next chapter! Drop your predictions below!
Chapter Comments
Mike
if she is going back, only thing she will do of destroying herself.
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It was previously written that the Kings mark fully changed the a*holes mark. Now
you are writing old script where her mark still has silver.
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Marked Twice by the Alpha King