ackson tossed Repliky note solo his nightstand, Ceremony wild wonderful, hur exhausted Heading back to chvost, ket je


    think pod, he in Scried, Jonvening bu tie with a shaip fog. The pressure of ying devoted faned had been kultacause NIM ATLAlght: Hi Zend, but the ther didn''tst. Its wold paced beneath his skin, heckler raford an Image of Ave and ke lessing ingother yed on tre Chead


    His teeth clenched to hard his jaw ached. Months had passed since he''d marked her, since he''d walked away for the political gold Morgan. But in his gut, Ava still belonged to him. That silver mark on her neck was his im, bir territory.


    "Screw this," be growled, matching his jacket. The wall felt like they were closing he staped, he might put his fist through something-or


    The Moonlight Han stank of cheap logo and desperation, Perfect, Jackson shouldered through the door, and the ce went dead quiet like someone had big mute. Conversations died mid sentence. Heads dropped. Nobody dated look the future Alpha in the eye.


    tim appeared instantly, his massive belly preceding him by a good six inches. "Mr. Hayes'' The bartender''s smile was too wide, too eager. "Hell of a surprise, What can I get ya?"


    Jackson pped a heavy pack emblem on the bar. "Moonlight brew. Don''t let me see the bottom of my ss."


    Eight shotster, the room swayed pleasantly, but the alcohol hadn''t helped worth a damn. His reflection in the bar mirror flickered between human and wolf, control slipping with each drink. Instead of numbing the pain, the booze just sharpened the images: Ava''s fingersced through ke''s, her lips against the Alpha King''s mouth, her body under his, arching...


    "Well, look who''s drowning his sorrows."


    woman slid onto the stool beside him. Dark hair tumbling over bare shoulders, dress that left little to imagination, lips painted blood-red. For one dizzy second, Jackson''s alcohol-soaked brain registered Ava-but the scent was all wrong. Too floral, too sugary. Nothing like Ava''s clean smell of pine and rain.


    ''Shadow Creek''s golden boy," she added with a smile that promised trouble. "All alone on his big night.


    Jackson squinted at her. "Do I know you?"


    "Not yet." She gestured to the bartender. "Diana. Northern Pack. Just passing through."


    Jim slid her some pink concoction that smelled like fruit and flowers. She crossed her legs toward Jackson, her dress riding up just enough to make him forget what he''d been brooding about.


    She nodded toward his empty ss. "Rough night? Thought you''d be celebrating with your Silverpeak princess."


    "She went home." Jackson signaled for another shot. "Politics and pleasure don''t always mix."


    "Oh Diana''s fingers brushed his wrist, light as a feather. "So what does mix with pleasure, then?"


    Her touch sent beat straight through him. His wolf surged forward, already wound tight with jealousy and anger, hungry for an outlet. For payback.


    ''Risk," he said, letting his wolf show just enough to make his eyes sh silver. "Danger."


    Diana didn''t flinch. Instead, her own eyes glowed in response, her well rising to meet his challenge. "Your territory or mine?" she asked bluntly,


    "I''ve got a ce," he said, already standing. "Private,"


    The Hayes hunting cabin had gathered dust since his grandfather''s day. Jackson kicked the door open, not bothering with lights. Moonlight spilled through dirty windows, casting long shadows across forgotten animal heach and antique weapons.


    As be led Diana inside, a savage satisfaction coursed through him. Ava would feel this. Their bond might be fading, but it wasn''t gone. She''d feel the echo of


    dan equal ferocits, balti raking down his back hand enough to draw blooil rves through hir


    purred, eyra dabbing gold. Si like 16-


    jarkann didn''t answer. Words weren''t what he needed. He manhandled her to the dusty chich, flipping her mer without ceremony This pleksion n? Connection-it was about revenge, about making Avs Tnt the way he was hurting. Each heutel thrust was fueled by rage, by burning need to reims what he''d foolishly given up,


    And with every movement, he focused on their failing bond, making sure she''d feel every second of his betrayal,


    Moonlight snuck through the cabin window, throwing silver stripes across Binke''s thest. Itis arm curled around me, thumb drawingzy circles on my skin while I snuggled against him. After that nightmare ceremony, this felt like crawling into heaven.


    "You were something else tonight," he murmured, his voice rambling under my ear. "Standing in a room full of Hayes snobs like you owned the ce."


    1 propped myself up on one elbow, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face. "Look who''s talking. You walked in and the whole pack nearly pissed themselves."


    His mouth quirked up at one corner. "Comes with the territory."


    "What, rescuing wine-soaked warrior girls?" I traced the stubble along his jaw, loving how it tickled my fingertips.


    "Protecting what matters. His voice dropped an octave as his thumb brushed my lower lip. "Nobody treats you like that. Not while I''m breathing"


    He leaned in, his mouth just brushing mine when pain exploded through my neck, White-hot, searing agony like someone had pped a branding iron against my skin. I jerked back with a strangled yelp, hand flying to the mark.


    "Ava!" ke sat bolt upright, fingers gripping my arms. "What is it?" Chapter Comments


    Mike


    why is the mark only working one way? or is it cause she isnt focussed on it or something? seems kinda strange to me he never fell over with pain.


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