night, the same trellish cycle. As darkness crept ovót the forest, the mark on my neck would fare in lite
I by skin. Only dawn braight relief, m ke a truth,
The healing ender might have something stronger, ke momered, hit callused fingertips tralling over the warring gold and silver macka, Manolight spilled through the tahin windows, turning the sheets to liquid silver around us.
I caught his hand, pressing it harder against my neck. "Where she gonna say? Stap Hayes from screwing random women or dest with it until ke gold. wipes not the silver? We''ve heard that song already
What I kept to myself was Sophia''s froven treatment. Since the ceremony, shad been ducking aroundes when she saw meing, treating me like I had the gue. If I entered a room, she df find urgent business elsewhere. The girl whord onre grabbed my hand in that underground hell no couldn''t even look me in the eye.
ke suddenly stiffened, his eyes briefly unfocusing as he received a
"Let me guest-face-down in a toilet somewh
His jaw tightened. Tyler''s got news. They found our boy Hayes-
"Close. Moonlight Bat, drunk off his ass, with some Northern Pack chick in hisp."
I squeezed my eyes shut. The mark connection made sure I''d felt everything- every sloppy kiss, every grope burning through my neck like acid. "Awesome The jackass couldn''t even keep it in his pants for a week."
ke rolled off the bed, pulling on his clothes. "Ive had Tyler drag his sorry ass back to ckwood.
"Back to ckwood?" I sat up, wincing. "Why bother?"
"Two reasons. One-" he tapped my neck, to end your pain. Two-to keep that idiot from blowing up a two-pack alliance that took years to build." He yanked a shirt over his head. "They''ll be there in half an hour"
Jackson barely resembled the polished prince of Shadow Creek His once- immacte clothes hung wrinkled and stained. Dark circles shadowed eyes that couldn''t focus properly. He reeked of whiskey and cheap perfume-a scent that made my wolf hate her teeth in disgust.
Tyler and two boulder-sized guards kept him upright in ckwood''s grand hall, but just barely.
Jackson squinted against the light, his gaze wandering until itnded on me. "Ava?" Recognition sparked through the alcoholic haze. "The fuck are you doing
I leaned against the wall, keeping my distance. "Need a mirror, Hayes? You look like something the-cat dragged in, then dragged back out again."
Augh bubbled up from his chest-ugly and raw. "You jealous, baby? That''s cute." He swayed, the guards tightening their grip. "Diana''s got skills, but she ain''t you. None of em are."
My wolf growled deep in my chest. This pathetic mess was the man I once thought was my destiny?
"Enough." ke''s voice was soft but sliced through the room like a de. He stepped from the shadows, golden eyes fixed on Jackson
Jackson went still, animal instinct recognizing the predator in the room. "Alpha King," he slurred, attempting to straighten.
"Exin yourself" Two simple words, delivered with such quiet menace that even Tyler shifted ufortably.
"I was just Jackson started.
''Diana from Northern Pack territories, Tyler cut in "Provocative dresser,
aggressive approach. She''s been shadowing him for nights, always pouncing when
he''s most drunk."
"Beal charmer you picked, huh?" I at ke, bitterness leaking through.
he storied l?tlin like somethin
ével, grabbing at empty air for bnce. Not trying in... embarrast. They inst., femind me al..? Hii hand moved sugge reppling b?nkelt in the proces.
something cold slithered down my spine. What?
"That''s enough," Biske sipped. "Tyler, get him cleaned up. Guest quarters, with guards. Make sure Sophia doesn''t see him like thic
Tyler nodded, gesturing for the guards to haul Imkson away. The room emptied, leaving just ke and me with the crackling hearth betweentos "His free had hardened fire the mask he wore for pack business - all angles and nuthority.
"How''s the mark?" he asked, stepping close enough that his scent-pine and leather and something uniquely Ale-wrapped around me.
His palm covered my neck before I could answer, and blessed relief flowed from his touch. "Better," I admitted, hating how my body instantly calmed "wor what did he mean by hisst words"
ke''s thumb stroked my pulse point. "Drunk babbling."
His lips said one thing, but his eyes said another. I stepped away, breaking contact. “You''re seriously letting this train wreck continue toward the altar? After catching him red-handed?"
ke''s expression grewplicated. "I can''t easily break thismitment, Ava. The stability of two packs depends on iL"
"But he''s clearly not right for Sophia!" 1 said incredulously. "He''s cheating on your daughter with wolf-hookers!"
"And she loves him!" ke''s voice cracked with unexpected emotion. "Sophia''s been broken since her mother died. She''s poured everything into this rtionship."
"So you''ll feed her a pretty lie? Let her marry someone who''ll keep cheating?" I stared at him. “That''s your big Alpha King n?"
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