ke''s POV


    I drummed my fingers against the windowsill, watching the training grounds sit empty as sunset painted everything gold. Somewhere out there, kids wereughing, packs were gathering for dinner, life was moving on. Meanwhile, I was stuck in my head, reying the same moment on loop-the hurt in Ava''s eyes when I''d doubted her.


    The confession sat on my desk like a time bomb. One warrior''s twisted ambition had nearly cost me everything that mattered. She''d swapped Lucas''s training catalyst hoping to y hero, and now she was paying the ultimate price- permanent exile. No pack, no protection, no future. Even with the punishment handed down, I couldn''t shake this hollow feeling in my chest.


    My wolf prowled beneath my skin, restless and agitated. He didn''t give a damn about the exiled warrior. His thoughts circled around one person only: Ava. The memory of her face that day hit like a physical blow every time. After everything she''d done for Lucas, I''d chosen doubt when she needed belief.


    The door creaked open, Tyler''s familiar cedar scent filling the room before he''d taken a single step inside.


    ''She''s gone," he said, scrubbing a hand over his face. ''Dropped her at the territory line myself."


    I kept my eyes fixed on the darkeningndscape, not trusting my expression. "And the other Alphas?"


    "All notified. No one''s taking her in." Tyler moved beside me, his reflection appearing in the ss. "It''s done."


    The silence stretched between us, heavy with things unsaid. My second-in-mand was gathering courage, weighing his words. I''d seen that look enough times to recognize it.


    "Just spill it, Tyler," I finally said, my voiceing out like gravel. "Did you see Ava?*


    The question hung in the air. Just saying her name made something twist painfully in my chest.


    Tyler shifted his weight-never a good sign. "Yeah, I found her."


    I turned, forcing my face to stay neutral though my pulse kicked hard against my throat. "And? What did she say when yo


    *Iid it all out," he said, watching me carefully. "Told her we caught the real culprit, that the warrior confessed to everything."


    "And?" My fingers tapped a nervous rhythm against the desk. "What did she say?"


    Tyler winced slightly. "Her exact words were, ''If ke wants me back, I''d like to hear it from him."""


    er?


    Something between augh and a groan escaped me. So perfectly Ava-stubborn and direct even when cornered. My wolf practically howled in response, recognizing the challenge in her words.


    "Tell me she''s okay at least," I said, the words catching in my throat.


    Tyler''s face darkened. "That''s the other thing. I did some digging about her new position with the Hayes pack." He hesitated. "ke, they yed her. There is no Chief Combat Instructor job-it was aplete setup


    ''What do you mean?" My jaw clenched so hard I could hear my teeth grinding.


    "Martha lied to get them over there," Tyler exined, jaw tight. "Ava''s stuck in the lowest warrior rank, doing grunt patrol work that new recruits usually handle. They''ve got her bunking in the old barracks, not even in proper instructor quarters."


    The growl that ripped from my throat wasn''t human. My wolf surged forward, rage boiling just beneath my skin. The image of Ava-my Ava-reduced to the lowest rank, used and manipted, made something primal and violent rise within me. "They''re using William as bait, Tyler continued. "Martha promised Sarah that this arrangement would speed up Blood Protection Rights for tim."


    "Car, I snapped, already moving toward the door. "Now."


    Tyler nodded sharply. "Guards?"


    I barked out augh that held no humor. "For Hayes? Don''t insult me."


    I was the fucking Alpha King. If Richard or his maniptive wife thought they


    could steal what was mine and face no consequences, they were about to learn exactly how wrong they were.


    But beneath the fury, a quieter, more painful truth lurked. She''d only ended up there because I''d failed her first. I''d let doubt creep in when I should have trusted her above all others.


    1 veered toward the medical wing before leaving. Lucas deserved to know I was going after her.


    "How''s the patient?" I asked, settling on the edge of his bed.


    Lucas nced up, the circles under his eyes finally fading. "Body''s getting better. Mood still stinks."


    I reached over to ruffle his hair, something I''d done since he was tiny. For once, he didn''t duck away.


    "I''m heading out for a bit."


    ''Where to?" he asked, already drifting back to his book."


    "Hayes territory,'' I said, watching his reaction carefully. "Going to see Ava."


    The transformation was immediate. His head snapped up, eyes suddenly alert, a spark lighting them from within. "Seriously? Are you bringing her back?"


    I sighed, hating to offer false hope. "I''m going to try. But Lucas... it''s her choice in the end."


    ''She''lle back," he said with absolute conviction. "She promised to teach me the full Moonlight Combat sequence. Ava never breaks her promises."


    He reached under his pillow and pulled out a small wooden carving-a wolf with its head raised in a silent howl. The detas impressive for a seven-year-old''s work.


    "Give her this," he said, pressing it into my palm. "I made it during training. She said it wasn''t half bad for a beginner."


    My throat tightened as I stared at the small totem. Lucas rarely connected with anyone this deeply. Hell, he barely tolerated most of his tutors. But Ava had somehow broken through that wall, bing someone he genuinely cared for. "You carved this yourself," I said, handing it back. "You should give it to her when she gets back."


    His eyes narrowed slightly. "So you''re definitely bringing her back?"


    "Tell you what,” I said, standing. "You focus on getting better, and I''ll focus on fixing what broke. Deal?"


    He nodded, then added, "Tell her I figured out that counter-move she was teaching me. The one she said was impossible for beginners."


    I smiled despite myself. "I''ll let her know."


    The minute my sleek ck car rolled up to Shadow Creek''s boundary, every guard went rigid. Hands flew to weapons, backs straightened, and mindlinks buzzed with urgent alerts. Nobody had expected the Alpha King himself to show up unannounced, especially not after the incident with my son.


    I stepped out, not bothering with the usual territorial greeting rituals. Every second wasted was another second Ava spent in Hayes captivity.


    Richard scrambled to meet me at the entrance, papier-maché smile stered across his face. "Alpha King Morgan! What an unexpected pleasure." "Hayes, I acknowledged with a curt nod. No point wasting energy on fake pleasantries. I''m here for Ava."


    Richard''s smile flickered like a dying lightbulb. "Ava? The... warrior recruit?" Confusion crossed his features, quickly reced by calction. I''m not sure I understand why someone of your stature would concern yourself with-


    Marked Twice by the Alpha King