Ava''s POV


    My stomach growled as I stumbled back to the crumbling barracks. Three days in Hayes territory and I''d been living on scraps-whatever the hell they called "warrior rations" was barely enough to keep a squirrel alive.


    The door creaked open and there stood Vanessa, smirking like she''d just won the lottery, Great. Just what I needed.


    "Training yard''s a mess,'' she announced, flicking her perfectly manicured nails toward the window. "Clean it up. Now."


    I bit the inside of my cheek. "That''s the third cleanup today."


    "Did I ask for your opinion, Rivers?" Her voice dripped venom. "Or do I need to remind you about your ce here?


    My wolf snarled beneath my skin, but I swallowed my pride and trudged outside. The yard looked like a tornado had hit it-training weapons scattered everywhere, muddy footprints crisscrossing the field. I started gathering equipment, my muscles screaming in protest.


    So much for Martha''s grand promises. Chief Combat Instructor, my ass. Here I was-Warrior Academy''s top graduate-picking up after spoiled Hayes brats and running midnight patrols like some fresh recruit.


    I bent to lift a particrly heavy pile of weapons when something caught my foot. Before I could catch myself, I went flying, weapons scattering. A searing pain shot through my arm as a silver de sliced skin.


    "Oops," Vanessa chuckled from behind me. "Clumsy and worthless. Some warrior."


    Blood dripped onto the dirt as I clutched my arm. "You tripped me."


    "Prove it," she taunted, hovering over me like a vulture. Her hand shot up, ready


    to strike. "What''s wrong, Rivers? Gonna cry?"


    Every muscle in my body tensed, ready to counter. I could flip her over my


    shoulder before she even knew what hit But I froze instead, William''s face shing through my mind. One wrong move and Sarah''s hopes-Dad''s freedom- everything would vanish.


    "Touch Sarah again with your lies, and we''ll see who''s crying," I warned, eyes locked on hers.


    Vanessa''sugh felt like nails on a chalkboard. "Look at you now-Hayes territory''s newest chew toy. How''s it feel, going from Silverpeak princess to bottom- rung nobody?"


    The barracks door suddenly flew open so hard it bounced against the wall. Vanessa spun around, her face draining of color like someone had pulled a plug.


    ''ENOUGH!"


    That voice. My head snapped up so fast my neck cracked.


    ke stood in the doorway, fury rolling off him in golden waves. Not a


    hallucination, not a dream-the actual flesh-and-blood Alpha King of Silverpeak, looking like he was about to tear the ce apart with his bare hands.


    ''A-Alpha King... Vanessa''s voice shrank to a terrified squeak.


    ke''s eyes had shifted-storm-blue irises now zing gold as his wolf pushed forward. His gaze swept the room beforending on my bloody arm, and something dangerous flickered across his face.


    ''So this is Hayes hospitality?" His voice came dangerously soft. "Slicing up warriors with silver des for sport?"


    Vanessa backpedaled until she hit the wall. "No-I didn''t-she fell-


    She lunged forward in a pathetic show of concern, reaching toward me. Before her fingers could make contact, an invisible wall of pressure sent her. sprawling backwards.


    "Touch her, ke, growled, not even raising his voice, and you''ll lose the hand."


    Vanessa crumpled into a heap, suddenly fascinated with the floor. Amazing what an Alpha''s presence could do-thirty seconds ago she''d been queen of the castle.


    Richard appeared from behind ke, looking like he''d swallowed something sour. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene, a sh of disgust crossing his features when he spotted me on the ground.


    "Alpha King," he said, bowing low, "what an unexpected honor. I assure you, we don''t tolerate this kind of behavior at Hayes territory:


    ke''s jaw tightened. ''Funny. Because I''m staring at Rivers blood on Hayes floors."


    A misunderstanding-"


    A misunderstanding?" ke''sugh held no humor. ''You''ve got my son''s trainer living in what amounts to a closet, working patrol shifts meant for new recruits, while Martha promised her a Chief Instructor position. That''s one hell of a misunderstanding."


    Richard''s face twitched as he struggled for a response. The awkward silence was broken by clicking heels as Martha glided into the room like she was entering a ballroom.


    "Alpha King Morgan," she purred, then faltered when she caught the murder in his eyes. "What a... surprise.


    Her gaze darted to Vanessa, who looked like she was trying to melt into the wall. "Vanessa, darling, what happened?"


    Vanessatched onto Martha like a life raft. "She''s lying! Rivers attacked me when I tried to help her train! Then she fell on her own-I was about to help her!"


    My teeth ground together so hard I thought they might crack. These people were unbelievable.


    "Young wolves, Martha sighed, turning to ke with a practiced sympathetic smile. "Always so dramatic during adjustment periods."


    ke didn''t respond. His eyes were fixed on me, something raw and fierce shing in their depths. I suddenly realized how I must look-dirty, bleeding, exhausted. Shame burned through me. Not exactly how I''d pictured our reunion.


    "Medical room, ke ordered Richard. "Now."


    Richard hesitated, weighing his options before nodding stiffly. "Of course."


    ke crossed to me in three long strides, crouching down. His hand hovered near mine without touching. "Can you stand?" he asked, his voice dropping to a register only I could hear.


    I nodded and pushed myself up, but the room tilted sideways. Before I could blink, ke had scooped me into his arms like I weighed nothing.


    The sudden closeness hit me like a freight train-his scent wrapping around me, familiar and dizzying. Pine trees after rain. Leather and sun-warmed skin. Pure ke. My mark hummed with recognition, a warmth spreading through my neck that had nothing to do with the wound.


    "This way," Richard muttered, leading us out.


    We''d barely made it down the hallway when a door flew open.


    "Ava?" Sarah''s voice cracked as she took in the sight of me in ke''s arms. Her eyes, usually soft with worry, held an unexpected steel as they locked with


    ke''s.


    ''I''m fine, I lied. "Just a scratch.


    They stared at each other for a long, loaded moment-some unspoken conversation passing between them-before ke gave her a small nod.


    ''Later, he promised her.


    Sarah squeezed my hand before disappearing back into her room, her gaze following us until we turned the corner.


    The medical room door clicked shut behind us. ke set me down on the exam table with surprising gentleness. I immediately scooted back, putting space


    between us. His Alpha presence filled the small room, making it hard to breathe- or think straight.


    "Thank you for your intervention, Alpha King," I said stiffly, keeping my voice formal and detached. The title felt strange on my tongue after all we''d been through, but right now I needed that distance. "I''ll just clean this up myself."


    Chapter Comments