Ava''s POV


    At the reception desk sat a blonde woman, expressionlessly staring at documents before her. I remembered herst time I came looking for ke, her superior attitude made me feel unwee. When she looked up and saw me, disgust practically poured from her eyes.


    "Ava Rivers, she pronounced my name as if the sybles hurt her teeth. "Can I help you?"


    I''m here to see Alpha King Morgan," I stared directly into her eyes, refusing to be intimidated by such low tactics.


    Her lips twisted into a fake smile: "Sorry, he''s not avable."


    I could smell her lie, like detecting a rotting rat. "He''s in his office, I can sense his presence." The mark allowed me to vaguely perceive ke''s direction.


    "Oh, her eyes shed with surprise before returning to coldness, "still not possible. Alpha King ordered that no one disturb him. Especially she looked me up and down, "-you."


    "What?" I felt a sharp pain in my chest.


    "He specifically stated he doesn''t want to see Ava Rivers set foot in the council hall again," her words stabbed like silver knives. "His exact words were ''make sure she doesn''te here bothering me again.“”


    My wolf raged furiously inside, but I also felt a twinge of uncertainty. Would ke really treat me this way? After those nights we''d spent together? After he gave me his mark?


    ''I don''t believe you," my voice came out softer than intended.


    She shrugged: "Believe what you want. I''m following orders. Besides,st time you came, you nearly messed up all the files. Who does the self-important Rivers girl think she is?"


    I clenched my jaw, memory suddenly shing back to that awkward moment-my first time seeking ke, being turned away like an unwee stray. Was history truly repeating? I turned to leave, dignity already wounded.


    "Ava?"


    A deep voice called from the hallway''s depths, my mark immediately warming, feeling like electricity coursing through me. I turned to see ke standing there, brow furrowed. God, he looked even more exhausted than I''d imagined, yet still so handsome. Dark shirt with rolled-up sleeves revealing scarred arms, cor slightly open showing veins in his neck-he must be dealing with difficult matters. "ke,'' I said softly, noticing the receptionist''s face turning pale,


    "What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone unreadable.


    I... I came to see you, but she said you ordered that I not be allowed in the council hall, my voice carried a barely detectable tremor.


    His eyes dangerously narrowed, sending an almost physical icy re toward the receptionist. "When did I ever say that?"


    The receptionist panicked: "You... you saidst time, if she came again-"


    "That was months ago," he interrupted, his voice nearly a growl. "The situation ispletely different now. I''m quite certain that instruction was revoked long ago."


    She stared down at her desk, all color drained from her face: "I... I didn''t know, Alpha King."


    "Next time you intercept my guests, don''t wait for me to speak-you''ll already be packing to leave," ke''s voice was velvet-wrapped steel. ''Understood?"


    "Yes, Alpha King," she replied, nearly choking.


    I stood still, uncertain what to say. On one hand, I felt warmth from ke


    defending me; on the other, i hated feeling like I needed his protection to stand


    here..


    He reached out to me with undeniable authority. "Come."


    I followed him through long corridors toward his private office. We didn''t speak the entire way, only our footsteps echoing on marble floors. In the elevator, he stood close, and I could smell his scent-pine, leather, and that unique Alpha aroma that made my knees weak.


    I silently thanked the goddess this cloak was thick enough, or he would certainly notice how hard my nipples were and how wet I was between my legs. Just standing near him was enough for my body to betray me.


    When his office door closed behind us, I could finally breathe. This space looked messier thanst time I visited-papers piled everywhere, empty coffee cups scattered across the desk, Silverpeak territory''s panorama visible through


    windows with mountains faintly appearing in the distance.


    ke turned to face me, leaning against his desk, eyebrow slightly raised. "So?"


    "What ''so?" I countered, suddenly realizing how ridiculous my n was.


    "What brought you all the way here?" he asked, those eyes seeming to pierce my soul.


    I took a deep breath, courage suddenly returning. "You haven''t been back to the northern territory for three days."


    "The Northern Lights visit was moved up," he exined briefly, fingers running through-his hair, a habit when tired. Lots of things to handle."


    "I know," I said softly, stepping closer to him. "I just... missed you."


    Those three words created a subtle shift in the air. His eyes darkened, wolf nature shing through,


    So


    quickly I almost missed it.


    ''Did you?" his voice grew husky.


    "Yes," I moved closer again, until just an arm''s length separated us. "You look exhausted."


    "Probably because I haven''t slept in thirty-six hours,'' he half-joked, but I could see the fatigue in his eyes. "The delegation arrives tomorrow, everything must be perfect."


    I reached up to touch his face, feeling the stubble on his jaw. "You need rest."


    ''I have a pile of documents to review," he said, but didn''t remove my hand. "You need to rx, too," I whispered, feeling my cheeks flush. His eyes locked onto mine, seeing through my pretense-I wasn''t just here for him, but for. myself.


    The corner of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a mischievous smirk. "Youing to see me in a cloak isn''t exactlymon."


    "I have a surprise," I heard myself say, voice deeper than usual.


    ''Do you?'' he raised an eyebrow, gaze traveling between my face and body.


    "Rted to thest ''surprise'' you brought here?"


    I couldn''t helpughing. "You remember."


    A girl in her underwear bursting into my office is hard to forget, Rivers," he said,


    voice low, dangerous light flickering in his eyes.


    This was the final moment-either abandon this crazy idea and leave with dignity,


    or...


    I untied the cloak''s fastening, feeling the heavy fabric slide from my shoulders, pooling at my feet.


    Instantly, the room temperature seemed to rise ten degrees. ke''s breathing quickened, his eyespletely turning to wolf-gold, greedily scanning my naked body from top to bottom. I stood there, skin burning under his gaze, yet strangely feeling powerful rather than vulnerable.


    ''Fuck,'' he cursed under his breath, the word escaping his precisely controllednguage-the highestpliment to me.


    I took a deep breath, feeling his gaze touch my skin like a physical entity-from my cheeks, to my neck, to the softness of my breasts, the curves of my waist, the tender flesh of my inner thighs, and finally the wet secret between my legs.


    "Does the Alpha King like what he sees?"


    Asked boldly, though my voice carried a slight tremor.


    His Adam''s apple bobbed, golden eyes shing with wildness and hunger.


    "More than I could express in anynguage, Ava," he said, voice bing a low


    growl. "Now,e here."


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