Marked Twice by the Alpha King novel Chapter 207

Blake’s POV

The drive back to Blackwood Manor passed in a blur of quiet conversation and careful reunion. I’d provided William with fresh clothes–a dark suit that fit him well, restoring some of the dignity prison had tried to strip away. In the rearview mirror, I watched him hold Sarah’s hand like a lifeline, both of them still adjusting to the reality of freedom.

“Blake,” William said as we approached the manor grounds, “I owe you more than I can ever repay.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” I replied, meaning it. “This was about justice.”

And about proving to Ava that she chose the right man to trust with her heart.

“Still,” William continued, “what you’ve done for my family… for Ava…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “She’s spoken of you often during her visits. I can see why she chose you.”

The casual way he said it–chose you–made my chest tight with emotion. Not ‘settled for‘ or ‘ended up with,‘ but chose. As if she’d had every option in the world and picked me anyway.

“I chose her too,” I said quietly. “In fact, if you’re willing, I’d like to speak with you privately later. There’s something important I want to discuss.”

In the mirror, I saw understanding dawn in William’s eyes. Sarah squeezed his hand, her face lighting up with joy.

“I’d be honored, William said, and the formal words carried the weight of tradition and blessing.

Almost there. We were almost at the finish line of this nightmare, almost to the beginning of something better.

The manor came into view, its stone walls golden in the late afternoon sun. Home. For all of us now.

Ava’s POV

I was going to wear a hole in the bedroom carpet if I didn’t stop pacing soon.

They should be here by now. I checked the antique clock on the mantle for the tenth time in five minutes. Blake said an hour, and it’s been an hour and twenty minutes. What if something went wrong? What if the Hayes family had more tricks up their sleeves?

The rational part of my brain knew I was being ridiculous. Blake was the Alpha King, surrounded by the best guards in the territory. He could handle whatever the Hayes family threw at him. But the daughter part–the part that had spent six months terrified I’d never see my father free again–couldn’t quite believe it was really over.

A soft knock interrupted my spiral of worry. Sophia peeked through the door, holding a pale blue dress that looked like it cost more than my entire wardrobe back in Shadow Creek.

“How about this one?” she asked, stepping fully into the room. Her face still bore faint bruises from our fight with Jackson, but her eyes held a warmth I hadn’t seen in months.

It’s strange, I thought, accepting the dress. A few days ago she hated me, and now she’s helping me get ready to see my parents. How quickly everything can change when the truth finally comes out.

“It’s beautiful,” I said, running my fingers over the soft fabric. “But isn’t it a little… fancy? I just want Dad to see that I’m okay, that I’m happy.”

Sophia’s smile was gentle, understanding. “Trust me, this is perfect. You want to look like the Luna you’re about to become, not like you ve been hiding in the shadows.”

Lung. The title still felt surreal, like trying on clothes that were too big. But looking at Sophia’s encouraging expression, I felt a flutter of

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confidence. Maybe I could grow into it.

I changed quickly, my hands shaking slightly as I smoothed the dress over my hips. In the mirror, a stranger looked back–poised, elegant, someone who might actually belong at an Alpha King’s side. The golden mark on my neck glowed softly against the dress’s neckline, visible proof of my bond with Blake.

“You look perfect,” Sophia said, and I could tell she meant it. “Dad’s going to be so proud.”

The front door burst open downstairs, followed by Lucas’s excited shout: “MOM! They’re here! Grandpa’s really here!

My heart stopped, then started racing double–time. This is it. Dad’s really free. He’s really here.

I started toward the door, then froze, suddenly terrified. What if prison had changed him? What if he didn’t approve of my choices? What if-

“Ava.” Sophia’s hand on my arm stopped my spiral. “Go. Your family is waiting.”

Family. The word encompassed so much more now–not just Dad and Sarah, but Blake and Lucas and even Sophia. A complex web of love and loyalty that had somehow survived everything Jackson tried to destroy.

I squared my shoulders and headed for the stairs.

The grand staircase had never felt so long. Each step brought the voices in the foyer closer, more real. Blake’s deep tone, Sarah’s gentle murmur, and underneath it all, a voice I’d missed desperately for months.

Dad.

When I reached the landing and looked down into the foyer, time seemed to stop. There he was–thinner than I remembered, hair more gray than brown now, but unmistakably him. The man who’d taught me to fight, who’d read me bedtime stories, who’d never once made me feel like anything less than his real daughter despite the lack of blood between us.

Our eyes met across the space, and his face transformed with pure joy.

“My little warrior,” he said, opening his arms.

I flew down the remaining steps and crashed into his embrace, breathing in the familiar scent that meant safety and home. Months of worry and fear dissolved in an instant.

“Dad,” I whispered against his shoulder, tears streaming down my face. “You’re really free. You’re really here.”

His arms tightened around me, and I felt him shaking slightly with emotion. “I’m here, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere ever again.”

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