Marked Twice by the Alpha King

Standing at Shadow Creek's great hall entrance, I sucked in a breath that felt like

the first real air I'd tasted in months. Six months ago, they dragged me out of

here while every face stared at me with suspicion and disappointment.

Today? Walking back in as a free man.

The place was absolutely packed. Every Shadow Creek member who could walk

was here. Blake and Ava sat up front with the other bigwigs. Hell, even Northern

Lights showed up-their silver robes stuck out like sore thumbs in the crowd.

My heart was going crazy, but not from fear. From pure anticipation.

Been waiting for this moment way too damn long.

"My people." Elder Oliver stood up, his voice cutting through the noise. "We're not

just here to judge traitors today. We're here to set the record straight. Clear an

innocent man's name."

About time. The words hit my chest like a punch of relief.

Chains clanked as Jackson Hayes got dragged in, guards on both sides like

bookends. His golden-boy looks had gone to hell-hair all over the place, clothes

wrinkled, eyes wild like a trapped animal. Behind him, Richard shuffled along

looking like death warmed over.

Talk about a fall from grace. William stood tall despite months behind bars, while

the Hayes men looked ready to collapse.

Lyra stepped forward with some fancy scroll, all sealed up with Northern Lights

wax. "Honored elders, I've got evidence from our border fights with Shadow

Creek. Her voice carried that priestess authority that made people shut up and

listen.

She cracked open the document, purple eyes sweeping the crowd. "Our scouts

watched Shadow Creek forces-one Alpha, one loyal warrior. The Alpha was

juiced up on something, way stronger than normal."

Whispers started rippling through the crowd. Most folks were hearing this stuff for

the first time.

"When we surrounded them, Shadow Creek's Alpha Carter just... dropped. Dead.

The warrior-William Rivers-kept fighting like hell to protect his fallen leader until

backup showed up and we had to retreat."

The whispers got louder. This version painted William as the hero, not the villain.

Sarah shot up from her seat, hands shaking but voice rock-solid. "I need to add

something." Every head turned her wa stage. "Three days ago, I heard Jackson

and Richard talking about their whole conspiracy."

Jackson's head snapped up, face going white as a sheet. "She's lying through her

teeth!"

he walked to center

"Shut it!" Oliver's voice slammed through the hall like a gavel. "Sarah Rivers

swore an oath to the Moon Goddess. Keep going, Sarah.

Sarah's voice got stronger as she spilled everything she'd heard. The planned

massacre. Setting William up, Celebrating mass murder disguised as border

conflict.

Jackson completely lost it. "You people don't get it!" he screamed, fighting

against his restraints like a wild thing. "Everything I did was for Shadow

Creek! Carter was pathetic! We needed real leadership!"

Richard looked like he'd swallowed poison. His son was torching any chance they

had left.

"You sent my patrol into a death trap." William's voice was quiet, but it carried to

every corner. 'Good wolves died because you wanted pow

"They died for something bigger!" Jackson spat, literally foaming at the mouth.

"You were supposed to die with them! It was perfect until you had to survive

and screw everything up!"

The whole hall sucked in air at once. Jackson had just confessed to everything.

Oliver's face turned to stone. "Jackson Hayes and Richard Hayes. Treason, mass

murder, conspiracy against Shadow Creek pack. Death sentence.

Now."

Jackson's tough-guy act crumbled like wet paper. "Wait, no-I can explain-we

were saving the pack from weak-*

Nobody was listening anymore. Guards were already moving.noveldrama

The execution was quick and clean. Two minutes later, the men who'd caused all

this pain were gone. Justice served cold.

In the silence that followed, Oliver turned to William. "William Rivers, will you take

the Alpha position for Shadow Creek pack?"

William looked out at his people-some ashamed, some hopeful, all waiting. He

thought about those months in a cell, the pain, watching his daughter fight battles

that should never have been hers.

"Yeah, I'll take it." Simple as that. "But, not for revenge. For rebuilding. For

healing. For making sure this crap never happens again."

The cheer nearly blew the roof off.

William raised his hand. The crowd settled down. His voice rang clear and

strong-new Alpha energy mixed with hard-earned wisdom.

"Look, we've all screwed up. Some got fooled by lies, others kept quiet when they

shouldn't have. But today we choose truth. Today we start

over."

He paused, scanning faces. "Working closer with Silverpeak isn't just politics-it's

our future. Two packs united means peace and prosperity.

"I'm also making changes," William continued, rolling up his sleeves. "Transparent

council systems where everyone gets heard. More cooperation with human

communities. Better lives for all our people."

Finally, he looked toward the folks who'd backed the Hayes family. "To those who

got misled-I'm extending my hand. We don't answer mistakes with hate. We heal

them with understanding."

Blake stood up, voice carrying across the room. "Silverpeak's got William Rivers'

back one hundred percent. Looking forward to working together as real allies."

After everything wrapped up, William and Ava walked through Shadow Creek's

gardens. Sunset painted everything gold, making this familiar place look brand

new.

"Every single day in that cell, I thought about this." He squeezed her shoulder.

"Not the trial or getting cleared. This-wa in actual sunlight."

"Dad." Ava's voice caught. "I'm so sorry you went through all that."

ith my daughter

"Don't you dare apologize." William stopped, turning to face her. "Look at you

now. When they arrested me, you were just a warrior. Now... He touched the

golden mark on her neck. "Now you're about to be Luna of the strongest pack in

the werewolf world. Your mom and I couldn't be prouder."

"You taught me to fight for what's right," Ava said, kicking at a loose stone.

"Everything I am comes from you."

"Nah." William shook his head. "Your character-that strength, loyalty, ability to

love even when you're hurting-that's all from here. He tapped her chest

gently. "That's one hundred percent you, sweetheart."

They kept walking, both trying to process how much had just changed. Finally,

Ava broke the comfortable silence,

<"Luna ceremony's the day after tomorrow. After everything that just happened,

you ready for that kind of celebration?"

William smiled-first genuinely happy smile in months. "Doesn't matter whose

Luna you become. You'll always be my little girl

Tears spilled down Ava's cheeks as they hugged, father and daughter, in Shadow

Creek's golden garden light. Behind them, pack territory stretched toward

mountains, peaceful under the coming night.