JESSICA
“I need to talk to you.”
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“Now?” Grayson looked at the others before he shifted his glare at me. He told me to never disturb him with others but I cannot wait.
I feel everyone else looking. The rest of the alphas are lounging–drinking, laughing, sprawled across the torn–up couches like they own the world. Which, maybe they do. This is their house. Their den. Their rules. I don’t belong here,
and I never will.
I’m a hybrid and for a second, Grayson tried to manipulate me that I am not.
“I said it’s urgent.”
He stares. That slow, calculating blink he does when he’s deciding whether to bite or bark. Then he downs the rest of his drink. “Fine. I’m drunk anyway. Let’s go home, baby.”
His voice was dripping with sarcasm, and it lit something inside me. I stepped closer, my breath sharp, my eyes locked on his. “Don’t ‘baby‘ me. You think this is some joke? You think I’m just some hybrid you can push around?”
He froze, his smirk fading. The room went silent. Even the alphas stopped laughing, their eyes darting between us. I could feel their judgment, their curiosity.
“I know about the damn pit, Grayson.”
Grayson’s hand shot out, gripping my arm so hard I winced, “Who the hell told you?”
His eyes burned, and for a second, I thought he might actually hurt me.
I yanked my arm free, stepping back. “No one told me. I’m not stupid, Grayson. You think I wouldn’t figure it out? You think I wouldn’t notice the way you’ve been sneaking around, the way everyone looks at me like I’m some kind of threat?”
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Chapter 164
His jaw clenched, and I yelped when he yanked me out of that place.
“Damn it!” I shouted, trying to get my hands away from him. “Let me go, Grayson!”
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Grayson’s grip tightened as he pushed me into the room, kicking the door shut behind him. I stumbled, catching myself on the edge of the bed, but I wasn’t
about to back down.
My chest heaved, anger boiling over as I glared at him casually losing his shirt.
“I saw Logan!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “Stop treating me like I’m some fragile thing that’ll break. I saw Logan and he’s okay! He’s okay. He’ll be okay. How can you do that to him? My best friend is in a damn cage and you didn’t tell me!?”
I lunged at him, my fingers clawing at his chest, but he caught my wrists effortlessly. “You don’t get to decide what I know or don’t know!” I spat, my voice shaking. “Logan’s my best friend! He’s supposed to be dead, Grayson! Dead! And you–you’ve been hiding him like some damn secret!”
Grayson’s eyes darkened, and he shoved me back onto the mattress, pinning me down with his weight. “You don’t understand,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “You think this is about you? About Logan? This is bigger than you, bigger than him. One wrong move, and you’re dead. You hear me? Dead.”
I thrashed under him, my nails digging into his shoulders. “Those are your damn people, Grayson!”
Grayson’s face twisted, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “My people?” he sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “My pack is all dead, thanks to you.”
His eyes glowed faintly, that dangerous amber hue I’d only seen once before
I froze, my nails still dug into his shoulders, but my grip loosened. “I didn’t mean
to-‘
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“Didn’t mean to?” His voice rose, cutting me off. “You didn’t mean to what? Have a damn ambition? Because you’re an omega everyone bullied about being weak?”
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “I didn’t know, Grayson! I didn’t know this will happen!”
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Chapter 164
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He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my skin. “You should’ve known. You should’ve been smarter.” His voice cracked, and for a moment, I saw the pain behind the rage. The loss. The guilt.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’m sorry..”
We’re okay.
He was okay.
But sometimes I forget Grayson is just a man who lost his father and his pack.
“You were always so ambitious Jess.” He spat, his hand slamming against the wall beside my head. I flinched, but I didn’t back down. His face was inches from mine, the moonlight catching the faint glint of fangs peeking through his lips.
“I didn’t want this,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I just wanted to protect you.”
“Protect me?” He laughed, a bitter, hollow sound that sent chills down my spine. “You got them all killed, and you call that *protection*?”
His hand dropped, and he stumbled back, running a shaky hand through his hair. For a moment, he looked lost, like the weight of the world was crushing him. Then his gaze snapped back to me, and I saw it—the flicker of guilt buried deep beneath the anger.
“Always so fucking ambitious baby and I fucking admire you for that. Heck, I love you for that.”
It’s just alcohol talking.
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Always pushing, always fighting. I loved that about you. Admired it. But look where it got us.” His voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Look where it got *me“,”
He turned away, his shoulders hunched, and for a moment, I thought he’d walk out. But then he stopped, his head tilting slightly.
“That’s why Jack didn’t come around. He was feeding you information.”
Grayson knew.
I wiped my tears and sniffed but it won’t stop. The tears just keep on pouring out.
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He was drunk, sure, but the alcohol only loosened the leash on what was already barely under control.
I didn’t ask him if he’s okay.
I never comforted him.
All I knew is that he’s strong enough for the both of us but I should’ve known better.
My love for him blooms not because he’s the alpha or he’s strong but because he’s just my Grayson.
He stepped closer, the scent of whiskey and wolf overwhelming. “From now on, you let me handle this. No more stupid risks. No more secrets. You hear me?”
I nodded, but he wasn’t done.
“And if you can’t,” he added, his voice softening, “then maybe this is where it ends.”
B
