The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 109

-Ava’s POV-

wolf-was

The part of me that I had met in that unconscious state-the part I still refused to accept, even after I got my stirring again. I felt her now, lurking beneath the surface, like a predator ready to pounce. And for the first time, I didn’t hate her for it. I welcomed her presence because I was ready to tear Jeremy apart for daring to do something that could hurt Grayson.

Grayson.

The thought of him slammed into me like a physical force. Grayson would burn down the entire world for me without hesitation. The realization hit me hard, and as I stared down at Jeremy-his body shaking with pure, unadulterated fear-I knew that I would do the same for him.

Isabella must have sensed something shift in me because she grabbed my arm and pulled me back, her own expression briefly flickering with fear. And that alone was enough to snap me back to reality. I wasn’t that Ava. I wasn’t the monster that part of me seemed determined to unleash. I took a deep breath, forcing calm into my voice as I said, “We aren’t going to hurt you.”

Isabella didn’t miss a beat, her tone sharp and biting, “But you had better start talking.”

Jeremy, still trembling, struggled to get to his feet. His mouth opened and closed a few times, and for a moment, all that came out was stuttered nonsense. Finally, he managed to choke out, “What… who… what are you people?”

“That doesn’t answer the question,” Isabella growled, her eyes darkening with a dangerous gleam. Jeremy’s shaking intensified.

I stepped back in front of him, softening my voice just a fraction. “We aren’t going to hurt you, but you will tell us everything. Who was that man? What have you told him? Why is he going after Grayson? And why have you been using Eliza?”

Hearing Eliza’s name seemed to strike a nerve. His expression crumbled, pain flashing in his eyes. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he croaked. “Eliza is the last person I wanted to hurt. I bought a ring-I was going to ask her to marry me.”

“So you could worm your way in even further?” Isabella snapped venom in her voice.

“No!” Jeremy’s face crumpled, and tears began streaming down his cheeks. Watching a grown man cry was unsettling, even for me. He wiped his face roughly and continued, his voice raw. That man approached me a month ago. He already knew who I was. He knew I was with Eliza, and that she was Grayson Blackwood’s PA. All he wanted was dirt-anything I could get from her because, you know, couples talk to each other. He figured she would tell me something useful. I said no. I tried to walk away.”

“But then he offered you money,” Isabella finished for him, voice dripping with contempt.

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Jeremy nodded miserably. “It wasn’t just money. My mom-she sick. She needed surgery. I thought it would just be one time. Just one piece of information, and then it would be over.” His voice cracked, and he looked at me like a broken man. “But it never ends, does it?”

“They never stop coming,” I murmured, more to myself than to him.

He nodded, tears trailing down his face. “He started forcing me to pry things out of her-threatening my family, saying he’d tell Eliza what I’d done if I didn’t cooperate. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I broke up with her because I couldn’t keep hurting her. I thought… I thought it would stop.” His shoulders sagged, the weight of his guilt and shame pressing down on him. “I didn’t know it would get this bad. I swear.”

I crossed my arms, my wolf stirring uneasily in the back of my mind. “Do you know who he works for Or why they’re after Grayson?”

Jeremy shook his head furiously. “No. I swear I don’t. He never told me.”

“Has he ever shown signs of being like us? Different?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

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