The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 133

-Ava’s POV-

The exact location of the plane had been found-some isolated island that wasn’t even on the map. Two bodies had been recovered, but neither of them was Rickon or Grayson. I held my breath as Liam told me the details. The search teams confirmed Rickon had been on the flight with him, but neither of them had been sighted. Still, something deep in my bones told me Grayson was alive. It was inexplicable, but the connection I felt to him was too strong to be wrong.

The only problem was this nagging feeling—a premonition of sorts-that something bad was about to happen. But with the hints that the Fearsome Threesome had been dropping I couldn’t tell if the looming danger was directed at me or Grayson.

I just wanted him to be found and brought home.

Home.

Still all I did was sit calm, waiting for the news I so desperately wanted to hear.

Isabella on the other hand? Not so much.

“I cannot believe he would do this,” she snapped after fifteen minutes of silent pacing. “I seriously cannot believe it.”

“They didn’t find their bodies,” I replied calmly, though the pit in my stomach churned. “That means they’re alive. They probably just moved from the crash site.”

Or they both obliterated mid-air,” she huffed, flopping down onto my bed. Her hair spilled around her like a fiery halo. “Why did I have to be mates with someone as troublesome as Rickon? Why couldn’t I be mated to a caterer or a painter or someone less….. chaotic?”

I laid down next to her, our heads almost touching as we stared up at the ceiling. “I don’t know why, but I can feel that Grayson is alive.”

“Well, I can’t feel anything except rage,” she muttered. “But I do know one thing—I’m going to throttle Rickon when he makes it back.”

“When he makes it back, Bels. They’ll find them.” I turned my head to look at her. “Your story with Rickon hasn’t even begun yet. Maybe when he comes back, you’ll let yourself write the first chapters.”

She let out a sigh, heavy with apprehension. “It’s just so complicated, Lilian. I feel like if I give into the pull, I’m setting myself up for heartbreak. And you know how bad I handle heartbreak. If it happens with my fated mate, my happy ending will just feel like it’s-”

“Over,” I finished for her, and she nodded.

Silence stretched between us, the weight of our thoughts filling the space. Finally, I spoke again, “I didn’t exactly luck out with my own fated mate, even though I thought he would be my happily ever after. But then I met Grayson, and I’

felt for anyone what I feel for him.”

“That’s the problem, Lilian,” she said softly. “I want to feel what you feel… but for my fated mate, not someone else.”

never

“Then maybe you should give it a shot,” I urged her. “If it doesn’t work out, take it from me—there’s hope for something better. Even if it means bringing so much chaos into his life.” The last part was more for myself, and I muttered it under my breath.

Isabella sat up, her eyes narrowing. “What are you talking about

I sighed. “I just… can’t stop thinking about what Elaine said. And I know it’s true because it’s the exact same thing I told Eliza. Ever since I met Grayson, I’ve disrupted his life. I’m the reason for the chaos and drama. What if he gets tired of it? Tired of

III

me?”

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“Oh, honey,” Isabella said, exasperated. “How can you not see it? You’ve brought light into his life. You made him less of a monster whispered about and more of a man. Why are you letting that bitter, moronic cousin of his plant these absurd thoughts in your head? Monsters don’t want to be monsters, Lilian. You’re giving him reasons not to be one.”

I blinked, her words settling/over me like a balm. “Yo,,

really think that’s true?”

“I know it’s true,” she said firmly. “You’re good for him. And if you hadn’t already found that jerk of a mate, I’d swear you were personally made for him.”

Her words made me smile. “Thanks, Bels.”

I heard my wolf growl, soft and irritated. “So, you believe her and not me?” she huffed in

my

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