The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 147

Chapter 147 Chapter 147

Ava’s POV

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I let out a heavy sigh, leaning my head back against the cold, stone wall. My eyes drifted shut, and for a moment, I tried to block it all out-the whispers, the stares, the chaos. I didn’t know how long I’d been sitting there or how I’d even found my way to this quiet corner. All I remembered was running.

The stares had been everywhere, burning into me like flames, suffocating and unbearable. Everyone had been watching, judging, and I couldn’t stand it anymore. My feet had carried me out of the grand hall, and now I was here, trying and failing to steady my breathing,

But I couldn’t. I couldn’t because of her. Because of what I’d done to Crystal.

I felt the guilt clawing at me like an iron grip around my throat. hated her but I couldn’t shake the image of her lying on the floor, blood pooling around her, shards of glass scattered everywhere. And then there was the truth–the truth that I might have hurt her baby.

The thought hit me like a wrecking ball, and a choked sob escaped my lips before I could stop it. I didn’t mean to cry, but the tears came anyway, hot and relentless. I couldn’t breathe. My chest heaved as I tried to gulp down air, but it wasn’t working.

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Where had all this power come from? These abilities I didn’t understand, didn’t want? How could something so unnatural come from me?

“Lilian? Are you out here?”

The sound of Isabella’s voice jolted me, but I couldn’t answer her. My throat felt tight, the sobs racking through my body like waves.

“Oh, Lilian,” she murmured softly, her voice filled with concern. The next thing I knew, she was kneeling beside me, pulling me into her arms. Her embrace was warm, steady, but it didn’t stop the tears.

“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered.

I shook my head, my voice breaking as I tried to speak. “No, it’s not. Why does everything have to be so horrible? Why can’t

I just have peace? Why do I always end up hurting people? Why do I always do horrible things?” Her arms tightened around me, and for a second, I thought she might have an answer. But she didn’t. “It wasn’t your fault, Ava.”

I jolted again at the sound of Eliza’s voice and looked up to see her standing a few feet away. When had she gotten here? Had she come with Isabella? She lowered herself onto the floor beside us, her expression calm but her eyes filled with concern.

I closed my eyes again, tears still streaming down my face. “It’s always something,” I muttered. “I can’t even host a ball without it turning into… this.”

The silence that followed was heavy. Neither of them spoke for a moment, and it was like the weight of the night was pressing down on me, suffocating me.

Finally, Isabella broke the silence. “I heard your father say Dylan was going to be okay and he was healing.” And Crystal?” My voice was barely a whisper. “Her baby?”

Isabella hesitated, and that hesitation was enough to twist the knife in my chest. She shook her head slowly, her lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t know. Your mother came back and took charge after you… after you ran out, They’ve taken Crystal

Chapter 14z

way, and most of the quests have left. Everyone’s waiting to he something from your parents. But I’m sure he’ll be fine Evil wiches don’t die easily

Her attempt at humor fell flat. I knew her too well to know her words. She was lying. Whatever news came next, I knew it would be bad. If Crystal lost that chikt. I wouldn’t just have hurt her I would have killed an innocent life.

I couldn’t breathe.

I sucked in a sharp breath, but it wasn’t enough. My chest tightened like a vise, and panic started in claw its way up my throat

“Lilian?” Isabella’s voice was sharp, alarmed now. “What’s going on? Ava, look at mer

Eliza’s voice cut through the fog next, more frantic this time. “Ava? Ava, what’s wrong?”

But I couldn’t answer. The air felt too thick, my vision tunneling as 1 clutched at my chest. My breaths came out in shallow. desperate gasps, and I could hear them shouting, their voices blending together in a chaotic blur.

“She’s not breathing!” Isabella cried, her voice rising with panic

“What do we do?” Eliza snapped. “I don’t know what to do!”

“Try to calm her down! Lilian, look at me! Breathe, dammit, breathe!”

I couldn’t. I was suffocating, drowning in my own panic. My hands clawed at my throat as I struggled, my chest burning with the need for air.

!

And then, deep within me, I felt it—the growl.

It was low, guttural, and vibrating through my entire being. My wolf stirred, angry and restless. She pushed against the surface, forcing her way through, and before I could fight it, she took over.

A guttural gasp escaped my lips as air rushed into my lungs. My head snapped back, and I felt the shift take hold, my senses sharpening as my wolf emerged. The cool night air hit me, grounding me, but she wasn’t satisfied.

Without thinking, without hesitating, I bolted.

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