The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 180

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Chapter 180 Chapter 180

-Ava’s POV-

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A pin could have dropped, and everyone would have heard it. That was how quiet the hall had gone after the accusation.

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I stared at the man who had spoken, words failing me. I had no idea who he was-he was just another face in the sea of high- ranking members I’d never interacted with. But he stood there, unyielding, his face a mixture of anger and defiance. Time stretched unbearably until Grayson finally broke the silence.

“How long did it take you to think of that,” Grayson began, his voice dripping with boredom, “to fuel your attention—seeking agenda, Charles? Is therapy not doing you any good for being ignored by everyone else growing up?”

The man-Charles-turned bright red with embarrassment, but to my surprise, he didn’t back down. “I just said what everyone else is too scared to say, Your Highness,” he replied, spitting out the title as if it left a bitter taste in his mouth. “Everyone kept quiet when you brought her here out of nowhere and made her your Luna without consulting us, the high- ranking members of the pack, because we’re all terrified of you. But with how things have turned out, I will not keep silent anymore.”

“You will not keep silent?” Grayson repeated, his voice colder than I’d ever heard it. It was a tone that could have frozen fire.

Charles hesitated, his confidence wavering, but he nodded. “Yes. We’ve all been talking, and we’ve come to a conclusion. She’s the problem. Everything started going wrong the moment she arrived. Isn’t it obvious? She’s the mole. She was sent here to distract you, to learn your weaknesses, and to feed information to the person behind all of this.”

Grayson’s eyes slid to the other five high-ranking members seated near Charles. His tone was calm-too calm-as he asked, “And you all agree with him?”

The air grew heavier. None of them spoke, and their silence seemed to condemn them. Grayson’s expression didn’t change, but something in the room shifted. The kind of shift that made you feel like prey being stalked.

He finally turned his gaze to the rest of the hall. “If anyone else here thinks Ava is the problem, or has anything to say about her, go ahead. You are free to speak. You have my word that no harm will come to you.”

A suffocating silence followed his words. I felt the weight of a thousand eyes on me, each one assessing, judging, questioning. My heart pounded, and I fought the urge to shrink into myself.

After what felt like an eternity, Brianna, seated among the Omegas, hesitantly raised her hand. Grayson nodded at her, and she stood up, glancing nervously around the room before settling her gaze on me.

“I think I speak for all the Omegas when I say that I think our Luna is really great,” Brianna said with a small, encouraging

smile.

Our Luna.

The words hit me like a tidal wave. I felt something stir inside me, something warm and grounding. It wasn’t a feeling I could easily name, but it settled deep within me, a quiet assurance that I hadn’t known I needed.

A ripple of agreement followed Brianna’s words, stasting among the Omegas and spreading through the roomraised his

hand.

The warriors are in agreement with the Omegas, he said firm without standing.

This time, the murmurs of agreement were louder circulating throughout the hall. The overwhelmin, support washed ove

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me, and the warmth I’d felt moments ago grew into a sense of belonging. Tears pricked at my eyes, but I blinked them away, unwilling to appear weak.

One of the high-ranking members stood, his movements stiff and formal. “Your Highness,” he began, bowing slightly before speaking, “I would like to start by apologizing for Charles’ outburst.” He shot Charles an irritated glance. “Yes, there were discussions about your Luna among the high-ranking members, but I assure you, there was no ill intent. With all due respect, though, you did bring her here without a proper introduction. It is your pack, and no one would dare challenge your authority, but it was expected that she be formally presented.”

He turned to me, his tone softening. “It is easy to judge people we do not know. But from what just happened,

I must say, she seems to have won over the entire pack. That speaks volumes-

“Oh, will you just shut up, Jacob?” Charles snapped, cutting him off. “Stop trying to-”

“If anyone needs to stop here, it’s you,” Grayson interrupted, his voice sharp enough to slice through steel. Everyone went still again.

Grayson stepped closer to the high-ranking members, his eyes lacking onto Charles. The man flinched, instinctively taking a step back.

“Do you know what your problem is, Charles?” Grayson asked, his tone deceptively calm. “It’s the same problem you’ve always had: you don’t know when to shut up.”

Charles opened his mouth to respond, but Grayson’s eyes narrowed, and he held up a hand. “Do not speak. I am not finished.”

Charles’ mouth snapped shut, and he stood there, visibly trembling as Grayson closed the distance between them.

“I don’t like you,” Grayson said bluntly. “I have never liked you, and everyone here knows the only reason I allowed you to remain a part of the high-ranking members was because of your father. But you-” Grayson’s voice dropped lower, colder. “You just had to keep pushing, didn’t you?”

Charles said nothing, but the fear in his eyes was unmistakable. Grayson let out a slow, bored sigh, as if he were tired of dealing with him altogether.