The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 48

-Ava’s POV-

The silence in the bathroom was so thick it felt suffocating as Isabella and I locked eyes. It wasn’t until a sharp knock sounded on the door t crashing back down on us.

Isabella hurriedly tossed the wrap into the garbage, a look of sheer shock on her face, while I fumbled with my top, still trying to regain my c I realized that ever since I had discovered that she was indeed sleeping with Dylan and that moment that had thrust me into Grayson’s worl “Sorry to interrupt,” she chirped, her tone dripping with false sweetness, “but I really need to pee. Pregnancy really messes with your bladde I rolled my eyes, the annoyance of the situation souring my mood. Maybe if I had actually liked Dylan, it would sting a little more, but I could

him.

“Go ahead, then,” I said, stepping aside.

Her pretentious smile faltered momentarily, and I could see the wheels

turning in her mind. She wanted to provoke me, to drag me into a war of words, but I wasn’t interested. She could have Dylan for all I cared; jab. “You think taking the high road makes you a better person, but it just shows you’re a bore. That’s why Dylan couldn’t stand you.”

I bit my tongue, refusing to let her words get under my skin. Arguing with Crystal was the last thing I wanted, especially not now. “I wish you best in life with him,” I replied coolly, “since he can stand you. Excuse us.”

I turned to leave, casting a glance at Isabella, who looked ready to explode. I could practically see the thoughts racing through

her head, a million ways to murder Crystal flashing before her eyes. The only reason she was quiet was that she was holding back her wolf. “Bels, it’s not worth it. Let’s go,” I urged.

She blinked, seeming to come back to reality, but just as she was about to move, Crystal’s voice cut through the tension. “Yes, handbag, foll I groaned, knowing exactly where this was heading. Before I could even react, Isabella’s claws extended, and with a fierce swipe, she slash Crystal’s eyes darkened, her wolf surfacing in response, and I felt the tension escalate. This was a disaster waiting to happen, and I hated tl this moment.

“Isabella, no!” I shouted, stepping in between them, trying to stop the chaos. In my

haste, I inadvertently shoved Crystal backward, and she stumbled, falling to the ground then smiled.

Clutching her stomach and her bleeding face, she let out a piercing scream. “Help! Help! They’re trying to kill my baby!”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered,

Credulous.

“Shut the hell up! No one touched your stomach!” Isabella growled, her voice a low rumble of fury.

“Let’s get out of here!” I grabbed Isabella’s hand, pulling her toward the exit. “This

was what she wanted to happen when she came in here.”

As we rushed out of the bathroom, I could hear Crystal’s cries echoing behind us, a mix of panic and triumph. The last thing I needed was to

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Isabella glanced back over her shoulder. “That bitch is lucky she’s pregnant,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing. Then she turned to me, a fier

“I know, Bels, I know,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “But you can keep yelling at me later. Right now, we have to get out of here. She nodded, the tension easing slightly from her features. “Okay, okay. We are going to my place. The last thing I want is to run into someo We hurried out the other way of the restaurant, the muffled sounds of Crystal’s voice continuing and I knew Isabella was right, when it came Different thoughts raced through my mind as the car sped, each one more confusing than the last. It shouldn’t be possible, yet somehow, I k

Until now.

I tried to reach for her, to feel that presence again, but the same emptiness remained. My eyes drifted down to my shoulder, where the skin “We’ll figure this out, Lilian. I promise.”

I squeezed back, holding onto that small comfort, and forced myself to shut out the spiraling thoughts until we reached her place. As we wal “These are all the books I have about werewolves,” she said, dropping them in front of me. “And not the fictional kind.”

I raised an eyebrow, knowing she didn’t like explaining her obsession. She crossed her arms defensively. “What? I like to understand my wo Despite the tension, I laughed as I picked up the first book. Hours passed in a blur of research, flipping through endless pages and scanning the general knowledge on latency and how wolves didn’t just suddenly appear out of nowhere, especially not after twenty- four years.

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