The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 52

Grayson’s POV-

I knew pulling the wedding forward without warning her was bound to provoke a reaction. I expected it, even counted on it. I knew she’d be about me making such a drastic decision without consulting her, yet none of that seemed to matter in that moment. All that registered in my I needed to protect her.

I’d mobilized resources, pulled strings and brought in people to support the event planner Ava had hired. Everything would be ready by tom it took. Eliza was handling the details, and I intended this to be her final test-

to see if she was capable of holding her position, even when dragged in on a Saturday to handle this. She’d better prove herself.

But now?

Now all I could think of was Ava.

I’d heard people say kissing ‘the one’ could feel like a revelation, like you’d found something meant for you. I never bought into that. For me

Until now.

When her lips parted in surprise, I deepened the kiss, letting myself be carried by a desire I hadn’t anticipated. She gasped, and I felt a surg Those few seconds felt like the most real moment of my adult life. And then, reluctantly, I pulled back, watching as she blinked, her eyes swi And then reality snapped back for her. She stepped away, looking at me with wide eyes. I maintained my cold, steady gaze as I explained, “ to make them believe we can’t wait to get married.”

My tone was calm, calculated, keeping my wolf in check even as he snarled within me, restless and irritable. What was his problem? Why d She’s not our mate. I told myself that, but something about the pain

that flashed across her face made me feel an unfamiliar pang of… regret. She quickly composed herself, though, her voice steady as she re She turned, beginning to walk away toward her friend, who was watching us with a gleeful expression that grated on my

nerves.

But just as she reached a few steps away, Ava stopped, turning back to face me with a steady gaze. “I asked Eliza to be one of my bridesm

I nodded curtly. She turned and resumed her steps, her figure becoming smaller as she moved away.

Then the words that I hadn’t voiced rang loud in my head, haunting me. No, it wasn’t just for show: I kissed you because I wanted to.

I hadn’t lied about the paparazzi. I’d seen the man with the camera and knew we needed to appear convincing. Yet, when I pulled her close

Because I wanted to.

Frustration pulsed through me as I stalked to my car, yanking the door open and slamming it shut with a force that echoed

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in the silence. My body had reacted to her touch again, and it annoyed me to no end. Damn these emotions-

they had no place in my life.

I clenched the steering wheel, scowling as I thought of the one person who could’ve helped me avoid this mess: Maria. If she’d just agreed emotions, I wouldn’t be in this predicament.

With a grimace, I drove back to my mansion, passing by Monica’s things were still piled up after I had them extracted from Elaine’s house w My angry footsteps echoed through the hall as I made my way to my study. Once I reached, I tried to find anything distracting, anything to o “You know, sometimes I think you take our friendship for granted. I rearranged my plans to be at your wedding, and now you pull it forward

I sighed, irritation creeping in. “Do you ever get tired of being yourself?”

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