The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 74

-Grayson’s POV-

There was a time, so long ago, when I had clung to the idea of miracles, even dared to believe in happy endings. But that hope had long fac darker, heavier. My wolf stirred inside me, an unfamiliar warmth laced with a quiet urgency, urging me to reach out, to make contact. It was a

I extended a hand, and just as my fingers brushed her skin, Ava gasped, a sharp intake of breath breaking the silence. In an instant, she sh eyed and trembling. “Get away from me!” she shrieked, her voice raw with terror.

I let out a breath of relive. It wasn’t exactly thesame.

She was alive.

I immediately tried to reach for her again, to calm her, but she recoiled, scrambling back as if my touch would burn her. Panic flared in her e “Ava,” I said, my voice steady but low, as if I could will her to listen. “Ava, it’s me. You’re safe.”

But my words didn’t reach her. She kept backing away, the fear in her eyes cutting through me. Reluctantly, I released a sigh and called on

At once,

her body stilled, a puppet momentarily released from its strings. I pulled back my aura, trying to soften my

gaze as Hooked at her, hoping the familiarity would ground her. “It’s me I said gently. “You’re fine, Ava. Can you hear me?”

She blinked, a shiver of clarity returning to her gaze as she looked up, still uncertain, but slowly recognizing me. “Grayson”” The tension eas fragile, trembling-

settled over me, and for a long moment, I didn’t move. My hand hesitated before finally settling

on her back, providing a silent reassurance I hadn’t knowny I was capable of giving. I sighed, more out of habit than relief, and slid one arm As I turned, Maria stepped into view, her mouth opening with some apology or another, but I didn’t let her speak. “I don’t want to hear it,” I s 1 carried Ava outside and settled her gently in the passenger seat of the car. She sank into the seat, eyes unfocused, almost like she was d After a few minutes, the quiet grew too thick, too suffocating. I couldn’t help myself. “Ava,” I asked, my tone as neutral as I could manage, But there was no reply. She didn’t move, didn’t even

flinch at the sound of my voice. I glanced over and realized she’d fallen asleep, her head leaning slightly to the side, the faint lines of tension I focused back on the road, but Maria’s words kept replaying in my head. I forced them away, telling myself she didn’t know what she was ta Finally, we reached the mansion, and I parked in silence. I glanced over at her again, still sleeping, and without much. thought, I slid out of t

ne was ever

I meant to take her to the room I’d assigned her, but my feet carried me somewhere else. My room A place no one

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allowed, not even Liam Gargfully, I laid her down on my bed. She looked so vulnerable in that moment, a strange contrast to the strength sh

I had to remember that.

With a heavy sigh, I turned away and headed to my study, determined to push everything else out of my mind

and focus on the only thing I could control; finding out who was behind the recent Alpha attacks.

As I stepped into the study, I stopped in my tracks. Rickon was sitting at my desk, grinning, clearly pleased with himself. He looked up, notic My eyes narrowed. “What do you think you’re doing here? Who even let you in?”

Liam had been wrong-

dismissing the staff hadn’t been impractical after all. It seemed they were more incompetent than I’d thought if they couldn’t even keep Rick Rickon shrugged casually. “I see you’re not exactly thrilled to see me,” he began, but I cut him off.

“Don’t make me ask again

He sighed, putting on a mock look of innocence. “Alright, fine. I told your guards we had an appointment and that you’d asked me to wait fo “And they were stupid enough to believe you?”

No, your guards are practically statues-

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