The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 90

90 /209

-Grayson’s POV

The door to my car slammed shut as Ava slid in, slumping again the seat. I let a few seconds pass before asking her, “Is she okay?

Not that I really cared.

My wolf growled low, an almost primal warning, and I shot himone back just as sharp. Yes, I could admit-

at least to myself –

that something had shifted in me last night. Something I hadn’t thought possible. But that didn’t mean I was going to start acting like I was s a stranger.

And, frankly, her emergency had ruined my morning plans for Ava.

I knew exactly what I was. An asshole. That was a fact I never denied or tried to sugarcoat.

Ava let out a sigh, her shoulders relaxing as she stared out the windshield. Her

sigh pulled me out of my internal monologue, and, as my gaze lingered on her, memories of last night came crashing down like a tidal wave

I had neverthought much about sex before-

hever really cared about it. The only reason I had even sought a solution to my “problem” was because I couldn’t stand the idea of being bad at something. Of being incapable. It wasn’t about need or desire-it was about pride.

But last night

I hadn’t known what to expect. Perfection wasn’t the right

word to describe it. Explosive. Consuming. More than I’d thought it could be. If I’d ever envisioned what sex might feel like, it would have fal

I’d wanted to give her the perfect day. That had been the plan. And then it had been ruined.

My irritation toward the other woman was well-deserved.

“She’s fine,” Ava said finally, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Suble now, at least, but her daughter-Mikayla-

she’s prettynoveldrama

mad at me.” She exhaled heavily, running a hand through her hair. “I’m just glad Tessa’s okay. I don’t know how I’d live with myself if someth

She trailed off, her words hanging heavy in the air.

I opened my mouth to say something-

probably something stupid, like reminding her it had been on a Sunday-

but I bit it back. It wasn’t the time for my particular brand of insensitivity. If things between Ava and me were going to progress, I’d need to

“I can’t leave yet,” Ava added softly. “I have to-❞

And there went my entire day.

“I’ll stay with you,” I heard myself say before my brain could catch up.

Ava turned her head toward me, surprise flickering in her tired eyes. “Are you sure?”

I wanted to snatch the words back. Hospitals weren’t my thing-cold, sterile,

suffocating. It was almost ironic that the woman I… loved for was a doctor.

froze mid-thought. The woman ! what?

No. That couldn’t be right. Love wasn’t something I understood, let alone felt. Where had that even come from?

08:53 Tue, Dec 1/

“Grayson!” Ava’s voice pulled me back to reality.

I cleared my throat, shifting uncomfortably in the driver’s seat. “Sorry, I was… thinking about something”

She gave me a look, the kind that made me wonder if she

could read my thoughts. “Okay…” she said slowly, clearly unconvinced. “I was just saying I don’t know how long this is going to take, and l’ “Then I’ll wait inside the hospital,” I replied before I could stop myself.

Seriously?

My wolf let out an amused rumble, clearly enjoying my predicament, but I ignored him.

Ava’s lips curved into a small, shy smile. “Really? You’d do that for me?”

No. I hate hospitals.

“Yes,” I said instead.

At this rate, I might need to detach my own lips because they were starting to operate without consulting my brain.

We got out of the car, and I followed her back into the hospital. The moment we stepped inside, I felt the stares. Heads turned, some out of

As we walked through the halls, Ava slowed, turning toward me. Before I could react, she leaned in and kissed me— soft and

eeting. My lips barely registered the warmth of hers before she pulled away and hurried off.

I stood there for a moment, stunned.

Seriously?” I muttered to myself.

I shook my head and made my way to the waiting area, sinking into one of the uncomfortable chairs. My wolf growled sofily, but I ignored hi Finally, I decided I couldn’t sit still any longer. I got up and started wandering aimlessly, letting my legs take me wherever

That’s when I saw her.