The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 96

-Ava’s POV-

Pain rippled through my entire body, sharp and searing, as if every nerve had caught fire. For a moment, I thought I might still be unconscio despite the heavy weight of my eyelids -I realized I was awake. And alive.

I blinked, struggling to focus on my surroundings. The wreckage the screaming tires, Grayson—

they were gone. Instead, I found myself lying in the middle of an open field. The sky stretched endlessly above me, a pale gray that seemed “Grayson?” I croaked.

There was no answer. Of course, there wasn’t. I pushed myself up onto shaky elbows, my muscles trembling under the strain, and scanned “And this,” she said, gesturing toward me with a lazy flick of her wrist, “is why you’ll never get anywhere, Ava Pierce.”

The voice stopped me cold.

It wasn’t just the words that made me freeze-

it was the voice itself. Familiar. Unnervingly so. My breath caught as I turned slowly, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. There she was. Me.

Or at least, a version of me.

Instinctively, I took a step back. Her smile widened.

“Stop it,” I snapped, my voice trembling with equal parts anger and unease. “I am not in the

mood for this today. If you’re going to try to kill me, just get it over with already.”

Her laughter was light, almost

musical, but it held no warmth. “Kill you? Why would I want to do that?” She tilted her head, studying me like a scientist might study a partic only to reappear behind me.

I whirled around, my heart pounding.

“I’m not here to kill you,” she said with mock sweetness. “I am you, after all. Or at

least, the better version of you.”

“Better version?” I scoffed, folding my arms over my chest despite the gnawing unease in my stomach. “You’re not me. And you’re definitely Her smirk faltered, just for a moment. Then she clicked her tongue in mock disapproval. “Oh, poor, sweet Ava. And that is exactly your probl “I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said firmly, taking another step back. “I don’t know what this is or how I got here, but I need to get back

She shook her

head slowl, cutting in, her expression almost… sad “You don’t get it, do you? You never have. But fine.” She turned on her heel, walking aw

I glanced around, taking in the endless field. There was no escape. No other path forward. Cursing under my breath, I ran after her.

The ground shifted beneath my feet as I moved, the damp earth giving way to something harder, colder. When I stopped, I

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realized I was no longer in the field.

I was standing in the empty hallways of the Werewolf Academy

“What the hell…” I muttered, turning in a slow circle.

She appeared behind me, leaning casually against a wall. “Brings back memories, doesn’t it?” she said, her voice light, almost playful. “But

My stomach twisted violently, and my heart slammed against my ribcage. “Stop,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Her laughter echoed through the hallway as she vanished again, and I felt the familiar dread settle in my chest.

The bell rang, sharp and shrill, and students began pouring through the halls. They moved past me, oblivious to my presence, like I wasn’t

And then I saw her-me-

hurrying down the hallway with books clutched tightly to her chest. I knew exactly where she was going.

I followed her, my steps heavy, my stomach churning.

She threw open a classroom door

and sighed in relief when she saw it was empty. She moved to the front of the room, taking her usual seat.

And then his voice came.

“Well, if it isn’t the lovely Ava Pierce. Little Miss Perfection.”

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