Chapter 128

Ava's POV

“Damn you, Grayson Blackwood!” I hissed, my teeth clenched. I barely stopped myself from throwing my phone across his office. The audacity! How could he lie to me? Again. I should have expected it, but I’d let myself believe we were finally making progress.

“He still isn’t taking your calls?”

Eliza’s voice startled me. Concern etched her face, and her unease only fueled my frustration. “No,” I snapped, fixing her with a hard look. “Are you absolutely sure you don’t know where he is? Eliza, we’re friends. I know Grayson can be terrifying, but you can tell me.”

She sighed, shaking her head. “I really don’t know, Ava. I swear. He called me two days ago, told me to cancel all his meetings, and said he’d be unavailable for a while. That’s all I know.”

I blinked, surprised. “Two days?” My voice rose. “You haven’t seen him in two days?”

Her nod confirmed it. The pieces clicked into place, and anger flared. He’d been lying to me for two whole days. My fists clenched, and I swore under my breath. When I saw him, the Moon Goddess herself wouldn't stop me from throttling him.

“Okay. Thanks,” I muttered, trying to suppress my bubbling frustration. A tense silence hung between us before I added softly, “I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you with the whole Jeremy thing. I just…” I trailed off, guilt tightening my throat.

She offered a small, understanding smile. “It’s fine, Ava. I get it.”

I managed a weak smile in return. “So… have you sorted things out with Jeremy? Are you still…”

She sighed deeply, sinking into the chair opposite Grayson’s desk. “I don’t know. He spied on me, Ava. Used me to get information. But…” Her voice softened. “I love him. He said he wanted to marry me. And now? I just—”

“You don’t know if you can trust him the same way again,” I finished for her, sliding onto the desk inches from her.

She nodded slowly. “Exactly.”

I paused, thinking. “You know,” I began, “when I really think about it, this is all kind of my fault.”

Her head snapped up. “What? How is any of this your fault?”

“My mother,” I said bitterly. The name itself tasted like venom. “Evelyn Pierce. She’s the one who sent someone after Jeremy to use you. She wanted information and would have stopped at nothing to get it—all because of me. If I’d just stayed obedient little Ava, none of this would have happened. But ever since my life collided with Grayson’s, it’s been chaos. Drama. A constant whirlwind of problems.”

I stopped and smiled faintly. “But honestly? I wouldn’t change a thing. Life isn’t supposed to be easy, Eliza. If you love someone, really love them, you learn to forgive and let go. The road won’t always be straight, but it’s worth walking.”

She raised an eyebrow. “So, are you going to forgive Grayson for lying to you?”

I burst out laughing as I hopped off the desk. “Oh, not a chance. He’s going to pay for this. Call me if you hear anything?”

She nodded with a small laugh, and I turned to leave, pausing as something came to mind. “Oh! My birthday is on the 15th. It’s going to be more of a ball than a party. Werewolf style, of course. And my mother will be there.” My smile turned mischievous. “Maybe you can tell her what you think of her.”

Eliza laughed, shaking her head. “Thanks for the invite, but I think I’ll steer clear of your mother. She sounds scarier than you make her out to be.”

“She is.” I sighed heavily. “I’ll see you there, though. Now, I have to go track Grayson down before I lose my mind.”

“Good luck with that.”

As I left the office, I dialed Grayson’s number again. It went straight to voicemail. My wolf stirred uneasily, sending waves of worry through me, but I pushed it away. Then Rickon’s name popped up. Grayson might not admit he liked him, but they were becoming close. If anyone knew where Grayson was, it had to be him.

I called him next, only to get his voicemail as well. That was odd. A twinge of worry crept in, and I decided to call Isabella.

She answered instantly. “If this isn’t a life-or-death situation, I’m hanging up. You’ve given me a job that rivals Mission Impossible, and I only have three days to pull it off.”

“Have you heard from Rickon?”

“Why would I have heard from him?” she shot back, clearly annoyed.

“Isabella,” I said firmly, “this is serious. Have you?”

Her tone softened slightly. “No, I haven’t. He hasn’t texted me his usual ‘Here’s what I’ve been doing all day’ nonsense. I should have known better than to actually start looking forward to it.” She sighed. “He is just so annoying.”

Despite the situation, a smile tugged at my lips, and I made a mental note to play matchmaker for them again. “Try calling him. I think he’s with Grayson, and I can’t find either of them. Rickon’s phone—”

“—is going straight to voicemail,” she finished for me.

“Exactly. They’re definitely together.”

“Figures. Come back to the estate, and we’ll figure out how to hunt them down.”

Before I could respond, the call disconnected.

With a frustrated sigh, I turned toward the elevator to head back to Grayson’s estate, but out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Liam emerging from the hallway, heading toward the elevator.

Liam. Of course.

Before I even realized it, I was sprinting after him. “Liam! Hold on! Wait!” I called out, breathless.

He turned just in time to stop the elevator doors from closing. I stumbled inside, bent over, hands on my knees, gasping for air.

Liam’s eyes studied me with a mix of amusement and concern. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I managed between pants. “Grayson. I need to find Grayson. Do you know where he is?” I seriously needed to start doing cardio.

Liam raised an eyebrow but said calmly, “Let’s talk in my office.”

I nodded, still catching my breath, and muttered a faint “Okay.”

When the elevator dinged to a stop, Liam stepped out, his long strides carrying him confidently down the hall. I followed closely, the tension in my chest tightening with every step. He led me to a corner office with polished oak doors, pushing one open and gesturing for me to enter.

The moment I stepped inside, my wolf stirred. The faintest hint of a familiar scent tickled my nose, maddeningly unplaceable. My focus was immediately broken when Liam spoke.

“Take a seat,” he said, his tone firm yet calm.

I obeyed, sinking into a plush leather chair as my eyes scanned the room. The office was as opulent as I’d expected—floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the space in natural light, casting a glow over the sleek mahogany desk and shelves lined with leather-bound books. Tasteful abstract paintings hung on the walls, and a decanter of what looked like expensive whiskey sat on a side table. It was undeniably impressive, a space that screamed power and control.

My gaze wandered to his desk, and there it was—a photo in a simple silver frame. The picture seemed out of place amidst the grandeur, worn and clearly cherished. It featured Liam, Grayson, and Elaine as children. Grayson’s arm was slung casually around Elaine’s shoulders while Liam ruffled her hair, eliciting a dramatic pout from her. Grayson, though—his gray eyes were alight with joy, a broad, carefree grin on his face. The happiness in his expression was so unlike the man I knew now that I couldn’t help but reach out, drawn to it.

My fingers traced his face in the photograph unconsciously, the memory of him like this—young, unburdened—stirring something deep in my chest.

“Those were happier times,” Liam’s voice cut through my trance, edged with something I couldn’t quite place. “Before Grayson became Grayson Blackwood.”

I flinched, snatching my hand back and clearing my throat. “I—sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine,” he said, his sharp gaze never leaving mine. For the first time, I realized how unnerving it was to be alone with Liam. Gone was the lighthearted demeanor he usually wore; his intensity filled the room like a storm cloud.

Shaking off my unease, I pressed on. “Do you know where Grayson is? He said he was going to be here, but he isn’t, and Eliza hasn’t heard from him in two days.”

“Grayson is fine,” he answered simply, but the set of his jaw betrayed the weight of his words.

My eyes narrowed. “Can I know where exactly he’s being ‘fine’?”

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I like you, Ava. I think you’re good for him. But I can’t tell you that. He’ll reach out to you when he’s ready, once he’s sorted out everything he needs to.”

Frustration bubbled in my chest, and I was about to argue when Liam’s phone rang. He held up a hand to silence me as he answered. The voice on the other end was muffled, but with my heightened senses, I caught bits and pieces. Grayson’s name came up more than once, spoken in tones that set my wolf on edge.

Liam listened without a word, his expression remaining unreadable until he finally said, “Keep me updated,” and hung up.

As soon as the call ended, he rose to his feet, and I mirrored him instinctively. My wolf stirred again, sending another wave of unease crashing through me.

“Liam, where are you going? What happened to Grayson? Where is he?” I demanded, my voice rising.

He didn’t stop walking. “I’m sure he’s fine. I have to go.”

“Liam!” I snapped, my voice sharp with desperation. “Tell me what’s happening.”

He stopped abruptly, turning to face me. His gaze was steady but heavy with something I couldn’t identify—pity, perhaps, or regret.

“Grayson was on his private jet, flying to Italy,” he said finally, his voice quiet but steady. “Something went wrong.”

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. “What do you mean, ‘something went wrong’?”

Liam’s next words hit me like a freight train. “His plane crashed. They can’t locate the wreckage. No one knows where he is.”

A deafening silence followed. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. The air felt thick, oppressive, and then his final unspoken words echoed in my mind: Or if he’s even alive.