Chapter 162

Ava's POV:

“Find my fated mate.” Those four words echoed in my mind, reverberating so loudly they seemed to shake my soul. I felt their weight, sharp and cold, as if they were slicing through me.

Grayson sighed heavily, pulling me onto his lap. His strong arms encircled me, and despite the chaos in my mind, I couldn't deny the safety of his embrace. Under different circumstances, I might have focused on how comfortable I felt. But right now?

I wasn't his fated mate.

That realization settled heavily on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I'd never considered this—not once. Dylan had been my fated mate, but that bond was severed. Grayson was my second chance. Somehow, I'd convinced myself we were meant to be, but this changed everything. He had a fated mate out there.

The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "Do you… do you know who she is? Or where she is?"

My voice trembled. The thought of losing him, of him leaving me, was unbearable.

Grayson's eyes softened as he brushed a strand of hair from my face. His touch was gentle, reassuring. "Listen," he said, his tone firm but tender. "I'll find another way to break this curse. I don't plan on finding her or mating with her. Do you understand?"

I nodded weakly, but tears I hadn't realized were falling betrayed me. I wiped them away, but he pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me tightly.

"It's you and me," he murmured against my hair. "No predestiny, no curse, nothing will change that."

I wanted—needed—to believe him. The thought of a reality without him was too painful. I loved him. With every fiber of my being. I loved him, even though I hadn't found the right time to say it. It was why I'd thrown myself in front of him, why I'd risked my life to protect him.

I thought I'd heard my wolf whisper "Mate" when I fell, but now I knew I'd only heard what I wanted to hear.

It wasn't possible. I wasn't his fated mate, but as I felt his hands pull me closer, holding me as if I were the most precious thing in the world, I'd never felt more like I belonged.

A sudden growl interrupted the moment—my stomach.

Heat rushed to my face as I pulled away, embarrassed. Grayson raised an amused eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Technically, we haven't eaten in two months."

I let out a shaky laugh, feeling some of the tension ease.

He stood, lifting me effortlessly onto the bed. He shrugged off his suit jacket, tossed it onto a chair, and loosened his tie.

"What are you doing?" I asked, watching him curiously as he rolled up his sleeves.

He glanced at me with that rare, soft look. "Making you dinner."

The absurdity of it made me laugh, a single tear slipping down my cheek. "It's morning," I pointed out.

"Breakfast, then."

He took my hand, pulling me to my feet. His grip was firm but gentle. Together, we walked out of the room and down the quiet hallways. The only sounds were our footsteps and the occasional nod from the warriors.

When we reached the kitchen, Grayson dismissed the two warriors. They exchanged surprised glances before bowing and leaving.

Only then did I notice the faint smile playing on his lips—softer, more genuine.

He opened the kitchen door, revealing the massive, empty space. Without the Omegas, it felt larger than usual.

"You're serious about this," I teased.

He stepped closer, pulling me to him. His hands found my waist, and before I could protest, he lifted me onto the cold marble counter.

I squealed, giggling as I adjusted to the chill. "It's cold!"

"Stay put," he ordered, his voice low but warm.

I watched him move around the kitchen with surprising ease. It was fascinating to see this softer, domestic side of him.

"What are you making?" I asked.

"You'll see."

I hopped off the counter and moved closer. He looked at me but didn't speak as I peeked over his shoulder.

"Is that supposed to be an omelet?" I teased, noting the uneven mixture.

He smirked. "Careful, or you'll end up doing the cooking."

I rolled my eyes, nudging him playfully. "I'll take my chances."

He turned to face me, his expression shifting to something softer, more serious. For a moment, we stood there, the air charged with unspoken tension.

His hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. I didn't realize I'd stopped breathing until he leaned in, closing the distance between us.

When his lips met mine, everything else faded away. The curse, the uncertainty, the fear—it all dissolved in that single, electrifying moment.

His arms wrapped around me as the kiss deepened. I clung to him, my fingers tangling in his hair. He lifted me effortlessly, carrying me back to the counter.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding onto him. He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze.

"Grayson…"

My name came out as a whisper, but he silenced me with another kiss.

In that moment, nothing else mattered. There was only us.

I pulled away to glance at the kitchen door, my heart racing. I knew where this was heading, and the thought both thrilled and unnerved me. My voice came out breathy. "Someone could walk in… or hear us."

His lips curved into a breathtaking smile. "Then let them," he murmured, his voice low and confident.

He closed the distance between us, smashing his lips onto mine once more.

The extra chapter numbers at the beginning were removed as they seemed like errors. The random characters (€ and 名) were also removed. The inconsistent formatting and timestamps were also cleaned up. The overall narrative flow and grammar were significantly improved for clarity and readability.