Chapter 173

Ava’s POV

“No!”

The word tore from my throat, a gut-wrenching scream of panic and disbelief. I rushed toward him, but my legs felt like lead. The world spun; the sounds of chaos faded into a haunting silence, leaving only the ringing in my ears and the terrifying sight of Grayson lying on the ground.

I dropped to my knees beside him, my hands trembling as I reached for him, desperately trying to find his pulse.

“Grayson, stay with me!” My voice cracked as I pressed my fingers against his wrist. His skin was cold, his pulse faint, and a wave of nausea and helplessness washed over me.

Screams, shouts, and the distant sound of more shots erupted around us, but all I could hear was the rush of blood in my ears. My vision blurred, stung by unshed tears.

I tried to shake him, gently nudging his face, but his eyes remained unfocused, glazed over. His breaths were shallow, ragged, and the blood pooling beneath him seeped into the cracks in the pavement, staining the concrete a deep crimson. Its rapid spread terrified me; it was the most vivid thing I had ever seen.

I couldn’t think. Panic clawed at my chest, but my body moved instinctively. My hands fumbled, trying to stop the bleeding. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would break free. I couldn’t breathe; I couldn’t speak.

I shook him again. “Grayson. Grayson, please, stay with me.”

There was no response.

The world faded. The screams of fleeing people, the shouts of carnival-goers seeking safety—all felt distant, muffled as if by fog. All that mattered was Grayson—his life hanging in the balance—and the growing stain of blood.

Then, someone yanked me away. My wolf growled in alarm; an instinctual warning surged through me. I twisted around, panic in my eyes, and met Liam’s gaze. His grip on my arm was tight, almost too tight, but his urgent expression stopped me from pushing him away.

“We need to get you out of here, now,” Liam said, his voice low but firm. His eyes darted around, scanning the crowd for danger. “It’s not safe.”

“No,” I gasped, struggling against his grip, my heart racing. “I’m not leaving him, Liam. He needs a hospital. We need to get him to my father’s hospital now!”

Liam’s eyes flickered with something dark, unreadable, but he didn’t argue. His gaze dropped to Grayson, and I saw a faint hesitation in his stance.

“He will heal,” Liam said, his voice clipped, attempting to calm me.

But I knew better. Grayson didn’t have his wolf anymore, and the wound was too severe. He wouldn't heal on his own. The bullet had hit too close to his heart. And that was something I couldn’t tell Liam.

Chapter 173 (Continued)

I wanted to scream, to tell him the truth—“Grayson won’t heal. Not without his wolf”—but I didn’t. I couldn’t. Grayson would never forgive me if I revealed his wolf's disappearance.

I bit my lip, swallowing back fear and helplessness. “Get him to my father’s hospital,” I repeated, my voice firmer this time, despite the panic clawing at my chest.

I looked at Grayson more carefully. The bullet had missed his heart, but just barely. If we didn’t get him to a hospital immediately, he would bleed out.

Before I could finish the thought, dozens of men in suits appeared, surrounding us, their faces grim and unreadable. Some stepped forward and began to lift Grayson’s body with practiced ease.

I moved to stop them. “No! Don’t just take him like that! He’s going to die if you don’t take him to the hospital!” I shouted, my breath coming in short, jagged gasps. “He needs a real hospital.”

Liam stepped forward, his expression hardening as he tried to calm me. “We’ll take him to the estate, Ava. It’s safer.”

“I’m his Luna,” I spat, my anger bubbling over. My voice held an authority I didn’t know I possessed. “And that is an order. You will take him to the hospital. Right now.”

I was shaking, but I didn’t back down. The men hesitated, then obeyed. I felt their cold eyes on me as they carefully lifted Grayson’s body. Liam glared, but he didn’t argue.

I followed them, my legs unsteady, and climbed into the back of one of the cars, where Grayson lay unconscious and still. I took his hand, pressing it to my chest, trying to will him to wake up, to hold on.

“Grayson,” I whispered. “Please. Don’t leave me. I need you. You’re going to be okay. I swear on the Moon Goddess, you’re going to be okay.”

But doubt clawed at my mind. What if I was lying? What if there was no coming back from this?

The car jerked forward, the engine roaring to life as we sped down the street. Tears fell, hot and unbidden. I whispered his name again, gripping his hand tighter.

“I’m so sorry, Grayson,” I muttered, my voice shaking. “This is my fault. If we hadn’t gone to the carnival… If I hadn’t… If I had just stayed away, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. I’m sorry.”

A soft pressure on my hand made me stop. Grayson’s fingers twitched, then squeezed back.

My breath hitched; my heart raced. I leaned down, pressing my forehead to his.

“Grayson?” I breathed, my voice breaking. “Can you hear me?”

His fingers tightened, and for the first time since finding him, I allowed myself to hope.

“Please,” I whispered. “Please, don’t leave me.”

His grip slackened, the faint squeeze slipping away.

“No,” I murmured, fear stabbing through me.

Chapter 173 (Continued)

I pressed my hand to his chest, feeling the faint rise and fall of his breath. It was there, but so faint, so fragile, as if each breath might be his last. The blood beneath him had seeped through my dress, warm and sticky against my skin.

The car jolted as we turned sharply, throwing me off balance, but I clung to him, refusing to let go. His head lolled to the side, and the stillness of his body was deafening.

“Drive faster!” I shouted, my voice raw with desperation. The driver didn’t respond, but I felt the car accelerate.

Grayson’s lips parted slightly; a soft, strained sound escaped him. I leaned closer, my heart pounding.

“Grayson,” I whispered, stroking his cheek. “You’re going to be fine. Just hold on. Please.”

His eyes fluttered, and for a fleeting moment, I thought he was coming back. But then his body stilled; his chest no longer rose beneath my hand. My hand hovered over his heart, searching for movement. “Grayson?” I choked, panic surging. “No. No, no, no. Breathe. Please, breathe.”

But there was nothing. Not even a flicker.