Chapter 178

Ava’s POV

I adjusted my dress strap, checking my reflection one last time before heading toward the grand hall. Everything had happened so quickly, and this was my first full pack meeting since arriving. I’d been here for a while, but it still felt intimidating.

Grayson was king, leading the realm's largest pack. While not all lived on his estate, pack meetings meant everyone's presence—and everyone's gaze on me.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. A part of me felt like I could never truly belong, but I had to try. I had to convince myself this wasn't a dream. But my nerves twisted my stomach into a tight knot.

"Are you ready, Ava?" Grayson's calm voice came from the next room, unwavering. His words grounded me.

It was almost time. This was happening.

I opened the door to find him standing by the large, polished wooden table, gleaming under the soft chandelier light. He wore another perfectly tailored suit; the dark fabric accentuated his physique, making him look even more perfect—if that were possible.

Grayson approached, his movements fluid and effortless. Before I could speak, he pulled me close, his lips pressing against mine in a tender yet commanding kiss. For a moment, everything else faded. When he pulled back, his eyes met mine. "You look beautiful."

My heart fluttered, but before I could respond, his gaze narrowed. "Do you know why your eye color swirls and changes?"

I blinked, surprised. I'd never really considered it. "It's always been this way," I said quietly, "since I was born."

He smiled warmly, almost affectionately. "That's the first thing I noticed when we met."

The words hung in the air. I replayed that first meeting in my mind; it felt like decades ago, not just a few months. So much had happened, and yet here we were, in his mansion, about to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Grayson took my hand, his grip firm and reassuring as he interlaced his fingers with mine. "It's time," he said resolutely.

I nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. My old life, the one I'd tried to build separately, had been swallowed by Grayson's world. I followed him toward the grand hall, my heart pounding.

The hallway seemed to narrow as we approached the meeting room. I heard the low murmur of voices inside, the pack members gathering. The sounds amplified my unease.

"Do you know what you're going to say to them?" I asked, more for myself than him. I needed reassurance, even if I couldn't articulate it.

Grayson didn't look at me. His voice was steady, composed. "I'll tell them the truth—something I should have done from the start. That things are changing. That war is upon us, and this isn't about territory or power. This war will determine everything. It will change the future of this pack, of our world."

I swallowed hard. "Don't you think that will escalate things? You'll scare them, and fear makes people do crazy things."

Grayson's expression didn't waver. "I know, but everyone needs to know. I need to stop pretending this isn't beyond anything I've ever dealt with. Whoever is behind this is powerful—extremely powerful. What happened with my phone proved it."

The Queen Is Next? The words flashed through my mind like a warning, but I pushed them aside, focusing on the present. Grayson sensed it. He stopped, turned, and locked eyes with me.

"I'll find this person, and when I do, they'll regret threatening you."

A quiet rage burned in his gaze—the same rage I'd seen when we first met. My fear evaporated in the face of his unwavering certainty. His promise wasn't a threat, but a vow.

I nodded, unable to speak; he didn't need me to. We continued walking, reaching the entrance where a thousand eyes—curious, respectful, unreadable—focused on us with suffocating intensity.

I swallowed, acutely aware of how small and exposed I felt. This wasn't just a gathering; this was the heart of Grayson's world. Everyone was here to witness the meeting.

The hall was meticulously arranged. Seating was divided into sections by rank. At the back, I saw Brianna near her grandfather—the Omegas.

My gaze moved forward to the higher-ranking members—scanned leaders, commanders. I barely knew most of them. I instinctively searched for Liam but couldn't find him.

Grayson led me to the front, where two chairs awaited us—one larger than the other, a throne-like chair radiating power. Grayson nodded toward the smaller chair.

I smiled, appreciative and overwhelmed. He wasn't just leading me; he was including me. He didn't want me to be a spectator, but a partner. I sat in the chair he indicated.

A deep stillness fell over the room. No one spoke or moved. The anticipation was heavy. Every eye was on Grayson, waiting for his direction. The power of his presence was undeniable. I realized how much his aura had shifted.

Before entering, he'd been calm, patient. But now, standing before his pack, his posture straightened, his gaze hardened. The bonding aura, always a part of him, returned with full force. The room held its breath.

Grayson stood before them, instantly the king they feared and respected.

He paused, the silence stretching before his voice broke through. "Welcome," he said, his voice deep and unwavering, filled with authority. "We have much to discuss, but first, let me begin with this."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Everyone was on edge. Grayson's eyes scanned the room, his gaze lingering on each person. His words carried the weight of a command.

He continued, "There is a mole among us. Someone here has been feeding information to the one responsible for the killings."

The words hit like a thunderclap. The murmur turned into a rush of whispers, growing louder. Tension skyrocketed. There was shock, disbelief, and fear. No one expected a traitor.

I didn't expect it.

I felt a shiver but didn't show it. I focused on Grayson, watching his eyes scan the room. His jaw was clenched, his expression hard.

He raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. "I will not tolerate betrayal. Not here. Not now. Whoever is responsible will be found. And you will regret your actions."

His gaze swept the room again, daring anyone to challenge him.

"Now," he said, his voice cold and unwavering, "get comfortable. No one is leaving until I find the traitor."