Chapter 185

Avay POV

The words echoed in my mind like a scream in an empty hall, refusing to fade. I stared at her, waiting for a punchline that never came. My heart thundered against my ribs, tightening with every second of silence.

“What?” I finally whispered, my voice thick with disbelief.

Isabella turned the phone, showing me the article. Nalie Kingston’s signature style—bold fonts and dramatic phrasing designed to incite chaos, fear, and doubt—was unmistakable. The headline blazed across the screen like a challenge: “Alpha King Grayson Blackwood is cursed and has lost his connection to his wolf.” The implications of such a revelation could shake the very foundation of his rule, leaving the realm vulnerable to its enemies.

The room spun. My knees buckled, and I grabbed the bed's edge for support. The words blurred as my stomach churned.

“Did you know?” Isabella asked, her voice breaking through the haze. Her words barely registered; I was already rising, my mind racing. This wasn't just bad—it was catastrophic.

I barely heard Isabella as she followed me, her tone sharp with worry. “Lilian, where are you going?”

I ignored her, rummaging through the clothes and blankets on the bed, desperately searching for my phone. My trembling hands froze as a chilling thought pierced the chaos: I was the only one who knew about Grayson's wolf.

My breath hitched. Could he think I'd betrayed him? That I'd leaked this information? No. I shook my head, rejecting the idea. He trusted me—things were different now. He knew I would never do such a thing.

“Lilian!” Isabella's voice snapped me from my spiraling thoughts. I turned, startled, to find her staring with frustration and concern. “What the hell is going on? Why do you look like you're about to have a panic attack? Is it true? Did you know? And you'd better calm down because I cannot deal with you shifting and disappearing for two months again.”

I sucked in a shaky breath and focused. “This is not good, Bels.”

“So it's true,” she said, her expression hardening.

“Yes,” I admitted. My hands closed around my phone, and I clutched it tightly as I dialed Grayson’s number. I knew what would happen, but the sting of his voicemail still hit me like a slap.

“Damn it,” I muttered, lowering the phone and glancing at Isabella, who waited silently, arms crossed. “It started happening a while back,” I began, my voice strained. “His wolf would disappear and then return. After…after that strange thing, when we disappeared for two months, his wolf didn’t return. But things were good afterward—they’ve been good. He didn’t seem bothered, or at least he didn’t show it. I was the only one he told. No one else knows.”

I took a deep breath. “He asked Maria for help with a spell once. It worked. She thought his wolf came back, and that was it. She didn’t know it didn’t last.” My voice faltered as dread washed over me. “He didn’t want anyone to know. And now…”

Chapter 183 (Note: This seems out of order. It should likely be placed after the next section.)

And now everyone knows, Isabella finished, her voice softer, filled with understanding.

I nodded, swallowing hard as I stared at my phone.

And if you were the only one who knew… Isabella trailed off, worry crossing her face. “He won’t think it was you, Lilian. He knows you wouldn’t do this.”

“I just need to see him,” I said. “I need to tell him that.”

She took my hand, squeezing it tightly. “Everything will be okay.”

But it wouldn’t. Not this time. Grayson had made it clear how much damage this would cause. The Alpha King without his wolf—it wasn't just a personal loss; it was a sign of weakness, a sign that the throne could be taken, that enemies could attack. The chaos we'd worked so hard to contain would return with full force.

Isabella’s voice cut through the silence. “What about the curse? Is it linked to why his wolf is gone?”

“Yes,” I admitted, my voice hollow. “Or at least I think so. It’s tied to his bloodline. The only way to break it is by…by finding his fated mate and mating with her.”

Her face fell, sympathy evident. “Oh, Lilian.”

I forced a smile. “It’s fine. He told me he wasn’t going to do that.”

Before she could respond, a noise outside caught our attention. Isabella and I exchanged a look before rushing toward the entrance. The men Grayson had assigned to protect me trailed behind, keeping their distance but ready to intervene.

Posture rigid, his expression unreadable, Charles stood near the gates. A group of warriors blocked his path, forming a line between him and the mansion. My wolf stirred uneasily, a low growl rumbling in my mind.

As we stepped outside, I saw Charles. I approached cautiously, catching the tail end of his heated words: “…high-ranking member of the pack, and I demand to be treated as such. I need to speak with His Majesty.”

A warrior turned to me. He bowed slightly. “Luna, we’re under strict instructions not to let anyone enter the mansion.”

“Move aside and let me through this instant,” Charles snapped.

I sighed, fixing my gaze on Charles, studying his face for deception. “What do you want to talk to him about?”

Charles’ eyes narrowed. “With the news that just broke, Grayson needs as many people on his side as he can get. Tell them to move aside.”

I sighed, looking at the warriors. “Let him through.”

The warrior shifted uncomfortably. “Luna, we’re under orders—”

“I know,” I said sharply, raising a hand. My eyes stayed locked on Charles, his expression smug yet guarded, as if daring me to challenge him. “Let me handle this.”

9/4 20:15 Sat, Feb 1

Before the warrior could speak, a low rumble in the distance caught my attention. The sound grew louder—unmistakable: engines. My head snapped toward the source, and I saw a fleet of black SUVs rolling through the estate gates, their presence as ominous as the storm clouds gathering in my chest.

The same cars that had left with Grayson. He was back.

Without thinking, I pushed past the warriors, ignoring their calls to stop. My heartbeat pounded, louder than their warnings. My eyes frantically scanned the approaching vehicles, searching for Grayson’s car.

But I didn’t see it.

“Ava!”

The voice made me turn. Maria stepped out of one of the cars. Relief hit me like a tidal wave, and I ran to her, throwing my arms around her. She stiffened before hesitantly returning the embrace.

“Thank the goddess you’re okay,” I breathed, squeezing her tightly.

When I pulled back, her smile was faint, strained—more a grimace. “Well,” she said dryly, her tone laced with bitterness, “this isn’t quite the welcome I expected after what I nearly did to you last time.”

I shook my head. “It’s long forgotten, Maria. None of that matters anymore.”

Her eyes searched mine, but before she could speak, I glanced back at the cars. Warriors were pouring out, but Grayson was nowhere to be found.

“Where’s Grayson?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Maria’s hesitation was like a knife. Her gaze softened with pity. “He’s not here.”

My stomach dropped. “What do you mean he’s not here?”

Maria looked down, her brows furrowing. When she met my eyes again, there was a weariness that made my breath catch.

“I don’t know what happened. We were in the car together, heading back. Everything seemed fine—well, as fine as it could be. And then…” She trailed off, her hands fidgeting.

“Then what?” I pressed, my voice rising with panic.

She let out a shaky breath. “He got a message. I didn’t see what it said, but the second he read it…” She shook her head, her expression haunted. “Ava, I don’t know how to explain it. The air in the car—it just…shifted. It went completely still, like all the oxygen had been sucked out. I’ve known Grayson for years, but I’ve never—never—felt him radiate that kind of coldness before. It was like he turned into a different person.”

I stared at her, my throat tight.

“He told the driver to stop the car,” Maria continued, her voice cracking. “Then he told me to get out and join another vehicle. He didn’t explain, didn’t say a word about where he was going. He just…” She hesitated.

20.10 Sat, Feb 1

The dread in my stomach grew heavier with every word. “He just?”

Her eyes filled with sorrow. Her words felt like a final blow. “Before I got out, he told me to deliver a message to you.” She paused. “He said that by the time he gets back…he wants you gone. And that he never wants to see you again.”