Chapter 87

Grayson’s POV

“You think I don’t know about your little arrangement with Grayson? That your marriage is fake? That he hired you to play his pretend Luna?”

Elaine’s sharp, condescending voice echoed through the clearing as I arrived. The smugness in her tone irritated me, and I immediately assessed the situation. Ava stood in the center, pale, her lips moving as if she wanted to defend herself but couldn't find the words. She looked blindsided, cornered like prey.

Elaine, meanwhile, basked in the attention, arms crossed, her smirk widening as she savored the silence following her words.

My jaw tightened. Nobody knew about the arrangement—not even Liam—and that secrecy had been deliberate. Elaine's discovery was troubling, but I didn't have time to dwell on how she found out. What mattered was stopping her before she caused more damage.

Approaching, I cut through the silence, my voice cold and lethal.

“Elaine, sometimes I think you have a death wish. One day, you’ll push me far enough that I’ll grant it.”

All heads snapped toward me, the tension intensifying. Before Elaine could recover, I continued, my tone sharp and unwavering.

“And who told you I hired Ava to be my fake Luna?”

Her expression faltered as her face paled. She opened and closed her mouth, her confidence crumbling under my glare. “I—I was looking for you,” she stammered. “I went to your study, and I… I saw some papers in your drawer. I scanned through them and—”

“You went through my things?” My voice dropped, laced with quiet fury. I took a step closer; she flinched. “We’ll address that later. Right now, I want to know this: from what you read, what made you so sure Ava was hired? So sure you felt the need to announce it to the entire pack?”

Elaine’s gaze darted nervously between me and Ava, who remained motionless, arms wrapped around herself. “I just… I assumed. From what I read. The circumstances fit—she showed up out of nowhere!”

I paused before shifting my gaze to Ava. “Ava,” I said, keeping my voice steady, “did I hire you to be my Luna?”

Her answer was immediate and firm: “No.”

Her conviction tightened something in my chest, a feeling I didn't want to examine. I forced it down, turning back to Elaine.

“I’ve told you before to stop your antics,” I said, my voice growing colder. “You refuse to listen. So, I’ll say this only once.” My gaze swept the crowd. “Ava is my Luna. By name, by title, and by bond. I didn’t hire her. And if I hear so much as a whisper about this nonsense outside of this clearing, whoever is responsible will regret it. Do you understand?”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. I turned to Elaine. “As for you,” I said, my tone final, “go back to your apartment. Don’t cross paths with me for at least a week.”

Her lips parted to argue, but my look made her reconsider. “Now,” I snapped.

She hesitated, glancing at Ava one last time, but didn’t dare speak. Face flushed with embarrassment, she turned and hurried away.

I hated that it had come to this. She could have approached me privately. But Elaine chose to make a spectacle, so the consequences were appropriate.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the pack beginning to leave. “No,” I said firmly. “You can continue your feast later. I only came here to talk to Ava.”

Their surprise was evident, but I ignored it, focusing on Ava. Her expression was a mix of confusion and something else I couldn’t place. Since I was already pushing boundaries, I turned to the older man I’d threatened earlier.

“I had no reason to threaten you earlier,” I said, my tone softer but still firm. “I shouldn’t have.”

Stunned silence followed. Ignoring them, I closed my eyes and reached for my wolf. He growled; I sighed inwardly—the same kind of sigh I’d had when I’d felt him after calling Maria, putting aside what she’d done to Ava and the spell she’d performed. He was my counterpart, my other half. He’d always been there. When I couldn’t feel him, I realized how scared I’d been. When he returned, I swallowed my pride—a king should not admit such vulnerability. That moment made me realize Ava was right—these people were the ones I’d rely on. As much as that unsettled me, I’d accepted it.

So, I came out here, only to be met with another of Elaine’s antics. All eyes remained on me. I considered leaving before my aura—the one Liam and Ava always accused me of—made things worse.

I cleared my throat, shifting my attention back to Ava. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”

She blinked, clearly surprised, but nodded and followed as I led her away from the crowd. We stopped far enough that even the sharpest werewolf hearing couldn't pick up our conversation.

When I turned to face her, she spoke first. “Grayson, I—”

“No,” I interrupted gently. “Let me go first.”

She bit her lip and nodded, her eyes wide and expectant.

“You were right,” I admitted. “I pick fights with you because it’s easier than dealing with… this. With us. Because I don’t know how to handle what I feel for you.”

Her eyes softened. She opened her mouth to speak, but I shook my head. “I’m not done,” I said. “I have a lot to focus on. Being Alpha King doesn’t leave much room for anything else. But I’m tired of this back and forth. I don’t want to fight with you anymore. I want to move forward—properly. And when we do, I want it to be all or nothing. So from now on, I’ll stay true to what I wrote in that letter. I’ll try. I’m not promising perfection, but when it comes to you, I’ll try to be better. And when I am ready, I’ll tell you about my parents, if you choose to stay long enough to hear it.”

Tears welled in her eyes. Instinctively, I brushed a tear from her cheek.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Then her expression shifted, worry replacing the softness. “But… what if people believe Elaine? What if they think our bond is just a contract?”

I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter what they think. All that matters is that you are my Luna. That’s all.”

She hesitated, then nodded. “And what about the killings? The message? Someone could come for you, Grayson—”

“Ava,” I said, cutting her off. “Stop. I have it under control. Everything will be fine. Right now, I just want to focus on this. On us. Okay?”

Her lips parted, and for a moment, she looked like she might argue. But then she nodded again. “Okay.”

Without thinking, I smiled—a genuine smile, not a smirk. Ava’s eyes widened, then flickered to my lips.

I didn’t hesitate. I leaned in, kissing her.

This kiss was different. It wasn’t rushed or fiery. It was slow, deliberate, and deeper than anything we’d shared before. Her arms slid around my neck, pulling me closer, and I responded, my hands settling on her waist as I deepened the kiss. Her lips parted, soft and inviting. Sliding my tongue against hers, I felt a wildfire ignite between us. She tasted like sweetness and warmth, a mixture of innocence and passion. My hands moved from her waist to her back, pulling her closer. Ava responded with equal fervor, her fingers threading into my hair.

I tilted my head, deepening the kiss further, and her soft gasp made my chest tighten. My wolf stirred, not with hunger or aggression, but with a quiet sense of awe. She was his, and she was mine, in a way neither of us fully understood yet.

I drew back because I had to, not because I wanted to. Our foreheads rested together, her breath uneven on my lips. Her cheeks were flushed, a deep rose against her pale skin. My thumb brushed her jawline.

Her eyes fluttered open, and what I saw stole my breath. They weren’t her usual color—hues of blue, green, and amber swirled together like a kaleidoscope, glowing faintly. It was as if her emotions were too vast to be contained in a single shade.

Then, in a soft whisper, she asked, “Do you… want to come to my room with me?”