Chapter 89

Ava’s POV

A moan escaped my lips as my eyes fluttered open. It took a moment to realize where I was—and who I was with. A blush rushed to my cheeks as I registered Grayson’s head between my legs. My body was still humming, oversensitive and sore, and the sheer intimacy of the moment made my heart race.

Grayson noticed I was awake and pulled back, his lips curving into a satisfied, almost smug smile. His eyes locked with mine, and the intensity in his gaze made my stomach twist in ways I couldn’t quite describe. I followed his gaze as it dipped to my neck—where his mark now sat over the fading remnants of Dylan’s. A spark of possession glimmered in his eyes, and I swallowed hard, my breath catching.

“Hi,” I whispered, my voice hoarse from the night before.

His lips quirked into a tiny smile. “Hi,” he replied, his voice low, gravelly, and far too seductive for my sanity.

Before I could say anything more, he moved again, sliding his leg between mine, reigniting sensations I wasn’t sure I could handle. My body responded instantly, as if attuned to his touch. The sheets twisted beneath me as I writhed, the intensity overwhelming.

I let out a shaky laugh, pushing at his chest weakly. “That’s enough, Grayson. I don’t think I can take anymore.”

He chuckled, the sound rich and warm, and then he did something I never expected—he threw his head back and laughed. A real, genuine laugh.

The sound caught me off guard, stealing my breath. For a moment, it was just us, bathed in this strange new lightness that poured from him. Whatever lay ahead—bridges to cross, things left unsaid—this moment felt right.

Smiling to myself, I slid off the bed and padded into the bathroom. My reflection greeted me, and my gaze immediately went to my neck. My fingers traced the fresh mark, a symbol so vivid it almost glowed—a swirl of intricate patterns in deep red, interspersed with streaks of silver. It was beautiful, primal, and undeniably his.

A thought crossed my mind as I stared. My eyes—they were gold, a color I had never seen them turn before, and they looked the same as the streaks on my wolf’s fur. A connection I didn’t want to overthink just yet. Later. Right now, I needed to focus on cooling my flushed body.

Stepping into the shower, the hot water cascaded down my sore muscles, soothing the ache. Memories from last night hit me in waves, making my cheeks burn. His touch, his voice, his presence—it was all too vivid. The shower did little to ease the tension thrumming through me as the events of last night replayed in my mind, each moment sending shivers down my spine.

I didn’t know how long I stood there, letting the water pour over me, but by the time I stepped out, the bathroom was filled with steam, and my body felt somewhat refreshed. Wrapping myself in a towel, I opened the door to find the room spotless.

The bloodstained sheets I’d noticed last night were gone, along with any trace of the passion we’d shared. My stomach tightened with unease. Did Grayson…? Before I could spiral into embarrassment, the door opened, and there he was.

Grayson stepped inside, now dressed casually in a fitted black t-shirt and jeans that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean frame. His tousled hair made him look effortlessly handsome, and the sight of him sent heat rushing through me all over again.

His gaze drifted over me, lingering for a moment longer than necessary, and I felt my neck and cheeks flush. The tension in the room thickened, and I cleared my throat, trying to dispel the awkwardness. “I… uh… I should probably get dressed.”

He nodded, though his eyes held a teasing glint. “I thought you’d be done by now. Meet me downstairs when you’re ready. We’re going out.”

08:53 Tue. Dec 17

Chapter 89 continued

As he turned to leave, I hesitated, my eyes flickering to the bed. “Wait.”

He paused, looking over his shoulder.

“Did you…” I trailed off, gesturing toward the bed. My cheeks burned hotter as I realized how ridiculous I sounded.

Grayson’s lips twitched into a smirk as he said, "I removed the sheets before asking one of the omegas to come in." He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his eyes never leaving mine. “But don’t worry, Ava. There’s no denying what happened.”

I wanted to sink into the floor. Stop being weird, Ava. You’re married. Married people have sex all the time. That’s how children are born. You’re a doctor; you should know this.

His gaze dropped to the mark on my neck, and his expression softened before he turned and closed the door behind him. I let out a shaky breath, pressing my fingers to my lips as the reality of everything sank in.

I dressed quickly, slipping into a pair of jeans and a simple blouse. As I clipped on my earrings, the door burst open, and Isabella stormed in like a whirlwind.

Her eyes widened dramatically as she pointed at me. “You had sex, Ava Lilian Pierce!”

I had forgotten I’d left her at the feast and disappeared with Grayson. I just figured she would go home eventually.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Bels—”

She ignored me, bouncing on the balls of her feet with an excitement that was both endearing and mortifying. “Oh my Goddess, you did! You lost your virginity! Tell me everything. Was it amazing? Did it hurt? Is he as good as he looks? Wait—don’t answer that. I know he’s as good as he looks.”

“Bels!” I hissed, throwing a pillow at her, but she dodged it, giggling.

She plopped onto the edge of my bed, her face lit with curiosity. “Come on, Lilian. Spill. I’m your best friend. You can’t just gloss over this. Was it romantic? Did he sweep you off your feet? Or was it all primal and wild?”

I sighed, sitting beside her. “It was…” My words trailed off as I tried to find the right way to explain the whirlwind of emotions from last night. “It was everything. More than I ever imagined. But we still have so much to figure out, Bels. It’s not just about what happened last night.”

Isabella softened, her teasing demeanor fading as she reached out to squeeze my hand. “Lilian, you deserve this. You’ve been through so much, and I’ve never seen you look so… alive. Whatever bridges you two need to cross, you’ll do it together.”

Her words made my chest ache in the best way, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “But how did you even know?”

Isabella’s grin widened, mischief dancing in her eyes. “Oh, last night was so fun. I barely remembered best friend code, you know, but you did the same, so we’re even.” She waved her hand dramatically, her excitement palpable. “I couldn’t go home, so I just asked to stay in a guest room. And since you introduced me as your best friend, the omegas practically rolled out the red carpet and gave me the biggest one they had. But that’s not the point!”

I raised a brow, trying not to laugh. “Then what is the point?”

Her eyes gleamed like she was about to share the most scandalous secret in the world. She leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Because before I found my room, I happened to stumble up here first, and, oh my goddess, it was undeniable what was going on!”

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Bels, no…”

“Oh, yes!” she continued, completely ignoring my embarrassment. “And guess what? I just passed Grayson.” Her voice pitched higher, and she grabbed my shoulders, shaking me excitedly. “He smiled! Lilian, he smiled! At me!”

She sat up quickly, her eyes going wide as she stared at my neck. “Oh. My. Goddess. Lilian. He marked you.”

“I know!” I laughed, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. “But we haven’t really had time to talk about it yet, so there’s nothing to say for now.”

“Nothing to say?” she shrieked. “You’re marked! That’s a huge deal. Do you even realize what this means?”

I rolled my eyes, laughing as I stood to grab my shoes. “Yes, Bels, I realize what it means. And I promise to tell you all about it later, but for now, we’re going out. I just need to find my phone.”

Isabella let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled her eyes, picking my phone up from the bedside table. “It’s literally right here.”

“Sorry,” I laughed sheepishly, taking it from her. “My mind’s just everywhere.”

As I turned on the screen, the notifications hit me like a ton of bricks. My breath caught as I scrolled through them, my heart pounding in my chest.

“What is it?” Isabella’s tone shifted, her teasing replaced with genuine concern.

I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I opened the messages. “It’s Mikayla. She left me… over fifty messages. And calls—” My throat went dry as I scanned the last one.

My heart stopped.

The room seemed to tilt for a moment before my legs moved on their own, carrying me toward the door as the words burned into my mind.

“Lilian?” Isabella called, worry evident in her voice. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

I didn’t answer. I just turned and started sprinting out of my room. My only thought was one word repeating in my mind.

Shit. Shit. Shit.