His Trouble Maker

Chapter 19

JESSICA

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“Is she okay?” I ask Grayson after following him inside the pack clinic and not having the courage to go in. My hands won’t stop shaking. My chest is tight and everything in me is screaming that I need to see her, but my legs won’t move.

“She’s stable,” he says, and I exhale too fast. My eyes sting. “Pierce is already there. You should go inside too.”

hate how cold he sounds. It’s because he heard everything. Shit. I was angry. I was scared. I didn’t think it would matter because he wasn’t supposed to be there. He wasn’t supposed to hear the parts of me I don’t let out unless I feel like I’m drowning.

“I didn’t mean it,” I say, voice barely above a whisper, barely enough to carry. “I was just-” I stop. What? Upset? Hurt? Trying to prove something?

Grayson finally turns. Just slightly. “I understand,” he says.

I blink. Understand… what?

My eyes search his face before I can stop myself.

Grayson looks empty.

He’s never looked at me like that before. Not once. It’s always anger or control or that sharp edge like he’s about to say something reckless just to get a reaction.

“You said what you felt,” he says, quiet now. “I’m not going to punish you for being honest.”

“I wasn’t-” I start, but the words get stuck halfway out.

The clinic door creaks open.

Pierce leans out, face pale and drawn. “Jess.”

I turn to him fast, the sound of my name snapping through whatever held me frozen. My heart stutters, caught between one breath and the next.

His brows are furrowed. Eyes shift–me, then Grayson, then lower. “She’s awake,” Pierce says. “She asked for you.”

I nod because it’s all I can do. My throat is too tight and my chest is too full to answer properly, and I know that if I open my mouth right now, something else might come out instead. I try to find Grayson but he’s already walking away.

“Jess?” Pierce calls again, and I blink hard, dragging my eyes away and forcing my feet to move.

“I’m coming,” I say, even though the words scrape on the way out.

After that day, Grayson seems to be so busy. My mom has been discharged, and it’s good that the bite from the rogue is healing well. I don’t know how she got bitten inside our village perimeter though. I think Pierce is leading the

investigation, which is why I can’t ask him about Gray.

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Chapter 19

office like an idiot, fighting for my life over whether I should knock or pretend I just passed by. I don’t even know

so stupid, Jess,” I mutter, pressing my forehead against the

“Uh… excuse me?”

And my heart

She’s gorgeous.

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and still walked out of a magazine. Expensive perfume, perfect posture, a folder in one hand, and a face I recognize even though I’ve never seen it this

Grayson’s rumored girlfriend.

Or whatever she is now. No one’s seen her in years since her family left

smile is gorgeous. “I’m Aria, and I’m looking for Grayson’s office? I’m sorry, everything in here changes. You know, I’ve

soft and breezy. “Oh, shit. I’m talking too much, aren’t

She talks with her hands when she’s nervous, but her nervous still looks

inside?” she

trying to find my voice. “I don’t know. I haven’t knocked

says, and her smile doesn’t falter.

Not really.”

like she’s trying not to make it weird. “I didn’t mean to interrupt or anything. I’ve just been trying to find this hallway for like

though none of this feels fine.

again, and this one’s softer. “You

say to that, because she doesn’t mean it in a bad way. She’s just… kind. Warm. The exact opposite of what I was expecting from the girl

jump and then I freeze because standing there, in the doorway, is Grayson, wearing that

me first. Then to her. Then back to me. I feel so awkward especially when Aria squeals, pushes past me, throws her arms around his neck. “Oh my god—babe!” Aria leans back, still smiling, still

and

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Chapter 19

urge to rip his smirk off his

What’s so funny, Westwood?

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you missed me too?” she says, looking up at

but subtle.

“Still arrogant, I guess?”

That makes me laugh.

at me, and

not eavesdropping. Not

my name and I forced a smile. Thankfully, Aria’s hands are no longer around his neck. “What are

little too fast. “Nothing…

that makes sense, but all