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

pretend I just passed by.

my forehead against

“Uh… excuse me?”

slowly–I look up. And

She’s gorgeous.

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even try and still walked out of a magazine. Expensive perfume, perfect posture, a folder in one hand, and a face I

Grayson’s rumored girlfriend.

she is now. No one’s seen her in years since

even her 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 been here before–I mean, I was part

laughs again, soft and breezy. “Oh,

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

inside?” she

trying to find my voice. “I

her smile doesn’t falter. “Were

of. Not really.” God, I sound

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

I say quickly, even though none of

again, and this one’s softer. “You look

because she doesn’t mean it in a bad way. She’s just…

the door swings open behind me. I jump. Literally jump and then I freeze because standing there, in the doorway, is Grayson, wearing that same unreadable

past me, throws her arms around his neck. “Oh my god—babe!” Aria leans back, still smiling, still close enough to

and

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Chapter 19

chuckles, and suddenly I feel the urge to rip his smirk off

What’s so funny, Westwood?

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too?” she says, looking up

but subtle.

“Still arrogant, I guess?”

That makes me laugh.

at me,

mean I’m not eavesdropping. Not

Grayson called my name and I forced a smile. Thankfully, Aria’s hands

little too fast. “Nothing… I was

that makes sense, but