His Trouble Maker

Chapter 34

GRAYSON

I’m so fucking done.

I tip the glass back, bourbon searing down my throat, but it’s not enough to numb it. Across the clearing the pack’s celebrating like they’re at

a fucking carnival Banners, bonfire, laughter. All for me. All for the death of the only goddamn thing ever wanted.

Lalmost begged him. I almost fucking begged the old man not to do this to me

But I knew better knew it wouldn’t change a thing. It would only make me look weaker. Make it worse.

He fucking sold me. Tied my future to Aria’s fucking bloodline because her father offered the right bribe at the right time. And if so much ás blink wrong tonight–difuck this up–he’ll call Riot back from whatever hole he’s been rotting in and hand him the blessing to be the next Alpha.

The pack would never survive that. Jessica would never survive that. I grip the glass so hard it creaks, the urge to smash it against the nearest

tree almost overwhelming

I could kill Riot. I could kill him in three seconds flat, easy, like breaking the neck of a rabbit. But Aria… Aria would take me down with her

She made that crystal fucking clear the last time we spoke, Drop her name, she said, and she’d ruin me. Drag my name through the mud until there was nothing left.

What fucking choice do I have?

I can’t do a fucking thing except pour another drink with hands that won’t stop shaking and pretend this isn’t killing me.

“Are you okay?” Pierce asked. He pours himself another drink while we both look at the crowd. The announcement has been made earlier as a surprise. “I didn’t know you’re getting married.”

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adry, humorless sound that feels like it scrapes my throat raw.

“Yeah, I mutter. “Me neither.”

He laughs under his breath. I want to smash the glass in my hand against the wall just to hear something break besides myself

with the back of my hand

toward me

laugh, ugly and hollow. “You volunteering?” I

fucking questions, especially after seeing me begging his little

he says lazily, swirling his bourbon wound like we’re just two guys shooting the shit, “if you need someone to hold

shift my stance, crossing my arms, uncrossing them, taking another drink just to have something to do

rough and low. I press the heel of my hand against my mouth for a second, like I could shove the word back down, but they keep coming “I fucking wish none of this was happening.” I turn toward him, biting the inside of my cheek so hard | taste

1/4

CU9.4/

Chapter 34

he says, like he’s amused. “She’s around. Probably at

Third glass.

Because of me.

next words crawl up my

“Did I make her…”

I swallow hard

a fucking noose around

Cry!”

sounds pathetic

Weak Small.

thing I care about

for a long second, the smirk sliding

into a

night,” he says finally, quiet and mean and real “Good

by my father and I was forced to have a dance with

the words dripping off her tongue. The arrogance in her voice, the way she presses in closer, it makes my stomach burn. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Grayson,” she breathes, her voice law, teasing. Her hand slides down my

on her throat, watching her

pissed right now! She chuckles, ptoe a little bit until her lips is almost brushing at my ear.“You know, we can get

direction, I am very tempted to

of the strings of her dress. I realized that there’s

happened to you?”

“What do you mean?”