His Trouble Maker

Chapter 49

Jessica

I’ve never felt so much pain in my entire life. It’s like everything inside me is being torn apart. I didn’t know where I was, but I knew something had gone horribly wrong.

“She shouldn’t have been out there,” Pierce’s voice snapped. It was so sharp, full of fury. I could hear his teeth grinding through the words. “You knew what would happen. You should’ve stopped her.”

I flinched at the sound of his voice. He’s always so damn protective of me.

“I couldn’t save her.”

Was that….Grayson? What is he talking about? Save me from what? The last thing I remembered–the rain. The downpour. The way it slammed against me, against the earth, as I faced Kael.

Had I… won?

Did I beat him?

I remember throwing him out of the circle when my vision starts to blur.

“Damn it, Grayson!” Pierce shouted. I heard some sound of chairs rattling. “You told me that there’s no fucking way she will make it as a

warrior!”

I flinched, though I wasn’t sure if I moved at all. I couldn’t even feel my fingers. But his words… they hurt like hell. I remember his exact words

when we were younger. He always excluded me from his training. Always. He never let me in. For what? Why?

“She’s stronger than you think.”

“No, she’s not!”

“Then what do you want me to do, huh? Tell her that no, Jess, don’t fucking try because Aria made sure you will never make it even if you fucking won the trial? Do you think how she will feel-”

Aria?

My mind was foggy, my body broken. But the mention of Aria…snap me back to reality.

“You think she’s ready?”

I wanted to answer, wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t form. And then Grayson growl. I know that’s a sign Pierce is pushing his damn limits. “I didn’t have a choice,” he muttered, his voice low but raw. “She needed to do this. She needed to prove it.”

“Prove what?” Pierce spat. “That she’s strong enough to survive your fucking games? To survive Aria? To be your fucking Luna?”

Ready? Was I? Was I ever ready for what?

that what Grayson had been

a damn plan. My mind flashed back to all

been working so damn hard, grinding myself into the dirt to

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Chapter 49

Pierce’s anger, the pain in my chest, everything felt like it was crashing into me all at once. My head spun ! thought

It’s disgusting.

my side as if they hadn’t been at each other’s throats seconds ago, Grayson hovered closer, his breath tickling my

pushed him away. I saw how his lips parted but I cannot be weak when I just heard what they are

did you do?” I pushed between them, my voice rising with each word. “What the actual

J

hadn’t expected this–hadn’t expected me to

He reached

his hand away. “Don’t you fucking touch me right

the suddenly silent room. Aria took a step back, her shoulder bumping against the

weak omega?” I spat, jabbing my finger

Goddamn it. I swallowed hard,

trying

whirled on him. “To what? Protect me? Save me?” My laugh came out ugly, twisted. “That’s rich coming from you two.

nostrils flared. “You’re not

practically screaming now, my hands shaking so hard I had to clench them into fists. “Was it fair when you went behind

running my fingers through

I whispered, then louder:

me, bouncing off the walls. Something hot and wet rolled down my cheek.

his eyes looked like he was the one

that,” I hissed. “Like I’m breaking

it across the room. It hit the

stared right into Grayson’s eyes. “I fucking won. You saw it.

I’m going to fight for that. There’s no

is

burned behind my eyes but I refused to let them fall.

see the reflection of my pain. It’s like he’s hurting too because I’m damn hurting. “I am on your side,”

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Chapter 49

through his hair. “But Jess, you’ve passed

“No…no…no..that’s not true.”

reach me for a hug but I can’t. This is not real. He’s lying. There’s no way I’ve

go back and finish the next pool.” I straightened my shoulders, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.

on Grayson. I watch how his face crumpled in pain. Not all at once, but in pieces–first his brow, then his eyes, finally his mouth. He reached for me