His Trouble Maker

Chapter 73

Chapter 73

GRAYSON

She fucking needs me.

And I couldn’t be there for her.

My girl is in pain, and I am locked in this goddamn room pretending I give a shit to what the elders have to say. I don’t like it when things don’t go in my way, but it turns out, it’s the same for the alpha. I pissed him off that’s why he shows up with his bastard.

“Riot cannot be the next alpha,” Aria’s father said giving me a look. I think it translates to ‘fuck you.’

My fists clench so hard my knuckles flash bone white. I want to tear through this table. Flip it. Smash it. Rip out Riot’s smug throat and remind every asshole sitting here that bloodlines don’t mean shit when you’ve got bite.

“Grayson,” the Alpha says, low and clipped.

I lift my head slowly, not really interested to what he’s about to say. “You’re twitching like you’ve got something to say,” he mutters.

Say?

No.

I want to howl.

I stare him down, slow and quiet, the way predators size up threats. “Riot doesn’t have the spine to lead,” I say, each word sharp enough to cut meat. “You want a wolf who’ll bow to you. Not one who’ll burn for the pack.”

That gets a reaction.

“He isn’t even here,” Elder Vass says, his voice clipped, like my words are beneath the room. “You slander a wolf who hasn’t had the chance to defend

himself.”

“I don’t need him here to know what he is.” I lean forward, hands braced against the table, spine bowed like I’m ready to pounce. “I’ve been leading this pack since I’m eighteen. You know what I am capable of.”

The Alpha watches me closely now. I know why he’s trying to stir this coup.

When I refused to mate Aria that day, that’s when he decided to show me he’s not bluffing.

He wants me cornered. Wants to punish me for saying no with an audience.

“And what are you capable of, son?” He smirks, eyes glinting with that same old fake interest. “When you can’t even find a good Luna for this pack?”

Luna.

Tch.

He thinks I’m vulnerable there. Thinks I’m unbalanced without a pretty bitch at my side to dress up the throne.

He’s wrong.

I push my chair back with a slow scrape – not loud, not rushed – just enough to make every ear twitch. My spine stretches as I rise, the bones along my back shifting with tension, like fur could rip through skin at any second.

Even if I want to. Instead, I plant both hands on the table- firm,

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Chapter 73

look him

need a Luna to prove I’m fit

voice is low. Not quiet. Low. That kind of voice that

a mate, without your approval, and without kissing any elder’s

jaw and I hope he knows it’s me saying he cannot and will

you want a wolf–one who knows every inch of these mountains, one who buried half your enemies without asking for permission–then

mouth like he’s got something to say. He doesn’t get the chance. I slam my hand down–not to scare, just to interrupt – just to remind the room that

name in my face. But don’t act surprised when I stop playing civil and

birthday. A week from now, her body’s going to betray her. And it’s already starting. I can tell. The

what are

break her spine before it even

away from her house when suddenly, a small

bare teeth. But my body vibrates with the restraint it takes not to shove her

press together. “Grayson, you’re

once in this fucked–up mess, I know exactly what I’m doing. What

Or maybe performance. I can’t tell anymore.

your hand off

trying to help you. I’ve always tried

You tried

and she flinches. “You don’t

Already past her. Because every second wasted here is another second Jessica is

halfway down the block

“Grayson!”

Crack.

my head, jaw tight

done,” she snaps, voice trembling, “You don’t get to walk away from me. Not again. Not

I stare at her.

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Chapter 73

decide where I go,” I say, voice low, sharp enough to bleed. “And you sure as hell don’t get to

forward. “She’s

weight of alpha bleed into every word. “And you think this → gesture between us, to the slap, to her eyes, to every lie that ever passed her lips “-is more important than

desperate now. “She never was. I am. You think some brokeri girl with scars and an

back. “You want this title? This crown? Fine. Fight for

tell me why my wolf said she’s

That. Stops. Me.

No.

That’s fucking impossible.

step closer, her breath hitching, eyes glistening with tears–fragile, raw, almost breaking. “Can’t you feel it, Grayson?

us?”

tense, and for a good fucking second, I swear, my wolf stirs inside me as if it fucking longs

when something snaps inside