His Trouble Maker

Chapter 87

GRAYSON

“Hold the damn hands!”

I shiver. Not because I’m cold. But because for a second I swear, I’m on the cold floor of the training compound, knuckles split open, blood on my tongue, a man twice my size choking me out while my father’s shadow watches–arms crossed, silent judgment heavier than any blow.

Fuck.

It’s just another nightmare, Grayson.

I glanced to the side and I found her. Jessica’s asleep. Out cold. Probably exhausted because I couldn’t stop touching her, couldn’t stop needing her like I’m afraid she’ll disappear if I blink too long. My hand’s still resting against her hip, and I don’t even remember keeping it there.

I ease away slowly, not because I’m afraid of waking her–but because I’m–afraid of what I’ll do if I stay.

The mirror catches me on the way to the sink. I stop.

I look like him.

Jaw tight. Eyes dead. Shoulders like walls. I smash the faucet on, ice cold, and scrub my face with dry hands like it’ll peel off the part of me that still obeys him.

Alpha Grayson Westwood.

He’s going to lose his fucking mind when he finds out. That I threw it all away–for a girl he warned me about. The second word gets out that I’m walking away–that I put Jessica above the title–I become the threat. The disgrace. The disappointment that needs correcting.

And he’ll try.

He’ll try to pull me back in. Chain me to the throne he built out of fear and obedience. Make an example out of me. Out of her.

And I swear to god, if he touches her–I don’t know what I’ll fucking do.

Jessica will probably sleep for more hours but I couldn’t. So I ran. Shifted the second I was outside. Didn’t wait for the pain. Welcomed it. Invited it like an old friend who never asks questions.

I ran until the trees blurred, until the wind peeled my skin back, until the beast in me stopped gnawing at my ribs. I ran like something was chasing me.

Maybe it was. Maybe it always is.

I don’t even know if I’m more afraid of losing her or what I’ll do if someone tries to take her from me. I’ve already given up the title. I’d burn the whole damn pack before I surrender her.

Which, of course, makes me just like him. And I’d rather fucking die than become that man. I don’t want to be Alpha if it turns me

into him. But I don’t know who I am without it either.

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10:07 Fri, 22 Aug

Chapter 87

run deeper into the woods like if I go far enough, fast enough,

Fuck that.

42%

chest. Keep going. Keep

kill what’s rotting me from

+38)

a stumble, bare skin scraping dirt and stone as I hit the ground on all

myself to a tree and lean there, pressing my head against the rough bark like I can

low and sharp, just as a heavy boot swings toward my ribs. It grazes, not enough to drop me–but enough to piss me

move,” I

He grunts as we hit

“You!”

growls, eyes flashing gold,

back, grabbing the front of his shirt and dragging him closer until our foreheads nearly crash. “You’ve got some fucking nerve

bared. “I

to grab him again, claws half–out, but he ducks under, slams his shoulder into my gut, and we both go down hard, crashing into the forest

he mutters near my ear. “You used to hit harder. Guess heartbreak makes

him off, breathing fire, blood pounding in my ears. “You want to die that bad, Theo? I can

His head tilts. “This

again. Slams his elbow into the back of my skull and I go sprawling forward, bark and dirt

huh?” 1 grunt, getting

that I’m not dragging

ribs, Crack. I grunt, clutching my

worry,” he drawls, circling me again. “I’ll take good care of your pack. And

her.”

snap. My body shifts halfway, claws out, bones snapping, eyes glowing. I tear into him,

7

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enough to draw blood. He stumbles back, finally snarling,

But then–he laughs.

is,” he pants. “There’s the Grayson

fully. Silver–grey fur. Massive. Brutal. But something’s off. It’s not just size. It’s not

fuck me,

prowls closer, paws sinking into the soil like he’s poisoning

hell did

wolf grins. It

if I tear

Theo’s not alone

then three.

Fuck.

clamp down on my hind leg and rip