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

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

Fuck that.

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leap over the creek bed and land heavy, muddy water splashing up my chest. Keep going. Keep tearing through bark and stone and memory

what’s rotting me from the

+38)

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

tree and lean there, pressing my head against the rough bark

when I feel a strong presence. My body moves before my brain does. I twist, low and sharp, just as a heavy boot swings toward my ribs. It grazes, not enough

fucking move,” I

grunts as we hit the ground hard.

“You!”

gold, voice low

and dragging him closer until our foreheads nearly crash.

spits, teeth bared. “I heard you lost the girl,

half–out, but he ducks under, slams his shoulder into my gut, and we both go down hard, crashing into the

sloppy,” he mutters near my ear. “You used to hit harder. Guess heartbreak makes you

blood pounding in my ears. “You want to die that bad, Theo? I can make

head tilts. “This is tragic. You’re not Alpha. You’re just some lovesick mutt

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

fast, huh?” 1 grunt, getting to my

not

boot connects with my ribs,

of your pack. And your girl.” He leans in. “I’m

her.”

out, bones snapping, eyes glowing. I tear into him, landing

7

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to draw blood. He stumbles back, finally

But then–he laughs.

he pants. “There’s the Grayson I

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

fuck me, it’s

paws sinking into the soil like

hell did

wolf grins.

reckless. I don’t care if I

not alone

more wolves appear from the trees, then three. Rogues. Wild, unmarked, eyes shining with

Fuck.

try to shift back, outmaneuver, but teeth clamp down on my hind leg and rip me to the ground. I crash hard,