Chapter 96
Grayson POV
* 63% 6
Her breathing is wrong. She’s shivering, hurting–and I can’t do a damn thing. Fuck. What kind of mate does that make me?
I scrub my hands down my face for the fiftieth time. Try to blink the image of her out of my head–But she’s still there. Broken. Bleeding. Looking at me like I wasn’t enough to stop it.
Because I wasn’t.
Because I left her.
If I hadn’t been stupid enough to walk away from that damn cabin, if I’d just stayed–if I’d listened to my instincts instead of trying to give her space like some civilized fuckin‘ coward-
None of this would’ve happened. She wouldn’t have been taken. Wouldn’t have had to shift to survive. Wouldn’t be lying there now, half–human, half- wolf, half something else I can’t name.
“You okay?” Theo asks from the corner, voice low.
I don’t look at him.
I haven’t looked at him since we got her out.
Since I saw the bruises on her hips and smelled the rot of magic and wolf–scent clinging to her skin.
I’m not done being angry with him.
I’m not sure I ever will be. But he’s the one who got me out. He’s the one who pulled me from Aria’s grip before they could shatter something I couldn’t rebuild.
So I don’t answer.
“You want a smoke?”
I grit my teeth. “Fuck you.”
He shrugs. “Sorry, man. I don’t do guys.”
Prick.
What is he doing here anyway? After Jessica’s unexpected shift last night, we were forced to run for our lives. She wounded Riot’s but I know what he did.
He killed the alpha and our father. While I am the rightful heir by name, him, killing the alpha, the power is already transferred to him.
I also knew the councils are snakes. I just didn’t know all of them would turn their back on us.
Those fucking assholes.
When I am done with my revenge, I will gut all of them and dance in their graves.
“She’s strong,” Theo says eventually, like that changes anything.
“I know.”
“She shifted. That’s rare for–“–
like a good thing. “We’re not friends. I will still exile you for plotting a coup
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63
Chapter 96
it. Just move to the window, keeping watch.
haven’t discussed.
Like the fact that he knew. That he always fucking knew Riot was rising. And he didn’t
to listen. Maybe he was right. But he still
at
him,” I say quietly, more
he doesn’t answer. “I should’ve torn his throat out that
ready,”
just didn’t know
Silence again.
shifts his weight.
I say. “You realize that? You,
his shoulder. “You think I give a shit about the pack brand?
“It was ours.”
“Was.”
and roll my shoulders. The
for forgiveness,” I say. “I’ll gut you myself the second
Theo doesn’t argue. “Fair.”
argument when the door creaked open.“Ah, group
Pierce.
39
covered in mud, blood, and gods know what else–his shirt torn, knuckles scabbed over, a fresh claw mark across his
I rise, but
were
Pierce grins. “Disappointed?”
“I’m not celebrating either.”
come bearing
the hell do
now, boots tracking dirt across the floor, and glances over at Jessica. Something flickers in his expression—something uncharacteristically careful–but it vanishes before
says. “Half the woods are whispering about the girl
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09:40 Tue, 26 Aug
Chapter 96
burn
brow. “No? Then you
That stops me cold
his jacket and tosses
maybe three. They’re sniffing close to the
for what?” Theo
smirks, eyes glinting. “To
spine. Riot is no longer
63%
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