His Trouble Maker

Chapter 102

JESSICA

62%

After Theo and Pierce left this morning to search for information about the pack, Grayson was just quiet beside me. I think he’s thinking a lot of things as

much as I do.

The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable. Not exactly.

He kept glancing at me like he wanted to say something–but didn’t. His eyes were a little too alert, like he was trying to study me instead of look at me. I hated that I could tell the difference now.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and rested my chin there. He was sitting in the chair across from me, hands clasped like he needed to ground himself.

Maybe I should’ve said something. I don’t know. What do you say to your lover after admitting you’ve been imprinted by someone else? I must have

cheated on him as well.

“What is our plan now?” I asked, making my voice not crumble. I still feel so awful about a lot of things.

But Grayson is Grayson.

He will not tell me plans not because he doesn’t trust me but because he doesn’t want to burden me with it. But I wasn’t part of what he was supposed

to carry anymore.

He didn’t answer right away. Just shifted in the chair until he was leaning forward, elbows on his knees, gaze heavy on me. Then–quietly, gently–he reached out and touched my cheek. Just the backs of his fingers, brushing like I might vanish if he pressed too hard.

“The plan,” he whispered, voice rough but low, “is for you to rest, baby.”

I almost closed my eyes at the sound of that word. Baby.

“I’m well rested enough,” I murmured, even though I wasn’t.

Grayson frowned, thumb still resting at the edge of my jaw. “Then rest some more.”

“You can’t keep me wrapped in a blanket forever.”

His hand dropped to my shoulder, warm and grounding. He leaned in, just close enough for his forehead to almost brush mine.“If I could, I would,” he said, barely above a whisper. “I’d keep you somewhere safe. Somewhere quiet. Far away from all of this.”

“You mean far away from me,” I said before I could stop myself. And immediately wished I had.

and I

protect me from my own guilt. You don’t have to keep pretending I didn’t just…” I trailed off, voice cracking, eyes suddenly burning. “It chose me. That bond.

happen,” he said, firm

and something inside me finally trembled hard enough to reach the surface. “I felt it click into place and I didn’t fight it. Not fast enough, Not hard enough. And maybe I

the shape of his hand. Just enough to

I felt

fraction, just enough to see my face. His expression was unreadable in that way

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09:42 Tue, 26 Aug

Chapter 102

to

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+38)

from you,” he said, slow and raw, “the weight of it, the bond,

meant keeping you.”

I closed my eyes.

I murmured. “Not like this.

A long, aching beat where I could feel him choosing what not to

“I don’t hate

Pale. Hollowed out in the spaces where hope used to

you think I should

but nothing came out. Because I didn’t know what to do with

worse.

because he let out a shaky breath, thumb

Like something hurt. And maybe it

said.

If.

ruined us, haven’t

he just walked through, and a sob

to run

did this morning–like he’s memorizing me in

think about going downstairs. Just to see him. Just to sit near him, even

door. I reach for the handle.

of calling my name, like he always does, my eyes widened when he

and undid the button of his

“Grayson-”

nearly touching mine, breathing, like he’d