His Trouble Maker

Chapter 102

JESSICA

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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.

what I meant,” he said, and

pretending I didn’t just…” I trailed off, voice cracking, eyes suddenly burning. “It chose

happen,” he

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 didn’t even want

of his hand. Just enough to ground me in the present, when my

wasn’t crying yet. But I felt like I was about

back a fraction, just enough to see my face. His expression was unreadable in that way that made it worse–like

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09:42 Tue, 26 Aug

Chapter 102

grief just to keep

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+38)

the bond, the guilt–you know I would. I’d burn every rule the

meant keeping you.”

I closed my eyes.

kept,” I murmured. “Not like this. Not if it

a pause. A long, aching beat where I could feel

hate myself

opened my eyes. He looked wrecked. Pale. Hollowed

hate that you think

to do with that truth. I didn’t know how to hold

worse.

that, because he let out a shaky breath, thumb brushing once

he stood. Slowly. Like something hurt.

said. “Just… if you

If.

us, haven’t

and a sob

to run

did this morning–like he’s memorizing me in case he doesn’t get to keep

whole afternoon, I just lay in my bed, curled up small like that might make the shame easier to hold. Sometimes I think about going downstairs. Just to see him. Just to sit near him, even if we don’t talk. Even if he won’t look

stand up. I take a few steps toward the door. I reach

lunchtime when I heard the floor creak. Instead of calling my name, like he always does, my eyes widened when he grasped my

undid the button of

“Grayson-”

leaned in, forehead nearly touching mine, breathing, like he’d just