His Trouble Maker

Perfect.

Chapter 118

JESSICA

“Hold still,” Grayson mutters, twisting the cap off and dumping disinfectant straight into the gash.

I bite the inside of my cheek, slow and deep. It hurts, sure, but that’s not why–I need control. Need the pain to look real. Controlled. Like I’m flinching for him, not for me.

He crouches close, cloth moving over my skin like he’s scared of breaking me. His fingers press steadier than they should, but his

eyes won’t meet mine.

My stomach flips. I swallow it. Nothing to feel bad about–except that I do.

“I shouldn’t have gone after him.” I let it out slow, quiet. The lie scrapes my throat raw. “I thought I could-“I stop before the rest

can crawl out.

“You were trying to protect us,” he says, cutting in. But the way he says it–it’s not for me. It’s for him. Like saying it out loud makes it real. “Could’ve been worse.”

I keep my eyes low. Watch the cloth darken with my blood. Could’ve gotten worse.

I wonder if Grayson will still forgive me after all of these lies.

“There, it’s good.”

Grayson leans back a little, his knees cracking as he shifts weight, and I can tell–he’s scanning me. “Can you tell me again what happened?”

I met his eyes this time. “W–What do you mean? I already told you everything.”

like it doesn’t belong to me, and that’s good–makes the fear feel real, even if it’s fake. I duck my head slightly, like the eye contact hurts, let my fingers dig into my thigh through the torn fabric of my pants, steadying pressure, something to focus on that isn’t the way Grayson’s staring at me like he’s trying

he lunged. That he

counting seconds in the back of my head. “I thought! imagined it. At first. But they were-“I suck in air like the memory knocks it

before I can stop it, drawing my arm tighter around my middle like I’m keeping

bit you?” he

hesitate–just for a breath–and look away as I nod, like I’m ashamed. “Not deep. Just…

nodded. I don’t know if he believes me or not. He just told me to get some rest before I saw him talking to Pierce. When he saw me eavesdropping on them, they quickly vanished outside making me a little bit annoyed.

already know it’s about Theo. About

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Chapter 118

plotting some plan to get Theo back here and I need to stop them. He’s not ready yet. His body’s still changing, still rebuilding

They’ll sedate him or chain him or talk at him until the part of

I won’t let that

bleed. Shit. This is worse than

my teeth and press my back to the wall, hand curling tight at my side. My skin’s already bruised where Theo hit me but it’s not enough–not the right kind. I can’t go back out there with nothing real. I drag in a sharp breath, steady my hand, and push my claws out–not fully, just enough for

I press into it harder, until it

I’m going to hell for it but I do it anyway. My pulse is

almost slips, but I tighten it and push the door open. They’re both there–Grayson and Pierce- eyes

the first

hand against the frame for balance.

“What the hell happened?”

“I think

down my thigh, the way they trail to

sleeve up, showing the edge of the fresh gash. “I… I must’ve scraped

was the one who stepped forward

a fall,” he says,

“Excuse me?”