His Trouble Maker

Chapter 180

JESSICA

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“If I don’t mark you, someone else will.” His voice is raw, ground down to its bones. “If you don’t choose me they’ll tear you apart.”

Kade mutters something sharp under his breath, but it barely registers. My eyes don’t leave the tree line, the place Grayson vanished into–and now returned from–his shirt torn, blood soaking through, his shoulders braced like he’s still fighting ghosts out there.

Riot.

He was here.

“Are you okay?” I step toward him, fast, hand catching his jaw before I can stop myself, tilting his face into the light. “Thank the goddess,” I breathe, chest shuddering, though I don’t know if I’m saying it for him or for me.

“I can handle him.”

My relief curdles into

anger.

“You’re bleeding.” My voice shakes, sharp edges cutting. “Handling him looks like this? You disappear into the woods, come back soaked in blood, and I’m supposed to just–just what? Pretend this is fine?”

His eyes cut to mine, dark, heavy. “Jessica.”

I bare my teeth in a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. “Don’t Jessica me. You vanish into the woods with your psychotic brother and come back promising to put your mark on me like I’m some prize you’re trying to guard.” I step closer, shoulders squared, refusing to back down. “You don’t get to scare the hell out of me and then act like I should just bow my head and say thank you.”

“Shut up,” he said before shutting me out with his lips.

When he rips away, I’m left gasping, my lips swollen, my pulse out of control. My head says punch him. My body says more.

“Don’t-“I choke, trying to steady myself. “Don’t you dare use me like that.”

His eyes are black around the edges, wolf straining. He doesn’t answer me. He looks over my shoulder, straight at Kade, and gives him a single nod.

I whip my head around. Kade’s leaning against a tree, arms folded, smirk sharp enough to draw blood.

“You two are always this entertaining?” His gaze crawls over me. “Or is this just for my benefit?”

“Go to hell,” I snap, even though my throat feels tight.

steps half in front of me, giving me another kiss. “I’ll see

Chapter 180

me, silences me, throws me behind him like some

time I find my voice, him and Kade are already

back toward the house. I don’t even care if he’s bleeding out somewhere–I’m just happy he’s damn breathing. But him always doing this to me? Leaving me in the dark, kissing

my hair, pacing the small space. My wolf claws at me, restless, snarling, demanding I tear out there and hunt down the answers myself. But I shove her down.

some pet on

sharp, bitter. “Yeah,

here? And why does he

thing I know, I’m already out in the

to the ground.

my eyes, listening. “Riot? Are you….still

whisper, though my voice shakes. “If you’re

cuts

shadows, shredded raw in his throat. “Still

my spine. I push up from the dirt too fast, my knees nearly buckling, but I bare my teeth anyway like I’ve got claws sharp enough to

I snap, even though my stomach’s twisting.

Silence.

I choke again, softer, desperate. My chest aches with

low by my ear,

“He’s dead.”

“If you touched him–if you did anything to him-” My threat breaks apart, dissolves. My

chuckle, thin and shredded, drifts through the trees. I spin, but there’s nothing. Only shadows shifting,

I scream, the sound raw

Chapter 180

but there’s no trail, no weigh in the air. Just that copper tang of blood, growing fainter by the

He’s gone.

was never here

lungs won’t hold another breath. Then the truth cuts me

truth… if

“No.”

the trees, the next

I’ve got him by the throat and pinned to

eyes flash–shock, then wolf–but I don’t let him speak. “Why didn’t you tell

“Jessica-”

I slam him harder into the wall. “He said Pierce is dead. Do you hear me? Dead!