Chapter 143

Ava’s POV

It felt like an eternity before 1 found my words. “What are you doing here?”

That was a stupid question. This was his house.

Grayson didn’t answer immediately. He just stared at me, his piercing gaze searching for something I wasn’t sure I wanted him to find. Then, he stepped closer, and instintively, I stepped back. I hated the way his face shifted–pain and surprise flickering in his eyes, just for a moment. Still, neither of us spoke

“Aren’t you supposed to be mad at him?”

Normally, that would’ve come from my subconscious, but this time it was my wolf, clearly irritated.

Yes, I thought. Iwas mad at–or I am.

But now, standing here with him in front of me, I just wanted to throw my arms around him and cement the fact that he was actually here, alive and breathing. My lips trembled but before I could speak, someone beat me to it.

“Grayson, you’re back.”

We both turned our heads at the sound of heels clicking against the floor. Elaine strode toward us, wearing something more appropriate than the near–scandalous attire she’d tried to enter the ball in earlier.

She moved straight to him and throwing her arms around his neck. “I was so worried.”

The words felt hollow.

If they weren’t cousins–and knowing Elaine’s history–I would’ve thought she was being disingenuous. Her concern had seemed genuine the first time he went missing, and again after his attack. But this time? When it happened, she acted as though she couldn’t care less. Then again, she’d just learned that Grayson had indirectly caused her parents‘ deaths. She had every reason to hate him.

I stayed silent, unsure of what to say or how to feel. His being here didn’t erase what he’d done. The weight of that truth hit me like a slap, and reality came rushing back. I had a ball to get back to, responsibilities to fulfill.

I turned, ready to leave, but Elaine’s voice stopped me.

“Did you know Ava wouldn’t let me into her ball?” she said, venom lacing her words. “She practically embarrassed me in front of everyone and then kicked me out! And did she even ask you before inviting those people here?”

What?

I blinked, stunned. I hadn’t asked for his permission because he refused to speak to me, but still–what? “You walked in there half–naked,” I snapped. “And you were with Monica, who is supposed to be banned and-” Elaine folded her arms across her chest and interrupted me. “Do you hear how she talks to

me?”

L

anything. In fact, he hadn’t spoken a word since he’d wished me a happy birthday. If all he was going

to

his voice deep and steady directed at

1/3

Chapter 148

1 froze.

disbelief Bur before

is as much her house as it is mine, and she can

I had to force it to settle because this didn’t fix things. It didn’t

though I never meant for it to happen. I understand that you have every right to hate me. As much as i wish things could be different, I can’t change the past. But I won’t take your

most honest I’d ever heard him. Not even the letter he’d left could

her lips tightening before she narrowed her eyes at him. “When I heard your plane had crashed, for a fleeting moment, I wished you’d died so you

flashing across his face. My heart ached for him. But then, just as quickly, he masked it, reverting to

Elaine spat, gathering her dress dramatically. “You two can have each other. You deserve each other anyway. I’ll have someone send for my things, and you can both go to hell and rot in it for

turned on her heel and stormed away, but not before shooting me a look of pure

I stood there, the air thick with tension. Without thinking, I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around him, burying my

around me, pulling me into him as though he never wanted to

he whispered into my

I whispered back. “I

part of me was still angry, still hurt. But Grayson had managed to carve himself into my heart, and I couldn’t deny that this moment–the feel of his arms around me—was all I’d craved for

a few feet away. Her expression was calm, and to my surprise, there was no

should, um, get back to the, uh… ball. I should

Grayson

watched me with an intensity that

“You are the host and this

expression unreadable, before walking

my lip. “I really should

eyes didn’t

waiting for him to

get

Sun, Jan 12

Chapter 143

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