bChapter /bb34 /b

GRAYSON

I’m so fucking done.

I tip the ss back, bourbon searing down my throat, but it’s not enough to numb it. Across the clearing the pack’s celebrating like they’re at

a fucking carnival Banners, bonfire,ughter. All for me. All for the death of the only goddamn thing ever wanted.

Lalmost begged him. I almost fucking begged the old man not to do this to me

But I knew better knew it wouldn’t change a thing. It would only make me look weaker. Make it worse.

He fucking sold me. Tied my future to Aria’s fucking bloodline because her father offered the right bribe at the right time. And if so much ás blink wrong tonight–difuck this up–he’ll call Riot back from whatever hole he’s been rotting in and hand him the blessing to be the next Alpha.

The pack bwould /bnever survive that. Jessica would never survive bthat/b. I grip the ss so hard it creaks, the urge to smash it against the nearest

tree almost overwhelming

I could kill Riot. I could kill him in three seconds t, easy, like breaking the neck of a rabbit. But Aria… Aria would take me down with her

She made that crystal fucking clear thest time we spoke, Drop her name, she said, and she’d ruin me. Drag my name through the mud until there was nothing left.

What fucking choice do I have?

I can’t do a fucking thing except pour another drink with hands that won’t stop shaking and pretend this isn’t killing me.

“Are you okay?” Pierce basked/b. He pours himself another drink while we both look at the crowd. The announcement has been made earlier as a surprise. “I didn’t know you’re getting married.”

| sport-

adry, humorless sound that feels like it scrapes my throat raw.

“Yeah, I mutter. “Me neither.”

bHe /bughs under his breath. I want to smash the ss in my hand against the wall just to hear something break besides myself

Instead, I shove the drink back, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand as the fire burns down to my gut

“So,” Pierce draws, tilting his ss toward me with a smirk. “Am I your best manb?/bb” /b

I bark augh, ugly and hollow. “You volunteering?” I snap.

Pierce chuckles. I know he’s got ba /blot of fucking questions, especially after seeing me begging bhis /blittle sister to stay with me like some pathetic fuck

“I mean,” he sayszily, swirling his bourbon wound like we’re just two guys shooting the shit, “if you need someone to hold the ring, carry the coffin, whatever you call this mess…”

I shift my stance, crossing my arms, uncrossing them, taking another drink just to have something to do with my hands.

“fucking wish…“I muller, voice rough and low. I press the heel of my hand against my mouth for a second, like I bcould /bshove the word back down, but they keeping “I fucking wish none of this bwas /bhappening.” I turn toward him, biting the binside /bof my cheek so hard | taste blood. My voice scrapes out raw “Is she here?”

CU9.4b/ /b

Pierce is an eyebrow. “You mean Jess?” he says, like he’s amused. “She’s around. Probably at the bar getting a third ss of wel

Third ss.

Because of me.

The next words crawl up my throat like ss.

“Did I make her…”

I swallow hard

The shame is a fucking noose around my neck.

Cry!”

It sounds pathetic even to me.

bWeak /bbSmall/b.

But it’s the only thing I care about anymore.

Pierce looks at me for a long second, the smirk sliding off his face.

His mouth pulls into a grim line.

“Every night,” he says bfinally/b, quiet and mean and real “Good bjob/b, asshole”

A few minutester, I was called by my father and I was forced to have a dance with A for everyone.

“I feel so lucky,” she says, the words dripping off her tongue. The arrogance in her voice, the way she presses in closer, it makes my stomach burn. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Grayson,” she breathes, her voicew, teasing. Her hand slides down my chest again, leaving that burning trail of her touch,

If the whole pack is not watching, I probably had my hand on her throat, watching her struggle to breath. “Shut up and just dance Aria”

“Oooh, Is my baby Grayson pissed right now! She chuckles, ptoe a little bit until her lips is almost brushing at my ear.“You know, we can get out of here band /bhave a little bfun/b.”

People giggle at our direction, I am very tempted to push her.

Aria loosened one of the strings of her dress. I realized that there’s no bfucking /bsaving her. That this is not just our father’s scheme. “What

happened bto /bbyou/b?”

“What do you meanb?/b”

I stop dancing and just stare at her face. She’s kind and heartwarming when I first met her. Now, I can’t even look at her. “Why are you doing

this?

“I want youb./bb” /b

“That’s it?”

She looks at me. “What bdo /bbyou /bmean that’s it?

Aria also stopped dancing. We were bjust /bin the middle of the crowd now, blooking /blike fucking idiots. It’s a good thing the others already

decided to join us.

“You’re just going to be a whore.” I say mercilessly as I watch the color drain her face “When my father asked you to be my Lane, he doesn’t mean you are good, perfect or a respectable woman. He means, you’re a good breeding material for our family to continue our bloodline.”

Aria’s breath is fast band /bshallow. I curl my lips, not caring that she’s almost tearing up. That’s what she gets crossing me “So if were you, will stop this obsession and just live my life”

After bthat/b, I left her. I don’t fucking care if my father is shouting my name. The crowd shatter in half as I made my way out of the crowd. I don’t know which way I’ll go because I have nothing but Jess in my mind. I’m halfway to my car, my mind nk except for one thing–her–when

see her.

Jessica.

My girl

She was a fucking disaster–hair tangled, dress riding high, a half–empty bottle of wine swinging from her fingers like a weapon she was too drunk to use.

Wine was dripping down her chest, soaking the front of her dress, sticking it to her tits so tight I could see everything. For the love of the moon goddess! I dragged my tongue across my bottom lip because it I didn’t, I was gonna grab her, throw her over my shoulder and drive until we hit a state line.

Instead, I walked. Right toward her.

“Ohhh look,” she slurred, tipping the bottle toward me. “It’s my cheating ex

bAD /b