The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 162

Ava’s POV-

“Find my fated mate.”

Those four words echoed in my mind, reverberating so loudly that they seemed to shake the very foundation of my soul. I felt their weight, sharp and cold, as though they were slicing through me.

Grayson let out a heavy sigh, pulling me into his lap. His strong arms encircled me, and despite the chaos in my mind, I couldn’t deny how safe I felt in his embrace. Maybe, under different circumstances, I would have focused on how comfortable and secure this position made me feel. But right now?

I wasn’t his fated mate.

That realization settled heavily on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I’d never considered this before-not once. Dylan had been mine, my fated mate, but that bond had been severed, and Grayson was my second chance. Somehow, through everything, I had convinced myself that we were it—that the story was meant to be about us but this changed everything, He had a fated máte out there somewhere.

The words stumbled from my lips before I could stop them. “Do you… do you know who she is? Or where she is?”

My voice trembled despite my best efforts to stay composed. The thought of losing him, of him leaving me, was unbearable.

Grayson’s eyes softened as he brushed a strand of hair away from my face. His touch was gentle, reassuring. “Listen to me,” he said, his tone firm but tender. “I’ll find another way to break this curse. I don’t plan on finding her or mating with her. Do you understand?”

I nodded weakly, but the tears I hadn’t even realized were falling betrayed me. My hand shot up to wipe them away, but he pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me so tightly that it felt like he was trying to merge us into one.

“It’s me and you,” he murmured against my hair. “No predestiny, no curse, nothing is going to change that,”

I wanted to believe him. No, I needed to believe him. The thought of a reality where he wasn’t mine was too painful to accept. I already knew I loved him. With every fiber of my being. I loved him even though I couldn’t find the right time to say it. It was why I’d thrown myself in front of him without a second thought, why I’d put myself in danger to protect him.

The word I thought I heard my wolf whisper when I fell backwards was: Mate but now I knew I had just heard what I wanted

1. to.

It wasn’t possible. It wasn’t true. I wasn’t his fated mate, but as I felt his hands pull me even closer, holding me as though I was the most precious thing in the world, I had never felt more like I belonged.

A sudden growl interrupted the moment, and it took me a second to realize it came from me. Or rather, my stomach.

Heat rushed to my face as I pulled away, embarrassed. Grayson raised an amused brow, a small smile

tugging at the corners of his lips. “Technically, we haven’t eaten in two months.”

名

I let out a shaky laugh, feeling some of the tension ease.

Before I could respond, he stood, lifting me effortlessly and placing me on the bed as though I weighed nothing. He shrugged off his suit jacket, tossing it onto a nearby chair, and loosened his tie with one hand.

“What are you doing?” I asked, watching him curiously as he rolled up his sleeves.

11:43 Tue, Jan 21 ⚫ Gnoveldrama

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He glanced at me with that rare, soft look he only ever gave me Making you

dinner.”

The absurdity of it made me laugh, a single tear slipping down ly cheek from the remnants of earlier emotions. “It’s morning,” I pointed out.

“Breakfast, then.”

He reached for me, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. His grip was firm but gentle, and I couldn’t help but feel warmth spread through me. Together, we walked out of the room and down the quiet hallways. The only sounds were our footsteps and the occasional nod of acknowledgment from the warriors stationed throughout the estate.

When we reached the kitchen, Grayson dismissed the two warriors standing outside. They exchanged surprised glances before bowing and walking away.

He turned to face me fully, his expression shifting to something softer, more serious. For a moment, we just stood there, the air between us charged with an unspoken tension.

His hand came up to cup my face, his thumb brushing lightly against my cheek. I didn’t realize I’d stopped breathing until he leaned in, closing the distance between us.

When his lips met mine, it was like everything else faded away. The curse, the uncertainty, the fear-it all dissolved in that

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single, electrifying moment.

His arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer as the kiss deened. I clung to him, my fingers tangling in his hair. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted ine effortlessly, carrying me back to the counter.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding onto him like he was my lifeline, his hands settling on my hips as he pulled back just enough to meet my gaze.

“Grayson…”

His name came out as barely more than a whisper, but he silenced me with another kiss, stealing the breath from my lungs.

In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the curse, not fate, not the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

There was only us.

I pulled away just enough to glance at the kitchen door, my heart racing for more reasons than one. I knew exactly where this was heading, and the thought both thrilled and unnerved me. My voice came out breathy as I met his gaze. “Someone could walk in… or hear us.”

His lips curved into a slow, breathtaking smile, one that made my stomach flutter. “Then let them,” he murmured, his voice low and full of confidence.

Before I could respond, he closed the distance between us, smashing his lips on mine once more.