The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 28

-Ava’s POV

The moment I found the perfect dress after Grayson’s impromptu declaration that I was going to the ball with him, I stared at myself in the m shoulder neckline revealed just enough skin to be alluring, while still remaining elegant. It was adorned with delicate silver beading that caug Like something inside me was about to shift, though I couldn’t bite place what. Isabella had left after I told her how I got scolded which she f Strangely looking forward to tonight.

This night was going to be perfect. After all, I was going to a ball with a king.

That night of perfection washed down the drain the moment my eyes landed on my parents. Why hadn’t I thought they would be here? May Grayson, sensing the shift in my mood, pulled me closer to him. His touch sent a wave of warmth through my body, but it did little to calm th

The four of us-Grayson, my parents, and I-

stood there, staring at each other, the tension thickening by the second.

“You won’t greet your parents, Ava? Is that how we raised you?” My mother’s voice

cut through the air like a blade, cold and sharp. Her words dripped with superiority, as if I were nothing more than an embarrassing inconve

I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. I had had it with this “how you were raised” nonsense. They didn’t raise me- they controlled me. There was a difference.noveldrama

“I thought I wasn’t your daughter anymore,” I replied, my voice steady but edged with bitterness. “You two disowned me, remember? I believ From the corner of my eye, I saw Grayson smile. A small, approving smirk that told me he liked my defiance. I stood straighter, feeling a sur “Watch your tone or else,” he growled, his voice low and menacing. It was the voice that had always made me shrink back as a child, the or

Before I could say anything else, Grayson finally spoke up. His voice

was cold, commanding, and the air seemed to shift around us, the power in his tone undeniable.

“I won’t take kindly to anyone threatening my Luna.”

His words were simple, but the weight they carried was immense. My father’s face twisted

into a sneer, but he didn’t speak, while my mother-

ph, she scoffed. A sharp, dismissive sound that cut through the tension.

“Your Luna?” she scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. “Please. This little rebellion of hers won’t last. She’ll come running back to us soo

I felt my heart stutter in my chest, a wave of doubt washing over me. My mother always had a way of making me feel like a child, like everyt

always acted like she was above everyone, as if she knew better, if she was untouchable. And yet, a part of me-

the part they’d molded since childhood-was still intimidated by them.

Ava!”.

I turned and saw Damien approaching, a wide grin spreading across his face. Without thinking, I smiled back, stepping forward to hug him.

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“You took the words right out of my mouth, little dove,” he replied with a playful glint in his eye, his grin deepening and creating little wrinkles “Little dove?” Grayson’s scoffed, and when I glanced back at him for the first

time, I saw embarrassment flash across his face. Just as quickly, his expression went cold again, neutral, like the moment never happened. I cleared my throat awkwardly, pulling away from Damien, trying to shake off the tension in the air. “Grayson, this is my Uncle Damien. Uncle “The Alpha King,” Damien interrupted with a smirk, extending his hand to Grayson without missing a beat. “I know exactly who he is.” Grayson took his hand with a slow, deliberate movement, his face an unreadable mask of boredom. “It’s nice to meet you, Uncle Damien,” I I shot a look at Grayson, narrowing my eyes at the clear mockery. Why did this man always have to make me want to thank him and throttle Damien, ever the peacemaker, simply laughed, trying to ease the tension. “I didn’t know you were one for jokes. I’ll leave you both to it, thou up…..” His voice trailed off as he glanced over my shoulder. “My nephew’s is coming.”

Before the words had even fully registered, I turned and saw Dylan approaching, and to make things worse, Crystal was with

him.

Perfect. Just perfect

Our eyes met, and Crystal’s smug, triumphant smile made my stomach twist in frustration. I let out a mental groan as she looped her arm ar Could this night get any worse?

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