The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 56

Ava’s POV-

“You are so dann stupid, Ava.”

I muttered the words over and over as I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror, my eyes narrowing at my own reflection. Isabella, standing

I mentally groaned.

Why did I have to say those words to him?

And what was taking Isabella so long!

As if reading my thoughts, she finally turned, drying her hands. let out a sigh, “Finally. Can we go back now? I know you hate going to the ba

She

gave a slow, teasing smirk. “I know. I saw the kiss.”

Rolling my eyes, I replied, “Seriously, Bels. I’m really not in the mood. Let’s just get back.”

Recognizing my tone, she dropped the smirk and nodded. We stepped out together, moving back toward the party when a familiar voice cal

“Ava!”

I turned to see Rickon striding toward us, his usual easygoing, charming smile in place. He looked completely unfazed by the event’s pomp “I’d be hiding too if I married a man who wouldn’t even smile on his wedding day,” he teased lightly.

I chuckled. “Hi, Rickon. I’m so

glad you could make it. And I wasn’t hiding, I was just keeping my friend company.

His gaze slid to Isabella, who was glaring at him, unimpressed. Rickon’s smile widened, a flicker of mischief sparking in his eyes. “Well, be “Not interested,” she deadpanned, folding her arms across her chest.

I watched as a gleam of challenge flickered in his eyes, but he remained cool. “Maybe I didn’t introduce myself properly. Rickon Kingston, A “First of all,” she replied, her tone ice-

cold, “you couldn’t have known I was a werewolf, so that whole “Alpha’ introduction was a foolish move to impress me. And secondly, your Rickon’s smile didn’t falter, if anything, it grew wider. “Very well then, Ava, it’s always a pleasure, he said, and then turned to Isabella, “T’ll co She snorted and grabbed my arm, pulling me away. I shook free as we walked, giving her a stern glare. “That was extremely rude, Bels. He “No, Ava, he was being a slut. I know men like him –

he’s used to getting his way with charm, good looks, and his status. I’m not interested.”

I muttered under my breath, “You know that’s exactly what Grayson said.”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief then she smirked, “Wait, hold on, you didn’t tell me

“Don’t even think abour finishing that sentence.

She laughed. “Fine. But whenever you’re ready, I’m here. We can talk about what really happened up there.”

87%

We headed back toward the wedding hall, the masic growing louder as we got closer. But as soon as we stepped inside, I froze in my tracks “What in the actual hell?” Isabella’s voice trembled, sounding underved for the first time.

Before I could respond, Liam appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, a look of urgency on his face. “You have to get out of here.”

I could feel panic rising in my chest. “What’s going on? Where’s Grayson? Where’s Uncle Damien?”

I rushed back, filling the syringe as his bones started to crack and reform, his body caught mid- shift. Isabella’s eyes turned dark as she tapped into her own wolf strength, pressing him down.

Without a second thought, I raised the needle and drove it straight into his heart, injecting the antidote.

Rickon froze, his breath hitching as the claws and fur slowly retracted, and his eyes returned to their normal color. His breathing steadied, a by the beautiful princess

Isabella pushed him off roughly, her face twisted in disgust. “Get off me, you pig”

I glanced between them, tension still buzzing through my body, “You guys…

what just happened to Rickon is happening to hundreds of wolves in there. There are still humans in that room, and if they haven’t started

I stopped mid-sentence, my breath catching in my throat as I tumed and froze. Standing a few feet away was

Eliza, staring at the three of us with wide, horrified

eyes. She was frozen in shock, her body rigid, as if the world around her had just shattered.

Isabella followed my gaze and let out a frustrated sigh. “Fucking great.”

I stepped forward cautiously, raising my hands in a calming gesture. “Eliza, please just calm

down. I can explain-”

But she had already begun backing away, her eyes darting wildly between the three of us. Her breaths came in panicked gasps, her voice b you’re all monsters.”