The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 73

-Grayson’s POV-

Ava was right.

One alpha dying might have been an unfortunate accident. Twould have been a grim coincidence. But three.. three was unmistakably a patt a responsibility I took reluctantly but seriously.

For the last twenty minutes. I’d been on the phone with Daniel, one of the alphas I tolerated more than most, attempting calm his nerves. He

I let out a weary sigh, glancing up at the house, wondering if I’d finally get a moment of quiet when my phone buzzed again. The irritation w He didn’t wait. “Three alphas are dead,” he snapped.

“I’m aware,” I replied, my tone clipped.

“I’m an alpha too, Grayson.”

I rolled my eyes, barely containing my frustration. “Are you calling just to state the obvious

“No, I’m calling because I prefer staying alive, and if someone’s targeting alphas, we need to handle this. Together”

1 raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “We? Just because we’re aligned doesn’t mean I have to do anything with you, Rickon. I barely tolerate you as it is.”

“Under normal circumstances, I’d pretend that didn’t sting, but there’s no time for sarcasm. This is serious.”

“I’ll handle it,” I said, my patience fraying. “And if I decide I need an alpha’s help, I can assure you it won’t be yours. You’ve never been capa He hesitated, then his voice softened. “I know you’re about to hang up, but just listen. I’ve grown a lot these past few days. Maybe you have “I was there,” I deadpanned, unimpressed.

“I know, I just thought a reminder would make things more sentimental. You know, we’re basically family now. “I could hear the grin in his vo live years without collapse. I’m

trying to prove myself worthy of my mate, to think beyond just myself. Let me help,”

I sighed, already regretting what I was about to say. “Fine. I’m dealing with something at the moment, but I’ll send you the details later. Don’

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Without waiting for his response, I ended the call and pushed open the front door. The house was unusually quiet. Maria and Ava were now

matter.

“What the hell are you doing?” My voice was cold, slicing through the silence.

Maria’s head snapped up, her expression uneasy as I closed the distance. “Grayson, I can explain.”

“Explain quickly. What is this spell?”

She straightened, a nervous edge to her voice, “I sent her into her subconscious, to help her connect with her wolf. It’s it’s what the wolf sug “You did this without consulting me?” My voice dropped dangerously low.

“Because I knew you’d say no,” she replied defensively. “But Avayanted this. She needed answers.”

“And I would have said no for a reason,” I bit out, stepping closer to the circle. “This ends now.”

I moved toward Ava, but Maria’s voice sharpened, “It’s already in motion, Grayson. If you interfere now, you could do serious damage to her

1 froze, studying her face. There was a flicker of something there—

fear, maybe even guilt. “What did you do, Maria? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Okay, don’t get mad-“.

“I’m already mad,” I interrupted, my tone seething. “What did you do?”

But just as I was about to walk away, Ava’s body jerked violently within the circle, her face contorting in agony. Blood

trickled down her cheek, stack against her pale skin. My heart lurched, a feeling I hadn’t known since… since her. Since I stared at my m “What’s happening?” My voice was strained, colder than ice, but the panic seeped through regardless.

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Maria’s own fear was visible now. She quickly resumed chanting her voice trembling. “I—

I don’t know. The calming spell… it’s not working. I’ve never seen this before.”

Ava began to mumble incoherently, her words swallowed by the intensity of her shaking. And then, suddenly, a bright light crupted from the “No, no, no.” Maria’s voice was shaking now, her face drained of color. She looked down at the candles surrounding the circle, their flamesnoveldrama

I forced myself to stay calm, even though dread was clawing its way through my chest. “Maria,” I said, barely recognizing my own voice. “W Her gaze met mine, her eyes/

“It means the spell has ended. She’s she’s out of time.”

I felt my stomach drop. I turned to Ava, forcing myself to take slow, steady steps toward her. The sight of her still body brought back a memo

a memory of another lifeless figure, of a boy kneeling beside his mother. whispering for her to wake up. I knelt down, my hand hovering just or what I might not feel.

It was as if I’d been

pulled back in time, to that devastating moment when everything I’d loved had been torn away. I pressed my fingers to Ava’s neck, searching

The silence was deafening, an emptiness that swallowed the air around me. I leaned down, my voice barely above a whisper, the same wor

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