The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 94

-Ava’s POV-

The moment Grayson told

me about the attack, I texted Isabella. Rickon was the target this time, and from the panic in Isabella’s reply, I knew she was already on her

Unrelated to the current chaos, I made a mental note: *Play matchmaker.* Isabella and Rickon were practically made for each other- if only they could see it. As confident as Isabella liked to appear, deep down, she was a hopeless romantic who longed for a true mate bond We arrived at Rickon’s mansion, and I had to stifle a groan. Why do all the Alphas get the mansions? Seriously, was it writte into some unsp Before I could dwell on the injustice of it all, Grayson took my hand and led me

inside. The warmth of his grip made it impossible not to smile, even as I reminded myself that this wasn’t the time for inappropriate grins. Th As we walked through the grand hall, heads bowed respectfully in Grayson’s direction. He pulled me a little closer, and my stomach fluttered Focus, Ava. Serious situation, remember?

But the smile slipped from my face entirely when we stepped into the living room. Rickon sat on the couch, covered in bruises, arguing with “I told you, I’ll heal on my own!” Rickon groaned, shifting uncomfortably.

“And I told you,” Isabella snapped, her glare sharp enough to make even Rickon flinch, “that until then, this will help with the pain. But if you “My whole body hurts!” Rickon protested.

“Which is why I told you to use the ice pack in the first place!”

I glanced at Grayson, unsure if we should intervene. “Should we step in?”

Grayson surprised me with his response. “Is that what we look like when we argue?”

I laughed, unable to help myself. “No, that’s what I look like. Rickon seems to enjoy the banter. You, on the other hand, always look like you’ Grayson’s lip twitched, almost as if he wanted to smile. I nudged his hand playfully. “Don’t worry, I’ve decided to put up with it.”

Without waiting for a response, I moved toward Rickon and Isabella. “Rickon, I’m really glad you’re okay” Then I turned to Isabella, grinning. Isabella glared at me, narrowing her eyes.

“Now you see how annoying you are when you

do that.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but Grayson stepped forward, cutting her off. “Why did you call me here?”

Okay, clearly someone needed a lesson in compassion. I sighed. What Grayson meant to say was that he’s glad you survived the attack, a Grayson

shot me a glare, his default reaction whenever I spoke for him, but then his expression softened. He sighed. “Yes.”noveldrama

09:20 Wed, Dec 18 @

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Rickon’s grin stretched wide, despite the obvious pain it caused him. “Smiling hurts like hell right now, but this is so for the day I finally mad

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Grayson warned, his voice cold as ice.

Rickon rolled his eyes but pushed himself to his feet, grimacing Come on, I’ll show you.”

Isabella and I instinctively moved to follow, but Rickon turned, fixing us both with a stern look. “I was

talking to Grays You two stay here. Especially you,” he said, pointing at Isabella.

I opened my mouth to protest, but Grayson’s voice cut through the air like a blade. “Stay here.”

I huffed as the two of them disappeared down the hall. “What do you think you’re doing?” Isabella asked, arching a bro

1. me.

“They told us to stay here,” I replied, though even I could hear the reluctance in my voice.

She rolled her eyes. “I almost forgot-

you were the queen of doing as you are told and trying to change these days. Con on, we’re following them.”

“But-”

“Right now, Lilian,” she snapped, already moving toward the hall.

I groaned but sprang to my feet. “Yes, ma’am.”.

The mansion was even larger than I’d realized. “This place is huge,” I whispered as we tiptoed down the hall.

Isabella smirked. “Of course it is. Alphas and their oversized egos always need oversized houses.”

I grinned despite myself. “You know, Rickon was just attacked, and you still rushed here. Maybe his oversized ego isn’t suc a bad thing.” She glared at me, her cheeks tinged pink. “Don’t start.”

We fell silent as we approached a door left slightly ajar. Rickon’s voice drifted through the gap.

“Are you sure about this?” he was asking.

Isabella grabbed my arm, motioning for me to stop. We pressed ourselves against the wall, listening.

Rickon sighed. “We managed to catch three of them this time. Two killed themselves before we could question them. The third… bit out his

My stomach twisted at the thought. Isabella’s grip on my arm tightened, and I could feel the same dread I was experiencing reflected in her “What the hell are they so afraid of?” Rickon continued, his voice heavy. “What’s this person offering—

or threatening-that makes them so desperate to stay silent?”

I swallowed hard and whispered to Isabella, “Maybe we shouldn’t be here.”

But before she could respond, Rickon’s voice rose. “You two

“What in the hell?” Isabella’s voice broke the silence, sharp and horrified.

Rickon turned his glare on her, his expression darkening. “Is this what you both wanted to

see?”

I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t even move. My feet felt rooted to the spot as my mind tried to process

the horrific scene before:

1. me.

quiet, but there was an edge to it that made my skin prickle. “This isn’t something you should be involved in. Either of you.”

Grayson stepped forward, blocking my view of the glass. His voice was

But I wasn’t listening. My gaze shifted back to the mirror, drawn once again to the bloodied man in the chair. His face was barely recogniz

“Ava,” Grayson’s voice snapped me back to reality, his hand gripping my arm firmly. “We’re leaving.”

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I barely registered his words. My attention was locked on the man in the chair, on the faint spark of recognition that was slowly solidifying int

Where had I seen him before?

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The thought clawed at my mind, refusing to be ignored. I took a step forward, my pulse pounding in my ears. The more I stared at him, the c The gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it.

“I know that man.”

The room fell deathly silent.

My voice trembled as I continued, my words spilling out before I could think them through. “He’s… one of my father’s men

M

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