His Trouble Maker

Chapter 190

JESSICA

“Grayson.”

He barely spareda glance before walking away. Oh, so that’s how he wanted to play it? Fine. Two can play.

No. | play better.

| peeled off my clothes, letting them hit the floor. “Still ignoring me?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” he muttered, leaning on the door with that brooding look.

| arched my brow. “Says the one who toldto work on my communication skills.”

“Undressing isn’t communication.”

“Fine. Then let's talk. In the shower.”

His lips twitched, almost impressed, before he yanked his shirt over his head and slammedagainst the

bathroom wall. See? Not exactly what | had in mind. But if | want answers, | need him here, close, distracted.

Grayson’s mouth found my neck, rough and hungry. Heat shot down my spine, but I forced myself to smirk

instead of melt. Focus, Jessica. He's giving you exactly what you need - his guard down.

I slid my fingers into his hair, tugging just hard enough to make him growl. “What is happening to me?”

“This... pull. This bond. Don’t play dumb with me, Grayson. You feel it too.”

His hands flexed at my hips, the slightest hesitation breaking through his control.

“You markedand now | can’t disobey you?” | didn’t want to think about what other games he might be trying

to play, but if he had, he wasn’t going to get the satisfaction. “Start talking, Grayson.”

“I... 1 don’t know what you're talking about.”

“Really? Because it feels like you do.”

He growled, lips grazing my jaw. “Stop spinning this into a game, Jessica.”

| tugged at his hair again, stopping him from devouring me. “WHAT. DID. YOU. DO. GRAYSON?"

“Stop fighting me.”

| laughed, sharp. “Or what? Bite me?”

The bond flared like fire, ripping through my veins, scorching, twisting. My knees nearly buckled. | hissed, claws

scratching the tile.

“You're mine,” he said, voice low, dangerous. His hands pressed my hips, pinning me, pullingflush against

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Chapter 190

him. The mark throbbed, burning hotter with every defiance.

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| jerked back, smirking through the sting, trying to hold onto my fire. “You think this will makesubmit?”

It burned again, sharper, crueler. My pulse spiked, wolf screaming in protest, body betraying my defiance as the

bond yankedcloser, tighter, demanding obedience.

Tears blurred my vision, hot and unwelcome, but | gritted my teeth. “You altered the bond.”

“No.” Grayson crouches in front ofand takes my jaw into his hands. “You are an omega bonded to an alpha.

This is how the bond works.”

“No.”

“Yes. Your wolf is overwhelmed by mine.” His thumb brushed away the tear at my cheek like it was the most

casual cruelty.” But you'll get used to it.”

| let out a sound that wasn’t a laugh. “So I'm supposed to just... endure being yanked around?”

His

gaze didn’t soften. “You can’t stop it. You learn to anchor it, to answer on your terms.”

“Then show me,” | said, cool and sudden. “Now.”

He closed his eyes. “I won't teach you,” he said.

“What-" | started.

“You need to want it,” he snapped. “Begging won't save you.”

The bond yanked. | nearly fell to the floor when Grayson let go of me.

“Grayson!” | screamed.

But the more | hated him, the more it burned inside me. No one warnedabout this. | choked on a sob,

shaking, nails scraping the floorboards, leaving red streaks. “It hurts-"

He didn’t move. Didn't even glance down. The cruel, perfect control in his stillness made my chest tighten, and

betrayal twisted throughlike a knife.

Did he just fool me? Was this all an act? A trap to own me, to bend me, to makeobey?

He was Alpha, and | was tethered, no matter how much | raged.

“You knew this would happen to me.”

His silence hit harder than any bite.

“You... you used me,” | whispered, voice cracking. “All this.... just to makeyours?”

He finally met my gaze, unreadable, cold. “I love you. | did exactly what | had to do.”

BIS]

Chapter 190

2.55 Vouchers

Then he turned. Just like that. Walked away, leavingtrembling, burning, and tethered by the bond that pulled

at my veins like a leash. Hours later, | sat on the edge of the bed, still flushed from the heat inside me.

| tried to find him, storm out of the house, but the moment | moved, fire lanced through my veins. My wolf

growled, claws digging into my skin, yankingback.

“Damn it!” | hissed, flinging clothes across the room. Grayson is makingmad. He thought he’s protecting me

but he’s wrong.

It was almost sundown when Grayson cback. He leaned in the doorway as if nothing had happened.

“Going somewhere?”

I spun on him, flinging clothes at his face. ” | fucking hate you, do you know that?”

He didn’t answer. Grayson stepped over the mess, picking up my discarded clothes, folding them with that

infuriating calm.

“I brought you sdinner.”

“Is that supposed to makehappy?” | snapped. The bond pulsed faintly, tugging at me, reminding| was

tethered. “Why are you doing this to me, Grayson?”

“Talk!” | shouted. “Explain yourself!”

When he didn’t, | followed him, stalking across the kitchen. “You think ignoringwill work?” | spat, stalking

closer, claws flexing, wolf snarling low in my chest.

| swiped at him in frustration, nails catching his shirt-ripping it—and froze. His back was exposed. Fresh, angry

lash marks streaked across his skin.

“Grayson...” | hissed, eyes wide, heart hammering. “What... what happened to you?”

He stiffened, a muscle twitching in his jaw, and quickly moved, trying to cover the marks with his hands. “It's

nothing,” he muttered, voice low, clipped.

| laughed bitterly, sharp and incredulous. “Nothing? Those are not nothing.”

He didn’t meet my eyes, didn’t argue further. “Eat.”

“What are you hiding from me?”

His face becomes cold. It’s chilling how casual he suddenly felt unfamiliar. “Eat Jessica.”

“Are you in trouble?”

“I'm fine. You-" His eyes flicked to mine, and | noticed red swelling on his eyes. ” Let's have our dinner. please.”

It might have been a minute or five before | realized those fresh marks weren't there earlier. That meant he got

them when he went out... and trappedhere.

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Chapter 190

“I want a son.” | blurted out, watching his expression.

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His eyes flicked up, a brief twitch of surprise-or maybe something else-but his mask returned instantly. “We'll

talk later.”

“I want a son and a daughter.” | said, not taking my eyes off him. Grayson looks confused but I think | know what

is happening. My eyes scanned the place and | realized sdisplays have been overturned since the attack.

“Do you think you can givethat?”

We weren't careful. | hadn't told him about the Triad, but if my instincts were right, they were here- watching,

waiting, doing exactly what they did best: terrorizing us.

“Ill give you everything you want Jess.”

Of course he would. “I'm sorry | was such a bitch to you

earlier.”

“Nothing we can’t fix,” he replied, tone neutral, as if we didn’t just try to tear each other apart. “Eat the dinner,

baby. I'll wait for you in our room.”

That was Grayson’s last words before he turned, leavingalone in the kitchen. Two can play this game,

Grayson. And | will not let you get wrecked in my troubles again.

AD