His Trouble Maker

Chapter 34

GRAYSON

I'm so fucking done.

| tip the glass back, bourbon searing down my throat, but it’s not enough to numb it. Across the clearing the

pack’s celebrating like they're at

a fucking carnival Banners, bonfire, laughter. All for me. All for the death of the only goddamn thing ever wanted.

Lalmost begged him. | almost fucking begged the old man not to do this to me

But | knew better knew it wouldn't change a thing. It would only makelook weaker. Make it worse.

He fucking sold me. Tied my future to Aria’s fucking bloodline because her father offered the right bribe at the

right time. And if so much as blink wrong tonight-difuck this up-he’ll call Riot back from whatever hole he’s been

rotting in and hand him the blessing to be the next Alpha.

The pack would never survive that. Jessica would never survive that. | grip the glass so hard it creaks, the urge

to smash it against the nearest

tree almost overwhelming

I could kill Riot. I could kill him in three seconds flat, easy, like breaking the neck of a rabbit. But Aria... Aria

would takedown with her

She made that crystal fucking clear the last twe spoke, Drop her name, she said, and she'd ruin me. Drag

my nthrough the mud until there was nothing left.

What fucking choice do | have?

| can’t do a fucking thing except pour another drink with hands that won't stop shaking and pretend this isn’t

killing me.

“Are you okay?” Pierce asked. He pours himself another drink while we both look at the crowd. The

announcement has been made earlier as a surprise. “I didn’t know you're getting married.”

| sport-

adry, humorless sound that feels like it scrapes my throat raw.

“Yeah, | mutter. neither.”

He laughs under his breath. | want to smash the glass in my hand against the wall just to hear something break

besides myself

Instead, | shove the drink back, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand as the fire burns down to my gut

“So,” Pierce draws, tilting his glass towardwith a smirk. “Am | your best man?”

| bark a laugh, ugly and hollow. “You volunteering?” | snap.

Pierce chuckles. | know he’s got a lot of fucking questions, especially after seeingbegging his little sister to

stay withlike spathetic fuck

“I mean,” he says lazily, swirling his bourbon wound like we're just two guys shooting the shit, “if you need

someone to hold the ring, carry the coffin, whatever you call this mess...”

| shift my stance, crossing my arms, uncrossing them, taking another drink just to have something to do with my

hands.

“fucking wish...“I muller, voice rough and low. | press the heel of my hand against my mouth for a second, like |

could shove the word back down, but they keep coming “I fucking wish none of this was happening.” | turn

toward him, biting the inside of my cheek so hard | taste blood. My voice scrapes out raw “Is she here?”

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Pierce is an eyebrow. “You mean Jess?” he says, like he’s amused. “She's around. Probably at the bar getting a

third glass of wel

Third glass.

Because of me.

The next words crawl up my throat like glass.

“Did | make her...”

I swallow hard

The shis a fucking noose around my neck.

Cry!”

It sounds pathetic even to me.

Weak Small.

But it's the only thing | care about anymore.

Pierce looks atfor a long second, the smirk sliding off his face.

His mouth pulls into a grim line.

“Every night,” he says finally, quiet and mean and real “Good job, asshole”

A few minutes later, | was called by my father and | was forced to have a dance with Arla for everyone.

“| feel so lucky,” she says, the words dripping off her tongue. The arrogance in her voice, the way she presses in

closer, it makes my stomach burn. “You're everything I've ever wanted, Grayson,” she breathes, her voice law,

teasing. Her hand slides down my chest again, leaving that burning trail of her touch,

If the whole pack is not watching, | probably had my hand on her throat, watching her struggle to breath. “Shut

up and just dance Aria”

“Oooh, Is my baby Grayson pissed right now! She chuckles, ptoe a little bit until her lips is almost brushing at my

ear.“You know, we can get out of here and have a little fun.”

People giggle at our direction, | am very tempted to push her.

Aria loosened one of the strings of her dress. | realized that there's no fucking saving her. That this is not just our

father’s scheme. “What

happened to you?”

“What do you mean?”

| stop dancing and just stare at her face. She’s kind and heartwarming when | first met her. Now, | can’t even

look at her. “Why are you doing

this?

“lI want you.”

“That's it?”

She looks at me. “What do you mean that’s it?

Aria also stopped dancing. We were just in the middle of the crowd now, looking like fucking idiots. It's a good

thing the others already

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decided to join us.

“You're just going to be a whore.” | say mercilessly as | watch the color drain her face “When my father asked

you to be my Lane, he doesn’t mean you are good, perfect or a respectable woman. He means, you're a good

breeding material for our family to continue our bloodline.”

Aria’s breath is fast and shallow. | curl my lips, not caring that she’s almost tearing up. That's what she gets

crossing“So if were you, will stop this obsession and just live my life”

After that, | left her. | don’t fucking care if my father is shouting my name. The crowd shatter in half as | made

my way out of the crowd. | don’t know which way I'll go because | have nothing but Jess in my mind. I'm halfway

to my car, my mind blank except for one thing-her-when

see her.

Jessica.

My girl

She was a fucking disaster-hair tangled, dress riding high, a half-empty bottle of wine swinging from her fingers

like a weapon she was too drunk to use.

Wine was dripping down her chest, soaking the front of her dress, sticking it to her tits so tight I could see

everything. For the love of the moon goddess! | dragged my tongue across my bottom lip because it | didn’t, |

was gonna grab her, throw her over my shoulder and drive until we hit a state line.

Instead, | walked. Right toward her.

“Ohhh look,” she slurred, tipping the bottle toward me. “It’s my cheating ex

AD