His Trouble Maker

Chapter 50

JESSICA

76%

“You should eat something,” Pierce says, setting a plate beside my bed. It's been forty-eight hours since my

discharge, and | haven't left my

room.

| stare at the food without interest. “Not hungry.”

“Jessica...” His voice softens in that way | can’t stand-pity wrapped in concern.

“Don’t.” | pull myself up to sitting. “Just... don't.”

When he leaves, | drag myself to the bathroom, avoiding my reflection. The shower helps, hot water scalding my

skin until | feel something again, even if it’s just pain. As I'm toweling off, | hear voices outside. One of them is

Grayson'’s. | freeze, strain to listen.

“-shouldn’t be here,” Pierce says.

“I need to see her.”

“You've done enough damage.”

Their voices drop lower, and | press my ear against the door.

“There's something you don’t understand,” Grayson'’s voice sounds desperate.

“It wasn’t about failing her. The council-” The front door slams, cutting off whatever he was about to say. | slowly

slide down the bathroom wall until I'm sitting on the cold tile floor.

The council?

What did they have to do with this?

A thought occurs to me-a dangerous one. What if this isn’t aboutbeing weak at all? What if there's

something else going on-something they're not telling me? | pull myself up, a new determination taking hold. If

Grayson won't tellthe truth, I'll find it myself.

| grab my phone and text the one person who knows everything that happens in this pack: “Theo, | need a favor.

I'll tell you later. Pretty please?”

Damn it. | swear | won't ever ask Theo for favors, but | need answers. My reflection catches my eye-hollow

cheeks, dark circles, hair hanging in wet strands. | look pathetic. Weak. Just like they all think | am.

“Fuck that,” | growl, yanking open drawers, grabbing clothes.

| throw on black jeans and a tank top, not bothering to dry my hair. My muscles ache as | stretch, reminding me

of how long I've been lying in that bed. Wasting time.

My phone buzzes.

Theo: “What kind of favor we talking about?

| type back while shoving my feet into boots: *Access to council records. Last meeting.”

Theo: That's not a favor, that’s suicide. What happened to you?’

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11:17 Tue, 12 Aug

Chapter 50

“I'll explain later. Yes or no?”

| grab my jacket, pull it on with jerky movements. My heart hammers against my ribs-not from fear but from

something else. Rage. Pure, brutal rage that’s been building for days.

Theo: ‘Fine, North entrance. 20 minutes. Don’t be late.

| stuff my phone in my pocket and yank open my bedroom door. Pierce is sitting at the kitchen table, head

snapping up as | storm through.

“Jessica? What are you-"

“Going out,” | cut him off, grabbing my keys from the hook.

He stands quickly, chair scraping. “You're not ready-"

“Not your call.” I whirl around, facing him. “I'm done being coddled. Done with the lies.”

“What lies?” His face pales. “What did Grayson tell you?”

I laugh, harsh and sharp. “Nothing. That's the problem.”

My hand finds the doorknob, twisting it hard. Pierce lunges, grabbing my arm.

“You can't just-"

| wrench away, shoving him back with a strength that surprises us both. “Don’t touch me.”

He stumbles, eyes wide. “Jessica, please-"

“Tellthe truth, then.” | step closer, my voice dropping to something dangerous. “What did the council have to

do with what happened?”

His silence tellseverything.

“That's what | thought.” | turn, yanking the door open.

“They'll cafter you,” Pierce calls as | step outside. “If you start asking questions-"

I look back over my shoulder, a cold smile forming. “Let them try. I've got nothing left to lose.”

The door slams behindas | stride into the night. My ribs ache with each step. But I'm done crying, done

waiting for Grayson to decide I'm strong enough for the truth.

Fuck his worried eyes and that goddamn frown when I try to do anything for myself.

“Overprotective asshole,” | mutter, kicking a stone across the pavement. It skitters away into darkness like my

patience did about three days

ago.

My phone buzzes again. Grayson has been calling me. | don’t care about him. | don’t want to care about him.

“Go to hell,” I snarl, hitting decline and shoving it back in my pocket.

| hate how my body betrays me-how despite everything, | still catch myself watching him, wanting him. | hate

how he makesfeel safe even when I'm furious with him. I hate how much I crave his touch even while I'm

plotting to go behind his back. Most of all, | hate how I can’t actually hate him, no matter how hard try...

“Goddammit,” | mutter, wiping angrily at my eyes.

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11:17 Tue, 12 Aug

Chapter 50

I'm only on the street for two minutes when | sense it—a shadow shifting where it shouldn't.

My pulse quickens. The streetlights flicker, casting long, dark fingers across the pavement. Fuck, | shouldn't have

calone.

| pick up my pace, boots scuffing against concrete. The shadow moves again.

“Who's there?” | call out, hating how my voice wavers.

Nothing.

| reach for my phone, fingers trembling. Before | can grab it, something-someone-slams intofrom behind. A

hand clamps over my mouth, muffling my scream as I'm shoved roughly against a tree trunk.

>

“You shouldn't be out here alone,” a low voice growls in my ear, hot breath against my neck.

| thrash against his grip, but he’s solid muscle, pinningeffortlessly. My heart hammers so loud | swear he can

hear it.

Then he spinsaround, and | find myself staring into the coldest blue eyes I've ever seen.

Theo.

“Shut. The fuck. Up.”

| bite down on his palm-hard.

“Fucking hell!” The pressure releases for just a second.

| drive my knee up, aiming for his groin, but he twists, catching my thigh with his. My head whips back,

connecting with the tree again.

“Would you stop fighting for two goddamn seconds?” the voice growls, lower now. Familiar.

“Get your fucking hands off me,” | spit when he cautiously removes his palm.

He doesn’t move back though, just plants his hands on either side of my head. “No can do, sweetheart. There's a

patrol two blocks down.”

“I don’t give a shit-"

“Yeah, well, maybe you should.” His face is inches from mine, all sharp angles and barely contained fury.

“Because if they catch you heading to the council building like you're on shalf-assed suicide mission, your

boyfriend Grayson isn’t the only one who'll be screwed.”

My chest heaves against his. “He’s not my-"

“Save it,” Theo cutsoff. “I really don’t care what you call him while you're making those little whimpering

sounds in the training room.”

Heat rushes to my face. “Fuck you.”

A dangerous smile curls his mouth. “Maybe later. Right now we need to move.”

He finally steps back, and the cold air rushes between us. | hate how my skin still burns where he touched me.

“I'm not going anywhere with you Theo,” | say, but it sounds weak even to my ears.

Theo's eyes flick over my shoulder. “Suit yourself. Stay here, let them find you. I'm sure Grayson would love

explaining why his precious little trainee was sneaking around restricted areas.”

| clench my jaw so hard it hurts. “You're still so stupid. Do you know that?”

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Chapter 50

“Baby, I'm your first love.” He leans in again, his breath hot against my ear. “Since when did you becso

feisty, huh?”

That's not true.

Theo assumes we dated.

His hand wraps around my wrist, tugginginto the shadows. | should pull away. | should scream. | should do

anything but follow this asshole into the dark.

But I don’t.

Instead, | let him dragdeeper into the corridor, my pulse racing beneath his fingertips. His touch burns

against my skin, and | hate how my body betrayswith a shiver.

“Still responsive to my touch, | see,” Theo says, his voice dropping to that dangerous rumble that used to make

my knees weak.

“Fuck you,” | spit out, yanking my arm back, but he just tightens his grip and pullscloser.

“That an offer?” His smirk is infuriating, all lazy confidence and sharp edges. He backsagainst the wall, one

hand planted beside my head. “Because | remember how much you used to beg for it.”

My heart hammers so hard I'm sure he can hear it. The corridor feels too small, too hot, too everything with him

crowding my space.

“Get off me,” I hiss, but it lacks the conviction | need.

His thumb traces my bottom lip, rough and possessive. “Your mouth says one thing, but your body...” He leans

closer, his thigh sliding between mine. “Your body remembers me.”

Fury floods my system, hot and thick. | shove him back with both hands. “You don’t know shit about me

anymore. You lost that right when

you-"

“When | what?” His eyes flash, dangerous and wild. “When | did exactly what someone likewas supposed to

do?”

He's so close | can smell him. “You're pathetic,” | breathe, hoping he can’t feel the tremble in my voice.

Theo laughs, low and dark. “Maybe. But I'm not the one who asks for favors here, pup.”

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AD

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