Chapter 182
Chapter 162
Ava’s POV-
“Find my fated mate.”
Those four words echoed in my mind, reverberating so loudly that they seemed to shake the very foundation of my soul. I felt their weight, sharp and cold, as though they were slicing through me.
Grayson let out a heavy sigh, pulling me into his lap. His strong arms encircled me, and despite the chaos in my mind, I couldn’t deny how safe I felt in his embrace. Maybe, under different circumstances, I would have focused on how comfortable and secure this position made me feel. But right now?
I wasn’t his fated mate.
That realization settled heavily on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I’d never considered this before–not once. Dylan had been mine, my fated mate, but that bond had been severed, and Grayson was my second chance. Somehow, through everything, I had convinced myself that we were it–that the story was meant to be about us but this changed everything, He had a fated máte out there somewhere.
The words stumbled from my lips before I could stop them. “Do you… do you know who she is? Or where she is?”
My voice trembled despite my best efforts to stay composed. The thought of losing him, of him leaving me, was unbearable.
Grayson’s eyes softened as he brushed a strand of hair away from my face. His touch was gentle, reassuring. “Listen to me,” he said, his tone firm but tender. “I’ll find another way to break this curse. I don’t plan on finding her or mating with her. Do you understand?”
I nodded weakly, but the tears I hadn’t even realized were falling betrayed me. My hand shot up to wipe them away, but he pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me so tightly that it felt like he was trying to merge us into one.
“It’s me and you,” he murmured against my hair. “No predestiny, no curse, nothing is going to change that,”
I wanted to believe him. No, I needed to believe him. The thought of a reality where he wasn’t mine was too painful to accept. I already knew I loved him. With every fiber of my being. I loved him even though I couldn’t find the right time to say it. It was why I’d thrown myself in front of him without a second thought, why I’d put myself in danger to protect him.
The word I thought I heard my wolf whisper when I fell backwards was: Mate but now I knew I had just heard what I wanted
- to.
It wasn’t possible. It wasn’t true. I wasn’t his fated mate, but as I felt his hands pull me even closer, holding me as though I was the most precious thing in the world, I had never felt more like I belonged.
A sudden growl interrupted the moment, and it took me a second to realize it came from me. Or rather, my stomach.
Heat rushed to my face as I pulled away, embarrassed. Grayson raised an amused brow, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Technically, we haven’t eaten in two months.”
名
I let out a shaky laugh, feeling some of the tension ease.
Before I could respond, he stood, lifting me effortlessly and placing me on the bed as though I weighed nothing. He shrugged off his suit jacket, tossing it onto a nearby chair, and loosened his tie with one hand.
“What are you doing?” I asked, watching him curiously as he rolled up his sleeves.
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Chapter 162
He glanced at me with that rare, soft look he only ever gave me Making you
dinner.”
The absurdity of it made me laugh, a single tear slipping down ly cheek from the remnants of earlier emotions. “It’s morning,” I pointed out.
“Breakfast, then.”
He reached for me, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. His grip was firm but gentle, and I couldn’t help but feel warmth spread through me. Together, we walked out of the room and down the quiet hallways. The only sounds were our footsteps and the occasional nod of acknowledgment from the warriors stationed throughout the estate.
When we reached the kitchen, Grayson dismissed the two warriors standing outside. They exchanged surprised glances before bowing and walking away.
It was only when I turned back to him that I noticed the faint smile playing on his lips. It wasn’t a frown or a neutral expression. He was smiling and this one was different–softer, more genuine.
He opened the kitchen door, revealing the massive, empty space. Without the Omegas bustling around, it felt even larger than usual.
“You’re serious about this,” I teased, unable to hide my amusement.
Instead of responding, he stepped closer, pulling me to him again. His hands found my waist, and before I could protest, he lifted me and set me on the cold marble counter.
Let out a startled squeal, giggling as I tried to adjust to the chill. “It’s cold!”
“Stay put,” he ordered, his voice low but full of warmth.
I stayed where I was, watching as he moved around the kitchen with surprising ease. It was fascinating, seeing this side of him–the softer, domestic side he didn’t let anyone else see.
“What are you making?” I asked after a while, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“You’ll see.”
I watched him work, the way his hands moved with practiced precision as he grabbed ingredients and utensils. There was something oddly mesmerizing about it.
Unable to resist, I hopped off the counter and moved closer to see what he was doing. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye but didn’t say anything as I stood beside him, peeking over his shoulder.
“Is that supposed to be an omelet?” I teased, noting the slightly uneven mixture he was whisking.
He smirked, pausing to glance at me. “Careful, or you’ll end up doing the cooking.”
I rolled my eyes, nudging him playfully. “I’ll take my chances.”
€
He turned to face me fully, his expression shifting to something softer, more serious. For a moment, we just stood there, the air between us charged with an unspoken tension.
His hand came up to cup my face, his thumb brushing lightly against my cheek. I didn’t realize I’d stopped breathing until he leaned in, closing the distance between us.
When his lips met mine, it was like everything else faded away. The curse, the uncertainty, the fear–it all dissolved in that
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Chapter 162
single, electrifying moment.
His arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer as the kiss deened. I clung to him, my fingers tangling in his hair. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted ine effortlessly, carrying me back to the counter.
I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding onto him like he was my lifeline, his hands settling on my hips as he pulled back just enough to meet my gaze.
“Grayson…”
His name came out as barely more than a whisper, but he silenced me with another kiss, stealing the breath from my lungs.
In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the curse, not fate, not the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
There was only us.
I pulled away just enough to glance at the kitchen door, my heart racing for more reasons than one. I knew exactly where this was heading, and the thought both thrilled and unnerved me. My voice came out breathy as I met his gaze. “Someone could walk in… or hear us.”
His lips curved into a slow, breathtaking smile, one that made my stomach flutter. “Then let them,” he murmured, his voice low and full of confidence.
Before I could respond, he closed the distance between us, smashing his lips on mine once more.
