His Trouble Maker

JESSICA

Try again?

Fuck that.

I'm done. No more. Since when do | take orders from this asshole?

I hit the ground again, the impact slamming every bit of air out of my lungs. Everything hurts-my legs, my arms,

my ribs, my pride. Especially my pride. It’s the only thing left ofthat hasn't been shattered, and | can feel it

breaking into pieces with every second | stay down here.

I roll onto my side, groaning. Fuck, my body really hurts. My ribs ache with every breath, my muscles scream

with every move. But it’s not just my body. It's everything. I'm lying here, unable to move, too weak to stand,

and | hate it. I hate him.

| close my eyes for a second, just to block out everything. The sun’s warm against my skin, but before | can even

take a proper breath, his shadow falls over me. It’s thick and heavy, blocking out the light, and I instantly feel

the weight of him.

Gray.

| don’t even have to look up to know he’s there, towering overlike he’s skind of god. He doesn’t need to

say anything-his presence alone is enough to suffocate me.

“Giving up already?”

| want to scream at him, rip him apart for enjoying this, but I can’t

even get the words out.

Instead, | just lie there, staring at the ground, trying to get sair into my lungs. My heart's racing, my chest is

tight, and | can barely breathe without feeling like my body's about to give out.

But then, | feel him. His hand-it’s not rough. It’s soft, It shouldn't make my heart race, but it does. His fingers

brush against my shoulder. Barely a touch, but it's enough to makeflinch. | feel the heat of his skin, even

through the dirt. I'm so aware of him, | can’t escape it. | can’t get away from the way his presence presses in on

me, suffocating me.

| turn my head, refusing to look up at him. He's too close. | can feel him watching me, waiting forto crack.

His breath hovers over me, and I'm trying so damn hard not to let it break me.

“Fuck off,” | whisper, voice rough, but it comes out weak. I'm too weak to fight it. | can’t even look at him without

feeling like I'm giving in.

Gray chuckles-low, amused, like he’s enjoying this more than he should.

“I really thought you could last a week/ Jess.”

My pride stings. He doesn’t even have to touchto break me, does he? | fight the urge to look away. | force

myself to meet his eyes, even though the weight of his gaze almost crushes me.

“You just offered because you want to torture me.”

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12:39 Wed, 30 Jul Gti.

Chapter 7

“Then why'd you accept?”

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I blink, my stomach sinking just a little. He's not wrong, but I’m not about to admit that. | don’t need him

thinking he’s gotfigured out.

| want to be the strongest warrior in this village, prove that | can take whatever he throws at me, but I'm not

about to tell him that. He'll just laugh in my face and use it against me.

So instead, | push his hand away with more force than | intend. Fuck him. | don’t need his help. | don’t need

anyone's help.

I'll get up on my own.

| force myself to sit up, grinding my teeth as | do. Every muscle protests, but | refuse to show it. Gray's not

gonna get the

satisfaction of seeingcrumble.

“Weed shelp?”

He extends his hand, that mocking smile playing on his lip. | was stupid to reach for it, thinking he actually have

a heart

before he pulls its back.

My eyes widen.

| freeze for a second, shock racing through me. | don’t even have tto process it before my knees give out,

and suddenly

I'm face-first in the dirt.

“Oooops. You okay there, Jessica?”

| lift my head, everything spinning. The dirt’s caked across my face, and the world is tilting. Above me, Gray

stands, that

stupid smirk still dancing on his lips. He's laughing.

| spit dirt from my mouth, glaring up at him, rage bubbling in my chest.

“Is this funny to you?” I grind out, my voice rough. “You like playing with me, huh?”

He looks down atwith that smug smile. “A little bit,” he says, his voice dripping with amusement. “You make

it too

easy.”

Too easy.

I've been told that my whole life-that I'm weak, that | don’t belong in this family. Hell, I've been told | don’t

deserve to be

here. Every day, someone finds a way to remind me. That I'm nothing but a pretty face. That Ill be lucky if some

strong alpha takesas his housewife.

I'll never be a warrior.

Right now, hearing those words from Gray... feels so fucking sick. | wanted to curse him, scream, rip that smug

look off his face. | wanted to throw everything at him-the rage, the pain, everything I've been holding in. But

then his expression changes.

For a split second, his eyes soften. | don’t even realize that my vision’s blurry until | blink. My chest tightens, and

before! can stop it, the tears start to burn in my eyes.

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12:39 Wed, 30 Jul GE =

Chapter 7

What the hell?

&

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“Hey.” His voice changes. It’s... softer now. A little too soft for my liking. His eyes widen as he watches me,

genuine concern suddenly flashing across his face.

“W-Why are you crying?”

| sniff, wiping my face. Shit. They won't stop. “I'm not crying,” | mutter, but my voice cracks. It's a lie, and | know

i)

“Jess.”

His hand reaches for me, trying to wipe the dirt off my face. | shove it away. Fuck off. | don’t need him. | don’t

need him to pretend to care.

But then he tries again. His hand is there, hovering. | shove him harder this time. My palms hit his chest, hard

enough to send him back a step. | don’t want his hands on me. | don’t want his pity.

“Don’t touch me!” | snap, my voice thick, but | don’t care.

He pauses for a moment, and then-he sighs. “I'm sorry.” | can feel his breath hitting me, heavy, like he’s holding

something back. “Really... | don’t want you to cry,” he murmurs, voice rougher now. “I just...what did | do wrong

Jess?”

“Nothing!” I shove him hard, my palms slamming against his chest with all the force | have left. He stumbles

back but doesn’t fall, and | don’t care. “Nothing! You stupid alpha!”

The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, pure, raw anger that | can’t bottle up anymore. Fuck him.

Fuck this stupid game, fuck the way he stands there, like he’s in control of everything. | want to punch him, hit

him, anything to make him feel what I'm feeling.

But | can’t. | can’t stay here another second.

| turn on my heel, my legs burning with effort, my chest aching from everything that’s left unsaid between us.

I'm done.

Irun.

My breath comes in ragged gasps, each step a reminder of how much | want to leave him behind. | don’t look

back.

I hear him shout, but it's too late. “Jess, wait!”

| don’t stop. | don’t even slow down. | just run, letting the rage and pain pour out with every step.

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