Chapter 92
Chapter 92
Aria’s POV
I immediately turned around, ready to run back. But Nova tried to stop me,
“Wait, Aria! It could be dangerous-”
But I didn’t care. I shoved her aside and ran against the panicked crowd, heading straight for the main hall.
Just moments ago, the atmosphere there had been calm and elegant, filled with smiling guests sipping champagne. But now? The tension in the air was thick. People stood pressed against the walls, all staring toward the center of the room with wide eyes.
I immediately saw Grayson in the middle of the room.
His face was cold, fists clenched tight, and his powerful Alpha aura crackled in the air like a storm.
Standing across from him was a man in his fifties.
The moment I saw him, I knew I didn’t like him. His sunken eyes, hooked nose, and sharp cheekbones all screamed bitterness. He looked like the kind of man who hated everything and everyone.
“What the hell is this?”
The man sneered, narrowing his eyes at Grayson. His voice was low and cold. “You begged us to come, Grayson. If the White River Pack’s not
welcome, we can leave right now.”
“invited guests who came in peace, not enemies with hidden agendas,” Grayson growled darkly, his gray eyes cutting to the group behind
the man. “Care to explain why you brought so many soldiers?”
He wasn’t exaggerating.
Behind the Alpha stood at least a few dozen soldiers, fully armed. They all had guns in hand, loaded, and all aimed at Grayson and the guests
behind him.
Holy shit.
It looked like they were ready to shoot the place up.
The man gave a humorless laugh. “Oh, you mean these soldiers? They’re only for my protection. Who knows what could happen? After all, your dear father did brutally invade my pack years ago.”
That stirred the room.
Whispers broke out instantly. I even caught words like “brutal” and “tyrant.” That war Grayson’s father started was largely criticized, and to this day, Grayson was still paying for his father’s sins. It wasn’t fair.
“I’m not my father,” Grayson said, his voice steady. “Now tell your soldiers to lower their weapons.”
Alpha Otto shrugged. “No freaking way. To me, you’re just like him. Another hypocrite. For all I know, you might shoot me the second I let my guard down.”
Neither of them was willing to back down. The tension rose again immediately.
That’s when I heard the sound of heels. Sharp, deliberate, cutting through the silence.
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Chapter 92
Isla stepped out of the crowd.
“Otto!”
She called his name sweetly, and just like that, the hostility vanished from his face. He grinned, opened his arms, and hugged her tight.
“My dear Isla. You’re the only good thing about this place.”
“I’m glad to see you too.” Isla smiled. “I trust you’ve met Grayson?”
“Oh, yes. If I had known he was this paranoid, I wouldn’t have bothered showing up,” Otto said with a sneer.
“Paranoid? You showed up to a medical summit with an army. Now who’s the paranoid one?” Grayson snapped.
“If you don’t want me here, I can leave right now.”
“Enough, both of you,” Isla raised her voice. She placed a hand on Otto’s shoulder and gave him a disapproving look. “I arranged this meeting so you two could talk it through, not to turn this into a fight. Otto, please have your soldiers step outside.”
Otto raised an eyebrow. “Really? You’re siding with him? What about my safety?”
She replied in a soft voice, “As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to you. You trust me, don’t you?”
“I trust you. I just don’t trust him,” Otto said, glaring at Grayson.
Then Isla turned to Grayson, her voice softer. “Can I get your word? That you won’t harm Alpha Otto or anyone from the White River Pack? You know, for our old time’s sake?”
Grayson’s jaw was tight. He looked like he wanted to tell both of them to get the hell out.
God, I wished he would.
But after a long pause of silence, he exhaled and said quietly, “Of course. Every guest at this summit is welcome.”
Isla lit up instantly. “Wonderful. Did you hear that, Otto?”
“Oh, I heard. Only you could get two enemies to share a room without bloodshed, my dear.” Otto squeezed her shoulder and gave a sarcastic laugh. “Really, I’m jealous, Grayson. Isla fought so hard to bring me here and she did it for you. You should be grateful.”
Isla smiled shyly and glanced at Grayson. “It’s nothing. I’d do anything for him.”
I clenched my fists.
This woman was seriously testing my patience.
“Please help yourself to a drink. The opening ceremony will begin shortly,” Grayson said flatly. I was glad he didn’t thank Isla or anything.
Otto and his soldiers finally backed off, and the air in the hall loosened a little. Guests started to mingle again.
I immediately walked up to Grayson, And I was just in time to catch Isla whispering to him:
“…this is a good start. We should keep it going. Maybe you could invite Otto to dinner after the ceremony.-”
“You can’t be serious!” I cut her off, my voice sharp. “He stormed in here with a goddamn army ready to shoot everyone dead. How’s that a good start?”
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Chapter 92
Isla’s smile dimmed slightly. “Everything takes progress, especially diplomacy. I don’t expect you to understand how complicated this is, Miss Collins, but I’d appreciate it if you stayed out of it.”
Fucking hell.
Did she just make me sound like some ignorant little bitch?
I turned to Grayson, frustrated. “That man’s a bully, Grayson. Don’t let him strut around here like he owns the place. Send him away. We’ll find another way to fix my issue.”
Grayson didn’t answer right away. His brows were drawn in deep thought.
Then Isla jumped in with that same smug tone. “Another way? Well it’s easy for you to say because you’ve done nothing so far. Yet Grayson’s been working nonstop to find a solution for you. And I went through hell to bring Otto here. Now you’re shutting everything off just because you don’t like it? Honestly, Aria, it’s time to grow up.”
My face burned. I clenched my fists tighter.
“I’m not against it just because I’m upset,” I said quickly. “That man clearly has bad intentions-”
“You don’t even know him,” Isla said coldly. “Don’t let your selfishness ruin a chance for peace between two packs.”
Damn it. I couldn’t come up with anything solid to argue back. This woman was too clever.
“I’ll invite him to dinner after the gala,” Grayson said then, his voice low.
Isla beamed. “You made the right call. I’ll pass on the message.”
She gave me a smug little smile before walking away like she’d just won a battle.
“I know you’re worried, but don’t be,” Grayson took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“How can I not be?” I bit my lip. “Did you see those guns? That man… he didn’t come here in peace.”
Anyone could see Otto was here with an agenda.
But Isla? She just had to act like he was some peace–loving saint.
It made me question her motives even more.
Grayson stroked my cheek gently. “I know. But it’s too late to back out now. And if he really knows how to heal you… I’d give anything for
that.”
“Grayson…”
“Let’s just have dinner with him first. Then we’ll figure it out.” He cut me off gently.
I swallowed all the things I wanted to say. Frustrated. Powerless.
The rest of the opening gala went smoothly. Grayson gave a speech that wowed the room, outlined the summit’s panels and schedules, and earned multiple rounds of applause.
Apex stock hit a record high the moment he stepped offstage.
Everyone called it a historic night.
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Chapter 92
But only I knew, this night was far from over.
After the speech, instead of staying to socialize, Grayson invited Otto to a private dinner in the upstairs dining hall.
If I had a choice, I’d rather hang myself than sit through that dinner. But I didn’t have a choice.
Otto was already there when we arrived. He was seated next to Isla, the two of them whispering closely, practically cheek to cheek.
Otto looked up when we came in and smirked. “Ah, Alpha Grayson. Finally. We thought we wouldn’t see you till dessert.”
Grayson pulled out a chair for me and sat down next to me. “Please meet my girlfriend, Aria Collins.”
Otto’s eyes slid over to me. A chill was sent down my spine. It felt like being licked by a snake.
“After dating Isla, I’m surprised you’d settle for such a boring little girl,” he said cruelly.
I glared at him. That fucking bastard!
Grayson’s voice was like ice. “I will not hear such speech ever again. Aria is the only one who understands me. The only one I want.”
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“Yeah, yeah. Isla told me she’s very important to you.” Otto studied me up and down. “So I heard she’s sick? Is that why you begged me to
come?”
“Yes,” Grayson leaned in slightly, eyes intense and focus. “If you can cure her, I’ll agree to anything you ask.”
Otto smirked. “Very tempting. Come here then, little girl. Let me take a look at you.”
I hesitated, then slowly got up and walked over. Every cell in my body screaming no. When he touched my throat, I even flinched.
He closed his eyes and focused.
After a long moment, he said, “Okay. I think I know what’s wrong.”
Really? I widened my eyes. It’s that easy?
Even Grayson held his breath in surprise. “You’re serious?”
“Yes. It’s not that complicated,” Otto said lazily. “Your girl developed a neurotoxin after getting injured. Her wolf can’t heal her because of it. Remove the toxin, she recovers.”
Neurotoxin?
That was not what that young healer Malik told me earlier.
“But I was told… my wolf was sealed when I was a child. Someone performed a ritual-”
“A seal? That’s fucking bullshit,” Otto snorted. “You believe that scammer over me?”
Grayson didn’t hesitate. “Tell me how to remove the toxin. I’ll give you anything.”
Otto stroked his chin, then glanced at Isla. Then, he started grinning.
“Look, I don’t care about your money or your power. I just want the person I care about to be happy.”
He patted Isla’s hand, then looked Grayson straight in the eye.
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Chapter 92
“I know you two both have been regretting it after the divorce. So how about this: I heal your little girlfriend, and you gave this marriage a
second chance.”
I shot up
from
my chair so fast it screeched across the floor.
WHAT THE FUCK did he just say?!
