Chapter 7: The Price

Grayson POV

She chose him.

The words looped in my head louder than the engine of my truck.

I'm marrying Damian. I want to marry Damian.

She lied. I knew her scent, her heartbeat, her wolf. She was lying to save Luke. But a lie in front of 50 cameras is still a choice. And she chose to humiliate me.

I didn't go home. I drove to the one place in this city no one would look for me.

The warehouse on 5th.

Marcus was already waiting, two laptops open, a bottle of bourbon between them.

"You look like shit, Vale," he said.

"Buy it," I said, throwing my phone on the table. On the screen - Black Enterprises stock chart. Damian's family company. "Every share. Use the shell companies. I want 15% by morning."

Marcus whistled. "That's 40 million dollars. For what?"

"For her." I poured bourbon and didn't drink it. "He thinks he can fake a video of her? He thinks he can threaten her with AI p**n? I'm going to take his company, his name, and his fucking teeth."

Marcus typed. "And Senator Carter?"

My jaw locked. Luke. My best friend for 20 years. The man who told me to stay away from his daughter, then invited her blackmailer to dinner.

"Luke gets to watch," I said coldly. "He wanted a political alliance? I'll give him a war."

My phone buzzed. Unknown number. A video file.

It was Everly. In her white dress. Crying in her bathroom, 10 minutes ago. She must have hidden a phone.

Her voice, small: "Gray, if you get this... he said he has a longer video. He said he'll make a fake one. I didn't mean what I said downstairs. I—" The video cut.

Collins. He must have gotten her a phone.

My wolf, silent for an hour, finally howled.

Protect. Mate.

I texted back from the burner: Don't sign. Don't eat or drink anything he gives you. 48 hours.

Then I looked at Marcus. "Change of plan. Don't just buy the stock. Leak this."

I forwarded him the proof Collins gave me. The bank transfer from Damian to Jenson. $50,000. Memo: Security consulting.

"Send it to the Washington Post. Anonymous. Title it: Senate Candidate's Future Son-In-Law Paid For Leaked Sex Tape."

Marcus grinned. "Now that's how you ruin a dynasty."

Everly POV

After Grayson left, my father locked me in my old room. Not the guest room. My childhood room with the pink walls. Like I was 12 again and grounded.

Damian didn't leave. He sat outside my door, talking on the phone like he owned the house.

"Yes, mother, she said yes... No, the Vale situation is handled. He won't be a problem."

I stared at the burner phone Collins had slipped me. One bar. One message sent to Grayson. Did he get it?

The door opened. Damian walked in without knocking. He held two glasses of water.

"You didn't eat," he said, too softly. He set one glass down. "Drink."

I remembered Grayson's text. Don't eat or drink anything he gives you.

"No," I said.

His eyes flashed. "Everly."

"No," I said louder. "Get out."

He smiled and picked up the glass himself and drank it. "See? Not poisoned. Just water. You're paranoid, darling. Like your mate."

He sat on my bed. Too close.

"You know, I was almost impressed tonight. You lied so well. You almost convinced me you wanted me."

"I want you to leave."

"You will want me," he said, leaning in. His hand brushed my knee again. I flinched and he caught my wrist. "In three days, when you say 'I do' and the cameras are on us, you will kiss me like you mean it. Because if you don't, I have a very talented editor who can make you do things on video that would make your father resign by morning."

I spat in his face.

Silence.

He wiped it slowly. His smile was gone.

"Wrong move, little Omega."

He stood. "The dress fitting is at 8am. Be ready. And Everly? Grayson won't save you this time. He's too busy losing his company."

He left. Locked the door.

I ran to the bathroom and threw up.

48 hours. That's what Grayson said.

I had 48 hours before I became Mrs. Black.

I pressed my hand to my mark. It was cold now. Silent.

Hold on, Gray. Please hold on.

Outside, I heard Damian's car start. He was leaving.

And then - a soft tap at my window again.