𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟎

GRAYSON
MEADOWS

Damon scowled, his jaw ticking as his gaze roamed over the motorcycle. The poor bike looked like it had been through hell and back—or maybe just Stella and me. It had been a day since our little prank, and let's just say Damon wasn't exactly laughing about it.

"You little shit," he growled, crossing his arms. His glower could've made grown men cower, but I barely blinked.

"It's a joke," I said, shrugging. "Relax, I'll buy you another one."

Damon's glare sharpened. "I can buy myself ten, thank you very much. But that's not the point. The point is, you did this for Stella fucking Russel. That girl is a goddamn psychopath."

"And so is he," Alessio chimed in, leaning against the cabin doorframe with a smirk. "I guess that makes them both psychopaths. Soulmates, maybe?" I shot Alessio a glare, the kind that told him to shut up before I made him. "Not. The. Time."

Jaxon, never one to hold back his opinions, scoffed. "Soulmates? Please. As if Gray would ever go for her. But... he did do this for her," he mused, his tone laced with curiosity.

"Jaxon," Damon muttered, his hand brushing over the scuffed paint on his bike, "why don't you go deal with your own problem instead of worrying about mine? At least girls are not avoiding me." The jab hit its mark. Jaxon stiffened, his expression darkening.

Liliana had been avoiding him for days now, ever since she'd caught him in a fight. She wouldn't return his calls, and whenever they ended up in the same room, she'd leave before he could say a word. Watching Jaxon stew over it had been mildly entertaining, but Damon never missed an opportunity to twist the knife.

"Shut the fuck up," Jaxon snapped, flipping Damon the bird.

Damon smirked, clearly satisfied with himself. "Touchy, are we?"

While they bickered, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Frowning, I pulled it out and glanced at the screen. An unknown number.

I hesitated for a moment before opening the message. My stomach dropped as I read the words.

I didn't need to check twice to know who it was. Stella. I'd recognize her number anywhere. My face hardened as I re-read the text, my grip tightening on the phone.

'I need your help, come over!!!"

'Don't ring the doorbell, if you could, please climb up my window.'

"I have to go." I stood up from the stool so quickly it scraped against the hardwood floor with a screech. Everyone in the room turned to me, their expressions flickering with confusion and concern.

"What happened?" Jaxon moved to block my way, his broad frame standing firm in front of me. His tone was calm but probing, like he was already preparing himself for trouble.

"Nothing. I have to go," I muttered, pushing past him. My tone left no room for questions, but that didn't stop their gazes from following me as I headed for the door.

Jaxon stepped forward again, his hand briefly touching my shoulder. "Gray, if it's something serious—"

"I said, nothing!" I snapped, sending him a glare sharp enough to make him annoyed. He backed off reluctantly, but I could still feel the weight of everyone's stares as I stormed out of the cabin.

The cool night air hit me as I stepped outside, but it did little to cool the fire boiling in my chest. I headed straight for my motorcycle, my thoughts a whirlwind of worry and confusion. I didn't need to check the text again—I had already memorized Stella's number and the sharp, hurried words she had sent me.