The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 14

-Ava’s POV

My head was pounding. Every inch of my holy felt like it had been dragged through hell, and I could barely think straight. Everything was just crashing down on the all at once, and the presstire was unbearable. I wanted to scream, but all I could do was sit there, frozen in place, as if somehow doing nothing would make the storm swirling in my mind stop.

I had walked out on my father, and I had no intention of speaking to him anytime soon.

Not that it would matter. He never listened to me anyway,

“This place is freaking huge!” Isabella’s voice snapped me out of my trance, her laughter echoing through the room Grayson had given me. I blinked, confused by her presence. I hadn’t even heard her come back in.

“I thought you left, I said, staring at her with a frown.

Isabella paused halfway to the bed, looking at me like I’d grown a second head. “I left?” she echoed, clearly puzzled.

“Yeah,” I replied, rubbing my temples. “Remember? You were supposed to go home, and I was going to talk to Grayson Then I’d call you afterward to tell you how it went?”

She burst out laughing. “Oh, that. Totally forgot about that.” She lifted her hand, revealing a bottle of wine. “Look what I found in the bar.”

sighed, exasperated. “Bels, you can’t just go rummaging through people’s houses and stealing their wine. And wait–there’s a bar in this place?”

She grinned, knowing exactly how to push my buttons. “Yup. Well, I was going to leave, but I kind of got lost, and then I decided to explore. You know, this place has, like, everything. I guess that’s what happens when you’re a billionaire.”

“Excuse me? Billionaire? Who?”

She shot me a look. “Grayson Blackwood. Did you seriously not know?”

I stared at her, my mind struggling to process that bit of information. Sure, I knew Grayson was rich, but I had no idea he was billionaire–rich. My thoughts drifted back to him, and I let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of everything all over

again.

Isabella sat down on the bed, her face softening

ng with concern. “Take it the talk

talk didn’t go so well?”

unscrewing the cap and taking a long swig before handing it back. We both knew it wasn’t a good habit, but it

the next year, and my father’s going to follow through on his threat. I

don’t you just stay out of it?” she asked, casually

to look at her.

“Lilian, this whole mess is because of their egos. Why

my head, the frustration rising in my chest. “Because I can’t. There are death threats flying around, Bels. My father could end up dead if I just

snorted, clearly unimpressed. “Well, maybe that’d solve half your problems. Throw your

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Chapter 14

finally get some

though there was a tiny

laughing “Okay, okay, hard timing for that joke. But come on, you know I’m right Your father’s an asshole, and your mother–well, don’t get me

loindredth sigh of the day, bracing myself as I looked

I muttered, answering

you, Ava?” Her voice was cold, disapproving as always. “Not only have you abandoned your husband, but now you’re associating with a man

thing I wanted was another lecture from

in silence?” she demanded. “You had plenty to say to

she hung up. No room for arguments. No concern for

not answer their calls, right?” Isabella sud, her voice sharp with irritation. “What’s the

parents had over me,

stood up, walking over to the wardrobe. “I need to go,” I said, ignoring the look

actually going to see her,” she snapped,

just get worse. It’s better

so tired of this. You almost died tonight, and the first thing out of her mouth wasn’t “Are you okay?‘ but ‘Come see me now? It’s after 10 p.m. for Goddess sake, and you’re still letting them control you. When are you going to start

but she wasn’t

Luna to the most powerful man in this country. Contracted or not, start acting like it. You’ve been running around in circles since yesterday. You almost died in a fire, and instead of taking care of yourself, you’re letting your parents run your

need

I wanted to admit, but they were the same words she’d been telling me for years. And yet,

you. We’re going to steal a couple more bottles, laugh like maníacs, talk crap about that asshole Dylan, and yeah, we’ll even

onto my face despite the exhaustion weighing me

2/3

Chapter 14