The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 19

-Ava‘ POV-

“Really? That’s how you’re going to play this? You’re going to stoop so low just to make sure I don’t get a job?” I yelled, storming into my mother’s office, my heels slamming against the cold marble floors. The pit of anger that had been dimering inside me for hours finally exploded.

The nurse, Gloria, who had tried to stop me when I asked if my her face pale. “I’m really sorry, Mrs. Pierce. I told her you were

other was available, darted out of the office behind me. sy

I didn’t bother looking at her. “Gloria,” I snapped, my voice shaking with barely–contained rage. “I like you a lot, but don’t piss me off right now. I want to talk to my mother.”

Gloria stammered, unsure whether to stand her ground or leave, but my mother saved her from further discomfort. Without looking up from the book she was leisurely reading, she waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine, Gloria. You can go

I stood there, my fists clenched, watching as Gloria hastily exited shutting the door softly behind her. The moment we were alone, my mother calmly set down the book she had been reading, removed her glasses, and folded them neatly on the

desk.

The silence that followed felt like a taunt.

“Really, Ava?” She finally spoke, her voice as cold as ice. “After everything I did to train you, to mold you into something respectable, you choose to throw it all away in two days?”

1 felt the sting of her words but refused to back down. “I’m not a dog, mother.” I hissed, my throat tightening. “And having me blacklisted so I can’t work? That’s low, even for you.”

Her sharp gaze snapped to mine. “Watch your tone,” she warned, her voice still controlled, but now there was an edge. The real Evelyn Pierce was slipping through the cracks. “You’ve done more than enough to insult this family, and worst of all, you’re associating with him. Do you even understand what people are saying? What they will say if this continues?”

I almost laughed at how predictable she was. “That’s all you care about, isn’t it? Your perfect image. Do you even know that Dylan hits me? That every bruise, every mark, I had to cover up with scarves, makeup, and fake smiles just to keep up your precious façade?”

For a second, a flicker of something passed through her eyes, but it was gone just as quickly. “And you think jumping from Dylan to Grayson Blackwood will solve your problems! You are tarnishing our reputation not just with this scandal, but with that association. The Pierce family does not mix with the Blackwoods. They are parasites posing as royalty”

never do.” My voice cracked, but I stood my ground, my body trembling with exhaustion. T’m done. Done with you. Done with

gaze hardened. “Is that so? You’ve decided to spread your wings?” Her voice was chillingly calm, calculated, “Tell me, Ava, where exactly are you planning to fly? To Grayson:

I need a job, mother. I’m not going to sit back and be a trophy wife. And you

You think you can defy me and walk away unscathed?” Her voice was sharp now, cutting through the air like a blade. “I’ve raised you

13

OK 371%

Chapter 19

never bluffed. I wanted to fight back, to scream at her, but something in her gaze made me freeze. The old,

name, even with your….

swallowing down the bitterness. She was doing what she always did–finding ways to hurt me with her words.

“Your father has made it clear. If you continue to associate with him, you’ll be disowned. As

hit me harder than I’d expected. For a moment, I felt the sting of tears in my eyes, but I blinked them back. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing me break. I turned to face her, my mother, the woman who should have protected me but

day, it’s going to crack open, when it does, the whole world will

colors mine changed to but filled with

whispered before opening the

and

iful was

chest. They had disowned me. I wasn’t a Pierce anymore. Not that it mattered–I was about to become a Blackwood, even just for a year. After that, I’d leave this

voice stopped me in my tracks. “I take it that didn’t

my father’s best friend, but he had always been more of a father to me than my real one ever was and

had been thrilled when I discovered my mate was Dylan.

Damien,” I whispered, and before I could think twice, I was in his arms. His embrace was warm, comforting in

my hair, his arms tightening around me protectively. “Let’s get

pulling back slightly. “Didn’t

doing me a favor by giving me an excuse to leave. I adore your parents, but let’s be honest–they can

one in what felt like days I followed him out, feeling lighter just being in his presence. He led me to his car, and before I knew it, we were sitting at a cozy restaurant. The familiar hum of