The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 24

Ava’s POV

“What did you just call us?” Isabella’s voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and low, snapping me out of the spiral of thoughts swirling in my head. She was already on her feet, her posture tense and ready for a fight. Meanwhile, my mind was still trying to catch up with the bomb Monica had dropped.

Grayson had almost married her?

Why didn’t it happen?

Why was she back now?

The kiss that I had tried to push out of my mind suddenly felt heavier, more significant. The questions in my head multiplied, each one feeding my growing frustration. And yet, Monica just stood there, smiling at me like she had all the answers and was enjoying watching me scramble to find them.

“Are you even sure you are okay? If you insult me one more time, you will regret it” Isabella’s angry voice snapped me back to the present. I blinked, realizing that she and Elaine were already deep in a heated argument while Monica continued to look at me with that infuriating gleam in her eyes.

Everything was starting to make sense. Why she had that look of superiority in her eyes at his office? Why she knew that our encounters were far from over. Was it how it was going to be? A constant power play where she would be trying to get him back and then it suddenly hit me that I had only one year and then anything could happen between them.

I didn’t care. I shouldn’t care.

“You need to get something through that airhead of yours,” Isabella continued, stepping toward Elaine. “You don’t own this house. If anyone is a stray here, it’s you. Lilian is the one who’s going to be Luna, not some ex–fiancée.”

Monica let out a low, mocking laugh, joining the conversation like she had been waiting for her moment. “A lot can change in the span of two weeks. I mean, three days have already turned into two weeks.”

I shook myself out of my daze, finally turning to face her. “Whatever happened between you and Grayson in the past, whatever reason you broke up–that’s none of my business. But what IS my business is you throwing yourself at him now.”

Her smile grew wider, more condescending. “Oh, so she speaks.

I clenched my jaw, refusing to be drawn into her game. “I’m not doing this,” I said firmly, my voice steady despite the anger bubbling under the surface. “Isabella and I were here first. If you want to use the theater, you can wait until we’re done. But this conversation? This whole thing?” I waved my hand between all of us. “It’s over.”

turning to Monica as if I hadn’t said anything at all. “I told you she had a sense of entitlement. Like she actually matters here. Giving orders like she’s important, while the other one-” she flicked her

I could stop her, she launched herself at Elaine, tackling her to the ground. Elaine yelped in surprise, but it didn’t

beneath her, her eyes glowing as she tried to shift, but Isabella was relentless. Her hands gripped Elaine’s arms, holding her down as she landed another punch.

But then Monica moved.

out of the corner of my eye, her stance shifting, her eyes

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L

21:56 Thu, Dec 12

Chapter 24

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into, no supernatural strength to rely on. But I wasn’t about to let Monica jump Isabella when she

space between us in a heartbeat and yanked Monica back

and for a split second, I saw the wildness in her eyes. Her wolf was dangerously close to the surface, and I knew I was

I barely had time to react. Years of being around Isabella had taught me a few things about fighting werewolves, but nothing could really prepare you for

weight against her to knock her off balance. It worked, and she hit the floor with a thud, stunned for a moment. But I didn’t stop there. I did the only thing I could think of–I grabbed a fistful of her hair and

leaving a burning sting in

struggled to push me off. She was stronger, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold her down for long. But I didn’t need long. I

chaos. “What the

We all froze.

the doorway, his expression a mix of shock and confusion. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the scene–Isabella pinning Elaine to the floor, me straddling Monica, both of us breathing heavily, our hair disheveled and our

fake innocence. “They attacked us!” she cried, pointing an accusing finger at me and Isabella. “We just wanted to watch a

her face flushed with anger. “We were just trying to be civil,

deepen, his gaze flicking between all of us. His eyes lingered on me for a moment, and I saw

he asked, his voice cold, detached. The kind of tone that sent a chill down your