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.”

matters here. Giving orders like she’s important, while the other one-” she flicked

it. Isabella let out a growl, low and primal, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. Before I could stop her, she launched herself at Elaine, tackling her to the ground. Elaine yelped in surprise,

down as she landed another

But then Monica moved.

my eye, her stance shifting, her eyes darkening as her wolf threatened

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L

21:56 Thu, Dec 12

Chapter 24

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no supernatural strength to rely on. But I

in a heartbeat

me, and for a split second, I saw the wildness in

taught me a few things about fighting werewolves, but nothing could really prepare you for facing one head–on–especially when you didn’t have the luxury of

could shift fully, I tackled her to the ground, throwing my 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

swiping at me, but I managed to dodge just in time. Her nails grazed my skin, leaving a burning sting

and I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold her

rang out, cutting through the chaos. “What the hell

We all froze.

room, taking in the scene–Isabella pinning Elaine to the floor, me straddling Monica, both of us breathing

her, scrambling to her feet and rushing over to Liam, her eyes wide with fake innocence. “They attacked us!” she cried, pointing an accusing finger at me and Isabella.

face flushed with anger.

all of us. His eyes lingered on me for a moment, and I saw something shift in his expression–something darker, more calculating. He wasn’t buying their

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