The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 36

-Grayson’s POV-

I felt the flames rise, licking closer and closer to my skin, the heat unbearable. My wolf surged forward in response, roaring inside my head, and I let him take control, Chains snapped, wood cracked, and we crashed through the cabin wall, bursting into the night just before the fire engulfed everything behind us.

The fresh air hit me like a punch, cool and sharp. I didn’t waste any time. My paws pounded against the ground as I ran through the trees, my lungs burning with each breath.

Death had come for me once before.

I knew that feeling–the cold, endless void that seemed to stretch on forever, pulling me deeper, drowning me in nothingness. It was like falling, slipping further and further away from everything that made me who I was. But then, just before the darkness could take me, I was pulled back.

Yanked violently back into life.

This time felt no different. Except… I was down to my last chance

I was powerful but even I knew I wasn’t invincible which was why I had Maria use magic to give me chances of life through a ring. I wore it and never took it off. Whenever I shifted, it became imbedded into my skin and the only down side to it was that it gave me only three chances to come back to life and since I had used two, I was down to my last chance,

The thought made me grind my teeth. I should have been more focused.

This attack should have never gone through.

I pushed harder, my body moving swiftly through the shadows as I made my way back to the estate. The city loomed ahead, lights flickering through the trees. I didn’t stop. Couldn’t. My paws hit the ground in rapid succession, heart hammering in my chest, until I reached the back entrance I’d installed for moments like this–when I needed to slip in unnoticed.

Once inside, I shifted back into my human form, the transformation smooth but leaving me momentarily drained. My limbs felt heavy, and the remnants of the wolfsbane still lingered in my system, dulling my senses, however, I couldn’t afford

to rest

Not now,

The hot water from the shower did little to soothe my muscles, at least it washed away the soot, the blood, the evidence of another close brush with death. I dressed quickly, my hands moving with precision, adjusting my tie in the mirror, my reflection staring back at me, cold and unfeeling.

I should be dead. Again.

But instead, I was standing here, alive, and that meant someone was going to pay for what happened tonight

I moved to my laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard as I inputted the information I had gathered about Dominic. Narcissist. Personal vendetta against me because of something I’d done to his family, something he couldn’t let go. Hot- headed. Dangerous, but predictable. I forwarded the details to Carter, already anticipating his response.

buzzed. Carter, always quick on

is warmed by the fact that you

Almost. I shook my head, ignoring his sarcasm Carter would find him and Dominic would soon reslize he just made the

Fri, De

Chapter 36

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my emergency phone rang and Maria’s voice was on the other end

with tiredness.

a surge of energy pass through

words were flat, but I knew better.

enthusiasm at my survival warms my heart,” I

she just rolled her eyes. “Are you

before I answered. “I’m fine. There’s business I need to

it hurt,” she said, her voice dark, and I smiled at that. She always did have a

“I know. I’m down to one chance

don’t have the ability to create another one of that magnitude. So, please. Be careful.”

I ended the

last look in the mirror to ensure everything was in place, I left my room. I had work to do. The media would be on this like vultures, and I needed to get ahead of the story. Liam would need to send out a statement to

sound, my steps silent, until I reached the doorway. Ava, Isabella, Elaine, Liam, and Monica were scattered around, the tension in the room thick. The news playing in the

Philippe, belonging to billionaire Grayson Blackwood. However, a body has still

screen. The inaccuracy grated at me, like nails on

get the brand right.” My voice cut

my arms, her small frame colliding with mine. I stiffened, my body rigid. I wasn’t the type for unnecessary displays of affection and reluctantly

my eyes shifted to Ava and her eyes caught me they were stagnant and a deep shade of blue reminding me too much of the man I

learned that long ago. And I knew that no matter how much Ava fought with her father, if I was the one

care. I

o care.

Except I did.

me off

to look him in the eyes, see

fingers briefly lingered on the brake pedal, checking it one last time. Satisfied, I started the engine. I wasn’t taking

09:01 Fri, Dec 13

Chapter 36

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