The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 44

-Ava’s POV-

Nothing has ever stunned me to silence like Grayson’s words just did. The sheer intensity left me frozen, my mind struggling to process what he’d just admitted. We stared at each other, and I felt the seconds stretch into eternity befor managed to find my voice.

“LI.I’m…..”.

The words fumbled out in a stutter, barely audible. Grayson’s gaze hardened, and his entire presence shifted, the warm gone in an instant. Without another word, he turned away, grabbing his phone and jacket. He left the room as quickly: had torn down my defenses, leaving me staring at the empty space he’d filled just moments before

I flopped back onto the bed, a frustrated groan escaping me. His words echoed, flooding my mind: “I am prepare world burn to the ground before I let anything happen to you, and it’s driving me insane!”

A part

of me knew I should stay back and let him go, but I felt the pull–the need to face him, to understand what he m Within seconds, I was pushing myself off the bed, my feet carrying me through the hallways in search of him.

I had no idea where he’d gone, yet something drew me toward the pool, closed for the night. Just as I was about to cross boundary. I heard his voice, low and bored, as if he had been expecting me.

“There’s a clear sign that says the pool is closed, Ava

I closed my eyes, letting out a sigh. I could sense his presence behind me even without turning around. “You’re out here didn’t see a sign that exempts Billionaire Alpha Kings.”

I didn’t need to look to know he’d allowed himself a rare, brief smile. I took a deep breath, finally gathering the courage t face him. His cold gray eyes glinted under the moonlight, an unreadable expression on his face. For a moment, I caught t faint trace of the smile before his expression hardened again.

He pushed himself off the wall, his tone distant. “Go back inside. It’s cold. You’re already shaking.”

Wrapping my arms around myself, I felt the night’s chill more acutely, but I stayed where I was. “We need to talk about wh you said. About what happened.”

Without a word, he brushed past me, heading toward the edge of the pool. The silence that followed was weighted, a tense expectation that made my heart beat faster. He sat at the edge, fully clothed, dipping only his legs into the water. I followed sitting beside him and letting the cold water wash over my feet. Somehow, it mirrored the mix of warmth and cold that Grayson seemed to leave in his wake.

Finally, he spoke, almost to himself. “I keep wondering why you let people push you around for so long when there’s so much fire in you.”

in the moonlight. It was as if he wasn’t even speaking to me, but letting a stray thought escape. I sighed, mirroring his posture

it was all I’d ever known,” I murmured. “Since I was young, I followed my parents rules, did what was expected of me. It kept me safe, or so I thought. I hated it at times, but the idea of stepping off that path scared ine as much as it angered me. I didn’t know what I’d find

silent for a long moment, staring into the dark pool. I decided to break

I felt him tense beside me. His answer was cold, almost

strange ache in my chest. Whatever had happened with his family was buried deep, and I

le

Fri, Dec

Chapter 44

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stare straight ahead, a silent fortress of

whatever rare emotion had broken through, it didn’t mean anything Getting involved with Grayson Blackwood was a losing game, and I couldn’t delude myse into thinking I’d be the one to break down his walls. It wasn’t my place; I didn’t have

to focus, clearing my throat. “We still haven’t discussed the schedule for

I got was a stony silence as he looked straight ahead, his gaze as still and cold as the water before us. His jaw tightened, and for a second, I thought he’d divert from the conversation like

steady, almost like he’d rehearsed it. “We’ll do

that the same man who had, minutes ago, declared he’d burn the world for me wa sitting beside me. Now he was back to the businesslike, impassive

all you

sharp. “Yes, that’s all I

one thing, and then act like it meant

chuckle. “Confusion? Ava, you were the one who came out

was all it took for me to snap. His sudden coldness was so

you’re acting like I’m just another employee

“That’s what I do, Ava. I protect what’s mine and as long as like the world believes

of Luca’s blood and the words, no declaration of him calling me his came back with full force, “So that’s

crossed his face, and he looked away, jaw clenching. I had the sense that he was struggling to keep a grip on himself, like he didn’t want to

“Ava, don’t push this.”

shot back, frustration creeping into my voice. “Why won’t you just let yourself be… honest? If you’re saying these things,

safer,” he said, almost too quickly, and then seemed to realize he’d let too much slip. His gaze