The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 46

-Ava’s POV-

I blinked my eyes open, the sterile white of the hospital room coming into focus. My shoulder throbbed, the pain

making me gasp. reminding me that none of this was a bad dream. I tried to sit up, but the sharp ache shot through my arm,

“The doctor said you shouldn’t sit up just yet.” Grayson’s voice sounded from somewhere to my left. I turned, catching sight of him sitting in a chair, legs crossed, eyes glued to his phone. His expression was unreadable, as if he were made of stone. For a second, I wondered why I hadn’t felt his presence right away; his energy usually filled any room.

I leaned back, fighting the discomfort, and let out a breath, hoping he’d go back to ignoring me. But then he spoke again, his voice steady, almost clinical. “How do you feel?”

“Like I just got shot,” I muttered, the words slipping out before I could stop myself. I saw the corner of his mouth twitch, but his face remained impassive.

His next words came swift and cold. “I’m ending the contract.”

My head snapped up, and I pushed myself up on the bed despite the pain, a strangled curse slipping from my lips. “You’re what?”

Grayson finally looked up, his gaze ice–cold, “I just told you not to sit up. Lie back down before you do more damage.“. I glared at him, ignoring the pain that pulsed through my shoulder. “What do you mean, you’re ending the contract? He opened his mouth, probably to deliver some measured, unfeeling response, but I wasn’t about to give him the chance. “No. I’m not finished. I know you hate interruptions, but I just got shot, so I’m going to talk, and you’re going to listen. You’re not ending this contract. When I came to you and asked for a way out, you said no. So now it’s my turn to say no. End of discussion.”

My tone was sharp, bordering on desperate, but I didn’t care. “And if you bring it up again, I swear I’ll start screaming, and when the doctors rush in, I’ll tell them you’re stressing me out. They’ll kick you out. Don’t think I won’t do it.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, but he quickly masked it, his gaze going back to that cool, controlled look. “You got kidnapped and shot because of your association with me, and I can’t guarantee this won’t be the worst thing that happens.”

“And if I want to go through worse, that’s my decision to make.”

The words spilled out before I fully understood why I was pushing against him. He was offering me an exit, the very thing I’d once wanted—a way out, with my dignity and, hopefully, my life intact. I would still get the money and I could take it,

my own life. disappear, leave the mess behind and finally prove to my parents that I could handle

But deep down, I knew that wasn’t what I wanted anymore. Since I’d met Grayson, my life had been a rollercoaster, but it was a life I was actually living–not just existing. Before him, I was a ghost in my own world, never taking risks, never feeling anything real. And now, even with all the danger, I felt more alive than ever.

“Ava,” he said, my name slipping from his lips like an order, snapping me back to the present.

I shook my head. “No. The contract will end when the year is up. Like we agreed from the start.”

stretched between us, a standoff of wills. Finally, he spoke, his voice even colder

But he continued, his tone flat. “I’ll speak with the doctor and have you discharged.

not sparing me another glance as he strode to the door and slammed it shut behind him. I let myself collapse back against the

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almost–romantic getaway. And to make it worse, I hadn’t even

entire flight back was a blur of pain and frustration. Grayson barely said two words to me, reverting to his icy, unfeeling self. I’d seen the walls around him before, but now it felt like he added several layers just to make sure no one–especially me–could get

was both physically and mentally drained. Grayson disappeared the moment we arrived, leaving me alone to replay every infuriating interaction, every half–spoken word.

open, and I flinched, only to see

my sneaky little best friend who

over my head. Isabella yanked it away almost immediately, her eyes going wide when she noticed the bandage on my shoulder. “Lilian, what

a weak smile. “I got shot. Well, kidnapped, then

big deal? Why didn’t you tell me you were

grumbled. “And I didn’t know I was going to Italy. All I said was that I wanted pizza, and next thing I knew, I

me, something? I got to know from a message from his assistant that you were in Italy and I had to take over the wedding plans until Saturday, seriously what’s going

sorry, Bels. Everything happened so fast. I just got back three hours ago. Before that, I was busy, you know, fighting for my life

you know that. And here

as cold and closed–off as him. And yet…” My voice trailed off, not sure if I wanted to admit it, tell her everything he had said, tell her how he called me his, how he had

eyes softened, reading between the lines. “Are you

I don’t even know. I thought I wanted out, but then… I don’t know. It’s like every time I’m around him, I get pulled in deeper, no

expression shifting to one of deep concern. “Maybe you need to talk about all of this before you two fully

shook my head, torn between laughter and frustration. “Oh, believe me, I tried to talk about,” I air quoted with one hand, “Feelings and his walls went even more up then he told me he

looked shocked. “Ending the contract? Just

for me to leave, to avoid more.. complications after he all but yelled that he’d burn the world down before he

up. “He said that?

I cut in, smiling sadly. “The all–powerful man who would do anything to protect her. But this isn’t a book, Bels. It’s real life. Grayson Blackwood isn’t the male

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break down his wall and have an epic romance in