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.”

us, a standoff of wills. Finally, he spoke,

didn’t realize I was holding, thinking it was over. But he continued, his tone flat. “I’ll speak with the doctor

strode to the door and slammed it shut behind him. I let myself collapse back against the bed, the wave

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And to make it worse, I hadn’t

two words to me, reverting to his icy, unfeeling self. I’d seen the walls around

disappeared the moment we arrived, leaving me alone to replay every infuriating interaction, every half–spoken word. I spent the night tossing and turning, wrestling with memories and half–formed thoughts until the early morning light finally crept through

burst open, and I flinched, only to see Isabella bounding into

little best friend who just

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

weak smile. “I got shot. Well, kidnapped, then shot–two

concern then flicked my forehead. “Why are you acting like it’s no big deal? Why didn’t you tell me you were

you do that,” I grumbled. “And I didn’t know I was going to Italy.

you didn’t think to text me, call 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

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

arm gently. “You’re impossible, you know that. And here I thought you

the bitter laugh. “Romantic? Please. I’ve never met anyone as cold and closed–off as him. And yet…” My voice trailed off, not sure if I wanted to admit it, tell her everything

the lines. “Are

paused, feeling the weight of the question settle over me. “Honestly? I don’t even know. I thought I wanted out, but then… I don’t know. It’s like

“Maybe you need to talk about all

I tried to talk about,” I air quoted with one hand, “Feelings and

looked shocked. “Ending the contract?

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

shot up. “He said that? Lilian that’s

thing any girl in a book would want to hear right?” I cut in, smiling sadly. “The all–powerful man who would do anything to protect her. But this

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she’ll break down his wall and have an epic romance in the end. That’s not