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.”

of wills. Finally, he spoke, his voice even

released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, thinking it was over. But he continued, his tone

to the door and slammed it shut behind him.

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make it worse, I hadn’t even gotten to taste the

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

every infuriating interaction, every half–spoken word. I spent the night

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

little best friend who just disappeared to Italy without a

over my head. Isabella yanked it away almost immediately, her eyes going wide when

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

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

of guilt. “You know I hate it when you do that,” I grumbled. “And I didn’t know I was going to Italy. All I said was that I wanted pizza, and next thing I

“And you didn’t think to text me, call me, something? I got to know from

sighed, “I’m sorry, Bels. Everything happened so fast. I just got back three hours

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

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 he had said, tell her how he called me his,

softened, reading between the lines. “Are you

me. “Honestly? 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 matter

her expression shifting to one of deep concern. “Maybe you need to talk about all of this before you two fully cement yourselves as Alpha King

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

looked shocked. “Ending the contract?

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

eyebrows shot up. “He said that?

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

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woman who thinks she’ll break down his wall and