The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

-Ava’s POV-

This is all your fault,” I heard Isabella spit at Rickon

He scoffed back, barely audible. “How is it my fault? Did I poison the drinks?”

But I barely heard him as I bolted after Eliza, who had darted off into the parking lot after her outburst. My feet pounded against the pavement as I chased her, my heart racing with a mix of frustration and fear. I didn’t know what she’d do, but fear has a way of pushing people to dangerous limits, and Eliza looked ready to snap.

I understood her terror. People fear what they don’t understand, and if there were ever a time for gallows humor, I’d joke that people are especially afraid of anyone who can grow fur and claws on command.

Eliza dashed onto the street, causing honking cars to swerve and drivers to shout out their windows. She didn’t stop, though, just kept running. I cursed under my breath, weaving through the onslaught of angry drivers in a freaking wedding gown, calling out, “Sorry! Sorry!” as I followed her. Finally, she turned down an alleyway, and I pushed harder, exhaustion clawing at my limbs

How far was she planning to run?

Where was she even going?

And how was she running so fast in heels?

The distance between us started to shrink, and I yelled, “Eliza, please stop! Let me explain!”

She didn’t. Then, by some stroke of luck, she found herself at a dead end, forced to halt. I caught up to her, breath ragged. She spun around, grabbing something–what, I couldn’t tell–and held it out like a weapon, her hands trembling “Don’t comne near me, Ava, or I swear I’ll hit you!”

I took a step back, raising my hands to show her I meant no harm. “Eliza, come on, please, Drop whatever that is. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Not going to hurt me?” Her voice cracked, her eyes wide and frantic. “I just saw that man grow fur, Aval His fingers turned into claws, his eyes went black like a void. And Isabella’s eyes they changed too. All of you–monsters. You’re all monsters!”

I forced myself to stay calm, though panic was simmering beneath my own skin. “Eliza, listen to me. I’ll explain everything. I promise. We’re… we’re werewolves. And I wish I had more time to ease you into this, but something terrible is happening in that wedding hall. More people are about to find out we exist and the fear you’re feeling right now? It’s going to spread. Please, put that thing down, come with me, and I’ll tell you everything later.”

She stared at me, wild–eyed, her chest heaving. “Werewolves don’t exist. This isn’t some damn horror novel, Áva. Werewolves aren’t real”

“But we are.” I softened my voice. “Eliza, I’m still me. I’m still the same Ava. I don’t even have a wolf like the others. Be still Bels. We’re just… us. No one here wants to hurt you.”

“I saw a man grow fur,” she shrieked, pulling at her hair. “Nothing is the same! This is insane. This has to be some messed–up dream. I need to wake up

She started slapping herself, hard. “Wake up, Eliza. Wake up!”

I don’t trust that

seemed to slice through her panic, grounding her. She stilled, her hands dropping to her sides. Her

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you people

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though urgency was clawing at me. “I don’t know, Eliza. Nature, maybe? Look, just please, come with me. I’ll answer every question

the old Eliza–te friend who had just clicked. Finally, she nodded, though

“Fair enough.”

We made our way back to the street. I could feel her unease, the distrust radiating from her. I scanned the area, cursing inwardly. I didn’t have my phone to call

to her. “Do you have your

expression stricken. “No. I. I don’t even know where it is right now. And Grayson is probably plotting a hundred different ways to fire me in the most brutal way possible.” Her eyes widened as if she’d just realized something “Wait. Grayson

cringed. Of course, this couldn’t just

at her hair again. “This

said sharply. “We need

get a cab.” She lifted the hem of her dress, revealing bills strapped to her leg. “My mom taught me to always be prepared for anything. Though she didn’t exactly

relief flooding through me. I flagged down a cab as she untied the money, and after giving the driver the address. He scanned me and the dress but before he could say

all, what else

I could feel my anxiety simmering beneath my skin, growing heavier with each passing moment. When we finally arrived, chaos was spilling out

Rickon, but they were nowhere in sight. Cursing, I moved toward the back entrance with Eliza trailing behind, and the sounds of shouting and

as more humans flooded out of the building Wolves were scattered on the ground, coughing and heaving,

Why hadn’t they turned?

presence. His expression darkene irritation tightening his jaw. Then Liam appeared, blocking my path with a low growl. “I thought I

hum, I asked, “Why aren’t they

turned to find myself face–to–face with Grayson’s intense, angry stare. His voice was a

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and his