The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 60

-Ava’s POV-

1 hated to admit, but Rickon had been right. I needed to keep better company because the one I had, stayed up with me all night drinking and telling stories. I learnt everything about Elizand how she was dating someone that she hoped would propose to her soon and Isabella shared stirrers about her huge family that I had met a number of times and despite what she said about her six sisters and then annoying, I would kill for parents who dotted on me and the chaos that came with her family.

Despite everything. I wouldn’t have wanted to spent my fake wedling night any other way.

The next morning. I dragged myself to Grayson’s mansion to prepare for work, nursing a brutal hangover. Predictably, he wasn’t there. But there was a silver lining: Monica had moved out and Elsine had begrudgingly gone back to her own apartment. At least I didn’t have to deal with running into either of them.

Trying to mask the headache pounding in my skull, I somehow managed to pull myself together enough for work. One of the drivers dropped me off, and I told myself that maybe I should finally work towards getting my own car. Small goals, right?

“Dr. Pierce, are you listening to me?”

I blinked, snapping back to the present, and forced a tight smiler Dr. Griffin, my supervisor. “Yes, sorry, I’m listening.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “I was briefing you on your first patient.”

I cleared my throat, attempting to look more focused. “Right, my apologies. I’m just… still adjusting to all the changes.” I forced another smile. “Please, call me Ava.”

He seemed to soften, nodding slightly. “I understand. You did just get married yesterday. If you need more time- “No, thank you.” I shook my head quickly. Tve already taken enough time off. Grayson pushed our honeymoon forward. He’s busy, too. I really want to be here, this job means a lot to me

Liar. The words tasted bitter in my mouth, but I forced myself to keep going, “I promise I’m ready for this.”

Dr. Griffin gave a nod, seeming satisfied. “Very well. We’re honored to have you. The Pierce family has quite the reputation, after all. I understand your mother was reluctant to lose you to another hospital.”

1 held back a scoff. Right, because that’s why my mother was having me black listed. But I only nodded politely, keeping my thoughts to myself.

“I’m ready, Dr. Griffin. I promise.”

“Good,” he said, handing me a file. “I’ll introduce you to the patient.”

1 followed him down the hallway, trying to think of how I could discreetly skim the file on the way. Thadn’t been listening at all to his initial briefing, and I silently cursed myself for zoning out. When we entered the patient’s room, I saw a middle- aged woman asleep on the bed, with a teenage girl sitting by her side, holding her hand tightly. Dr. Griffin made quick introductions to the girl, who was the patient’s daughter, then excused himself, leaving me alone with the teen.

As soon as the door shut, the girl’s friendly expression shifted into a glare. “You’re hungover,” she accused.

I blinked, caught off guard. “I’m not hungover. Now, if you’ll let me-

“Don’t touch her,” she snapped, standing protectively over her mother. “I’m not letting some doctor who spent Sunday night. drinking get anywhere near my mum.”

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Her tone grated against my–already–pounding headache, but I held back a sigh. “Fine. You’re right, I’m hungover.” I admitted. “But it’s only because yesterday was my wedding. And I’m here today because saving lives matters to me more than anything.”

She deadpanned, “You sound really sad.”

I clenched my jaw, trying not to let her words get to me. But it did. “And you sound like a brat.” I snapped.

Her mouth quirked up in a smirk. Damn it. I’d walked right into that one.

“If I had said you were hungover you could just convince them otherwise. Now I have a reason to not want you to be her doctor.” She faked a poppy eye, “because you make me uneasy and uncomfortable and you called me a brat,”

She made a move toward the door, and 1 panicked slightly: “Wait Hold on. We got off on the wrong foot.” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “I shouldn’t have been drinking last night, especially before my first day here. I’m really sorry. But I am a good doctor, and I promise you that I’ll do everything I can for your mum.”

She paused, folding her arms and studying me with a skeptical gaze. “Aren’t you too young to be a doctor?”

I opened my mouth to answer and she rolled her eyes, “That was a rhetorical question and I know you are. A friend from school took a video of you saving that boy at the restaurant. Teachers are going to be using you as a key focus on Monday I’m sure to get us to,” she air quoted, “get us to learn stuff.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Then why are you giving me such a hard time?”

you were hungover. I looked exactly like you almost everyday. Her eyes slid to her mother and they softened, “but my muntis really sick and because we don’t have enough money they push anyhow doctors to us. I really need her to get well, she’s all have so if you are going to show up drunk then I better go out and find a downgrade

I swallowed, feeling a lump in my throat. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I swear, from now on. I’m all

moment, then sighed, extending her hand

her hand, shaking it firmly. “Ava

up and down, smirking slightly. “You

rolled her eyes in exasperation. “The internet, Dr. Pierce. Do you old

despite myself. “I thought you said

‘old‘ enough to not know how to constantly use the internet

back the pang of guilt gnawing at me. “I understand, Mikayla I shouldn’t have shown up here hungover. Let’s start

had delicate features–big brown eyes, framed by thick lashes that hinted at a rare vulnerability. Her cheekbones were high, with a faint dusting of

less defensive now, folding her arms across her

about to see

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Chapter 60

I’ll do my best.”

A

by fatigue and pala, with dark circles under her eyes and thin, cracked lips. I skimmed the chart, noting her

faint but steady, a small victory in this battle that was as much hers as it was ours. I

turned back to Mikayla, who was still watching me intently. Her expression was unreadable, her defenses wavering, yet I could sense the desperate question simmering beneath the surface. She finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper, “Do

balance between realism and hope, especially when facing the unrelenting grip of a chronic condition. But there was a flicker of possibility, a glimmer of hope, even if it was

Your mom is fighting hard, and we’re going to give her everything we can. With the right treatment, she could stabilize and improve enough to have a better quality of life.

fragile smile touched her lips. “Thank you. I just.. I needed to hear that,” she

reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’s going to be tough, but you’re not alone in this. I’ll be here for you both.

with unshed tears. “Thank you, Dr. Pierce. It means a lot to finally have a doctor that

gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and then gathered

Chapter 60

-Ava’s POV-

hated to admit, but Rickon had been right. I needed to keep better company because the one I had, stayed up with me all night drinking and telling stories. I learnt everything about Elizand how she was dating someone that she hoped would propose to her soon and Isabella shared stirrers about her huge family that I had met a number of times and despite what she said about her six sisters and then annoying, I

to spent my fake wedling night

there. But there was a silver lining: Monica had moved out and Elsine had begrudgingly gone back to

of the drivers dropped me off, and I told myself that maybe I

Pierce, are you

present, and forced a tight smiler

raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “I

look more focused. “Right, my apologies. I’m just… still adjusting to all the changes.” I

did just get married yesterday. If you need more time- “No, thank you.” I shook my head quickly. Tve already taken enough time off. Grayson pushed our honeymoon forward. He’s busy, too. I really want

but I forced myself to keep going, “I promise I’m ready for

“Very well. We’re honored to have you. The Pierce family has

that’s why my mother was having me black listed. But I only nodded politely, keeping my thoughts to

ready, Dr. Griffin.

a file. “I’ll introduce you

been listening at all to his initial briefing, and I silently cursed myself for zoning out. When we entered the patient’s room, I saw a middle- aged woman asleep on the bed, with a teenage girl sitting by her side, holding her hand tightly.

door shut, the girl’s friendly expression shifted into a glare.

“I’m not

touch her,” she snapped, standing protectively over her mother. “I’m not letting some doctor who spent Sunday night.

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my–already–pounding headache, but I held back a sigh. “Fine. You’re right, I’m hungover.” I admitted. “But

“You

trying not to let her words get to me. But

in a smirk. Damn it. I’d walked right into

otherwise. Now I have a reason to not want you to be her doctor.”

shouldn’t have been drinking last night,

her arms and studying me with a

opened my mouth to answer and she rolled her eyes, “That was a rhetorical question and I know you are. A friend from school took a video of you saving that boy at the restaurant. Teachers are going to be

are you giving me such a