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?”

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

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I swear, from now on. I’m all about

stared at me for a long moment, then sighed, extending her hand

hand, shaking

down, smirking slightly. “You haven’t taken your husband’s name

again, and she rolled her eyes in exasperation. “The internet, Dr. Pierce. Do you old people not use it? You’re making headlines everywhere. You murried some big–shot billionaire. Good for

laughed despite myself. “I thought you said

how to constantly use the internet and I’m sorry I was rude.

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

at a rare vulnerability. Her cheekbones were high, with a faint dusting of freckles scattered across her cheeks, and her dark, wavy hair tumbled over her shoulders, unkempt yet somehow perfectly framing

a little less defensive now, folding her arms across her chest

a deep breath, bracing myself for what I was about to see “Alright, let’s take a look at

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Chapter 60

I’ll do my best.”

A

me closer to the bed. Her mother lay there, pale and still, her chest rising and falling weakly with each labored breath. She had a thin oxygen tube hooked to her nose, and her frail frame looked even smaller against the sterile hospital sheets. Her face was shadowed by fatigue and pala, with dark circles under her eyes and thin, cracked lips. I skimmed the chart, noting her diagnosis–Stage IV congestive heart failure. Her heart

victory in this battle that was as much hers as it was ours. I could feel Mikayla’s eyes watching me closely, her gaze filled with a mixture of hope and despair, as if she were searching my face for some

yet I could sense the desperate question simmering beneath the surface. She finally spoke,

every doctor dreads–having to balance between realism and hope, especially when facing the unrelenting grip of a chronic condition. But there 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. It’s not

a fragile smile touched her lips. “Thank

shoulder. “It’s going to be tough, but you’re not alone in this. I’ll be here for you both. And if you ever need to

her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Thank you, Dr. Pierce. It means a lot to finally have

a gentle squeeze and then gathered my things

Chapter 60

-Ava’s POV-

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

have wanted to spent my fake wedling night any

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

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.

you listening to

blinked, snapping back to the present, and forced a tight smiler Dr. Griffin,

“I was briefing you on your

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

my head quickly. Tve

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

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

having me black listed. But I

ready, Dr.

file. “I’ll introduce

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’s friendly expression shifted into a glare. “You’re hungover,” she

off guard. “I’m not hungover. Now, if

her,” she snapped, standing protectively over her mother. “I’m not letting

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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

“You sound really

trying not to let her words get to me. But it did. “And

quirked up in a smirk. Damn it. I’d walked right

Now I have a reason to not want you to be her doctor.” She faked a poppy eye, “because you

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

arms and studying me with a skeptical gaze. “Aren’t you

saving that boy at the restaurant.

eyebrow. “Then why are you giving