The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 65

Ava’s POV-

“Come on, Lilian, don’t be a bore. Have another drink!” Isabella shouted, her voice just barely rising above the pounding music in the bar.

I sighed, mudging the glass back toward her. “Maybe you need to ease up on the drinks, Bels.”

“What are you talking about? I’m fine.” She grinned, swaying slightly. “See? Look how sober I am–how many fingers am I holding up right now?”

She held up her index finger in front of my face, but I just rolled my eyes, pushing her hand away with a bit more force than necessary. “It’s usually the drunk person being asked that question, not the other way around. This was a bad idea. I don’t know why I let you drag me out here.”

“You don’t feel anything anymore. Lilian,” she drawled, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “When did you become such a bore? But you know what? I still love you, and you’ll still love me, no matter what I do. Right?”

There was something too knowing in her gaze, and a prickle of suspicion crept up my spine. I eyed her warily. “Bels, what did you do?

Before she could answer, the air around us changed. I felt it, like a wave of energy cutting through the crowded room. Instinctively, my gaze shifted to the entrance, and there he was–Grayson. Our eyes met instantly, and for a brief, intense moment, everything else fell away. His stare pinned me to my spot, the force of it making my heart pound in my chest.

Isabella tapped his shoulder as he approached, a wicked grin on her face. “She refused even one shot. Good luck with her, you’re going to need it.”

She blew me a teasing kiss and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me to face him alone. I glared at her retreating figure, but my attention was quickly drawn back to Grayson, who was still watching me with that dark, unreadable expression.

He finally broke the silence. “Can I sit?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, the irritation building in my chest. It’s a free world, isn’t it? Do what you want.”

Without another word, he slid into the seat across from me, and 1 immediately turned my attention to the glass in front of me, determined not to let him rile me up. But he spoke again, and I could hear the faint uneasiness in his voice. “The song here is… interesting.”

I shot him a look, arching an eyebrow. “It’s about women dancing naked with big assets. What exactly do you find “interesting?”

He tapped his fingers against the table, unbothered by my sarcasm. Then he continued as if I hadn’t just dismissed him. “The weather’s nice tonight.”

I gave him a long, disbelieving stare, unable to hold back the laughter that bubbled up. “Okay, what is wrong with you? Why are you saying random, pointless things?”

expression didn’t change. “Isabella said they were good conversation starters.” He said the words like he didn’t believe he

tinged with

hardened. “That’s not the

to you. You made it clear I’m nothing to you, and people who I

09:28 Mon, Dec 16

Chapter 63

shot out, grasping my wrist. Theuch was electric, sending a shiver through me, but i yanked my hand away. “Don’t touch me or I’ll scream in

his eyes hard and unyielding “I’m not

you’re not

it needs to be. Thank goodness the press hasn’t caught on yet; I don’t have the energy

circus.”

my tone. “I’m not signing

you problem. I stopped caring about what you want two months ago, Grayson. Sign the papers and stay out

my patience fraying, the frustration simmering beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. Just being near him felt like being on edge, his presence completely altering the air around us. I gathered my things, trying to spot

sign of her. Finally, I spotted Kim, one of the waitresses we knew. I waved

have you

some guy. It was

“Isabella wouldn’t just leave with some random

H

were arguing. Looked pretty heated, and

spiked through me, and I quickly pulled out my phone, dialing her number.

drinking heavily, and while she could usually handle herself, something about the situation didn’t

stepped out into the night, I spotted her, standing a little ways down, and

would have been to walk up to them and ask what was going on, but curiosity got the

presence looming over me. I glanced up to see Grayson staring down

down with me behind the car. “They’ll see

eyebrow but complied, crouching beside me. “You do realize you’re

dismissively. “I can’t

laced with boredom. “They’re talking about why she’s being so stubborn about something.” Realization hit me; of course, werewolf hearing. “Okay, just stay here, listen, and