The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 69

-Grayson’s POV-

“The grand gesture under the rain worked, didn’t it?” Isabella’s voice cut through the silence, filled with that triumphant tone that was too annoying for my liking. Not like I actually ever liked anything She was leaning against the counter, casually munching on her chips, each loud crunch a reminder of how much she’d enjoyed orchestrating this entire situation

I exhaled, glancing toward the hallway. I was counting down the seconds until Ava came out so we could leave Sure, Isabella’s advice had been helpful, but she’d been insistent on this whole “romantic under–the–rain” idea. When she called and told me to stand outside in the drizzle, I thought she’d lost it There was no way I was going to stand there and get soaked like some love–struck fool. Yet twenty minutes later, there I was–drenched, humoring Isabella’s ridiculous suggestion. And as cliché as it felt, it worked. The moment 1 saw va’s silhouette at the door, everything faded into the background.

But now, my patience was wearing thin. Ava Isadn’t come out yet and Isabella’s loud, crunching chewing was grating on

every nerve.

“Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be?” she said, feigning offense. “I help you fix things with her, and you just ignore me!”

I shot her a glare. “Do you have to chew so loudly? And talk with your mouth full?”

She smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. “No, I don’t. But I noticed it bothers you, so I’m definitely not stopping.

I narrowed my eyes, deadpan. “You’re lucky Ava likes you.”

“Oh, please. You like me too, and you know it.”

I scoffed, choosing to ignore her. The longer I stayed quiet, the sooner she’d give up and leave me in peace.

“Fine,” she sighed, finally relenting. “Don’t talk to me, then.”

Seconds ticked by in a rare silence as I checked my phone, looking for any distraction. Then she broke it with, “Oh, did you hear Lilian felt her wolf?”

The words caught me off guard. “What? When?”

She arched a brow, a sly smile playing on her lips. “Thought we weren’t speaking?”

A thought suddenly registered and I smiled, “Fine. How is Rickon?”

grin vanishing as she

stormed inside. I smirked to myself. Petty, sure, but it felt like a win. I couldn’t believe I was even entertaining these kinds of

in front of me. I didn’t even have to look up to know she was there; the faint click of her shoes and the quiet rustle of fabric was enough to jolt my awareness. I turned, and there she was, pushing a stack of suitcases toward the door. Our eyes met, and a blush crept

she greeted her voice barely

something warm, unfamiliar. I cleared my

suitcases. She bit her lip, hesitating before speaking.

Mon, Dec 16

Chapter 09

Isabella’s voice rang–out from somewhere in

she says you’re ungrateful for not acknowledging her help,

head, grabbing two of

in thick tension filled the space between us. I turned on the engine, letting the silence stretch as I navigated us onto the road I could feel her gaze flicker toward me, but neither of us seemed ready

she began just as I said, “Did

was just.. making me uncomfortable. I’m not sure I actually have anything

gripping the steering wheel. “Honestly, I don’t know what to say

the engine. I tried to think of something, anything

bit too loud for the quiet car. “I’m almost scared to answer that, just in case you try flying me somewhere across the country for some specialty dish.

where this Tension wouldn’t feel so suffocating. I didn’t know how to process all these feelings, all the emotions I’d buried for so long, I’d spent years walling myself off, building layers around myself to keep anything or anyone from getting too close. But this -whatever it was that I felt with her–I didn’t know how

softening. “Isabella told me she told you that I felt my wolf to get

“So it’s true?”

started burning, then it healed up, like magic. I heard her voice, but only for

I hadn’t even asked her how she was healing. Still, knowing there was a

exactly did this happen?

“I don’t know the exact time, but it was the day before

“Anything more specific?”

frowned, remembering. “Maybe twenty to thirty minutes

was casting the spell to link us. Somehow, even though the spell hadn’t fully taken, my essence must’ve touched her enough to trigger her healing. But the wolf,

word, I shifted gears, making a hard